Asia News

Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, as investors monitored peace talks between the United States and Iran, while supply tightness and U.S. inventory drawdowns provided some support.Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose 40 cents, or 0.4%, to $105.42 a barrel by 0809 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 were up 50 cents, or 0.5%, at $98.76.Both benchmarks dropped around 5.6% on Wednesday to their lowest in more than a week after President Donald Trump said talks with Iran…

Bernhard Schulte has christened its first liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier, marking the company’s entry into the carbon capture and storage (CCS)-related shipping segment.The vessel, named Northern Purpose, was christened on May 19 at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore (DSOC) in China and will support the Northern Lights CCS project, a cross-border CO2 transport and storage development in Norway.Following delivery, the vessel will enter a long-term time charter transporting captured CO2…

Oil fell by nearly 2% on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned attack on Iran to allow for negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.Trump posted on social media on Monday that he was holding off on a planned military attack on Iran scheduled for Tuesday, while efforts continue to reach a deal, adding that the United States was ready to resume attacking if one is not reached.Brent futures LCOc1 for July were down $2.02, or 1.8%, to $110.08 a barrel at 0802 GMT, while U.S.

Russia's diversification of its liquefied natural gas exports to Asia after the loss of the European market will cut its revenue due to at least a doubling of logistics costs, industry sources and analysts told Reuters.The European Union plans to fully phase out Russian LNG imports from the beginning of 2027 as part of its sanctions pressure on Moscow over the war with Ukraine.In an attempt to regain the initiative, President Vladimir Putin said early in March that Russia could…

Russian drones hit two ships in the Black Sea approaching ports in Ukraine's Odesa region on Monday, including a Chinese-owned cargo vessel, Ukrainian authorities said, after a night of Russian attacks on the area.Ukraine's seaports authority said that the strikes had hit two civilian vessels, one under Marshall Islands flag and another under Guinea-Bissau flag, both of which were heading to ports in the region.The Ukrainian navy reported a strike on the Ksl Deyang, which it described as a Chinese-owned cargo ship sailed by Chinese crew under Marshall Islands flag.

Oil prices extended gains on Monday as efforts to end the Iran war appeared to have stalled, after a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates came under attack and as U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to discuss military options on Iran.Brent crude futures LCOc1 climbed $1.65, or 1.51%, to $110.91 a barrel by 0703 GMT, but were off the $112 they had touched earlier for their highest since May 5.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 stood at $107.42 a barrel, up $2, or 1.9%, after a rise to $108.70, its highest since April 30.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has already cost companies around the world at least $25 billion - and the bill is climbing, according to a Reuters analysis.A review of corporate statements since the start of the conflict by companies listed in the United States, Europe and Asia offers a sobering look at the fallout. Businesses are grappling with soaring energy prices, fractured supply chains and trade routes severed by Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.At least 279 companies have cited the war as a trigger for defensive actions to blunt the financial hit…

Taihan Cable & Solution has acquired a second cable laying vessel (CLV) from DOF Group to strengthen its offshore wind and subsea power cable installation capabilities amid growing global demand for grid interconnection infrastructure.The South Korean company signed a vessel sale and purchase agreement with DOF for the 10,000-ton-class cable-laying vessel Skandi Connector, which is scheduled for delivery to Korea in August.The vessel joins Taihan’s existing offshore wind-dedicated cable-laying vessel PALOS…

A Panama-flagged crude oil tanker managed by Japanese refining group Eneos has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data from LSEG showed on Thursday, the second instance of such a Japan-linked oil ship making it through.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has directly contacted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to allow for the transit of the ship, which has four Japanese crew members onboard, she said in a post on X.Before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran largely disrupted oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz…

Oil prices edged up on Thursday, with markets focusing on the high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to see if it will yield any positive results towards a resolution for the Iran war.Trump is expected to encourage China to convince Tehran to make a deal with Washington to end the conflict, but analysts doubt that Xi will be willing to push China's long-time strategic partner too hard.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 45 cents, or 0.43%, to $106.08 a barrel by 0714 GMT, while U.S.

