• Marex analysis flagged sharp Brent swings in April, with front-month futures sliding from USD 120/b to USD 90/b by April 17 on ceasefire hopes, then jumping to a four-year high of USD 126.41 on April 30 as Middle East supply risks resurfaced.
• US crude inventories fell 6.23 million barrels in week to April 24, driven by record exports of 6,440,000 b/d; draw was partly offset by a 7.12 million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve release.
• US crude imports averaged 5,750,000 b/d over week, leaving US a net weekly crude exporter for first time.
• UAE set to exit OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, raising questions over cohesion; UAE produces about 3,500,000 b/d and is targeting 5,000,000 b/d capacity by 2027.
• US grid operators warned data centers could drive steep load growth, with MISO projecting demand up 35% to 163 GW by 2035; ERCOT projected demand could rise to 367,790 MW by 2032.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Marex Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on May 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.