Asia

Shipping data revealed that four liquefied?gas tanks controlled by Qatar headed into the Strait of Hormuz despite a drop in?ship traffic following Iran's announcement over the weekend that the waterway had been closed again. Shiptracking data by analytics firm Kpler revealed that the tankers - Wadi Al Sadd, Mekaines Al Sadd, and Mesaimeer – entered the strait via Iran for the first since the U.S./Israeli war against Iran began. QatarEnergy's LNG exports, which have been severely curtailed since the beginning of the war on February 28, didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. LSEG data shows that the dry...

The United States and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement on Friday, and Gulf producers are preparing to increase exports in spite of concerns about the conditions set by Tehran. Washington and Tehran have released the text for an interim agreement that was signed on Wednesday, to end the conflict. Donald Trump has warned that he will resume his attacks and "target Iranian officials" if the commitments made are not kept. MarineTraffic reports that at least four tankers with crude oil, oil products, and liquefied gas headed for Iraqi Gulf port entered the strait Friday. After being delayed by war, a...

Iran is also preparing to resume its exports and trade. This comes as U.S. president Donald Trump recently welcomed the return of oil from Gulf allies. Shipping data shows that at least three tankers, each carrying?some 5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, have passed through the U.S. Naval Blockade in the past week. This is despite the U.S. Military saying it will continue its operations to block Iran-linked ships until Friday. The oil market is focused on the deal that Trump announced on 14 June and which will be signed in Switzerland on Friday. Trump posted on Sunday,?Sunday, that...

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced on Friday that U.S. forces had seized the stateless sanctioned oil tanker Davina in the Indian Ocean overnight. Washington has placed a sea blockade against Iran, while Tehran has fired at ships to stop them from?sailing? through the Strait of Hormuz and entering the Middle East Gulf. In recent months, U.S. forces intercepted "multiple commercial and petroleum tankers" in the Indian Ocean. Indo-Pacific Command posted on X that "we will continue to enforce global maritime law to?disrupt illegal networks and 'interdict vessels providing materials support to Iran wherever they operate". According to data from ship...

The CEO of the world's largest ship recycler said that Dubai-based GMS won approval from the U.S. Government to scrap four containers ships which were subject to?Iran related sanctions. This could pave the way for Washington to reduce its shadow fleet?of?such vessels. The fact that hundreds of ships are not insured or complying with environmental safety standards has helped Iran and Russia to circumvent sanctions. They also pose a risk of fuel spills and oil leaks along busy sea routes. A mechanism approved for scrapping these vessels can be used to encourage their removal from circulation. This will reduce environmental...

Data showed that a Chinese-operated ship was "among the few" to cross the Strait 'Hormuz? in the last 24 hours. This comes as the uncertainty about reopening this critical waterway grows, with the talks between the U.S.A. and Iran at a standstill. Prior to the start of the war against Iran on February 28, the average daily shipping through the strait was 125-140 passages. As a result of the conflict, 20,000 sailors are still stranded on hundreds of ships in the?Gulf. According to an analysis based on ship tracking data, there were 10 ships per day that entered and left...

The crew of the tanker gathered courage and navigated carefully along the route designated by Iran. They hugged the coast and manoeuvred their massive vessel between island checkpoints in the Strait of Hormuz. Agios Fanourios 1, a 330 metre long vessel, loaded with Iraqi crude and bound for Vietnam had been bottle-?up near the coast of Dubai, since late April. On May 10, the tanker set out for the Strait of Hormuz after an agreement with Iran, overseen by Iraq’s Prime Minister. The Iranian orders to the tanker are part of the complex multi-tiered system that Iran has used for...

The U.S. sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry,?arrived back at the Strait of?Hormuz Wednesday, after leaving the Gulf the previous day,?shipping information showed. It failed to?break a U.S.?blockade?on ships calling at Iranian port. U.S. president Donald Trump announced the ban on Sunday, after the weekend talks between the U.S. government and Iran in Islamabad failed to produce a result. The U.S. Central Command reported on X that "no ships were able to get past the U.S. Blockade during the first 24 hour period." Six vessels complied with the direction of U.S. Forces to turn around and re-enter a port in Iran. On...

