US naval forces safely escorted over 19 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours, while Taiwan agreed to purchase 30% of Alaska’s LNG exports. Concurrently, the IMF raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1%, and Washington restricted intelligence sharing with Kyiv following strikes on Russian refineries.
Global market
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US naval forces escorted over 19 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz in a single day to stabilize global energy supplies. In LNG trade, US President Donald Trump stated that Taiwan agreed to purchase 30% of LNG produced in Alaska. Highlighting broader resilience, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 global economic growth forecast by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1%, noting that strategic oil reserve releases and alternative shipping routes eased energy crisis impacts. However, China’s crude oil imports dropped 15.3% in volume terms, while the Baltic Dry Index fell 1.8% to 2,801 points, declining for a seventh consecutive session as surging tanker freight rates trapped heavy crude in the Americas.
Russia & CIS
US President Donald Trump stated that Russian diesel deliveries will substantially lower global fuel prices, as US media reported Washington warned Kyiv it could restrict intelligence access over strikes on Russian refineries. On domestic fuel markets, Russia’s Energy Ministry reported rising profit margins for coal companies, prompting analysts to raise 2026 Russian steam coal export price forecasts due to strong winter demand. In regional retail markets, a major filling station network in Khakassia reduced petrol prices by up to 3.5 rubles per liter following an antitrust warning. Meanwhile, Ukrainian energy firm DTEK imposed emergency power blackouts across five Kyiv districts following widespread missile strikes against energy infrastructure.
Armenia
Armenian energy expert Vahe Davtyan dismissed government statements on replacing Russian gas with Turkmen or Iranian supplies as an amateurish bluff, stressing that alternative routes lack infrastructure and economic feasibility. Despite regional transit volatility, retail prices for petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas in Armenia remain stable. Natural gas deliveries from Russia and electricity generation at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant continue at full capacity under long-term EAEU trade agreements shielding the domestic market from international price shocks recorded by international market price assessments.