Anemoi Marine Technologies’ Rotor Sail wind-assisted propulsion system has completed more than eight years of continuous commercial operation after M/V Afros successfully passed its second intermediate dry dock survey.The survey, conducted by Lloyd’s Register in China in April, confirmed the structural integrity and operational condition of the vessel’s four Rotor Sails, Anemoi said.The 64,000-deadweight-tonne Ultramax bulk carrier Afros became the first bulk carrier fitted with Rotor Sails when the system was installed in 2018.According to Anemoi…

Petronas LNG (PLL) has signed a 20-year time charter agreement with MISC Group for five newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers as the Malaysian energy company strengthens long-term LNG supply capacity.The agreement covers five 174,000-cubic meter LNG carriers that will be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai, China, with charter commencements expected between 2029 and 2030.The vessels will feature XDF2.1 propulsion technology, shaft generators and onboard reliquefaction…

Global oil supply will not meet total demand this year as the Iran war wreaks havoc on Middle East oil production, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report on Wednesday."With Hormuz tanker traffic still restricted, cumulative supply losses from Gulf producers already exceed 1 billion barrels with more than 14 million (barrels per day) of oil now shut in, an unprecedented supply shock," the agency said.Its base-case forecast is for a gradual resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz from the third quarter onwards…

Both Iraq and Pakistan have cut deals with Iran to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter, in a demonstration of Tehran's ability to control energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has slashed energy exports from a region that normally supplies 20% of the world's crude oil and LNG. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports in recent weeks. And though Iran initially sought to halt traffic through the strait…

Clean hydrogen production is expected to grow 100-fold by 2060, driven by energy security concerns and large-scale expansion in China, according to a new forecast from classification society DNV.In its latest report, Energy Transition Outlook 2026: Hydrogen to 2060, DNV said global hydrogen volumes are expected to grow by 170% by 2060, supported by cumulative investment of $3.2 trillion.China is forecast to account for 35% of new hydrogen production and demand growth over the period…

Fast Offshore Supply (FOS) has selected Incat Crowther to design a fleet of 10 new DP2 fast crew transfer vessels (CTVs) for offshore operations supporting Brunei Shell Petroleum, a joint venture between Shell and the Government of Brunei.The 55-metre aluminum vessels will transport offshore personnel and cargo to Brunei Shell Petroleum assets and will be built at multiple shipyards in the region, including FOS’s own yard in Singapore.The vessels will each carry up to 80 passengers and 150 tonnes of cargo at speeds of up to 30 knots…

Berg Propulsion has secured a contract to supply propulsion systems and electrical integration technology for two all-electric harbor tugs being built under India’s Green Tug Transition Program.The vessels are under construction by Mumbai-based KMEW Group on behalf of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and are expected to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval.The program aims to deploy 50 green tugs across India’s major ports…

Ta San Shang Marine (TSSM), a joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Taiwan’s Ta Tong Marine, has taken delivery of a new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), the TSS Cruiser, which is now ready to support offshore wind farm operations in Taiwan.Built by Damen Shipyards in Ha Long in Vietnam, the TSS Cruiser is the second service operation vessel operated by TSSM following the delivery of the TSS Pioneer in 2022, which the company described as Asia’s first SOV.The new vessel is designed to support offshore wind farm construction and commissioning activities in Taiwan…

German marine propulsion manufacturer SCHOTTEL has been selected to supply rudder propellers for two liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels being built for Shanghai International Port Group in China.The vessels, each with a loading capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, are under construction at Jiangnan Shipyard and are scheduled for delivery in April 2027.SCHOTTEL said the ships will each be equipped with two SRP 460 LE rudder propeller units as part of a fully electric propulsion system.The company said the LE Drive configuration integrates the electric drive motor vertically…

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) said on Friday three of its vessels that transited the Strait of Hormuz and exited the Gulf in April did not pay transit fees, sticking to a principle of navigation under international law.Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels passing through the Strait, in its proposals to end the war with Israel and the United States.The Strait is one of the world's most strategically vital maritime routes, with about a fifth of global seaborne crude oil and LNG flows passing through it in normal times.The company does not intend to pay such fees in future…

French engineering firm GTT has secured an order from the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding shipyard for the tank design of five new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers on behalf of MISC, the ship-owner.GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the vessels, which will each offer a total capacity of 174,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the NO96 Super+ membrane containment system developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is expected between 2029 and 2030.

Express Global announces the opening of its new office in Singapore, marking a step forward in the continued expansion of the Cosulich Logistics brand across the Asia Pacific region.The new branch strengthens Express Global’s presence in one of the world’s most strategic logistics hubs, enhancing the company’s ability to support customers, partners and stakeholders across Southeast Asia. The Singapore office contributes to strengthening a more connected and integrated regional…

The Iran war has already led to a loss of about 120 billion cubic metres of global liquefied natural gas supply over the 2026 to 2030 period, Gergely Molnar, an analyst from the International Energy Agency, said on Thursday.Speaking at the Budapest LNG Summit, Molnar said the conflict was reshaping the medium-term gas outlook, with tighter market conditions likely to persist longer than previously expected.He said the crisis had cut LNG supply by around 15%, but a strong increase in new liquefaction capacity was expected to offset lost volumes from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Iranian at