26/06/2026 – Middle East: Attack on a merchant ship slows down the evacuation of vessels from the Gulf organised by the IMO – Read more news
Volatility has returned to the crude oil market, which saw prices rise sharply yesterday evening following the announcement that a ship had been struck in the Strait of Hormuz – reaching a daily high of around $76/bbl – before falling back again amid some profit-taking. According to Reuters, Saudi Aramco is reported to have resumed exports by sea from the Gulf in the last few hours after a hiatus of more than four months, with the number of oil tankers transiting the area at its highest since the start of the conflict. Traders are also considering the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela yesterday, with the impact on the country’s production capacity – currently around 1 million barrels per day – remaining limited for the time being.
