The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts global natural gas demand will fall 0.5 per cent in 2026 as Middle East conflict-driven supply disruptions, higher prices and reduced LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz weigh on consumption.
The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes across Iran overnight, targeting more than 80 sites after Tehran resumed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, further destabilising a fragile ceasefire agreed less than three weeks ago.
Yokogawa Corporation of America has been selected as Main Automation Contractor (MAC) for the Commonwealth LNG project in Louisiana, US, strengthening its role in one of the country’s major LNG developments.
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade reached a record 436.98 million tonnes in 2025, rising 6.3 percent and marking the fastest growth since 2022, according to the International Gas Union (IGU).
British budget airline easyJet has agreed in principle to a revised takeover offer from US investment firm Castlelake, valuing the carrier at up to £5.5 billion ($7.34 billion).
Valvitalia Group has secured a contract worth approximately $30 million to supply valves for the Desert Southwest pipeline, one of the largest energy infrastructure projects currently under development in the southwestern US.
Iran and the US concluded a round of indirect talks on Wednesday with no sign they had made headway toward a lasting peace, focusing instead on issues that they said had been resolved when an interim deal was announced two weeks ago. Sources said negotiators spent two days in Doha discussing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of Maersk’s shipping service (Maersk - MECL) to Jeddah Islamic Port, thus enhancing the port’s maritime connectivity, expanding its service network with regional and global ports, and supporting the smooth flow of trade and supply chains.
Oil prices settled lower on Friday after the latest round of US-Iran fighting as traders grew hopeful that shipping would eventually resume in the Strait of Hormuz, but prices finished with sharp weekly gains. Brent crude futures fell by 29 cents to close at $76.01 a barrel.
Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill on Thursday as renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran shattered a three-week-old ceasefire, raising fresh concerns over energy supplies and regional security.