Zefyros's manager in Greece confirmed that the tanker was struck by a missile overnight during a ship-to -ship transfer. Benetech Shipping SA reported that the incident took place at Iraq's Umm Qasar Anchorage late Wednesday during a transfer of fuel cargo with the Safesea Vishnu Tanker. All 23 crew members have been accounted for and are safe. The 23 crew members were evacuated and brought to land, according to a statement. SOMO reported that the Safesea Vishnu had been chartered by a company in Iraq contracted with State Organization for the Marketing of Oil. The Zefyros, meanwhile, was loaded with...

According to analysis of ship tracking platforms such as 'Kpler' and 'Lloyd's List' Intelligence, a Greek-operated tanker sailed across the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with a cargo of Saudi Arabian crude oil and India listed as its destination. Hundreds of ships are anchored on both sides of the strait as the U.S. and Israel war against Iran continues. The oil and shipping markets are watching for any signs of increased sailings through this critical waterway, through which most of the world's crude oil passes. MarineTraffic data showed that the Shenlong Suezmax, a tanker with a 1 million-barrel capacity, had...

The leading shipping and labour groups have said that seafarers are entitled to refuse to sail on ships traversing the Middle East Gulf, which includes the Strait of Hormuz. This is because the threat level in the region has been raised to the highest level. As the U.S. war against Iran intensifies, around 300 ships are anchored both sides of the Strait. Nine ships have suffered damage since?February 28 and one seafarer has been killed. According to the International Bargaining Forum, a group of mariners, commercial shipping companies, and maritime unions, reached a negotiated agreement on Thursday. Seafarers can refuse...

The Lloyd's market in London is in contact with the United States. The International Development Finance Corporation of the U.S. government is negotiating with Lloyd's Market officials about a plan to provide political risk assurance and guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf. Lloyd's engages constructively with U.S. Development Finance Corporation, and other relevant stakeholders. The market is focused on maintaining its position as the "global centre for excellence in war risk insurance." A Lloyd's spokesperson stated. Sheila Cameron, CEO of the Lloyd's Market Association (LMA), who represents all underwriting companies in the Lloyd's market, said in a separate statement...

China's efforts to increase renewable energy for its rapidly expanding AI data centre sector are running into obstacles. Industry experts warn that it is difficult to forecast peak demand and grid operators do not want to take on additional risk. In China's work report for 2026, released earlier this summer, the government highlighted that ensuring reliable electricity is a priority. It also pledged a stronger integration of computing infrastructure with power supply networks. An ambitious plan is a key component of this effort to direct more green?electricity into the rapidly expanding data centre industry. The authorities aim to have renewables...

Authorities said that 54 people were injured and 18 others are missing following an explosion on Sunday at Qatar's main liquefied gas processing site, Ras Laffan. In a statement, QatarEnergy said that an incident occurred during the start-up operations of Ras Laffan industrial city which resulted in "an explosion and fire" at the Barzan gas supply facility Sunday evening. It said that emergency response teams had been deployed to control the fire. The fire was now under control. In a statement, the Interior Ministry of Qatar said that 54 people were injured and 18 people are missing. The ministry attributed...

Bo Lingam said that the CEO of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia?X, has announced a 5% reduction in fares since June 15. The airline will continue to monitor the situation on a weekly basis as jet fuel prices fall, he added. As the U.S. - Iran war wreaked havoc on travel around the world, the airline has used the last three months to reduce underperforming flights, shift the demand, and renegotiate all contracts with vendors and lessors. Lingam said to reporters that they were still renegotiating and restructuring all of their contracts. He added that "week by week we will be...

