Upstream Online: Oil closes wild week of trading with modest gains

April 11, 2025 US shale is more sensitive to price fluctuations because higher investments are needed to stave off steep production decline rates, Poten and Partners said in a weekly energy report. Though lower shale production would put US oil exports at risk, some countries may use energy purchases to lower their tariff rates, according to Poten. “As a result, more crude could be shipped to Korea and to Japan, while exports to China might be reduced. Lower US production and exports would balance the Opec+ increases that are planned,” the Poten report said. “Trade flows will change as a result. However, there are too many variables and uncertainties to draw any clear conclusions with respect to the implications for the freight market.” To read the full article, click here.