{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Energy Markets Daily","title":"Week 41, Mid-Week Update","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/a562152f\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":224,"description":"Wednesday, October 14, 2026. CRUDE OIL: WTI trading $94.15-$95.52 range, close ~$95.05. Brent $105.71-$106.33 (spread $10-11 maritime risk premium). Oct 13-14 surge: $91.85→$95.05 (+$3.20, +3.5%). YTD up ~63% from Jan. STRAIT OF HORMUZ ESCALATION: 15+ attacks Oct 6-14, 11 in past 4 days (container ship ~50k tonnes, tanker ~19k tonnes hit unknown projectiles, minor damage). 24+ vessels Oct fortnight. Kpler shows 2.9M barrels transited Oct 11 (lowest month). AIS hormuz.now Oct 14: only 4 AIS-visible transits (2 inbound, 2 outbound, 3 tankers, vs 85 normal daily). Iran expands surveillance/naval presence. IRGC targets \"unauthorized\" routes. US blockade persists. Iranian crude exports zero September (first time since war). Threat rating severe/restricted. SAUDI PRODUCTION RECOVERY: Saudi reported OPEC Sept output 8.372M bpl, up 2.13-2.134M from Aug (6.238M), highest since war began (late Feb 2026), recovery from 3-decade low. OPEC+ Sept 39.07M bpd, up ~900k from Aug. Overall down 3.69M bpd or 9% pre-war. Saudi Aramco ramping loadings Gulf terminals (exports partial recovery). OPEC+ Nov quotas unchanged (maintain Sept levels). OPEC DEMAND REVISION: 2026 global demand growth cut to 180k bpd (major cut from 1.4M earlier, 71% reduction). 2027 demand raised 2.55M bpd (pent-up demand materialization). Rationale: weak 2026 demand, inventory rebuild needed. GEOPOLITICAL: US-Iran conflict 7-8 months ongoing since late Feb 2026. Trump stated no major US attacks Iran before Nov 3 midterms, \"productive talks.\" Iran/IRGC warn post-election escalation risks. Iran uses Hormuz leverage. Inventories drawing, amplifying supply concerns. Brent persistently >$100 (recently $104-105+) geopolitical premium despite recovery. Houthi attacks Saudi facilities. NATURAL GAS: Henry Hub ~$3.187/MMBtu close, down 2.56-3.23% from Oct 13 settlement ($3.283). Intraday range ~$3.166-$3.334. NYMEX Nov ~$3.17-$3.20. Oct YTD avg ~$3.141 (range $2.967-$3.220). 52-week low $2.523 (Apr 2026), high $7.460...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/U36G3q8LRcUNVnqsKxxoyD29VrpCUp_hS1pTIecj8QA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNzMw/ZTFlZDQ2NTZmYTAw/YzVkZDJiYzQyNTQw/ODQ5MS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}