أسعار النفط تتراجع مع استمرار شحنات النفط في البحر الأحمر

September WTI crude oil (CLU26) on Friday closed down -2.88 (-3.12%), and September RBOB gasoline (RBU26) closed down -0.0726 (-2.18%).

WTI crude oil prices (CLU26) on Friday fell and gave back about half of Thursday's 6% rally. Meanwhile, Sep Brent crude oil prices (CBU26) fell back to the $97 per barrel area after posting a 2-month high of $102 on Thursday.

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Oil prices closed lower as oil shipments are continuing in the Red Sea despite threats from the Houthis, with some oil tankers turning off their location transponders. Oil prices rallied by more than +6% on Thursday after the Iran-backed Houthis launched a missile and drone attack on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea, expanding the oil disruptions beyond the Strait of Hormuz and threatening oil shipments in the Red Sea. President Trump said in an interview with Axios on Thursday that he is considering a "massive attack" that would be "bigger than ever before" and is "close to making a decision on it."

The Houthis have vowed to blockade shipping linked to Saudi Arabia and warned shipowners against calling at the nation's ports. The move threatens Saudi oil exports from Yanbu, a Red Sea hub that the Saudi's are using to ship crude since the war brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a near halt. Meanwhile, the US and Iran exchanged attacks for the 13th straight day, and the US maintained its blockade of Iranian oil shipments in the Persian Gulf.

Global crude oil supplies are tightening due to reduced flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization warned last Wednesday that it is too dangerous to cross the Strait of Hormuz at the moment, and visible transit through the strait has fallen sharply as Iran continues targeting tankers attempting to transit it.

Crude prices also have support as Ukraine intensifies drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. Russian crude production fell to 8.928 million bpd in June, the lowest in 2.5 years, according to monthly OPEC data. According to EA Analytics, Russian crude-processing rates will average 3.51 million bpd in July, the lowest in 24 years, amid damage to Russian energy infrastructure caused by drone and missile attacks from Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian fuel-producing facilities more than 50 times this year, hitting at least 24 of Russia's 34 largest refineries. As of the end of June, around 90% of Russian regions have imposed some form of fuel rationing or reported supply issues, as refining capacity has plunged following damage to facilities. The strikes have deepened a nationwide gasoline shortage, with several major refineries shut down and the government banning almost all gasoline, jet fuel and diesel exports. Russia is the world's number two diesel exporter, after the US, according to Vortexa.