Benchmark oil prices have once again been on an upward trend in recent weeks as renewed hostilities in the Middle East conflict have brought more disruptions to the region’s oil exports. Prices for crude and oil products had eased from their April peaks in the months that followed as emergency IEA stocks were released, Strait of Hormuz bypass routes boosted Middle East exports, producers outside the region raised output, flows out of the Persian Gulf partially recovered and global demand softened. (Source: IEA)