Energy
1. Ecuador's largest oil refinery declares a state of emergency.
2. Japan urges the UAE to maintain a stable oil supply.
3. Japanese refiners call on the government to release strategic petroleum reserves.
4. The average gasoline price in Seoul, South Korea, exceeds 1,900 won per liter for the first time in over three years.
5. The US issues a 30-day temporary exemption, allowing India to purchase some Russian oil.
6. Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC): Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is almost completely halted.
7. Kuwait reduces refinery operating rates due to obstructed passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
8. Trump: Gasoline prices have not risen significantly; the Strait of Hormuz will remain open.
9. Qatar is offering at least two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers under its control for lease.
10. Ukraine indicates that the "Friendship" oil pipeline may be repaired within 1 to 1.5 months.
11. Turkish Finance Minister: To mitigate the impact of oil price fluctuations, a fuel price floating mechanism will be temporarily activated.
12. Italian Prime Minister Meloni: Prepares to tax companies speculating on energy prices.
13. South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy: Seeking alternative liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to address potential disruptions to Qatari shipping.
14. South Korea's Vice Finance Minister: The government will take all measures to stabilize consumer prices by setting a cap on oil prices.
15. Pricing documents show that Saudi Arabia has set the official selling price for its April Arab Light crude oil exports to Asia at a premium of $2.50 per barrel over the average price of Oman/Dubai crude.
16. According to Kurdish media RUDAW: The Kurdish SARSANG oil field, operated by US-based HKN Energy, has ceased production following a drone attack.
17. Sources say that due to crude oil supply shortages, India's state-owned refinery MRPL has shut down one crude oil distillation unit and some secondary processing units at its 300,000 barrels per day refinery.
Other:
1. Ukraine claims Russian drones attacked grain ships transporting goods over the Black Sea.
2. The US Department of Defense seeks input on potential reserves of five key minerals. 3. JPMorgan Chase: If news reports of impending severe supply disruptions in the Middle East continue to increase, we expect aluminum prices to rise rapidly to $4,000 per ton.
