Julian Lee

Russian Oil Producers Feel the Heat: Elements by Julian Lee

Today’s Take: Capping Russia’s Oil Revenues The US administration is pushing ahead with a plan to limit the Kremlin’s revenues from oil exports by imposing a price cap on Russia’s overseas shipments. The idea is far from garnering support from Moscow’s biggest customers in Asia, but it is focusing…

Empty Threats to Ban Russian Oil Will Only Help Putin

The international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is seriously lacking. There is one glaring question that needs to be answered: Should the US, Europe and Asia stop buying Russian oil? Choking off Russian oil sales would put significant pressure on the Russian economy, and perhaps…

Expect More Turbulent Years Ahead for the Oil Producers

The OPEC+ group of oil producers celebrated their fifth birthday in early December. It’s been a turbulent time — more so than they could have imagined when they first came together to face the threat posed by the US shale boom back in 2016 — and the future doesn’t look much easier. On the verge…

Oil Producers Enjoy the Calm Before the 2022 Storm

You’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s smooth sailing ahead for the OPEC+ oil producer group. The 23 members concluded their meeting last week in less than an hour, agreeing to raise output again in October. There were no signs of the tensions that had marred earlier gatherings, just a quick…

Why I Hope Oil Market Bulls Are Right About Summer

Could this be the moment when the oil market sustainably turns the corner? There are many reasons for hope. The US, the UK and parts of Europe are opening back up, buoying hopes for a bumper summer for holidays and maybe even overseas travel. New York City is reopening and it plans a big ad…

US Oil Companies Line Up With Russia, Saudi Arabia

Even though President Trump has sought to protect America’s oil industry, the market is making sure that the pain of output cuts is being shared. American oil producers have cut much more output than you think. Their reaction to market forces has been bigger than official data suggest, and that…

Trump’s Iran Oil Sanctions Aren’t Living Up to the Hype

US sanctions designed to push Iran’s oil exports to zero come into force at midnight, but the hard line initially signaled by President Donald Trump is softening as the deadline approaches. With countries that have already cut their purchases to zero now being granted waivers to buy Iran’s oil, the…

Iran Oil Sanctions Will Hurt More Than You Think

The first US sanctions have been reimposed on Iran with little sign of either side softening its position. Curbs on oil exports will follow in early November and the effect will be bigger and swifter than last time around. Oil forecasters don’t seem to have grasped that yet. There’s no doubt…