Crude Oil: 1. Three oil tankers carrying diesel bound for Europe changed course in the Atlantic. 2. Middle East supply concerns pushed Asian naphtha profits to record highs. 3. According to Yonhap News Agency: South Korea will launch crude oil swa

2026-03-31

Crude Oil: 1. Three oil tankers carrying diesel bound for Europe changed course in the Atlantic. 2. Middle East supply concerns pushed Asian naphtha profits to record highs. 3. According to Yonhap News Agency: South Korea will launch crude oil swap transactions with local refineries. 4. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama: No specific oil market intervention measures were discussed. 5. Data shows that crude oil exports from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports have increased to nearly 5 million barrels per day. 6. Indonesian Presidential Spokesperson: Indonesia's state-owned oil company will not adjust fuel prices on April 1. 7. US Treasury Secretary Bessenter: The oil market supply shortage is estimated at 10 to 12 million barrels per day. 8. Iranian Oil Minister: Discounts on Iranian oil have been significantly reduced, while average selling prices have risen significantly. 9. Indian government official: India currently has no plans to send oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz for crude oil loading. 10. Kpler: Oil shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait rose to their highest level since 2023 in March; if the strait is disrupted, the time it takes for oil to reach Asia could double. 11. Iraq's National Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO): We are studying proposals from local and global shipping companies to transport oil through the southern border. 12. According to GasBuddy, a gasoline price tracking service, the average price of gasoline in the United States rose to $4 per gallon on Monday, a more than three-year high. 13. The UK's Office for Maritime Trade Operations issued a notice stating that an oil tanker was struck on its starboard side by an unidentified object 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, UAE, causing a fire on board. Natural Gas: 1. The first production line of a US-Calfarma LNG joint venture project went into operation. 2. Lukoil: Russian natural gas production is projected to decline by 4% to 17.4 billion cubic meters by 2025. 3. Deutsche Energy Terminals: Record energy injections into the German gas pipeline network exceeded 25 terawatt-hours in the first quarter. 4. Vietnam Oil and Gas Company: Seeking delivery of 3.2 million MTB of liquefied natural gas (LNG) between April 20 and May 14. 5. Ukrainian President Zelensky: Ukraine and Bulgaria are cooperating on a gas corridor that will handle up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas annually. 6. Serbia and Russia extend their gas supply agreement again. Serbian President Vučić stated that he has spoken with Russian President Putin and reached a three-month gas import agreement. Precious Metals and Mining: 1. Three Middle Eastern aluminum plants have reduced production by a combined 2.63 million tons. 2. India stated that 30 mining blocks have commenced operations in fiscal year 2026. 3. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung: Strict control is needed over key materials such as aluminum and helium. 4. Indonesian President: Indonesia invites Japan to cooperate in key minerals, rare earth elements, renewable energy, and nuclear energy. 5. Goldman Sachs: The medium-term outlook for gold remains solid. Gold prices are expected to reach $5,400 per ounce, driven by continued gold purchases by central banks and two more interest rate cuts expected in the US this year.