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U.S. aims to target China's grip over global ports with sweeping maritime missions
According to three sources who are familiar with the plan, U.S. president Donald Trump's government is on a quest to weaken China’s global network ports and bring in more strategic terminals to Western control. This is part of an ambitious effort by the United States to increase its maritime influence. It is also designed to alleviate growing concerns in Washington about being at a disadvantage in the event of conflict with China. The people said that Trump administration officials believed the U.S. Commercial Shipping Fleet was ill-equipped to support the military during wartime and Washington's dependency on foreign ports and ships is excessive. Three people have said that the White House may consider supporting Western or American firms to purchase Chinese stakes at ports. The three people did not name any firms, but cited BlackRock's proposal to buy CK Hutchison's port assets in 23 countries including Panama Canal as a good case study. They asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue. Requests for comments from the White House or U.S. Treasury were not answered. Sources say that, in addition to Panama, U.S. officials are also concerned by Chinese holdings of maritime infrastructure, including in Greece, Spain, the Caribbean and U.S. West Coast Ports. A spokesperson for the diplomatic mission of China in Washington stated that China has a normal level of co-operation with foreign countries within international law. The spokesperson stated that "China has been against unilateral sanctions, which are illegal and unjustified. This includes so-called long arm jurisdictions and actions that violate and undermine the legitimate rights and interest of other countries through economic coercion and hegemony. Beijing officials did not reply to our request for comment. The U.S. Government views Chinese investments in ports around the world as a threat to national security, said Stuart Poole Robb, founder and chief intelligence officer of KCS Group. He said that he was concerned about China using its assets to espionage or gain a military advantage, or disrupt supply chains in times of geopolitical crisis. GREEK PORT IN CENTRAL FOCUS Three sources confirmed that the U.S. will examine Chinese interests in the Greek Port of Piraeus. Piraeus, located in Athens in the eastern Mediterranean region, is an important hub for trade routes linking Europe, Africa, and Asia. COSCO, one China's largest port and shipping group, owns 67% of the Piraeus Authority. Sources close to Chinese shipping investors in Greece have expressed concern that Washington could target COSCO operations in Greece. COSCO and Greek government have not responded to comments. Greek officials previously stated that they were not informed of any plans to take control of Piraeus. Washington has already set COSCO as a target. In January, the Department of Defense included state-owned COSCO on its blacklist of Chinese military-linked companies. The designation does not entail immediate bans for U.S. businesses doing business with the listed companies, but it can be interpreted as a sign that further actions are being considered. The Development Research Center of the State Council (an official think-tank of China’s governing cabinet) said in a recent paper that the United States intended to attack China’s international influence through exaggerating the ‘China threat theory’ and use this excuse to force allied countries to choose sides in supply chain agreements. The U.S. Administration has announced measures to increase America’s small commercial maritime presence in the world. This includes encouraging domestic shipbuilding. It also wants to expand access U.S. controlled shipping registries and review global maritime chokepoints to assess shipping risks. China has a vast network of ports that it owns or leases through its state-controlled companies, such as China Merchants in Shanghai and SIPG. A report by the Council of Foreign Relations (a U.S. think tank) published last year stated that China, through its various companies, had invested in 129 ports projects around the world as of August 2024. According to U.S. Navy estimations, China's shipbuilding capacity is 230 times greater than that of U.S. shipyards, so it may take decades for the U.S. to catch up. The U.S.'s maritime push has contributed towards tensions between the U.S. and China, who see port and shipping assets integral to their Belt and Road initiative. This is at a moment when both superpowers have already been at odds over trade and tariffs. MEDITERRANEAN GATEWAY UNDER REVIEW The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission began a review in March of seven chokepoints on the maritime route. It stated that it wanted to identify "regulations, policies or practices" that create unfavourable conditions for shipping. This review examines the Strait of Gibraltar which separates Spain and Africa at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. Two sources claim that the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's desire to strengthen trade relations with China has caused Washington to be concerned about Beijing's access its ports. When asked to comment on Chinese port investments, a spokesperson for the Spanish Foreign Ministry said: "We do not know of any concerns or approaches from third parties in this regard and it is therefore not appropriate for us comment." A spokesperson for the Spanish Port Authority confirmed that COSCO holds concessions to operate container ports in Valencia and Bilbao. Since returning to the White House, Trump has taken a number of steps to increase U.S. power over the oceans. In April, he signed an executive directive to revitalize shipbuilding capacities to expand the U.S. controlled vessel fleet. His administration is looking at a proposal for a new shipping registry to be established in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This registry would allow vessels to fly a U.S. flag without meeting the more stringent standards of the U.S. domestic registry. The U.S. will soon start charging Chinese-built or Chinese flagged vessels fees when they call at U.S. port. Trump also wants to seize the semi-autonomous