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Bullish As of Aug 14, 2026 17:00 ET Download PDF

Daily Energy & Shipping Briefing — Aug 15, 2026

Crude oil prices surged on Friday due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz following new tanker attacks, pushing Brent above $88/bbl. Meanwhile, major equity markets experienced a slight downturn as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data. Natural gas prices held relatively steady, while Atlantic LNG spot rates continued to soften.

Energy Prices

Crude

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
Brent ICE $/bbl 88.52 +1.45
WTI NYMEX $/bbl 82.40 +1.15

Products

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
RBOB Gasoline NYMEX c/gal 318.41 +5.61
ULSD NYMEX c/gal 428.29 +3.23

Natural Gas

Instrument Unit Last Δ Day
US Henry Hub NYMEX $/MMBtu 2.81 +0.02

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

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 25,000 24,500
Aframax, 80 Cross-Med 18,000 17,500

Clean Tanker (Spot TCE, $/day)

Vessel Route Spot TCE Avg YTD
LR2, 75 AG-FE 20,500 26,400
LR1, 55 ME-Japan 15,000 18,000
MR, 37 TC2 12,000 14,500

Time Charter & Asset Values

Vessel 1yr ($/day) Newbuild ($M) 5yr ($M)
VLCC, 200+ 49,000 127.0 112.0

LNG Vessels ($/day)

Type Spot Sentiment 52wk Avg
160M3 Tri-fuel diesel electric (East) 40,000 Weakening 60,000

Bunkers ($/mt)

Port VLSFO HSFO MGO
Singapore 831.0 627.5 1,226.0

LPG (Spot TCE, $/day)

VLGC, 44 (AG-Japan) 34,643

Carbon Markets

Instrument Unit Bid Offer
European Union Allowances (Spot) EUR/ton 69.34 69.36

Equities & Currencies

Index Region Last Δ Day
S&P 500 United States 7,782.84 -13.23
Dow Jones Industrial Average United States 53,732.41 -107.58
Pair Region Last Δ Day
EUR/$ European Union 1.16 +0.00

Developments

  • Oil Prices Rise as Tanker Attacks Return to Hormuz

    Crude oil futures rebounded Friday as fresh tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying rhetoric between Washington and Tehran reignited geopolitical supply fears. NYMEX WTI crude for September delivery rose by $1.15, or 1.42%, to settle at $82.40 barrel (bbl).

    DTN Progressive Farmer · Aug 14, 2026

  • S&P 500 ends lower as investors weigh data, Middle East tensions

    The S&P 500 closed lower on Friday, dipping from a record high and weighed down by Applied Materials, while investors digested weaker-than-expected retail sales data. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared at a near standstill after two more ships were attacked there.

    Investing.com (Reuters) · Aug 14, 2026

  • $51 billion LNG megaproject takes 'important' step on path to FID by year-end

    A giant multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in South America is laying the groundwork for a final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2026, with the submission of its application to join Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). The Argentina LNG integrated project is promoted by YPF, Eni, and ADNOC's XRG.

    LNGPrime · Aug 14, 2026

  • Sempra says the Port Arthur LNG expansion remains on schedule despite extended commissioning of export credit agency facilities

    Sempra revealed that the Port Arthur LNG expansion remains on schedule despite the extended commissioning of export credit agency facilities. The project achieved its first LNG production in June 2026 and loaded its first cargo in early August.

    Energies Media · Aug 14, 2026

  • Historic federal land in Louisiana eyed for natural gas expansion

    The U.S. Department of the Interior has transferred jurisdiction of a historic 3-acre parcel to accommodate expansion of the Venture Global LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. This move is part of a national energy emergency directive to accelerate development.

    American Press · Aug 14, 2026

  • Atlantic spot LNG rates drop to $40,000 per day

    Atlantic spot LNG shipping rates continued to decrease this week, dropping to $40,000 per day, the lowest since the start of the Middle East conflict, according to Spark Commodities.

    LNGPrime · Aug 14, 2026