美伊冲突导致全球能源市场剧烈波动，石油公司因此获得巨额收益。冲突已持续六个月，霍尔木兹海峡的运输中断影响了全球五分之一的石油和天然气供应[1]。受此影响，布伦特原油价格在3月至5月期间从约70美元飙升至100美元以上，一度达到126美元[1]。欧洲六大油企第一季度利润合计220亿美元，同比增长43%[1]。埃克森美孚和雪佛龙等主要石油公司将在周五公布第二季度财报[1]。
消费者为高油价承受压力，美国汽油平均价格从美国和以色列对伊朗发起攻击前的3美元以下升至本周的4.10美元[1]。对此，美国民主党议员提议对日产至少30万桶石油的生产商或进口商征收暴利税，税率为油价与去年平均价格差额的50%[1]。参议员谢尔登·怀特豪斯表示："对过度暴利征收暴利税比削减儿童食品计划更公平"[1]。炼油厂的"裂差利润"在7月底高达50-60美元每桶，远高于20-25美元的平均水平[1]。
A six-month US-Iran conflict has disrupted oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that normally supplies one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas, driving global crude prices sharply higher.[1] Brent crude surged from approximately $70 per barrel to over $100 during March, April, and May, reaching as high as $126 at one point.[1] This spike has translated into substantial gains for major oil producers: Europe's six largest oil companies reported combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, a 43 percent increase year-over-year.[1] ExxonMobil and Chevron are set to announce their second-quarter earnings on Friday.[1]
The price surge has extended to consumers at the pump, with the average US gasoline price climbing from below $3 per gallon before US and Israeli attacks on Iran to $4.10 per gallon this week.[1] Refinery "crack spreads"—a key profitability measure—have reached $50–$60 per barrel in late July, far exceeding the typical $20–$25 range.[1] In response to these windfall gains, Democratic lawmakers have proposed a windfall profits tax targeting producers or importers handling at least 300,000 barrels daily, set at 50 percent of the difference between current prices and last year's average.[1] Senator Sheldon Whitehouse defended the measure, stating that "collecting windfall profits taxes on excess profits is a fairer approach than cutting children's food programs."[1]