{
  "id": 6322717,
  "title": "Refining bottlenecks are emerging as the next big oil problem as Middle East skirmishes flare up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/refining-bottlenecks-are-emerging-as-the-next-big-oil-problem-as-6322717",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-08T20:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MarketWatch Top",
    "slug": "marketwatch-top",
    "url": "https://www.marketwatch.com/story/refining-bottlenecks-are-emerging-as-the-next-big-oil-problem-as-middle-east-skirmishes-flare-up-24528e22?mod=mw_rss_topstories"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "American drivers recently paid the highest Labor Day gasoline prices ever. According to MarketWatch, dwindling global refinery capacity is threatening to push prices higher.\n\nGlobal oil prices have hit multi-week highs due to rising tensions in the Middle East. According to Dawn Business and Dawn, recent attacks by Houthis on Saudi Arabia's energy facilities have added to the regional tensions. World oil prices rallied, with Brent reaching $99.22 a barrel, its highest since July 24, and US West Texas Intermediate crude reaching $94.60 a barrel, its highest since June 8.\n\nThe Pakistan Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE-100 index declined by nearly 1,000 points on Tuesday due to tensions in the Middle East. Awais Ashraf, director of research at AKD Securities, noted that the \"prolongation of tensions\" between the US and Iran was weighing on investor sentiment, and the increase in oil prices was adding to the pressure. Qatar has vowed to prioritize China's energy supply and safeguard shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, as both countries coordinated efforts to de-escalate Middle East tensions, according to Reuters Business via SCMP.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Saudi FM discusses Middle East crises, peace efforts with German MPs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/saudi-fm-discusses-middle-east-crises-peace-efforts-with-german-mps",
        "published": "2026-09-08T07:18:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Lavrov tells Saudi FM that Russia is 'ready to mediate' in Middle East",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/lavrov-tells-saudi-fm-that-russia-is-ready-to-mediate-in-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-09-08T09:35:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "US weighs Middle East troop cuts, underground facilities after Iran attacks expose bases",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/us-weighs-middle-east-troop-cuts-underground-facilities-after-iran",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:18:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "PSX dips nearly 1,000 points as Middle East tensions weigh on investor sentiment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/psx-dips-nearly-1-000-points-as-middle-east-tensions-weigh-on",
        "published": "2026-09-08T12:08:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Wars in Ukraine and Middle East fuel casualties from cluster munitions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/wars-in-ukraine-and-middle-east-fuel-casualties-from-cluster-munitions",
        "published": "2026-09-08T13:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MarketWatch",
        "title": "Refining bottlenecks are emerging as the next big oil problem as Middle East skirmishes flare up",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/refining-bottlenecks-are-emerging-as-the-next-big-oil-problem-as",
        "published": "2026-09-08T20:28:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}