Michael Kern

Mexico City, New York

Writer at Freelance

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Articles

Expect Oil Price Volatility as Trump Weighs Iran Intervention

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

Geopolitical risk raced back into oil markets last week with Israel's strikes on Iran, and Donald Trump's uncertainty about how he will react is only going to create more volatility in oil prices.
China Loosens Rare Earth Export Controls

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

China has eased its restrictions on exports of rare earth elements by approving “a certain number” of export licenses, its commerce ministry said on Thursday in what could be the beginning of eased access to rare earths for the global supply chains. A certain number of applications has been approved, the ministry said, as carried by Reuters. However, China did not elaborate on whether U.S. firms have been granted licenses or how many applications have been approved.
Japan Moves to Shield Consumers from Soaring Gasoline Prices

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

Japan’s government will implement measures to ensure that the Israel-Iran conflict and potential escalation wouldn’t result in major spikes in gasoline prices in one of Asia’s most oil-import dependent large economies. Japan is part of the G7 group of the world’s most industrialized nations, but it is exposed to international oil price spikes as it imports most of the oil it consumes. More than 90% of the crude oil Japan imports comes from the Middle East.
Dangote Refinery To Ship Its First Gasoline Cargo Out of Africa

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

The Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude processing facility, is set to ship its first gasoline cargo out of the African region with a vessel heading for Asia, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Wednesday. The cargo of 90,000 metric tons of gasoline is set to be loaded by independent oil trader Mercuria this coming weekend, according to the source.
IEA Doubles Down On Peak Oil Demand Forecast

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

The International Energy Agency forecasts global oil demand to peak and plateau by the end of this decade, with China's demand peaking earlier than previously anticipated. While oil supply is expected to outpace demand growth, geopolitical risks and trade tensions introduce significant uncertainties to the oil market. There is a notable divergence in viewpoints between the IEA and OPEC regarding future oil demand, with OPEC predicting continued growth beyond the current decade.
OPEC Oil Output Increase Falls Short of Target

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

OPEC’s crude oil production rose by 180,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 27 million bpd in May, with producers part of the OPEC+ agreement raising output by much less than the 411,000 bpd headline hike planned for last month as some members compensated for past overproduction. The five OPEC members that have pledged cuts in the OPEC+ agreement – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, and Algeria – and are now gradually unwinding these cuts had to raise their combined output by 310,000 bpd in May.
Uranium Enrichment: What It Is and Why It Matters

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

Uranium enrichment is a critical process that increases the concentration of Uranium-235, essential for both nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons. Various methods exist for enriching uranium, with gas centrifuge being the most modern and efficient technique, replacing older methods like gaseous diffusion.
Iran’s Oil and Gas Assets Rocked in Latest Round of Israeli Attacks

1 week ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran's critical energy infrastructure, targeting major fuel depots and oil refineries in Tehran. The attacks have significantly escalated the conflict between Israel and Iran, leading to global oil price surges and increased regional tensions. The US has warned Iran against attacking American interests, while Russia has offered to mediate, as civilians in Tehran express fear and uncertainty over the escalating situation.
Oil Prices Soar After Israel Targets Iran's Nuclear Program

2 weeks ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

Geopolitical risk rushed back into oil markets in style as Israel launched extensive strikes on Iran and boosted fears of a major regional conflict. Friday, June 13th, 2025 The geopolitical risk premium is back, with Israel’s strikes on Iran bringing ICE Brent futures to $75 per barrel in a world where OPEC+ continues to unwind its production cuts and global demand is decelerating due to Donald Trump’s tariff wars.
LIVE: Oil Prices Surge As Israel-Iran Conflict Heats Up

2 weeks ago | oilprice.com | Michael Kern

In case you are just joining us, and wondering why oil prices have soared back above $70 - here's a breakdown of what you've missed:What Happened:Massive Overnight Strikes: At approximately 3:30am local time, explosions shook Tehran, with smoke rising from the Revolutionary Guards’ command HQ. Around 4:15am, Iran’s Natanz nuclear site — one of its most critical facilities — was hit, with footage showing thick black smoke.