For your reference, please see below the highlights of this week’s report:
Europe & Mediterranean:
Russia says five vessels struck at Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Romania destroys explosive marine drone near Neptun Deep gas project. Black Sea grain-shipping ceasefire remains blocked. Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses external power and switches to diesel. Russian mass strike hits logistics infrastructure and Odesa-Moldova border corridor. Perm refinery halts operations after Ukrainian drone attack. Ukraine strikes Afipsky refinery and Astrakhan gas processing plant. Finland reports Russian reconnaissance aircraft violation over Gulf of Finland. Russia set to extend diesel export ban through September. Russian oil freight rates surge on Black Sea security risk and vessel scarcity. CMA CGM imposes inland emergency fee amid Rhine and European river lows.
Middle East & Indian Ocean Region:
Tanker struck by unknown projectile west of Yanbu. Oil tanker struck and disabled off Oman near Strait of Hormuz. Somali pirates hijack oil tanker east of Al Mukalla. Mine danger remains active in Strait of Hormuz TSS. Iran threatens alternative Gulf oil routes over United States economic pressure. Iran blacklist drives avoidance of 45 tankers linked to Hormuz shuttle trades. United States blockade tally rises to 71 redirected commercial vessels. Iran and Oman advance temporary Hormuz corridor and mine-clearing plan. Iranian parliamentary committee advances Hormuz service-fee regime. United States expands sanctions campaign against Iran-linked shipping. Strait of Hormuz traffic remains critically depressed despite renewed talks.
West Africa:
Mass mosque abduction triggers immediate Nigerian rescue operation. Sokoto boat capsize kills at least 50, exposing persistent waterway-safety failures. Mali extends Koulikoro curfew, maintaining restrictions around Bamako approaches. Ghana joins multinational Gulf of Guinea security patrols off Liberia .Hapag-Lloyd surcharge increases costs for Conakry and Freetown cargo. Severe congestion continues across major West African ports. Nigerian Navy disrupts crude-oil theft infrastructure near Bonny. Senegalese Navy rescues 210 migrants off Saint-Louis. Côte d’Ivoire cocoa traceability rollout raises export-delay risk.
North Africa:
Sudan ethnic violence kills at least 27 civilians in South Kordofan. Tunisia receives at least 19 migrant bodies as search continues after boat sinking. Nouakchott substation fires disrupt power supply to critical infrastructure. BANGKOK MAERSK transit reinforces gradual Suez Canal traffic recovery. Algeria secures new LPG export demand as India diversifies supply.
Libya:
Benina International Airport imposes nightly closure until 4 September. Eastern Libya–Crete migration surge sustains search-and-rescue exposure. Misrata ammunition-depot explosion spreads unexploded ordnance across surrounding districts. Eastern and western representatives initial draft election agreement. Libya signs production-sharing agreement with Chevron for Sirte Basin block. Presidential Council refers United Nations oil-smuggling findings to prosecutor. Electricity crisis drives eastern outages and industrial curtailment.
Asia:
Ocean Winner sinks in Bay of Bengal, 22 crew remain missing. North Korea launches more than ten ballistic missiles during allied exercises. China warns Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal. Myanmar military offensive targets Russia-backed Dawei deep-sea port area. Taiwan warns off Chinese research vessel in sensitive Taiwan Strait waters. Taiwan proposes record 2027 defence budget amid Chinese pressure. Philippines moves to expand military drone capabilities. China and Indonesia deepen military cooperation and plan joint munitions facility. Typhoons Narra and Saudel disrupt southern China and Japan operations. Tugboat sinks off Zambales during salvage, all ten personnel rescued. South Korea launches first commercial Arctic route test from Busan.
Latin America:
20 Aug 2026 – Panama | Panama Canal announces transit caps as El Niño pressure intensifies. 25 Aug 2026 – Brazil | Brazil and United States schedule tariff talks as export uncertainty persists. 21 Aug 2026 – Venezuela | Tanker congestion and terminal failures constrain crude exports. 20 Aug 2026 – Mexico | Fire at Pajaritos terminal triggers evacuation and prolonged response
