Renewed tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have refocused attention on supply security, freight costs and export flows across Asian refined products markets. While demand for gasoline, gasoil, jet fuel and naphtha remained broadly resilient, market participants are once again assessing the risk of disruptions to Middle Eastern exports and their impact on regional trade flows.

In this episode of the Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Jonathan Nonis, Associate Editorial Director, is joined by the Asian oil product editorial team of Wanda Wang, Rachelle Teo and Joshua Ong to discuss how renewed geopolitical uncertainty is influencing gasoline, gasoil, jet fuel and naphtha markets in the region, the implications for supply, freight and arbitrage economics, and how buyers and sellers are adapting to a more volatile trading environment.

The announcement of a Russian ban on diesel exports following supply shortages at gas stations across the country has spurred cracks to widen significantly in the European market at a time when product markets continue to face uncertainty over the recovery of supply from the Persian Gulf and crude markets face pressure from low Chinese demand.

In this episode, Gary Clark, associate director, price reporting, Elza Turner, global lead specialist, price reporting, Virginie Malicier, price reporting manager, and senior price reporter Patrick McAllister peel back the key developments behind the recent pricing movements, providing an update on the situation within Russia, the European middle distillate space and the European crude complex.

Aside from a handful of high-profile deals, merger and acquisition activity in the US oil and gas sector has been tepid in recent months even as war in the Middle East pushed oil prices to multi-year highs.

In this episode, S&P Global Energy's Christopher van Moessner, editor, oil futures, is joined by Americas news editor Ashok Dutta and senior reporter Eamonn Brennan to discuss the outlook for M&A activity in the sector and how it has been impacted by a White House that from the start has positioned itself as pro-oil. They dig into how the administration's deregulation efforts have so far failed to manifest in a wave of oil and gas dealmaking that has been seen in other industries, and how capex discipline and general price uncertainty have presented headwinds to M&A activity in the sector.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz following escalating tensions in the Middle East sent European fuel oil imports from the Gulf plummeting 95% in the first half of 2026. Supply chains faced unprecedented disruption while risk premiums skyrocketed across the bunker market.

In this episode, S&P Global Energy's Emma Kettley, associate director, price reporting, is joined by reporters Joseph Jaffe, Iman Rezig and Awa Bobb in examining how different fuel oil grades responded to the crisis, from high sulfur fuel oil cracks surging into positive territory to bunker-barge spreads widening over 200% from pre-war levels. They dissect how the June peace agreement between the US and Iran has reshaped fuel oil fundamentals, why VLSFO markets proved more resilient than HSFO during the crisis, and what the current contango structure signals for European fuel oil supply as summer demand patterns emerge.

Asia's energy security has always rested on a difficult bargain -- deep reliance on Middle Eastern crude in exchange for scale, proximity and established commercial relationships. The recent conflict tested that bargain in real time, forcing refiners, traders and governments to reroute supply, reassess risk and confront the true cost of dependence. As risk premiums fade and markets move from crisis response to post-war recalibration, the bigger question is no longer just where the next cargo comes from -- it is whether Asia can build a more resilient energy supply system. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets podcast by S&P Global Energy, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty discusses with Calvin Lee, head of Asia content at Platts, and Nick Sharma, head of global upstream insights at CERA, how the supply shock is reshaping Asia's crude sourcing and refining economics, as well as building a case for more investment in domestic oil and gas production.

As summer travel is getting into its stride, European supply chains for diesel and gasoline are geared to meet the seasonal uptick in road fuel demand. However, with production operating near capacity, demand may outpace available supply, possibly altering consumption patterns and prompting end-users to switch to alternative modes of transport.

In this episode, Gary Clark, Friedrich Gutsche, Sophia Aung, and Elza Turner uncover how recent price developments in European road fuel markets amid easing supply tightness have been providing relief for end-consumers. Tune in to find out how the World Cup, government policy, and the Middle Eastern conflict are shaping local fuel prices.

With Strait of Hormuz constraints reshaping global supply routes, Latin America is stepping into the spotlight. In this episode, Jeff Mower, Kate Winston, Sheky Espejo and Charles Newbery unpack how producers across the region are positioned for upstream expansion. What are producers learning from Argentina's drive to boost Vaca Muerta oil output and exports? What does Colombia's upcoming election mean for oil growth? What will it take for investors to spend in Venezuela? Let's dive into what could drive the next wave of growth.

The global crude oil market continues to see disrupted exports from the Middle East. Yet, with soft Asian demand and the release of strategic reserves around the world, Europe now finds itself struggling to place excess crude oil barrels ahead of peak summer demand.

To examine the latest development in European crude oil balances, S&P Global Energy's Gary Clark, associate director, is joined by frontline price reporters Ernest Puey and Patrick McAllister to unpack supply drivers that have led to the current supply glut.