Matt Smith

Today’s blog looks at changing flows of Iraqi and Saudi crude into the US, but also how OPEC flows in general have stayed the same: focused on Asia, and not on the US.

I appeared on CNBC Asia on Tuesday night to discuss the downward pressure on oil prices from steel tariffs, as well as appearing on NPR the day before to talk about the US becoming a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957…think Elvis and ‘All Shook Up’.

This morning’s appearance on the set of CNBC’s Squawk Box honed in on oil supply and demand, and what lies ahead for OPEC and US production.

Today’s blog looks at how crude has been pulled from onshore storage in Saldanha Bay as the crude forward curve flipped into backwardation. We also look at who were the willing beneficiaries of this crude.

Today’s blog considers if OPEC and NOPEC were really to form a supergroup, which countries would play which instrument.

In my latest segment on NPR’s Texas Standard I discussed OPEC’s potential supergroup, while on CNBC Asia last night we discussed geopolitics and oil.

Today’s blog looks at the change in Saudi Arabian tactics last June to send more crude to Asia, and less to the US, as well as export more middle distillates.

Indian oil demand rose over 10 percent in January, up for a fourth consecutive month. Although much of the magnitude of the year-on-year improvement is due to last year’s low base, with consumption in January 2017 hamstrung by the hangover of demonetization, the upward trend signals ongoing strength in the Indian economy.