Danish Greenland territory, which is close to the Arctic and has important shipping routes. Sources familiar with the plans say that this is the most ambitious attempt by the U.S. since Richard Nixon tried to boost domestic shipbuilding, commercial ship registry and U.S. maritime power. Poole-Robb, a KCS analyst, said that the U.S. will likely continue to build alliances and partnerships in order to counter Chinese economic growth and power in the near to medium term. CARIBBEAN SHIPMENT CONCERNS According to three sources, the United States is also concerned about Chinese investments in Jamaica's Kingston Terminal, which is a major maritime transhipment hub for the Caribbean because of its location and deep water port facilities. China Merchants owns a share in the company that operates Kingston's container port, along with France's CMA CGM. JISCO, a Chinese metals company, bought the Alpart refinery west of the capital and Port Kaiser in 2016. According to a June study by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, China's presence at Kingston posed the biggest security threat for the United States of all Beijing port projects in Latin America & the Caribbean. On a visit to Kingston in March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described China's strategy as being characterised by "predatory practices", using government-subsidised companies to "underbid everybody" and acquire assets. A State Department spokesperson responded to Rubio's remarks by saying that the presence of untrusted equipment in critical infrastructure around the world, such as ports, increased the risk for U.S. security. Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade spokesperson said that it was unaware of any U.S. communication about the reduction in China's influence on the Caribbean nation's maritime trade. During the first Trump administration, there was some resistance to Chinese investment in the area. Bruce Golding, former Jamaican prime minister who brought Chinese investment to the Caribbean nation, said: "I expect that the U.S. will increase pressure on us to reduce our engagement with China." COSCO, on the other hand, has invested with local partners at the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, the United States. The White House has not responded to a question about COSCO's U.S. investment. A senior executive at the Chinese operator of Darwin Port said that the U.S. firm Cerberus in Australia, founded by U.S. deputy secretary of defense Stephen Feinberg has expressed interest in purchasing the lease. Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, has promised to return the strategic port in the north to Australian ownership. He also reiterated this position during his July visit to China. Albanese's Office referred to Albanese’s previous comments. A U.S. official of defense, when asked to comment on the matter, said that Feinberg had not participated in any discussions or made any decisions about any acquisitions in which his former company might be interested. Since the end of the term of President Joe Biden, Democratic and Republican legislators have scrutinized China's ownership of its ports. A U.S. Port official who is familiar with the issue confirmed this. Carlos Gimenez said in February that the United States cannot and will not stand by as Communist China undermines our interests at ports.
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Maguire: UK gas traders must be aware of the weather this winter.
Wind speeds in the UK this autumn and winter could have a major impact on the UK gas market, and even the gas and power markets of Europe. If the wind farm output continues to be below normal, it could lead to a sharp increase in gas consumption by UK power companies heading into winter. Gas supplies will likely become tighter and gas prices higher. The UK could export more gas and electricity during Europe's peak gas period in winter if wind power production increases. SUB-PAR 2025 WIND... SUB-PAR 2025 FOR WIND... Ember data shows that the monthly UK wind electricity production fell below the output total of the previous year during six of first eight months 2025. The total wind power output in the first six months of this year is just under 48 terawatt-hours (TWh). This is 8.3%, or 4.3 TWh, less than what was produced during the same period in 2024. Wind farms accounted for the lowest percentage of electricity generated in the UK since 2022. In the UK, wind farms produced 31.9% (or about 35% of utility-scale) electricity from January to August. This compares to almost 35% in the same period in 2024. GAS OFFSET Gas-fired electricity generation in the UK increased by 17.5% compared to the same period last year and reached its highest level in two years. The UK's final coal-fired plant was shut down in September last year. This helped to boost gas-fired production this year. It also resulted in the highest total power generation ever recorded from UK diesel-fired stations. Gas-fired electricity accounted for a 33% share of UK utility electric generation. This is an increase from 29% during the same period 2024. Gas will continue to be the main source of power dispatchable in the UK, particularly during times when wind farm output is intermittent and falls short of expectations. LSEG data shows that gas will be the main source of heating for the UK power sector during the upcoming cold spells. Temperatures are expected to continue trending lower, but remain above the long-term norm in the next month. Seasonal Upwings As we move into the last months of the calendar year, both wind and gas tend to increase. The wind speed at the turbines increases with the change in season, which has historically led to a dramatic increase in the production of wind electricity. Ember data show that between 2019 and 2024 the UK's wind electricity production during the last three months of the calendar year increased by an average of 66% compared to its average during the quarter from July to September. The share of wind power in the UK's generation mix has also traditionally increased as the year progressed, from an annual average of 30% to close to 40% by the winter peak months. UK fossil fuel power plant generation also increases from mid-year to winter. The total amount of fossil fuel electricity generated