Murban was much-hyped at launch
Murban’s long journey only beginning
There will be no immediate promotion into the super league of global crude benchmarks for the Middle East’s latest challenger
It has now been just over a month since exchange Ice and Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc listed their heavily trailed Murban crude futures contract on the Ice Futures Abu Dhabi (Ifad) oil exchange. Media attention in the run-up to launch was more substantial than for most fledgling instruments. Some commentators provocatively suggested that Murban could be a substitute for Brent or even possibly WTI. Others posited that Murban could reduce Opec market power and upend Middle East oil pricing. After its first month of trading, has the contract lived up to the hype? It is perhaps worth highlighting, in the context of the key takeaways of Murban’s first month of trading, why the contract was launched in the f
Also in this section
21 April 2026
After overcoming a COVID-induced demand collapse with several years of successful market management, geopolitical events have conspired to provide the pact’s biggest test to date
21 April 2026
The regime’s policy of using nuclear ambiguity as a deterrent may have failed but it has realised it has other cards to play, while its neighbours are reappraising their approach to security
21 April 2026
As the global energy system undergoes a fundamental realignment, Algihaz Holdings has established itself as a critical player bridging conventional energy markets and the next generation of renewable infrastructure.
21 April 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress is taking place from 11-15 October 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.
