2 months · 3 summary articles
Oil prices plunge below 80 as Strait of Hormuz reopens eases inflation fears
Oil prices plunge below 90 as US-Iran deal hopes ease Middle East tensions
Oil prices plunge 5 as US-Iran deal nears, easing Hormuz blockade fears
Brent crude plunges below $90 a barrel for the first time since April as US-Iran deal hopes trigger sharp sell-off.
Oil markets tumble amid growing speculation that the US and Iran will extend their truce, easing tensions in the Middle East and potentially unlocking Iranian crude supplies. Brent crude futures fall 1.3% on Friday to $92, marking a 19% drop since the end of April—the steepest monthly decline since 2020, according to *The Guardian* . TankerTrackers reports a surge in Iranian oil exports, with a Very Large Crude Carrier loading two million barrels of crude this week .
In Europe, fuel prices hit record highs, with petrol reaching €1.85 per liter and diesel €1.87 by late May, the European Commission’s *Weekly Oil Bulletin* shows. Northern and Western Europe bear the brunt of the increases . The spike forces public transport operators in Estonia to seek an additional €4.2 million in state funding to offset soaring fuel costs, warning of potential service suspensions without support .
Meanwhile, panic-driven stockpiling exacerbates global supply strains. *Courrier International* reports that countries are hoarding hydrocarbons amid fears of shortages, mirroring the "each for themselves" mentality seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. The trend risks deepening inequalities and worsening the energy crisis .
Analysts warn the oil price volatility could further stoke inflation, particularly in energy-dependent sectors. India’s central bank already flags risks from a weak monsoon, which may push food and fuel prices higher . In the EU, wage growth continues to lag inflation, with Germany’s electronics sector agreeing to pay rises below the inflation rate, raising concerns about consumer spending power .
The price swings come as the EU reports a 30.9% reduction in industrial energy consumption since 1990, driven by a shift away from fossil fuels and toward renewables. However, the transition remains uneven, with biofuels and renewables still accounting for a minority of the energy mix . Energy suppliers like Ireland’s Yuno Energy announce price hikes, adding €3 to weekly household bills—the first increase since the company’s 2023 market entry .
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