between 2019 and 2024 is expected to be 18% higher than during the summer months, as the demand for heating increases in winter. In the past, gas and coal-fired plants have been cranked to produce more power, but now that the UK coal plants are closed, gas plants will be doing the bulk of the heavy lifting in the winter. TIGHT STOCKS The volume of gas available during sudden cold snaps that trigger an increase in demand will be a major constraint to the UK's gas generation capacity during the winter. The UK relies on its pipeline system to supply its gas, both from its own fields and exporter nations. It does not keep a lot of inventory in its domestic storage tanks. The UK power system will likely consume more gas during peak demand times, due to the absence of backup coal plants after 2024. This will put pressure on the existing gas supply network during unexpected spikes in demand, and cause a regular reduction of existing stocks. The stock drawdown has already been apparent this year. Average inventories between January 1 and September 15 were 41% lower than the same period in 2020, the lowest since the 2021. Gas traders traditionally stock up in September and October before the winter rush. This year, you still have plenty of time to do so. During cold, windy days, power companies can rely on the increased power supply from wind farms to help meet any additional demand. Some power providers may worry that UK wind output will remain below the year-earlier level for the remainder of 2025 and that more gas generation may be required to balance the system. Gas traders could see a consistent increase in gas demand throughout the year. They may also experience periods of higher gas demand when power demand spikes due to cold snaps. Gas traders need to be more aware of the impact that wind farms will have on gas consumption. These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for. You like this article? Check it out Open Interest The new global financial commentary source (ROI) is your go-to for all the latest news and analysis. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on You can find us on LinkedIn.
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Trump Administration orders Delta and Aeromexico joint venture to terminate by January 1, 2019.
The Trump administration announced late Monday that it had ordered Delta Air Lines to dissolve a joint venture with Aeromexico by January 1, which allowed the carriers to coordinate flight scheduling, pricing, and capacity decisions between U.S. and Mexico. In July, the U.S. Transportation Department proposed to end the joint venture that had been in place for nearly nine years as part of several actions targeted at Mexican aviation. The department under Joe Biden announced in January 2024 that it was looking into ending it. Washington also warned that it may take action against European nations over restrictions at airports. The Department said Monday that the joint venture was ending because it "is necessary due to ongoing anti-competitive effects on U.S. Mexico City markets which provide an unfair benefit to Delta and Aeromexico." About 60% of passengers flying from Mexico City Airport into the U.S. are carried by these carriers. The airport is the 4th largest international gateway into and out of the United States. The U.S. Government said that it did not require Delta to sell its 20 percent equity stake in Aeromexico. The U.S. government said that it did not require Delta to sell its 20% equity stake in Aeromexico. Delta expressed disappointment that the Transportation Department had withdrawn approval of the venture. It said the move "would cause significant harm" to U.S. consumers, jobs and communities traveling between the U.S.A. and Mexico. We are reviewing Department's orders and determining next steps." Aeromexico and the Mexican government did not respond immediately to comments. Delta stated that the joint venture creates more than 310 million dollars of gross domestic product in the United States and nearly 4,000 jobs. It warned that up to $800,000,000 in consumer benefits per year could disappear, and that two dozen routes may be cancelled or smaller aircraft replaced. The Transportation Department announced in July that it would take action against the Mexican government for forcing cargo carriers to relocate their operations from Mexico City and for cutting flight slots. This had a negative impact on U.S. Airlines. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has ordered Mexican carriers file flight schedules. He also warned that his department may disapprove Mexican flight requests if they fail to address U.S. concerns about decisions made by Mexico in 2022 or 2023. The Transportation Department stated on Monday that Mexico continues to "continue along a pathway of market interference and distortion which adversely impacts competition in the U.S. - Mexico air services market." It also said that it "perpetuated an allocation system for slots that does not comply with international standards and benefits Aeromexico." The Department of Transportation warned that the venture would likely result in higher fares on some markets, reduced capacities and difficulties for U.S. carriers because of government intervention. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed, and Kylie Madry; Additional reporting in Mexico City by David Shepardson)
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Unions withdraw their threat to strike New York Rail Agency
