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Mon 28 May 2018, 06:54 GMT

Oil prices continue the downtrend on oil rigs, potential production cut exit


By A/S Global Risk Management.


Michael Poulson, Global Risk Management.
Image credit: Global Risk Management
Friday's weekly oil rig count from Baker Hughes showed an addition in the number of active rigs in the U.S. of 15. The last 7 of 8 weeks have shown increases and currently 859 rigs are pumping crude oil, which is around a 3-year high and U.S. crude oil production is bursting.

More comments over the weekend from the world's top oil producers increase expectations of a soon-to-come exit from the current oil production cut deal between OPEC and a row of non-OPEC countries. One option is to return to the levels prior to the deal which took effect in January 2017, according to Russia's energy minister.

A summit between North Korea and the U.S. is back on the table, a U.S. team is currently in North Korea to prepare a potential meeting next month.

Political turmoil in Italy affects euro currency as elections could be on the way in the debt-struck country.

Today is a holiday in both U.S. (Memorial Day) and UK (Spring Bank Holiday) which could mean smaller trading volumes which again could cause some additional price volatility. No major economic numbers are up today,


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Shipping company displays an exhibition of Lego sets spanning five decades at Copenhagen headquarters.

Guo Yun Hai vessel. Cosco Shipping takes delivery of 80,000-dwt methanol-ready grain carrier  

Guo Yun Hai features box-shaped cargo hold and methanol-ready design with energy-saving devices.

CMA CGM Innovation ship-to-ship transfer. Algeciras reports record LNG bunkering volumes, claims European top-three position  

Spanish port says it supplied 333,833 cbm of LNG across 78 ship-to-ship operations in 2025.

Additional costs chart. T&E: Iran conflict costing shipping industry €340m a day in fuel costs  

Transport & Environment analysis shows marine fuel price surge has cost the industry €4.6bn since conflict began.

CF 3850 vessel render. Damen delivers second hybrid-ready combi freighter to German shipowner  

The vessel features biofuel capability and will be retrofitted with wind-assist technology with government funding.

Engine retrofit report 2026 graphic. Retrofit capability expands as regulatory uncertainty slows alternative-fuel conversions  

Lloyd’s Register warns delayed conversions could compress demand into a narrower, costlier timeframe as the fleet ages.

Bermuda Container Line (BCL) logo. Bermuda Container Line imposes emergency bunker surcharge citing Iran War fuel price spike  

Shipping operator to add $150 per TEU charge from 1 May amid geopolitical fuel cost pressures.

China flag. Zhejiang’s first methanol-powered container ship launches in Jiaxing  

Vessel uses methanol propulsion technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90%.

TES flag with a model vessel in the background. TES joins SEA-LNG coalition to advance e-methane as marine fuel  

Green energy company targets 1m tonnes annual e-methane production by 2030 for shipping decarbonisation.

Ethanol and methanol workshop graphic. IBIA to host workshop on ethanol and methanol marine fuels during Singapore Maritime Week  

Half-day event will examine alcohol-based fuel pathways and integration into shipping’s multi-fuel landscape.


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