{
  "id": 8566255,
  "title": "Saudi Export Pivot Sends Brent Below $105",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/saudi-export-pivot-sends-brent-below-105-8566255",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-18T16:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Finance",
    "slug": "yahoo-finance",
    "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/saudi-export-pivot-sends-brent-161500900.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The recent shift of Saudi crude exports to the Persian Gulf has contributed to Brent crude prices falling below $105 per barrel. Concerns about the East-West pipeline being offline for weeks initially sparked market panic, but Saudi Aramco's reorientation of all its loadings to the Persian Gulf helped calm markets. Despite the risk of potential Iranian drone strikes in the Strait, Saudi Aramco continues to offer crude to Asian buyers, which has further eased supply fears. Meanwhile, Canada has expanded investment tax incentives for oil sands, pipeline, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, positioning new projects to face a low effective tax rate. Container traffic through the Suez Canal is slowly recovering, with 27% of Asia-Europe container capacity now transiting the canal. LNG Canada is nearing a final investment decision (FID) on a potential 2nd phase expansion, which could double the project's capacity. Libya has resolved a dispute related to an oil outage at the North Hamada field, averting broader risks to nearby fields. ExxonMobil has raised its global emission outlook, expecting oil demand to rise to 105 million barrels per day by 2050. India has warned against proposed US tariffs on Russian crude, fearing complications to bilateral trade negotiations. Vietnam is seeking approval for a third refinery in Ca Mau province, with an initial phase expected to expand to full capacity. China's independent refiners have reduced refinery run rates due to disappearing Iranian barrels. Russia has extended its diesel export ban until the end of October, while keeping restrictions on non-producers and gasoline exports until January 2027. The US is considering another major release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Chinese buyers are driving ESPO premium differentials to record highs as they seek to secure November-arriving cargoes. Qatar LNG flows are creeping back through the Strait of Hormuz, while EU finance ministers are considering a windfall tax on oil profits. South Korea has extended fuel tax relief through November 30. Oil prices are expected to face a weekly loss due to easing Saudi export concerns and Gulf tensions.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "OilPrice",
        "title": "Saudi Export Pivot Sends Brent Below $105",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/saudi-export-pivot-sends-brent-below-105",
        "published": "2026-09-18T16:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}