Middle East crude exports rebounded to 12.8 million barrels per day led by Saudi Arabia, while global Brent prices climbed past $107 per barrel following Washington’s rejection of Iranian peace proposals. Concurrently, Goldman Sachs warned that a potential US diesel export ban would drive gasoline prices higher, and Moldova raised domestic gas tariffs by 28.8%.
Global market
Brent crude futures rose 2.82% to $107.26 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange after the White House rejected peace proposals submitted by Tehran at the UN General Assembly. Despite geopolitical friction, Middle East crude exports surged to 12.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, according to Kpler data. Saudi Arabia led the export rebound to 5.4 million bpd by routing shipments via ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman alongside 3.6 million bpd shipped through Ras Tanura. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs warned that a 90-day US diesel export ban could lower domestic diesel prices by $0.25 per gallon weekly before triggering refinery run cuts and higher gasoline prices. In gas markets, German importer VNG CEO Ulf Heitmueller confirmed winter gas supplies remain secure despite storage sitting at 57%.
Russia & CIS
Moldova’s National Agency for Energy Regulation increased domestic natural gas tariffs by 28.8%, triggering anti-government protests in Chisinau and demands for Cabinet resignations led by Mayor Ion Ceban. In Serbia, Vice Premier Aleksandar Vulin announced that Belgrade expects a timely extension of its Russian gas supply contract. In infrastructure developments, drone strikes targeted an oil depot in the Pavlovsky district of Krasnodar Krai, according to municipal head Roman Parakhin. Meanwhile, Market Council regulator chief Maksim Bystrov confirmed approval for Rosatom to build the first power unit at the Primorsky Nuclear Power Plant.
Armenia
The surge in Brent crude to $107.26 per barrel and drone attacks on Krasnodar Krai oil depots featured prominently across regional energy coverage, news.am reported. Escalating volatility in international fuel markets highlights the strategic importance of secure regional energy transit corridors. Nevertheless, retail prices for petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas in Armenia remain stable. Natural gas supplies and operations at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant proceed without disruption under long-term EAEU trade agreements shielding domestic consumers from price fluctuations recorded by international market price assessments.