Svmuu News: According to vessel tracking data, following the U.S. issuance of a temporary purchase exemption for goods already in transit, Russian crude oil and fuel carried by approximately 30 oil tankers in Asian waters are now eligible for trade. The data indicates that these vessels are carrying at least 19 million barrels of Russian crude oil and 310,000 metric tons of refined petroleum products. The refined products consist primarily of naphtha, used in plastic production, and some diesel; prices for these products have surged significantly since Iran effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz. Tracking data shows that these vessels are currently listed as “on standby”—meaning they have no clear destination—or are heading toward Singapore and Malaysia, where tankers typically stop to await the completion of cargo transactions. Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, stated that the U.S. decision is “buying time for countries and refiners to cope with the supply shock from the Middle East.” She noted, “Countries will buy whatever resources they can find—energy security is the top priority for all nations.” (Jin Shi)