FMC Proposes Remedies to Counteract Unfavorable Spanish Shipping Conditions
After investigating reports of restrictive port practices by the Government of Spain, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has determined that Spain has created unfavorable shipping conditions against U.S.-flagged vessels. As a result, the FMC is proposing remedies to counteract those unfavorable conditions, including charging fees for all Spanish-flagged vessels and restricting the import of certain Spanish goods.The FMC initiated an investigation in December 2024 to determine whether Spain is creating general or special conditions unfavorable to shipping in U.S.
US Natural Gad Futures Remain Steady Ahead of Mild Weather
US natural gas futures held steady on Tuesday as bearish forecasts for milder weather and less demand over the next two weeks than previously expected offset a bullish drop in daily output to an eight-month low.Front-month gas futures for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 0.2 cent, or 0.1%, to $3.169 per million British thermal units.Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the US Lower 48 states slid from record highs of 113.3 bcfd in August…
US Natural Gas Prices Steady as Storage Build Offsets Hurricane Isaias
US natural gas futures held near a two-week high on Thursday as a bigger-than-expected storage build last week offset the drop in output in recent days as energy firms reduced flows on offshore Gulf of Mexico pipelines ahead of Hurricane Isaias.Front-month gas futures for November delivery <NGc1> on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 1.1 cents, or 0.3%, to $3.192 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). On Wednesday, the contract closed at its highest level since September…
US Natural Gas Futures Reach Four-Week High
U.S. natural gas futures rose to a near four-week high on Wednesday, supported by forecasts for hotter weather and firm oil prices, while investors awaited a federal storage report due this week. Front-month gas futures for September delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 9.6 cents, or 3.5%, to $2.87 per million British thermal units, their highest level since July 24. Oil prices steadied near a three-week high on uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and other ongoing supply disruptions in the market. "(Natgas) market is currently edging higher...
US Natural Gas Prices Drop to Six Week Low
U.S. natural gas futures fell about 4% to a six-week low on Thursday on expectations gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants will remain low through late August due to planned maintenance at Freeport LNG's plant in Texas, and after the release of a federal report showing last week's storage build was much bigger than expected.Front-month gas futures for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 13.9 cents, or 4.3%, to $3.073 per million British thermal units (mmBtu)…
US Natural Gas Prices Fall With Ample Supply Maintaining Pressure on Market
U.S. natural gas futures fell for a second straight session on Monday, as ample supplies kept pressure on the market despite forecasts for hotter weather in the coming weeks. On its first day as the front-month, gas futures for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 8.2 cents, or 2.5%, to $3.20 per million British thermal units. The contract is down 2.7% so far this month. "The market thinks the heat wave is going to be short-lived and that next week temperatures will cool back to normal.
With War, Americas Dirty Tanker Exports Soar to Record in May
"In May, dirty tanker exports from the Americas reached 14.5 million barrels per day (mbpd), up from the previous record of 13.8 mbpd in April. Compared to May 2025, exports are up 40% year-on-year and during the three months since the start of the Iran War, exports have risen 23% year-on-year,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.During March-May, countries outside of the Persian Gulf region have increased their dirty tanker exports by 9% year-on-year combined…
Sentinel Midstream to Begin Building Texas Deepwater Oil Export Port
Oil transportation and storage company Sentinel Midstream said on Tuesday it would immediately begin construction of its deepwater oil export project off the Texas coast, marking the first development of a large-scale export project in the United States in years.Sentinel expects to begin commercial operations of the Texas GulfLink system by the fourth quarter of 2028, said Bruce Heine, the company's senior VP for public affairs, adding the company will begin excavation activities…
Brent Crude Prices Rise as Trump Threatens to Attack Mine-Laying Ships in Hormuz
Brent crude futures climbed more than $1 a barrel on Thursday following U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to attack ships laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, casting doubt on the survival of a ceasefire in the war with Iran.Brent crude futures were up $1.26, or 1.24%, to $103.17 a barrel at 9:19 a.m. CDT (1419 GMT) after settling above $100 for the first time in more than two weeks on Wednesday. West Texas Intermediate futures were up 72 cents, or 0.77%, at $93.68.Iran flaunted its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz with video of its commandos storming a huge cargo ship…
Trump Threatens to Escalate Iran War, But Says It Could End Soon
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to escalate the war with Iran if it blocked oil shipments from the Middle East, even as he predicted a quick end to the conflict.Trump's warning came at the end of a day that saw global financial markets seesawing on concerns that Iran's security establishment was rallying behind new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and was not prepared to back down any time soon.Trump said the United States had inflicted serious damage on Iran's air force and navy and predicted the conflict would end well before the initial four-week time frame he had laid out…
US Diesel Exports Hit High as Europe Strengthens Sanctions Against Russian Oil
U.S. diesel exports to Europe hit an all‑time high in January after the continent strengthened its ban on imports of Russian-derived fuel, and as discounted Russian diesel displaced U.S. fuel in Brazil, data showed and analysts said.The developments show how Western sanctions, aimed at punishing Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, are reshaping markets, allowing U.S. producers to capture premium markets in Europe while forcing Russia to seek customers much farther from home.Notably…
Oil Prices Surge 3% on Worries of US Action Against Iran
Oil prices climbed about 3% to a five-month high on Thursday on rising concerns that global supplies could be disrupted if the U.S. decides to attack Iran, one of the biggest crude producers in OPEC.Brent futures rose $2.10, or 3.1%, to $70.50 a barrel by 11:07 a.m. EST (1607 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained $2.09, or 3.3%, to $65.30.That pushed both crude benchmarks into technically overbought territory and put Brent on track for its highest close since July 31 and WTI on track for its highest close since September 26.U.S.