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday that the unions have backed down from their threat to strike at Long Island Rail Road later this week, which serves more than 300,000 daily passengers. At a press event, a group of unions announced that they had requested President Donald Trump appoint a board to act as a mediator after threatening to strike the commuter railroad in New York. This action does not mean that a strike will never happen. Gil Lang, the general chairman of BLET's LIRR Engineers, said that it is unlikely to happen in the near future. The union leaders stated that the White House Board would be appointed and a 120-day period would begin during which it would make its recommendation. During this time, no work stoppages could take place. The White House can name a second panel with a cooling off period up to May 2026 if no agreement is reached. The LIRR is the largest commuter railway in the United States. Jim Louis, vice president of national affairs for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said that the five unions had decided to act like adults and ask President Trump to create a presidential board of emergency. The MTA criticised the unions. If these unions were truly interested in putting riders first, then they would have settled or agreed to binding arbitration. This cynical delaying serves no one. The White House didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. New York Governor Kathy Hochul asked the White House to mediate directly. She said, "There's a fair deal on the table and I've told the MTA that they should be prepared to negotiate anywhere, anytime." Both sides must continue to negotiate and work around the clock to resolve this." (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Edmund Klamann, and David Shepardson)
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Woodside Energy anticipates that demand for LNG will grow by 50% in the next decade
Woodside is bullish about LNG demand, despite TotalEnergies’ market glut warning Louisiana LNG is the largest foreign investment ever made in a state. Starting in 2029, exports will target Europe and Asia. Arathy S. Somasekhar, Curtis Williams HOUSTON, September 15 - Woodside Energy CEO Meg O'Neill announced on Monday that the global demand for LNG will grow by 50% in the next decade. She was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Australian company's Louisiana export facility. This dispelled concerns about the rapid expansion of U.S. LNG supply. The complex was the largest foreign investment ever made in Louisiana and the first U.S. gas project to receive financial approval after President Donald Trump took office in January. He had promised to unleash U.S. power on the world. The exports will begin in 2029, and they will be aimed at Europe and Asia. The market is already there. However, many nations are unable to take part in the market because of their price-sensitive nature. O'Neill, who spoke at an event in Calcasieu Parish Parish, Louisiana, said that she was "very bullish" on LNG demand over the long-term. O'Neill told reporters that she took the recent comments of TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne who warned about a possible market glut as a result of the new capacity being built in the U.S. with "a pinch of salt." Woodside has a large amount of experience in Australia. However, the Louisiana facility marks its first venture into owning and running a U.S. LNG Export facility. The first phase will cost approximately $17.5 billion, and is expected to produce 16,5 million metric tonnes of supercooled gas per year. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said that the U.S. Energy Policy was aimed at stabilizing world markets. Markus Hatzelmann was also present and stated that the European nation will receive a significant share of the gas produced by the facility. He said: "It is a tangible expression of the strong energy transatlantic partnership between Germany, the United States and Canada."
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Sources say that Russia's Primorsk Oil Port partially resumes loading after drone attacks
Two sources familiar with this matter reported that the Baltic Sea port Primorsk - a major outlet of Russian oil exports - partially resumed its operations on Saturday after being disrupted and damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks. The sources stated that Primorsk's capacity to load 1 million barrels per day is likely to be reduced due to damage. The sources added that they expect the loading schedule to be delayed several days. Sources said that only a few vessels loaded oil on the weekend. It was unclear if all berths are operational. Transneft Pipeline Operator, which manages this port, has not responded to our request for comments. According to LSEG, the tankers Kusto, Cai Yun and other vessels that were damaged during the attack of Friday remain at anchor in the vicinity of the port. Jan Harvey (Editing and Reporting)
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Nigerian conservationists are fighting to protect sea turtles in Nigeria from pollution and poaching
Conservationists fighting to save the turtles say that plastic pollution, fishing nets left behind and coastal development have taken a toll. "We are seeing a dramatic decline," said Chinedu Mogbo. The founder of Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative has treated and released over 70 turtles in the past five years. Mogbo stated that at least five threatened or endangered sea turtle species live in Nigerian waters. However, the exact number is unknown and monitoring resources are inadequate. Mogbo's team has saved Olive Ridley turtles, Hawksbill turtles and Leatherbacks. Mogbo’s group, which is mostly self-funded and works with local fisherman to save animals, has worked with them since its inception. "Fishers are in need of income." "We offer net repair kit in exchange for turtles or nests that have been rescued," he said at the turtle sanctuary of the group in Lagos, Nigeria's capital. Mogbo, a conservationist, said that the lack of marine protected areas, and the shrinking nesting sites, have made the coast a trap for turtles. He called on state authorities to take more action to protect these animals. The Nigerian environmental agency has not responded to any requests for comments. In Nigeria, the demand for sea turtle meat, eggs, and shells is high, for both consumption and for traditional rituals. "We eat the eggs, and give them sometimes to village elders as voodoo," says Morifat Hassan who sells seafood in the coastal region of Folu near Lagos. Hassan says sea turtles can fetch as much as 90,000 Naira ($60). Rescuers rescued a large green turtle that had been injured by a fishing net in July. He was named Moruf. Mogbo, after negotiating with the fisherman who discovered Moruf was able to deter people from trying to purchase the injured turtle. Mogbo, who was standing on the shore, said, "Normally, a turtle like this would be butchered, or sold. But we intervened, and will make sure it's returned to the sea safely."
