Oil continues to flow from the Gulf in large volumes. Yet crude prices remain stubbornly above $100 a barrel. That gap has surprised many market observers.
Drivers see little relief at the pump. Retail fuel prices stay near recent highs. Consumers hoping for a break have found none so far.
Supply and demand alone do not explain the situation. Global markets face tight refining capacity and strong demand. Geopolitical risks add further pressure to prices.
Refiners struggle to turn crude into finished fuels. Limited capacity keeps gasoline and diesel prices elevated. Even abundant crude cannot fix that bottleneck quickly.
Demand has held firm despite higher costs. Major economies continue to consume large amounts of fuel. That resilience supports prices at every stage of the supply chain.
Traders also price in uncertainty about future supply. Sanctions, conflicts, and policy shifts keep markets on edge. Each new risk adds a premium to every barrel.
The result is a market that defies simple logic. More oil does not always mean lower prices. Structural limits and global tensions keep the pressure on.