US Natural Gas Futures Ease 1% on Ample Gas in Storage
U.S. natural gas futures eased about 1% on Thursday on near-record output and ample amounts of gas in storage despite near-historic flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants and forecasts for colder weather and higher demand over the next two weeks than previously expected.The price decline also came despite a federal storage report that showed energy firms pulled gas out of storage for the first time this winter during last week's cold weather.Front-month gas futures for December delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 3.7 cents…
US Natural Gas Futures Climb 4% with LNG Flows, Cold December Forecast
U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 4% on Wednesday on near-record flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and forecasts for higher demand than previously expected as the weather turns colder than normal going into December.Front-month gas futures for December delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 17.9 cents, or 4.1%, to settle at $4.550 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 states rose to 109.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in November…
US Exports Record Levels of Natural Gas to Mexico
U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico averaged 7.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in May 2025, the most of any month on record as Mexico's demand for natural gas increases, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Monday.On an annual basis, U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico averaged 6.4 bcfd in 2024, a 25% increase compared with 2019 and the highest on record in data going back as early as 1975, the EIA report stated."Total consumption of natural gas in Mexico increased from 7.7 bcfd to 8.6 bcfd during the same time (2019-2024) period…
Trade Group Wants Ban on Export of Scrap Aluminum Cans to China
A trade group representing the aluminum industry called on Tuesday for a ban on U.S. exports of used beverage cans to China to support American production of cars, fighter jets, tanks and satellites.The Aluminum Association said the United States consumes between 5 million to 6 million metric tons of aluminum scrap annually while exporting more than 2 million tons. The group called for an immediate ban on used beverage container exports outside of North America on national security grounds, saying much of U.S.
USTR Fees Could Hit 35% of key sectors' ships
When fees from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) targeting Chinese dominance of the maritime sector come into effect October 14, 2025, 35% of ships in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker and container fleet could be subject to additional fees when calling a US port. Even though these ships provide 44% of the combined fleet’s capacity, US importers and exporters should not expect increasing freight rates,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Of the ships that could be subject to the port fees…
US Commerce Disorganization Stalls Thousands of Export Approvals
Thousands of license applications by U.S. companies to export goods and technology around the globe, including to China, are in limbo because turmoil at the agency in charge of approving them has left it nearly paralyzed, two sources said.While U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has become a familiar face touting President Donald Trump's tariff and trade deals, sources said the export bureau under Lutnick's command has failed to issue expected new rules, stifled communications with industry representatives…
USTR Eases Proposed Fees for Non-US LNG Tankers, Vehicle Carriers
The U.S. Trade Representative softened fee proposals for non-U.S.-built LNG tankers and car carriers amid its ongoing effort to counter China's dominance on the high seas and revive domestic shipbuilding.The revised proposal, unveiled by USTR on Friday, would remove LNG-related penalties for failing to export a percentage of fuel on U.S.-owned ships. It also would reduce fees when foreign-built car carriers visit domestic ports and exempt those vessels when they are serving the U.S. military.USTR previously exempted ships carrying U.S.
US Ethane Exports to China Face License Requirement
Chinese purchases of U.S. ethane, a key petrochemical feedstock, face fresh uncertainty after the Commerce Department told exporters to seek licences to export to China, according to trade sources and shipping data.Washington ordered a broad swathe of companies to stop shipping goods, including ethane and butane, to China without a licence and revoked licences already granted to some suppliers, Reuters reported on Wednesday.The move is the latest disruption in Chinese purchases of U.S. ethane, which hit a record of 492,000 barrels per day in 2024, or nearly half of U.S.
US Natural Gas Prices Fall 6% in Volatile Contract Expiration Trade
U.S. natural gas futures fell about 6% on Wednesday to a one-week low in volatile contract expiration trade, pressured by an expected decline in gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants.Traders said Freeport LNG in Texas might reduce output and they pointed to forecasts for less demand this week than previously expected.On its last day as the front-month, gas futures for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) fell 19.4 cents, or 5.7%, to settle at $3.214 per million British thermal units (mmBtu)…
US Natural Gas Prices Fall on a Smaller-Than-Expected Decline
U.S. natural gas futures fell around 1% on Wednesday on a smaller than previously expected decline in daily output so far this month after a 10%-price jump on Tuesday forced some traders to cover some short positions.Gas futures for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 2.4 cents, or 0.7%, to $3.403 per million British thermal units at 9:07 a.m. EDT (1307 GMT).Analysts said heating and cooling demand should remain low across much of the country in coming weeks…
USTR: New Measures Target Chinese Maritime Sector
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a detailed notice on April 17, 2025, regarding actions and proposed actions in response to China's alleged targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The measures, USTR argues, will “disincentivize the use of Chinese shipping and Chinese-built ships, thereby providing leverage on China to change its acts, policies, and practices, and send a critically needed demand signal for U.S.-built ships.” Below, we break down the key elements of the notice and their potential impacts.