The US has not sufficiently adapted to the sharp fluctuations in the oil market
Countdown has begun... There's a little left. more than 40 days To shut up «bomb» in the US, as the prolonged war with Iran tests the limits of the country's strategic oil reserves.
The reserves created just for times of crisis are now in lower level For more than four decades, while the U.S. has been forced to pump increasing quantities to contain energy prices.
Based on current stock levels and current consumption rates, the adequacy of American strategic stocks is estimated at around 43 days, with the time horizon being theoretically transferred to mid-September. Consequently, the 19 September is the critical milestone for the future of the United States.
Moreover, the American «safety cushion» has been under strong pressure, as his government Donald Trum p released millions of barrels from strategic reserves in order to cope with the shock caused by the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, from where a significant part of global oil transport is going through.
In any case, the energy market is monitoring developments with concern, as a sustained conflict could further increase price pressures, boost inflation and create a new cycle of turbulence in the global economy.
The evidence... shock from the Bank of America
According to data from Bank of America Global Research, the level of Americans Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is located at the lowest point of the 1983, leaving the United States with stocks corresponding to around 43 days of supply of crude oil, as broadcast by Associated Press.
Trump government proceeds to oil release from strategic reserves in order to address the rise in energy costs caused by the closure of Hormuz, where it passes up to one fifth of global oil transport daily.
Free 172 million barrels of oil
During the five months of the conflict, the Strait has actually closed for commercial navigation, causing disruption in global energy markets and increasing uncertainty about the progress of crude prices. In response to the crisis, President Trump approved domestic liberation 172 million oil barrels within a period of 120 days. To date, some have been made available 108.6 million barrels of crude oil, while today's stocks are growing around 304.8 million barrelsAccording to federal evidence.
However, in June, the American president warned that the country cannot rely indefinitely on strategic reserves to face a war. «We'll run out of stocks in about four weeks.. They'll really be over and the moment will come when you can't find oil. And you want to see chaos?», Trump told reporters on June 17.
On the same day, the president signed Memorandum of Understanding with IranIn an effort to open the way for peace in the region.
The agreement aimed to create a process for denuclearisation of Iran and the safe passage of ships from Hormuz, as part of a prolonged truce. However, the deal proved short-lived and the attacks resumed on July 8. The prices of crude oil were almost launched 5% on 8 July, with Brent being reinforced against 5,2%, closing in $78.02 a barrel. The American slow type West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 4,4%, reaching 73.52 a barrel.
Sixth energy-saving measures
The South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Bangladesh They proceeded to exceptional energy saving measures, such as restrictions on the use of air conditioners or alternate vehicle traffic, in order to address the impact of the crisis.
The China reduced oil imports compared to last year by around 3.5 million barrels per day, restricting its markets from the average of 11 million barrels per day in approximately 7.8 million barrels daily. The country has the world's largest system of crude emergency reserves, estimated to be close to almost all 1.4 billion barrels, αν συνυπολογιστούν τα κρατικά και τα εμπορικά αποθέματα.
Οι ΗΠΑ, ωστόσο, δεν έχουν προσαρμοστεί επαρκώς στις έντονες διακυμάνσεις της πετρελαϊκής αγοράς, καθώς ο Trump και οι συνεργάτες του παραμένουν αισιόδοξοι ότι οι τιμές θα επιστρέψουν σε φυσιολογικά επίπεδα μόλις ολοκληρωθεί ο πόλεμος, χωρίς όμως να υπάρχει σαφές χρονοδιάγραμμα για την υποχώρηση.
Πιέσεις στις πετρελαϊκές
Ο πρόεδρος έχει ασκήσει έντονη κριτική σε αμερικανικές πετρελαϊκές εταιρείες, όπως η ExxonMobil and Chevron, κατηγορώντας τις ότι αποκομίζουν υπερβολικά κέρδη από την κρίση μέσω της αυξημένης παραγωγής. «Βγάζουν πάρα πολλά χρήματα. Πάρα πολλά χρήματα», δήλωσε ο Trump τη Δευτέρα, καλώντας τις εταιρείες να μειώσουν τις τιμές στα πρατήρια. «Εκπλήσσεστε; Το λέω. Θα το πω δυνατά και καθαρά», πρόσθεσε.
Παρά τις δηλώσεις του Αμερικανού προέδρου, οι μεγάλες πετρελαϊκές εταιρείες υποστηρίζουν ότι δεν ελέγχουν τις τιμές που πληρώνουν οι καταναλωτές στα πρατήρια και προειδοποιούν ότι οι διεθνείς συνθήκες στην αγορά αργού, λόγω του πολέμου με το Ιράν, θα συνεχίσουν να κρατούν τις τιμές σε υψηλά επίπεδα.
Ακόμη και όταν οι διεθνείς δείκτες αναφοράς του πετρελαίου υποχωρούν, οι τιμές στα πρατήρια συνήθως ακολουθούν με καθυστέρηση αρκετών εβδομάδων.
Political pressure from accuracy to fuel
The rise in fuel prices is one of the factors that have kept inflation high since the beginning of the year, further burdening the cost of living American households.
Το ζήτημα έχει λάβει έντονες πολιτικές διαστάσεις, καθώς απομένουν τρεις μήνες μέχρι τις ενδιάμεσες εκλογές της 3ης Νοεμβρίου 2026. Οι Δημοκρατικοί επιχειρούν να αξιοποιήσουν πολιτικά τη δυσαρέσκεια των πολιτών για την ακρίβεια, ενώ ο Trump είχε δεσμευτεί προεκλογικά ότι θα περιόριζε το κόστος διαβίωσης.
Pressure on energy companies is increasing as the average price of gasoline in the US has increased significantly, with the White House considering ways to intervene in the market and Trump demanding lower prices for consumers.
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