Javier Blas

The price of refined petroleum products remain as high as if crude oil was still changing hands above US$100 a barrel.

Iran isn’t the only conflict vexing the global oil market

2026-07-13T04:16:55.000Z
An oil refinery in China, which at the end of 2025 had the largest strategic petroleum reserve with 1.4 billion barrels held back.
THE BOTTOM LINE

China has a powerful new oil price weapon

2026-06-16T23:00:00.000Z
Most of the leverage Beijing had over Teheran rested on the money it was paying for oil, which will end if the blockade halts exports.
THE BOTTOM LINE

The Hormuz blockade is as much about China as Iran

2026-04-14T10:00:00.000Z
In its desperation to hold down WTI, the White House is throwing everything at the problem, including the kitchen sink.

White House is using the wrong oil price for Iran war

2026-03-20T10:00:00.000Z
In response to surging demand, the size of the land-based animal herd has expanded massively.

My Christmas Iberico ham scare is an omen

2025-12-24T09:00:00.000Z
For the brave, Big Oil’s time in investment purgatory offered a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity.

Big Oil will miss the financial discipline imposed by ESG

2025-09-29T23:00:00.000Z
The world will reap a record rice harvest of about 541 million tonnes in 2025 to 2026.

Rice can feed the world – even with fewer farmers

2025-08-27T11:00:00.000Z
Despite rising production from the Opec+ cartel, oil prices have stabilised in recent weeks at just over US$65 a barrel – about US$10 above the lows seen in early May.

Winter is coming for oil – and not in a positive way

2025-07-21T23:00:00.000Z
China buys 90% of the oil Iran exports.
THE BROAD VIEW

What sanctions? Iranian oil industry is booming

2025-07-04T23:00:00.000Z
The average Indian today consumes about 1.4 barrels of oil a year, well below the 4.3 barrels a year of the average Chinese.
THE BOTTOM LINE

The oil market has a bigger problem than a slowing China – India

2025-05-27T21:00:00.000Z