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Neutral As of Jul 31, 2026 17:00 ET Download PDF

Daily Energy & Shipping Briefing — Aug 01, 2026

Global energy markets presented a mixed picture on Friday, with crude oil prices seeing a jump due to geopolitical tensions, while natural gas futures remained subdued amidst healthy storage levels. Shipping rates for dirty tankers showed modest gains, but the LNG spot market continued to face headwinds from ample supply. Carbon markets saw expansion with new UN methodologies, and major equity indices experienced some volatility.

Energy Prices

Crude

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
Brent ICE $/bbl 65.50 +0.30
WTI NYMEX $/bbl 61.80 +0.25

Products

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
RBOB Gasoline NYMEX c/gal 214.00 +0.33
Heating Oil NYMEX c/gal 205.50 +0.40

Natural Gas

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
US Henry Hub NYMEX $/MMBtu 3.60 -0.06
Europe TTF ICE EUR/MWh 32.50 +0.20

Natural Gas Liquids

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
US Mont Belvieu Propane NYMEX $/mt 379.00 +0.86
US Mont Belvieu Ethane NYMEX c/gal 28.50 +0.10

Price Spreads

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
RBOB Gasoline/Brent Crack Spread $/bbl 23.00 -0.19
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 40,500 39,700
Suezmax, 140 WAF-UKC 28,100 27,500
Aframax, 100 Carib-USGC 22,300 21,900

Clean Tanker (Spot TCE, $/day)

Vessel Route Spot TCE Avg YTD
LR2, 75 AG-FE 20,600 26,400
LR1, 55 AG-Japan 18,700 19,100
MR, 37 TC2 (UKC-USAC) 15,400 16,200

Time Charter & Asset Values

Vessel 1yr ($/day) Newbuild ($M) 5yr ($M)
VLCC, 200+ 49,000 127.0 112.0
Suezmax, 150+ 35,000 85.0 75.0

LNG Vessels ($/day)

Type Spot Sentiment 52wk Avg
160M3 Tri-fuel diesel electric (East) 13,500 Flat 30,231
174M3 TFDE (Atlantic) 15,000 Soft 35,000

Bunkers ($/mt)

Port VLSFO HSFO MGO
Singapore 509.0 426.0 586.0
Rotterdam 515.0 430.0 590.0

LPG (Spot TCE, $/day)

VLGC, 44 (AG-Japan) 34,800
VLGC, 44 (USGC-Far East) 42,100

Carbon Markets

Instrument Unit Bid Offer
European Union Allowances (Spot) EUR/ton 69.50 69.52
California Carbon Allowances (Spot) $/ton 35.10 35.15

Equities & Currencies

Index Region Last Δ Day
S&P 500 United States 3,845.00 +2.07
Dow Jones Industrial Average United States 32,800.00 +50.00
Pair Region Last Δ Day
EUR/$ European Union 1.11 0.00
USD/JPY Japan 145.20 +0.05

Developments

  • China's Shifting Energy Mix Weakens Pillar of Global LNG Growth

    China's demand for liquefied natural gas is flagging as it prioritizes domestic and pipeline gas and renewable energy, potentially undermining future LNG projects despite a wave of new supply.

    Reuters / BOE Report · Jul 30, 2026

  • UN Carbon Market Expands to Renewable Power Sector with New Methodology

    The UN body overseeing the Paris Agreement's carbon market adopted a new methodology, allowing grid-connected renewable power projects to generate UN-backed carbon credits, significantly expanding the mechanism's reach.

    UNFCCC / Carbon Herald · Jul 30, 2026

  • Oil Prices Jump Amid Renewed Iran War Concerns, While Dow Drops

    Crude oil prices surged due to renewed fighting in the Iran war, raising worries about global oil flow, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled as sinking AI stocks dragged Wall Street lower.

    AP / Commercial Dispatch · Jul 30, 2026

  • US Natural Gas Storage Healthy, Prices Remain Below $3 Amid Supply Concerns

    US natural gas fundamentals remain heavy with healthy storage levels and August futures settling below $3.00/MMBtu, despite stabilizing LNG feedgas demand.

    NGI / LNG Global · Jul 30, 2026

  • NextDecade Secures $4.6 Billion Financing for Rio Grande LNG Project Expansion

    NextDecade Corporation secured approximately $4.6 billion in financing for its Rio Grande LNG project in South Texas, refinancing existing debt and advancing expansion plans, with construction ahead of schedule.

    Energy News Beat · Aug 01, 2026

  • QatarEnergy Buys US LNG Cargoes to Offset Hormuz Disruption

    QatarEnergy purchased 33 US spot LNG cargoes in 2026, up from four last year, to resell into Asia after declaring force majeure due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

    Reuters / LNG Global · Jul 30, 2026