Brent Crude Jumps 2.5% to $90.27 Following US Strikes in Hormuz

The benchmark Brent crude price rose 2.5% to reach $90.27 per barrel, following US strikes on Iranian sites near the Strait of Hormuz that renewed fears of potential disruptions to Gulf oil supplies.

This increase signals the extreme sensitivity of markets to any developments in the Hormuz region, which before the crisis handled nearly 17 million barrels per day, dropping to around 9 million barrels amid current tensions.

Commodity analysts observed a wave of preemptive buying on crude oil futures, amidst fears of a complete blockage of the strait should the confrontation between Washington and Tehran escalate in the region.

Brent crude remains the international benchmark for oil pricing and responds sharply to any disruptions in the Gulf region. Economists warn that continued military tensions could push Brent toward $95 or higher in the coming weeks.

What do these terms mean?

Brent crude: The international benchmark for crude oil pricing, extracted from the North Sea and used as a reference to determine oil prices in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Oil futures contracts: Agreements to buy or sell oil at a specified price on a future date, used by investors to hedge against price volatility or speculate on its trends.

Commodities: Natural raw materials traded on global markets such as oil, gold, and wheat, whose price fluctuations directly affect inflation rates and the macroeconomy.