Crude Oil Rises for 3rd Session

Crude oil rose more than 2% to above $93.8 a barrel on Monday, extending gains for a third consecutive session as renewed attacks in Ukraine and the Middle East heightened supply concerns. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had continued striking energy infrastructure, including a gas-production facility, undermining the energy ceasefire previously announced by US President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine would continue its own attacks against Russian targets. Meanwhile, tensions intensified in Saudi Arabia, where authorities reported further drone and cruise missile attacks following a deadly weekend strike on Riyadh’s airport. The Saudi-led coalition also reported additional attacks linked to Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. Separately, tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over shipping security, despite crude exports from the Persian Gulf remaining relatively strong.

Crude oil traded above $93 a barrel on Monday, attempting gains for the third session, as escalating Middle East tensions heightened concerns over regional security. Saudi Arabia’s main airport came under attack again on Sunday, while another tanker was targeted in the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents followed a phone call between Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers and came amid renewed fighting involving Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. Despite the security risks, oil exports from the Persian Gulf remained relatively resilient. Shipments reportedly recovered to 17.5 million bpd, around 98% of pre-war levels. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine agreed to an immediate energy ceasefire. Moscow plans to export 500,000 tons of diesel, far below last year’s 28.6 million tons. The IEA urged governments to accelerate pledged diesel releases, warning that current market conditions require immediate attention ahead of its October 15 meeting.

Crude oil prices fell toward $90 per barrel on Monday, ending a two-session rally as expectations that Russian diesel supplies could help alleviate global fuel shortages weighed on prices. On Friday, President Donald Trump said his administration had reached an agreement for Russia to provide hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel fuel, signaling a partial easing of Moscow’s export ban. Trump also claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an “energy ceasefire” that would take effect immediately. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s main airport was targeted again on Sunday by Iran-backed Houthi militants, a day after an earlier strike killed 12 people and injured more than 300. The attacks prompted Trump to consider joining Saudi Arabia in retaliatory action against the Houthis in Yemen. However, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi reportedly reached out to his counterpart in Riyadh to discuss about the region’s recent escalation of events as well as the efforts to address it.