Russia sanctions to create oil market slowburn
Venezuela and Iran offer clues to potential effectiveness of the measures
Moscow’s proposed move to cut 500,000bl/d of crude output in March offered a stark reminder to the oil market: the squeeze on Russia cuts both ways. As Western powers try to put pressure on what was, before the sanctions, the world’s biggest oil exporter, the market is facing up to the reality that Russia will be able manage and that there will be dislocation rather than significant disruption for both producers and consumers for a long time to come. Just look at the other key sanctioned oil producers, Venezuela and Iran. While very different from Russia’s circumstances, both countries have also suffered internally but either found ways circumnavigate measures imposed on them and mitigate th

Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure