US forces boarded an oil tanker after a cat-and-mouse chase from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon said, as Washington expands its geographic scope in an ongoing crackdown on a global shadow fleet used to export sanctioned crude.

OPEC’s crude output declined last month as turmoil curbed Venezuela’s exports while other members began a three-month production freeze, a Bloomberg survey showed.

China resumed its position as the biggest importer of Russian seaborne crude in January

China resumed its position as the biggest importer of Russian seaborne crude in January

Iran’s government has said it will “defend itself and respond like never before” after US President Donald Trump threatened to attack the country if it doesn’t do a deal on its nuclear program. One way Tehran could retaliate would be to block or effectively close the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

A second Russia-linked oil tanker lost control as it was entering the Mediterranean Sea in under a week.

About 60 million barrels has been added to Russian crude at sea since August

About 60 million barrels has been added to Russian crude at sea since August

France’s navy boarded an oil tanker coming from Russia into the Mediterranean Sea, as part of a global crackdown on shadow fleet ships used to export sanctioned crude.

December imports of Moscow’s crude into India were the lowest in more than three years

December imports of Moscow’s crude into India were the lowest in more than three years

At least 12 vessels full of Urals idle off Omani coast, more are anchored near China

Iranian oil stockpiles at a key export terminal are about a fifth lower than where they started the year, a possible sign the country is moving crude out of harm’s way amid a wave of unrest over the past two weeks, according to the founder of a company that tracks inventories with satellites.

The value of Moscow’s crude shipments slumps to the lowest since the Ukraine invasion

The value of Moscow’s crude shipments slumps to the lowest since the Ukraine invasion

The amount of Russian oil on the water has swelled by almost 50% since the end of August

The amount of Russian oil on the water has swelled by almost 50% since the end of August

Almost every day, an oil tanker arrives off the Guyana coast to pick up a cargo that could reach a buyer practically anywhere on the planet. The stream of shipments is all the more remarkable because just a few years ago, the country didn’t pump a single barrel.

Oil tankers hauling Russian crude across the Black Sea are taking a roundabout route along the coastlines of Georgia and Turkey — a measure that might help them to reduce the risk of being targeted by Ukrainian sea drones.

The market impact and geopolitical significance of the Venezuela tanker blockade are quite different