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US natgas at Waha hub, Texas, falls into negative territory
The U.S. Natural Gas Prices for Monday in West Texas' Permian Shale Basin turned negative due to the fall pipeline maintenance. The financial company LSEG reported that the average gas production in the Lower 48 States has fallen to 107.6 bcfd so far in September. This is down from a monthly record of 108.3 bcfd set in August. The Waha Hub spot gas price has been boosted by traders who have noticed that the Permian Basin is flooded with gas due to the maintenance of the pipeline. The price of British thermal units (mmBtu), which was 6 cents on Friday, fell by 2,350% to a 17 week low of minus 1,26 dollars on Monday. This was the sixth time that Waha prices averaged less than zero in 2025. The previous averages were $1.66/mmBtu for 2025, 77c in 2024, and $2.91 in the five years prior (2019-2023). In 2019, the Waha price average was first below zero. This happened 17 times between 2019 and 2020, six times each in 2021, once in 2023, and 49 times on record in 2024. Analysts said that low prices are a sign that the Permian needs more gas pipelines. Some pipes are under construction including Kinder Morgan's Gulf Coast Express, Blackcomb, and Energy Transfer's Hugh Brinson. However, they will not be in service before 2026. The Permian Basin in West Texas, and Eastern New Mexico, is the largest and fastest growing oil producing shale region of the United States. With the oil, a lot of gas is also released. Energy companies are willing to accept some gas losses, even though U.S. Crude Futures have fallen about 12% in 2025. They can still compensate for the oil profits. Some energy companies are planning to cut back on the capital they spend this year on new oil drilling, as oil prices are expected to fall for a third consecutive year in 2025. This could eventually lead to less oil and gas coming out of the Permian. According to the federal outlook, U.S. oil production is expected to hit record levels in 2025, before declining in 2026. Scott DiSavino (Reporting) and David Goodman (Editing)
Data shows that a sanctioned tanker has discharged Russian oil in India's Mundra Port.
Ship tracking data from LSEG/Kpler revealed that the sanctioned tanker Spartan discharged Russian crude at India's Mundra Port despite a restriction by Adani Group to the entry of ships on the blacklist at the terminal.
Kpler data shows that the Suezmax tanker discharged one million barrels Urals crude to HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), Mundra terminal in India.
Spartan (formerly SCF Samatlor) has been placed on the blacklist by both Britain and the European Union for violating sanctions when transporting Russian oil.
Equasis showed that the ship was managed by Dubai's Nova Shipmanagement, and owned by Citrine Marine.
HMEL or Nova Shipmanagement didn't respond immediately to requests for comments outside of office hours. Citrine Marine, based in Dubai, does not have any contact details.
Noble Walker, another vessel sanctioned for carrying Russian oil and redirected to India's Vadinar Port on Monday.
According to shipping data and reports from LSEG, Kpler and LSEG, the Noble Walker was heading to Mundra on Friday, with about 1,000,000 barrels of Russian crude oil for HMEL.
Adani has issued an order to bar vessels sanctioned by Britain, the EU and the United States from entering its 14 ports. This includes Mundra, in Western India. The port is used by Indian refiners HMEL, Indian Oil Corp and others to import oil from Russia. Reporting by Florence Tan and Nidhh Verma from Singapore, with editing by Jamie Freed
(source: Reuters)