Energy

U.S. oil and gas activity saw a modest rise in Q1 2025, but sector executives voiced deepening pessimism over Trump administration tariffs and conflicting energy policies, according to a Dallas Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday. While 130 energy firms reported increased production, concerns over rising costs and policy instability overshadowed gains, with the company outlook […]

U.S. crude stockpiles fell sharply last week, dropping 3.3 million barrels amid surging refinery activity, while weaker-than-expected fuel demand tempered bullish momentum in oil markets, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Key Data Points (Week Ending March 21): Crude Inventories: Fell to 433.6M barrels, far exceeding the 956,000-barrel draw analysts forecast. Refinery Activity: Utilization […]

The CEOs of the world’s largest commodity traders—Vitol, Mercuria, Trafigura, and Gunvor—warned that lifting sanctions on Russian energy would be a slow, uneven process, with only limited short-term restoration of oil and gas flows beyond Asia. Speaking at the FT Commodities Global Summit, executives signaled caution toward resuming Russian trade despite shifting U.S. policies under […]

The Trump administration’s unprecedented 25% tariff on buyers of Venezuelan oil could become a model for pressuring other sanctioned nations, including Russia and Iran, analysts say—marking a shift from targeted sanctions to broad economic penalties with global ripple effects. Key Developments:New Sanctions Tool: Trump’s executive order leverages the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) […]

OPEC+ is expected to move forward with a planned oil production increase in May, despite ongoing efforts to enforce compliance among members who previously exceeded output quotas, according to four sources familiar with the matter. The group, which includes OPEC, Russia, and allied producers, is scheduled to boost output by 135,000 barrels per day (bpd) […]

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated economic pressure on Venezuela by imposing a 25% tariff on countries purchasing its oil, while granting Chevron an extended deadline to phase out operations in the sanctioned nation. The move, announced via executive order on Monday, targets buyers of Venezuelan crude—particularly China, India, and European nations—and takes effect April […]

New U.S. sanctions targeting a Chinese refinery and tankers involved in Iranian oil trade are expected to temporarily reduce China’s imports of discounted Iranian crude, but traders predict buyers will find workarounds to maintain flows. The sanctions, announced Thursday, mark the fourth round under President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at curbing Tehran’s oil […]

Kazakhstan’s oil production surged to a record 2.16 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, exceeding its OPEC+ quota by nearly 400,000 bpd, according to industry sources and Reuters calculations. The increase, driven by expanded output at major fields operated by U.S. firms like Chevron and Exxon Mobil, has sparked tensions within the OPEC+ alliance. […]

The North American biofuels industry is scaling back production as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and uncertainty over green fuel subsidies create market turmoil. U.S. and Canadian biofuel producers, facing rising costs and shrinking margins, are idling plants and shelving expansion projects, threatening rural economies and decarbonization efforts. Key Developments: Production Cuts: U.S. biodiesel […]

David Copley, a former executive at Newmont Mining (NEM.N), has been appointed to oversee the mining portfolio for the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, sources confirmed. The council, established by President Donald Trump last month, aims to boost domestic production of oil, gas, and critical minerals like lithium and copper, reducing reliance on China’s near-monopoly […]