oil

Opec sticks to robust oil demand outlook, sees no peak on horizon

The report comes as Opec contends with unprecedented challenges in 2026

China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, is forecast to consume 753 million tons of oil in 2026, a 4.9 per cent drop from 2025.

PetroChina forecasts Chinese oil consumption will drop 4.9% this year

Oil demand is plateauing and projected to fall to around 700 million tons by 2030

Aramco aims to be a major global natural gas player, with the US$100 billion Jafurah mega project the centrepiece of its ambitions.

Aramco, seeking tens of billions of dollars, lines up more asset sales: sources

The total value of resources that it may tap for fundraising could reach around US$50 billion, say sources

The Iran war is estimated to have blocked more than 14 million barrels a day of Middle East oil output, says the IEA.

IEA expects significant 2027 oil surplus after Hormuz recovery

Its forecasts for next year imply that supply will outweigh demand by 5.05 million barrels a day

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

The Middle East conflict reveals how the Asian giant has become the stabilising force for commodity prices

As much as 90% of the crude oil supply of South-east Asian economies is imported from the Middle East, with much of it shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

‘Very low chance’ that US-Iran deal reverts energy flows to South-east Asia through Hormuz: Bloomberg Economics

Regional growth in H2 is expected to slow amid high oil prices, US tariffs and fiscal concerns, says economist

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” UK PM Starmer said in a post on X.

British forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to cross English Channel

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that he had directed the interception

What lies beneath these ships anchored in the Strait of Hormuz is another potential chokepoint: undersea cables vital for global Internet communications.

Why Iran’s threat against undersea cables could be a bigger weapon than oil

Global Internet connectivity is increasingly vulnerable as countries eye the vital submarine networks for attack even as dependence on them grows

From a resilience perspective, biodiesel’s value lies not in eliminating exposure to global markets, but in reducing reliance on a single supply chain.
THE BROAD VIEW

Alternative diesel can help Singapore balance resilience and decarbonisation

Biodiesel blending can provide an additional fuel pathway in times of disruption