Skip to content
Bullish As of Jul 16, 2026 09:30 ET Download PDF

Daily Energy & Shipping Briefing — Jul 16, 2026

Global energy markets displayed a bullish tone today, primarily driven by escalating Middle East tensions which pushed crude oil prices higher for the fourth consecutive day and sent Asian LNG prices to a four-month high. European carbon prices saw a slight dip following news of eased emissions cuts, while Singapore bunker prices declined after recent gains. Currencies and equities showed mixed movements.

Energy Prices

Crude

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
Brent ICE $/bbl 84.95 -0.24
WTI NYMEX $/bbl 79.45 -0.15

Products

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
RBOB Gasoline NYMEX c/gal 213.67 -1.50
Heating Oil NYMEX c/gal 397.00 +2.37

Natural Gas

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
US Henry Hub NYMEX $/MMBtu 2.89 -0.03

Natural Gas Liquids

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
US Mont Belvieu Propane NYMEX $/mt 378.14 +1.25

Price Spreads

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
RBOB Gasoline/Brent Crack Spread $/bbl 23.19 -0.15
Heating Oil/Brent Crack Spread $/bbl 20.50 -0.10

Shipping Rates & Bunkers

Dirty Tanker (Spot TCE, $/day)

Vessel Route Spot TCE Avg YTD
VLCC, 270 AG-FE 40,300 39,700
Suezmax, 130 WAF-UKC 28,500 27,900

Clean Tanker (Spot TCE, $/day)

Vessel Route Spot TCE Avg YTD
LR2, 75 AG-FE 20,500 26,400
MR, 37 TC2 18,000 19,200

Time Charter & Asset Values

Vessel 1yr ($/day) Newbuild ($M) 5yr ($M)
VLCC, 200+ 49,000 127.0 112.0
Aframax, 115 28,000 75.0 65.0

LNG Vessels ($/day)

Type Spot Sentiment 52wk Avg
160M3 Tri-fuel diesel electric (East) 15,000 Bullish 30,231
174M3 MEGI (West) 17,000 Bullish 35,000

Bunkers ($/mt)

Port VLSFO HSFO MGO
Singapore 765.0 549.0 1,119.0
Rotterdam 515.0 430.0 590.0

LPG (Spot TCE, $/day)

VLGC, 44 (AG-Japan) 34,643
VLGC, 44 (USG-Japan) 45,000

Carbon Markets

Instrument Unit Bid Offer
European Union Allowances (Spot) EUR/ton 80.90 80.95

Equities & Currencies

Index Region Last Δ Day
S&P 500 United States 3,842.93 -1.89
Dow Jones Industrial Average United States 32,500.50 -50.20
Pair Region Last Δ Day
EUR/$ European Union 1.15 0.00
$/JPY Japan 162.14 +0.06

Developments

  • Oil prices extend gain for fourth day, stay beyond $85 amid Middle East chaos

    Crude oil prices continued to inch higher for the fourth day straight, staying beyond the $85 per barrel mark, as investors reacted to a fresh escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran, raising concerns over the security of major global energy shipping routes.

    The Times of India · Jul 16, 2026

  • EU Eases Emissions Cuts for Industrial Factories

    The EU is easing carbon emissions cuts required of industrial factories, affecting around 10,000 facilities under its carbon market, including steel, cement, and fertilizer plants. This move aims to give heavy industry more time to adapt to clean technologies.

    Briefs Finance · Jul 15, 2026

  • Asian Gas Prices Near Four-Month High on Mideast Tensions

    Asian liquefied natural gas prices rose to the highest since late March as fresh hostilities in the Middle East deepened concerns that shipping through the key Strait of Hormuz will remain disrupted for longer, increasing competition for flexible cargoes.

    Bloomberg News · Jul 16, 2026

  • Iran conflict boosts US LNG investment amid supply disruptions: S&P Global

    The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to a significant increase in investments in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure, as disruptions to vital energy supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz prompt Asian and European buyers to seek long-term supply security from the U.S.

    S&P Global · Jul 15, 2026

  • Singapore prices decline after rising for three straight days

    Singapore bunker prices for VLSFO, B30-VLSFO, LSMGO, and HSFO all saw declines on July 16, 2026, after several days of increases, with VLSFO broadly stable over the last couple of days before the dip.

    engine.online · Jul 16, 2026