Oil Near $95 as Gulf Shipping Remains Disrupted
Crude oil traded near $95 a barrel on Thursday, trimming a surge that peaked at $97 amid signs that the US and Iran could be working to restore Persian Gulf exports. Reports suggested US and Iranian negotiators were exploring a deal to lift naval blockades on tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz and ease US sanctions on Iran. Earlier, prices surged after Iran-allied Houthi militants in Yemen fired missiles at Saudi cities including Yanbu and Taif. Yanbu is a key oil export terminal on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia’s workaround for the Strait of Hormuz now carries war-risk insurance costs nearly as high as sending tankers through the strait. Only 10 commodity vessels transited Hormuz on Wednesday, below the 10-day moving average of 17. Meanwhile, the US Senate narrowly rejected a nonbinding measure demanding an end to the war with Iran.
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Crude oil traded near $95 a barrel on Thursday, trimming a surge that peaked at $97 amid signs that the US and Iran could be working to restore Persian Gulf exports. Reports suggested US and Iranian negotiators were exploring a deal to lift naval blockades on tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz and ease US sanctions on Iran. Earlier, prices surged after Iran-allied Houthi militants in Yemen fired missiles at Saudi cities including Yanbu and Taif. Yanbu is a key oil export terminal on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia’s workaround for the Strait of Hormuz now carries war-risk insurance costs nearly as high as sending tankers through the strait. Only 10 commodity vessels transited Hormuz on Wednesday, below the 10-day moving average of 17. Meanwhile, the US Senate narrowly rejected a nonbinding measure demanding an end to the war with Iran.