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US crude exports have hit record high in April as buyers looked far afield to replace barrels that have been blocked by the Middle East war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The surge in demand has been a boon for US suppliers, and there has been a scramble to overcome infrastructure constraints in order to push exports even higher. With Persian Gulf supply unlikely to return at pre-war levels anytime soon, are markets seeing a temporary dislocation or a more durable shift in global crude flows? In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast by S&P Global Energy, Oil Futures editor Chris van Moessner is joined by Americas oil news editors Binish Azhar and Ashok Dutta, and crude oil price reporter Lucas Casas to discuss what is driving these record exports, their near-term outlook, and how the US midstream and upstream business segments are reacting to this new paradigm.

India's crude imports are climbing, not just in volume, but in complexity. As the country widens its pool of suppliers, it is also exposing itself to a more fragmented pricing landscape. But here is the challenge -- in a world where geopolitical conflicts and supply shocks can send prices soaring overnight, how do you protect the energy sector and the economy from extreme volatility? In this bonus episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast by S&P Global Energy, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty is joined by Gouri Shankar, vice president for product strategy at the National Stock Exchange, Pulkit Agarwal, head of India Content, and John Morley, global head of crude oil pricing, to discuss the need for sophisticated benchmarks in managing risk, and what the latest NSE crude oil contract based on a physical price benchmark -- Platts Dated Brent -- can offer to Indian market participants.

With more than two months having passed since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, a conflict that has tightened refined oil product flows through the Strait of Hormuz, market participants have been grappling with major upheaval in middle distillate trade routes as Europe seeks to replace lost Middle East supply. To examine the latest trends in this vital segment, S&P Global Energy's Emma Kettley, associate director, price reporting, is joined by reporters David Neef and Patrick McAllister to unpack how Europe has adapted to the disruptions to its key supply source in the Persian Gulf.

In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast from S&P Global Energy, host Jeff Mower dives into first-quarter earnings from major oil and gas service companies, including SLB, Baker Hughes, and Halliburton. Joined by S&P Global editors Binish Azhar, Sheky Espejo, and J. Robinson, the panel explores the sector's strategic pivot toward energy infrastructure and generation amid geopolitical uncertainties. Why are US shale producers still focused on completions despite high oil prices? How are surging diesel prices and record-low natural gas prices at the Waha hub driving the industry shift from diesel-powered frack spreads to natural gas and electric fleets? How is next-generation fracking technology being deployed in Argentina's Vaca Muerta? Are Pemex payments stabilizing in Mexico? Is there reason for cautious optimism surrounding Venezuela's future production goals? Join us for a wide-ranging conversation on these topics and more.

The conflict in the Middle East has sent ripples across the global energy landscape, with the spotlight on the Strait of Hormuz -- the critical artery for Asia-Pacific's energy imports. Amid trade flow disruptions, the path to recovery, the resilience of physical oil markets, and the broader economic consequences are under intense scrutiny. While the return to normalcy, the evolving dynamics of oil storage, the transmission of supply shocks to Asian economies, and the policy responses shaping the region's future energy strategy are some of the key themes that are dominating the discussions, the market is also looking for answers on transparency in pricing, benchmark adjustments, and market adaptation during turbulent times. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast by S&P Global Energy, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty discusses some of the key themes with Atul Arya, chief energy strategist; Daniel Colover, global head of oil and chemicals market engagement; and Vishrut Rana, Asia-Pacific senior economist at S&P Global Ratings.

Dated Brent's record high assessment by Platts of $144.42/barrel stole the headlines on April 7, but physical market fundamentals in the Atlantic basin have similarly brought cash differentials for individual crude oil grades across the North Sea, West Africa and the Mediterranean upwards to levels that, in some cases, have never been seen before. In this episode, Associate Director Emma Kettley is joined by frontline reporters Ernest Puey and George Delaney to explore the impact the war in the Middle East is having on the physical crude oil markets in the European and African region.

As traffic inches back through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and product flows remain constrained, sending buyers scrambling to replace Middle East barrels and lock in reliable diesel supply. With nearly 6 million b/d of Middle East refining capacity at stake, and roughly 4 million b/d of refined products flows, diesel prices have soared, opening export opportunities. Where are buyers turning for diesel, and what policy tools are governments using to soften price shocks? Jeff Mower, Americas Oil News Director, unpacks these issues with Brazil Refined Products Manager Renato Rostas, Americas Middle Distillates Managing Editor Aaron Tucker, and Mexico Energy Editor Sheky Espejo.

As the conflict in the Middle East has raised the specter of global fuel shortages, Nigeria's new Dangote refinery has attracted growing attention as an alternative supplier. After starting up in 2024, the refinery reached its initial 650,000 b/d capacity for the first time earlier in 2026 and has seen a growing demand for its products from markets further afield. In this podcast, Gary Clark, associate director, EMEA clean refined products at S&P Global Energy, is joined by Matthew Tracey-Cook, senior price reporter on West African refined products, and Kelly Norways, a journalist on the oil news team, to discuss the capacity of Africa's first megarefinery, regional supply risks, and where its product could end up.

From CERAWEEK 2026 in Houston, host Jeff Mower, Director of Americas Oil News, is joined by Senior Upstream Editor Ashok Dutta, oil news editor Binish Azhar, and oil policy reporter Eamonn Brennan to break down the conference's energy security focus. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed and the Trump administration negotiating with Tehran while signaling it wants to cap oil price spikes, policymakers and executives clash over how fast supply can respond. The crew explores non-Middle East supply opportunities, including rising US Gulf Coast crude fixtures, constrained by pipeline and completion capacity, and a new wave of Canadian barrels pushing toward Asia via the Pacific. A high-stakes reform pitch for Venezuela meets some skepticism.

Tensions between US-Israel and Iran are disrupting flows in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Asia's LPG market to manage surging prices and shifting optimization to urgent supply management. With Middle East shipments threatened, especially for India and China facing low inventories and weak PDH margins, buyers are scrambling for alternative supplies and shipping. The Platts Oil Markets Podcast covers the immediate impacts: stalled vessels, rising freight rates, record high premiums, and a rapid move toward US LPG diversification, despite export terminal disruptions. The episode also looks ahead at inventory strategies, diversification of supply sources, and whether this crisis will permanently reshape the global LPG trade. Regina Sher, manager of the Asia oil products pricing team, and Norazlina Jumaat and Jeff Ong, reporters for Asia oil products, discuss the impact of this supply disruption on the LPG market.