Iraq's state news agency reported Friday that it expects oil production to reach three million barrels of oil per day from its southern fields within one to two months. The report was based on a spokesperson for the Oil Ministry. Iraq exports around 3.6 millions barrels of crude oil per day. Before the Iran War, around 3.4million bpd passed through its southern Basra terminals. Iraq has also suffered a decline in oil revenue as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S. - Iran War. Iraq used to export its fuel oil from the Gulf...

Tender documents show that Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's largest refiner, has issued tenders to charter vessels for the lifting of liquefied petroleum, gas and oil out of ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Documents show that the tenders are the first ones issued by IOC after the U.S. signed an interim agreement with Iran to end the war and reopen?waterway. They include chartering of a VLGC, a Suezmax tanker, and a VLCC. A VLCC carries about 2 million barrels. A Suezmax can carry about one million barrels. The document stated that IOC aims to?lift LPG from June 30 to...

Middle East oil producers will have to face the consequences. The Iran War exposed the dangers of relying solely on one chokepoint to export vital oil and natural gas. Gulf governments were left with a clear strategy imperative: diversify at all costs. A blockade of Strait of Hormuz by Iran was long viewed as an "event of doomsday". It would never occur. Experts believed it would take a massive military effort, and Tehran would not be willing to choke off its own exports. These assumptions proved to be wildly wrong. Iran used cheap drones, small vessels, and mines to impose...

Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), welcomed on?Thursday the interim agreement that ended the?Iran War and?called for a reopening without conditions of the?Strait?of Hormuz. Birol said that several countries are reviewing their energy policies, as it is clear that the waterway may be closed again. Iran has already shut down the waterway during the war. Birol, speaking at an Istanbul event, said that the IEA would discuss new strategies with a number of countries, as the energy crisis has redrawn global maps. He added that "trust" was crucial in the global markets for energy, where prices...

Middle East oil producers will have to face the consequences. The Iran War exposed the dangers in relying solely on one chokepoint to export vital oil and gas. Gulf governments were left with a clear strategy imperative: diversify at all costs. A blockade by Iran of the Strait of Hormuz was long viewed as an "event of doomsday". It would never occur. Experts believed it would take a massive effort from the military and that Tehran wouldn't be willing to stop its exports. These assumptions were 'proven painfully incorrect. Iran used cheap drones and small vessels to impose a nearly...

The International Energy Agency reported on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates could have a production of more than 5 million?bpd in 2015 as it moves to increase its output after?its 'exit from OPEC. This would make it a major contributor to non-OPEC+ growth. The UAE announced its decision to exit OPEC earlier this year. It was made in order to prioritise production capacity expansion, maximise the value of their resources and free output from the 'constraints' of the group quotas. The IEA has forecast that the total oil production in 2027 will reach 5.2 millions barrels per day, an...

Two industry sources confirmed that a Moscow oil refinery stopped operations on Tuesday after a?Ukrainian drone attack. Sources said that the strike was claimed by Ukraine and caused a fire at the primary refinery CDU-6, which can process 21,400 metric tonnes of oil per day. This is 53% of its capacity. Sources who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak in public said that the refinery is expected to resume its operations at its second primary unit soon. This unit can process 18,800 tons per day. The local?emergency service said earlier on Tuesday that the fire at the...

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday endorsed the ?political leadership of Myanmar's military chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing as the ?two met in Beijing to ?map out the future development ?of ?bilateral ties. "I'm willing to continue strengthening (our countries' bilateral ties), to carry forward the brotherly relationship between our two nations, and to deepen comprehensive strategic collaboration," Xi said to his Myanmar counterpart according to Chinese state television CCTV. Min Aung Hlaing will be in China until Friday for a 5-day state visit. This is his first trip since he formalised his power after the controversial elections that took place...

The state visit by Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to China will give him a diplomatic boost, as he seeks to consolidate power in the war torn country after a widely condemned presidential election held at the beginning of the year. Min Aung Hlaing's five-day state visit, which will include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the highest diplomatic level, comes after he visited India last month and held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Richard Horsey is the Crisis Group's senior Myanmar advisor. "India did not give him the full honors of a state visit on his...