Middle East expands Asian market share
Asia’s crude supply has shifted in recent months as Mideast Gulf producers have increased exports. And that trend may continue into the new year
Many Opec+ members have failed to increase—or in some cases even maintain—their oil export volumes at target levels despite the cartel’s latest production deal. Only Saudi Arabia and UAE—with ample and low-cost capacity—were able to lift their exports over the third quarter, adding 1.9mn bl/d, according to energy market analytics firm Vortexa. But other producers have been unable to respond. Combined exports from the rest of Opec+ are down by around 1.4mn bl/d since the start of the year. This failure to boost output has contributed to Asia's growing dependence on the Mideast Gulf. Middle Eastern crude accounted for 77.2pc of Asia’s imports in Q3, or 11.91mn bl/d, compared with 71.7pc, or 1

Also in this section
2 June 2025
More than anything else, weak Chinese gas demand is providing relief to EU consumers, but it is uncertain how long this relief will last
30 May 2025
Energy majors argue transition debate has started to factor in the complexities of demand shifts and the wider role for gas
29 May 2025
Sovereignty is the watchword for the new government, but there are still upstream opportunities for those willing to work closely with the state
29 May 2025
A cautious approach to coal-to-gas switching offers lessons to others who are looking to balance cost with cleaner energy