Trending Now - Countries Face Potential Oil Shortage as Prices Surge to $180
WHO:
President Trump
Avery Ash, CEO of the energy security and national security nonprofit SAFE
Ellen Wald, author of "Saudi, Inc."
Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners
Bob McNally, founder of Rapidan Energy
Patrick de Haan, petroleum analyst at GasBuddy
Kurt Barrow, vice-president of oil at S&P Global Energy
Jeff Currie, oil veteran at the Carlyle Group
Natasha Kaneva, commodity chief at JP Morgan
Helima Croft, former CIA analyst at RBC Capital
David Fyfe, chief economist at Argus
WHAT:
The benchmark TTF contract for gas in Europe was €29 (£25) per megawatt-hour (MWh) in mid-February 2026.
Bank of America predicts gas prices could reach €500 this winter (2026) if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for 10 weeks.
Qatar Energy reports a 17% loss of production for three to five years due to damage from missile retaliation on Qatar’s Ras Laffan.
Actual barrels of the Dubai basket and Oman’s Murban are fetching close to $170 per barrel.
Jet fuel deliveries have hit $210 in Rotterdam and $240 in Singapore.
Kurt Barrow, vice-president of oil at S&P Global Energy, stated, “If the Strait stays closed for two months, you’ll have plants without feedstock and we’ll get real rationing.”
Jeff Currie, an oil veteran at the Carlyle Group, warned that the world will hit a brick wall within two months.
The spread between global Brent and Texas crude (WTI) has ballooned to more than $16 a barrel.
The U.S. could potentially block oil exports, which would deprive the global market of up to seven to eight million barrels per day.
David Fyfe, chief economist at Argus, noted that the U.S. would still need to import some medium sour crude from the Mid-East and Latin America.
Crude oil prices have topped $110 per barrel.
The International Energy Agency agreed to release more than 400 million barrels from reserves.
Twenty million barrels a day are backed up by the Strait of Hormuz.
Five million barrels are finding alternate routes through pipelines.
The benchmark TTF contract for gas in Europe was €29 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in mid-February.
Bank of America predicts gas prices could reach €500 if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for 10 weeks.
Actual barrels of the Dubai basket and Oman’s Murban are fetching close to $170 per barrel.
Jet fuel deliveries have hit $210 in Rotterdam and $240 in Singapore.
10.5 million barrels per day of production have been closed due to storage issues or attacks.
The U.S. is considering a ban on oil exports, which could deprive the global market of up to seven to eight million barrels per day.
WHERE:
Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Europe
Asia
Gulf Coast of the United States
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Singapore
WHEN:
March 20th, 2026
Mid-February 2026
The release of reserves was agreed upon last week (March 13th, 2026).
The potential gas price increase is projected for winter 2026.
WHY:
The situation worsened after Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field, escalating tensions and impacting oil and gas infrastructure.
The near-total halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted oil markets.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is due to geopolitical tensions, including attacks on oil infrastructure.
HOW:
The U.S. has lifted some sanctions on Russian crude to facilitate market access, and is considering removing sanctions on Iranian oil.
The U.S. government announced a temporary waiver of the Jones Act to facilitate gasoline movement.
Countries are tapping into strategic oil reserves to address supply shortages.
The U.S. is considering lifting sanctions on Iranian oil to ease supply issues.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 15:13 UTC)
Gas prices in Europe are under significant pressure, with the benchmark TTF contract recently sitting at €29 per megawatt-hour, but Bank of America warns they could soar to €500 this winter if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for ten weeks. This situation has been exacerbated by Israel's attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, which has damaged oil and gas infrastructure, while Qatar Energy reports a 17% loss in production due to missile retaliation. In response to these challenges, the U.S. has lifted some sanctions on Russian crude and is contemplating removing sanctions on Iranian oil to improve market access.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 13:22 UTC)
Today, crude oil prices have surged past $110 per barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions that have nearly halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with over 20 million barrels a day currently backed up. In response, the International Energy Agency agreed last week to release more than 400 million barrels from reserves, while the U.S. is contemplating a ban on oil exports that could impact global supply by up to eight million barrels per day. Meanwhile, jet fuel prices have skyrocketed, reaching $210 in Rotterdam and $240 in Singapore, as countries scramble to address the ongoing supply shortages.