In this episode of the Oil Markets Podcast by S&P Global Energy, host Jeff Mower, Director of Americas Oil News, is joined by Senior Refining Editor Janet McGurty and Senior Upstream Editor Ashok Dutta to break down the biggest takeaways from fourth-quarter oil earnings so far.

How are Gulf Coast refiners positioning for a potential return of Venezuelan heavy crude — and what does it mean for heavy crude differentials? On the upstream side, are shale producers truly delivering "more with less" in the Permian through new technologies and lower costs? What's driving the next wave of M&A? From capital discipline to geopolitical risk, this episode explores whether 2026 is shaping up to be a year of measured growth — or strategic transformation — across upstream and refining.

Europe's dependence on imported middle distillates is in sharper focus after the EU's 18th sanctions package halted imports of refined products processed from Russian crude from Jan. 21. Europe is leaning more heavily on replacement supply from the Middle East and the US—driving fresh volatility in diesel and jet fuel differentials even as underlying fundamentals remain mixed.

Join Gary Clark, Aruni Sunil, Jan Kedzior, and Rebeka Foley as they unpack how trade flows are being reshuffled, why jet cracks have outperformed diesel, and how geopolitical risk and low buffer stocks are amplifying price swings across Europe's refined product markets.

Tighter European sanctions targeting refined products made from Russian crude are accelerating shifts in global middle distillate trade flows, with Asia increasingly at the center of the impact. By closing loopholes that previously allowed barrels processed outside Russia to re‑enter Europe, the latest measures are forcing market participants to reassess compliance risk, arbitrage economics, and regional supply balances.

In this episode, Jonathan Nonis, associate editorial director at Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, is joined by Mei Huey and Rachelle Teo from Platts' Asian editorial team, to examine how the new sanctions are disrupting established trade patterns. They discuss whether barrels could be displaced back into Asia, how Europe may compete for non-Russian origin supply, and what this means for benchmarks such as FOB Arab Gulf and FOB Singapore gasoil and jet fuel, as markets adjust to a more complex and volatile trading environment.

Dated Brent differential soars to three-year high amid a supply crunch driven by disrupted flows of Kazakhstan's CPC Blend crude. However, market participants caution that a potentially swift return of CPC Blend outflows could swell European supplies, dragging on the Dated Brent complex.

Join Gary Clark, Associate Director of Price Reporting, EMEA Clean Refined Products, as he discusses this and more with Ernest Puey, Senior Price Reporter, Crude Oil, and senior writer Thomas Washington.

A sudden shift in US policy has put Venezuela back at the center of global oil markets. US and international oil executives are striking different tones on Venezuela after President Donald Trump said the White House will decide which companies are allowed back into the country's oil sector following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3. Heavy oil price discounts are already reacting to expectations of increased Venezuelan supply. Can Venezuela meaningfully boost production after years of underinvestment? Who benefits from cheaper heavy crude? Join Jeff Mower, Director of Americas Oil News, as he discusses these issues and more with S&P Global Energy oil policy reporters Kate Winston and Eamonn Brennan, and Patrick Harrington, Americas oil markets manager.

Sweeping changes to crude and product flows following sanctions and tariffs, shipping disruptions and questions surrounding China's demand outlook—oil markets have seen it all in 2025. The year was also a mixed bag for oil investments across the globe amid accelerated push towards clean energy and rising EV usage, while some regions also unveiled concrete plans on refinery expansions.

In this special episode of Platts Oil Markets Podcast, Sambit Mohanty, Asia energy editor, John Morley, global director for crude oil, Francesco Di Salvo, global director for refined products, and Jeff Mower, head of Americas oil news, look back at the key drivers for oil markets in 2025 and the themes that are likely to spill over and remain in the spotlight in 2026.

In the winter months, demand for gasoline in Europe softens, and stocks in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub begin to thicken. But recent developments in West African government policy and intermittent maintenance at Nigeria's Dangote refinery have resulted in an unconventionally robust gasoline market, shadowed by an existing tightness in supply. Where have the gasoline markets diverged, and what unusual patterns have we seen in blending economics?

In this episode, host Gary Clark is joined by S&P Global Energy reporters Geraint Moody and Matthew Tracey-Cook to discuss these topics.

The adoption of AI among energy and shipping companies is growing steadily. While it's helping to cut operational costs, boost productivity, and reduce emissions, a shortage of skills, data integration complexity, and trust are posing some challenges. In exploration, AI is helping to analyze complex sub-surface data and improve success rates. In midstream logistics, it is helping to optimize complex route planning and lastly; by deploying AI across refinery operations, oil companies are achieving higher yields in high-value fuels while cutting energy use.

In this episode, Asia Energy Editor Sambit Mohanty discusses with Dave Ernsberger, president of S&P Global Energy, and Arun Biswas, strategic engagements leader at IBM Consulting for Asia-Pacific, some of the themes around AI's ability to influence how energy is produced, traded, and distributed in the years ahead.

Physical differentials in the North Sea crude market and wider Atlantic basin have reached multiyear lows amid high freight rates and market length in the region. While high freight rates are often expected in the last quarter of the year, oversupply and market structure have also come into play.

In this podcast, Emma Kettley, S&P Global Energy's associate director, price reporting, is joined by senior crude oil reporters Natasha Tan and George Delaney to dig into how these fundamentals are impacting the North Sea and West African crude markets.

Global tanker markets are riding high as shipowners post strong third-quarter earnings amid bullish forecasts. What's driving the surge in day rates? Why are newbuilds still lagging even as fleet capacity tightens? How have sanctions reshaped both dirty and clean tanker markets? And could US shipyards stage a comeback in the global shipbuilding race?

Join host Jeff Mower as he discusses these and other related issues with Catherine Kellogg and Binish Azhar.