OIL MARKET IMPACT IN FOCUS
The first two tankers seized in recent days were operating on the black market and supplying oil to countries under sanctions, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, said in a television interview. He downplayed the potential impact on US fuel prices, saying the seizures involved only a small number of ships.
Some analysts, however, warned the latest action could lift oil prices slightly when Asian markets open on Monday, as traders weigh the risk of further disruptions to Venezuelan exports. Others said the seizures could heighten geopolitical tensions and add pressure to the shadow fleets used to transport oil from sanctioned producers such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
While tighter logistics could force sanctioned crude to be sold at deeper discounts, analysts said the standoff underscores growing uncertainty in global oil markets as Washington intensifies enforcement of its sanctions regime.
