Brent crude climbed above $90 a barrel for the first time in roughly two years, extending a rally driven by rising tensions surrounding the conflict with Iran, Barron's reports.
The international oil benchmark crossed the closely watched $90 threshold after climbing steadily over the past three weeks, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The last time Brent traded above that level was April 16, 2024.
The latest jump followed reports that Kuwait had to scale back production at some oil facilities because of storage constraints, according to people familiar with the situation cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Brent has surged 16.4% this week while West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 19.2% on track for the steepest weekly gain since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The gains followed the start on February 28 of the war between the U.S. and Israel, on one side, and Iran that has halted tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries roughly one-fifth of the world's daily oil supply.
The conflict has since spread across the key Middle East energy-producing region, causing disruptions to oil output and the shutdowns of refineries and liquefied natural gas plants.
"With every passing day, halted activities in Hormuz will have two major impacts on oil: the inability to store 20 million barrels per day and the lack of flow to the world, which could drive global energy prices higher," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
In the face of the potentially higher gains, the U.S. Treasury Department is expected to announce measures to combat rising energy prices from the Iran conflict, including potential action involving the oil futures market, a senior White House official said on Thursday, without providing any details.
Such a move would mark an unusual attempt by Washington to influence energy prices through financial markets rather than physical oil supplies.
The U.S. Treasury also on Thursday granted waivers for companies to start buying sanctioned Russian oil stored on tankers to ease supply constraints which have pushed refineries in Asia to reduce their fuel processing.
The first waivers were given to Indian refiners, who have responded by buying millions of barrels of Russian crude oil cargoes, reversing months of pressure on them to halt the purchases.
Data from ship-tracking firm Kpler shows about 30 million barrels of Russian oil are available and loaded on vessels in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea region and Singapore Strait, including volumes in floating storage.
Still, the recent gain in prices is relatively subdued compared to other price shocks such as in 2022 when Russia attacked Ukraine and prices rose above $100 a barrel.
"It's important to put this move into perspective: despite crude's almost 20% surge this month, the price is currently just $3.40 above its average over the last four years,” IG analyst Tony Sycomore said on Friday.
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March 06, 2026, 11:55 AM
mrvmax
I bought “UCO” Proshares last year, I knew oil would go up eventually. Looks like UCO will be doing well for a while but it will also drop rapidly when the unrest clears up some.
March 06, 2026, 02:04 PM
Graniteguy
Regular unleaded went from $2.69 to $3.39 in 5-days here in coastal NH.
March 06, 2026, 03:36 PM
Carpentermaass84
Higher prices are actually a good thing as it leads to increased domestic production and ultimately energy independence.
March 06, 2026, 03:43 PM
LS1 GTO
pain at the pump is temporary this time. Once our military secure the Straights of Hormuz, all will be back to normal.
What is scary is the narcissistic personality types in the US are more concerned about the temporary increase vs. worldwide security for the 25-50 years. (And the leftist media will capitalize on this and sow fear of doom and tribulations to all they can infect.)
If America can hold strong in the short term, we will win the long game.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers
The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
March 06, 2026, 04:59 PM
egregore
Gas (regular 87 octane E10) has gone up ~40-50 cents in the last week, but so far has not topped $3. ($2.99.9 in Bristol, TN is still less than $3.) Diesel has exceeded $4.
"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke
March 06, 2026, 07:16 PM
mrprovy
I passed 3 Shell stations in my area today; filled up for $2.99/gal, the next one I passed was $3.19/gal, and the third one (around the block from me) was $3.09/gal...all over the place
$3.29 for 87 octane. I just fueled up 93 octane for $4.65/gal. Not sure why premium is $1.40 more in my area.
my next car will definitely run on 87.
Not minority enough!
March 06, 2026, 07:36 PM
Nismo
Mid $5 for 91 at Chevron yesterday.
March 06, 2026, 09:13 PM
6guns
I paid $2.99 for regular in Bluffton, SC today.
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March 07, 2026, 07:36 AM
mike56
Same in the upstate Greenville area. 2.99, costco 2.59
Guessing it will get ugly if a US escorted tanker gets hit over there.
March 07, 2026, 11:31 PM
SeaCliff
My Mobil jumped another .22 cents. Now $5.54.
March 07, 2026, 11:50 PM
YooperSigs
$3.29 here in MQT.
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
March 09, 2026, 08:03 AM
vthoky
March 2: $2.65 / 3.29 March 3: $2.76 / 3.39 March 4: $2.89 / 3.59 March 5: $2.89 / 3.79 March 6: $2.99 / 4.09 March 9: $3.09 / 4.29
Politicians seem to have forgotten that they work for us, not the other way around. — — — — — — — — — — — — God bless America.
March 09, 2026, 08:40 AM
RogueJSK
Still $2.99 for regular and $3.59 for premium here, same as it has been for the past week or so.
March 09, 2026, 09:03 AM
oddball
I paid $2.99 for 87 on Saturday.
A friend in CA sent me this yesterday morning. They're nuts.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
March 09, 2026, 10:42 AM
P250UA5
quote:
Originally posted by P250UA5: Topped up my rental car, ahead of returning it Saturday, Friday night at 2.299 for 87 Drove by the grocery store last night & it was 2.699 for 87
2.899 at Costco for 87 yesterday Seeing some stations over $3/gal for 87.
The Enemy's gate is down.
March 09, 2026, 11:22 AM
Orguss
quote:
Originally posted by oddball:
Yesterday, I drove past a Chevron where the Supreme gas was $7.05. The next Chevron down the road was $5.85. I couldn't understand the full dollar difference.
"I'm yet another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet raised to an alarming extent by Hollywood and Madison Avenue, poised with my cynical and alienated peers to take over the world when you're old and weak!" - Calvin, "Calvin & Hobbes"
March 09, 2026, 01:18 PM
OKCGene
I’ve been watching Ramin for awhile. Check out some of his other videos. He’s good, clear, and concise.
Bear in mind, he’s mostly referring to California prices.