أسعار الخام ترتفع sharply بسبب المخاوف بشأن الإمدادات العالمية

October WTI crude oil (CLV26) closed up +6.43 (+6.69%) on Thursday, and October RBOB gasoline (RBV26) closed up +0.1826 (+5.69%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices surged on Thursday, with crude oil posting a 3.5-month high and gasoline posting a 2-week high. Crude prices are rallying sharply amid fears that the US-Iran war will persist, reducing Middle East energy exports and tightening global oil supplies. Crude prices rallied on Thursday despite a bearish weekly EIA inventory report.

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Crude prices are soaring after Iran said that it is ready for a more intense war and will escalate counterstrikes if the US continues attacking its territory and infrastructure. The prospect of a lengthy conflict that limits crude supplies from the Middle East is underpinning crude oil prices. Crude oil prices added to their gains on Thursday after Saudi Arabia told OPEC that its crude production in August fell to 6.238 million bpd, the lowest since 1990.

Crude also has support as Yemen's Houthi rebels target energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, forcing several oil facilities to halt production. The rebels also captured the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha on Thursday, 50 miles from the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, putting the group in a stronger position to attack ships. Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has pivoted to the Red Sea to export most of its oil, but over the past two months, escalating tensions with the Houthis have disrupted that route.

Vitol Group said that global oil markets are continuing to tighten, with the loss of about 2 million bpd from crude exports in the Middle East, and a further 2 million bpd from Russia as a result of Ukraine's drone attacks. Data compiled by Bloomberg, Kpler and Vortexa showed that Saudi Arabia's Aug crude exports dropped to about 3 million bpd, the lowest amount in 9 years.

President Trump recently said that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports is putting pressure on the country, and he has no timeline for resolving the US-Iran conflict.

Crude prices also have support on concerns that Israel could be dragged back into the US-Iran conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said last Thursday that an Iranian attack on Israel would free Israel from any existing restrictions in a response against the regime in Iran. Israel has ramped up attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, dampening the prospects of ending hostilities in the Middle East and a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, Israel has struck Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza, while the Yemen-based Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea.