<figure id="attachment_3294843" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3294843" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3294843 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/5e633411-strait-of-hormuz-03032026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3294843" class="wp-caption-text">About 20% of the world&#8217;s oil and gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
SINGAPORE: Brent rose more than US$3 today for a third day of gains as the widening US-Israeli conflict with Iran and threats to shipping via the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.
Brent crude futures were at US$80.89 a barrel, up US$3.15, or 4.1%, by 7.45am.
Yesterday, the contract surged to as high as US$82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7% higher.
US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed US$2.55, or 3.6%, to US$73.78 a barrel.
In the previous session, the contract initially climbed to its highest since June 2025 before sliding back to settle up 6.3%.
&#8220;With no quick de-escalation in sight, the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Iran showing a willingness to target energy infrastructure in the region, upside risks remain and they grow the longer the conflict drags on,&#8221; Tony Sycamore, IG market analyst, said in a note.
The US and Israeli air war against Iran widened yesterday with Israel attacking Lebanon and Iran responding with strikes against energy infrastructure in Gulf countries and against tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tankers and container ships are also avoiding the waterway as insurers have cancelled their coverage for vessels, while global oil and gas shipping rates have soared.
Concerns about transiting the waterway increased after Iranian media reported yesterday that a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards official said the Strait of Hormuz is closed and warned Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass.
About 20% of the world&#8217;s oil and gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
&#8220;The market continues to digest the risk of escalation in the Middle East,&#8221; said ING analysts in a note on Tuesday.
&#8220;While there are concerns about oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a greater risk to the market would be Iran targeting additional energy infrastructure in the region. This could lead to more prolonged outages,&#8221; analysts said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that the US and Israel&#8217;s war against Iran may take &#8220;some time&#8221; but it will not take years.
Analysts expect oil prices to remain elevated over the coming days while markets focus on the impact of the escalating Middle East conflict.
Bernstein on Monday raised its 2026 Brent oil price assumption to US$80 a barrel from US$65, but sees prices reaching US$120-US$150 in an extreme case of prolonged conflict.
Refined product futures are also gaining as the Middle East is a key supplier of fuels and their processing facilities are at risk.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia shut its biggest domestic oil refinery after a drone strike.
US ultra-low-sulfur diesel futures were up 8.3% at US$3.1404 per gallon after reaching a two-year high on Monday, while gasoline futures were up 3.8% at US$2.4620 per gallon after climbing 3.7% in the previous session.
European gasoil futures gained 9.2% to US$967.75 a metric tonnes, after climbing 18% on Monday.

MatchPoint Times

Oil rises as expanding US-Israel war with Iran heightens supply risks

Analysts expect oil prices to remain elevated over the coming days as markets focus on the impact of the escalating Middle East conflict.

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