WTI Jumps >3% to ~$105.46 as Strait of Hormuz Reports Signal Near Standstill in Corridor That Typically Moves ~20MM Barrels/Day
Rhea-AI Summary
XCF Global (Nasdaq:SAFX) highlighted heightened Persian Gulf geopolitical risk after vessel-tracking reports showed Strait of Hormuz traffic near a standstill, while WTI rose >3% to about $105.46 per barrel (05/04/26). The company noted ~20 million bpd typically transits Hormuz and said expanding U.S. SAF production could reduce exposure to such chokepoints. XCF affirmed its New Rise Reno plant is finishing upgrades and expects renewable fuel production by early June 2026.
Positive
- WTI moved >3% to approximately $105.46 per barrel (05/04/26)
- Strait of Hormuz typically transits ~20 million barrels per day
- XCF expects New Rise Reno renewable-fuel production by early June 2026
- XCF sources domestic feedstocks and does not use crude oil inputs
Negative
- Near-standstill Hormuz traffic raises short-term global fuel-supply volatility
- Elevated maritime threat level and unclear secure-passage procedures increase transit risk
- Market prices can reprice quickly on geopolitical headlines and freight constraints
News Market Reaction – SAFX
In the May 5 session, SAFX declined 20.58%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -18.9% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 32 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 04 | Corporate update | Positive | +17.4% | Q1 2026 update with 2027 revenue, EBITDA and production targets for Reno. |
| May 01 | Forbearance agreement | Positive | +25.1% | Forbearance on Reno ground lease remedies and progress on upgrade plans. |
| Apr 30 | Certification update | Positive | +8.3% | Maintaining CORSIA-ready certification at Reno ahead of planned June restart. |
| Apr 29 | Policy/RIN economics | Positive | -1.0% | EPA record-high 2026–2027 RIN volumes and incremental SAF value commentary. |
| Apr 28 | International strategy | Positive | +3.1% | Highlighting modular SAF model in Australia amid jet fuel price spike. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent news on operations, certifications, and strategic positioning has usually led to positive price reactions, with only one notable divergence on policy/RIN-related commentary.
Over the last week, XCF Global (SAFX) has issued a series of updates on New Rise Reno, certifications, RIN economics, and international SAF strategy. News on facility upgrades, CORSIA-ready status, and forbearance agreements has often preceded double‑digit moves, while an RFS/RIN-focused highlight on Apr 29 drew a modest negative reaction. Today’s commentary on Persian Gulf risks and WTI volatility extends the theme of positioning SAF as a resilience tool alongside ongoing Reno restart plans targeted for June 2026.
Key Terms
west texas intermediate (WTI) technical
sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF") technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
WTI moved >
3% to ~$105.46 (as of 05/04/26)Recent public reports citing vessel-tracking data indicate Hormuz traffic is near a standstill
EIA analysis indicates ~20MM bpd typically transits Hormuz in recent years
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / May 5, 2026 / XCF Global, Inc. ("XCF") (Nasdaq:SAFX), an emerging player focused on lowering emissions and strengthening the resilience of the aviation fuel supply chain through sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF"), today highlighted how intensified geopolitical risk in the Persian Gulf may contribute to volatility across global energy markets. Recent public reports citing vessel-tracking data have indicated that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is near a standstill, and industry groups have reportedly cautioned that secure passage procedures remain unclear, and the maritime threat level remains elevated. In normal conditions, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy transit chokepoints; the U.S. Energy Information Administration's tanker-tracking-based analysis indicates that roughly 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum liquids have transited the strait in recent years.
With shipping and security conditions in focus, crude and refined product markets have moved sharply in recent sessions. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures advanced more than
Unlike petroleum benchmarks that can reprice on geopolitical headlines and freight constraints, domestically sourced renewable feedstocks are generally influenced by U.S. supply-and-demand fundamentals and logistics. XCF does not use crude oil as an input to its current SAF pathway; the Company's strategy is to source feedstocks domestically and produce fuels in the United States.
XCF's New Rise Reno plant is in the final stages of its planned upgrade phase and expects to be producing renewable fuels by early June.
"Events in the Middle East are a reminder that energy security and supply security are inseparable," said Chris Cooper. "Our focus is to deliver dependable volumes of U.S.-made SAF and renewable fuels using domestic feedstocks, while maintaining the highest standards for safety and environmental performance. We believe American production capacity will play an increasingly important role as the aviation sector continues to decarbonize."
About XCF Global, Inc.
XCF Global, Inc. ("XCF") is an emerging sustainable aviation fuel company dedicated to accelerating the aviation industry's transition to net-zero emissions. Our flagship facility, New Rise Renewables Reno, has a permitted nameplate production capacity of 38 million gallons per year, positioning XCF as an early mover among large-scale SAF producers in North America. XCF is working to advance a pipeline of potential expansion opportunities in Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida, and to build partnerships across the energy and transportation sectors to scale SAF globally. XCF is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trades under the ticker, SAFX.
To learn more, visit www.xcf.global
Contacts
XCF Global:
Corporate Comms
media@xcf.global
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding XCF's expectations, beliefs and strategy concerning the role of sustainable aviation fuel and domestically produced renewable fuels in enhancing energy security, reducing exposure to international supply chokepoints and supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector; XCF's plans to source feedstocks domestically and produce fuels in the United States; the expected timing of renewable fuel production at XCF's New Rise Reno plant; and the prospects for XCF's commercial operations and growth strategy.. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts and are sometimes identified by the words "aim," "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate," "believe," "plan," "could," "would," "project," "predict," "continue," "target," "objective," "goal," "designed," or the negatives of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern XCF's expectations, strategy, priorities, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations, and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
We can give no assurance that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved, and therefore, actual results may differ materially from any plans, estimates, or expectations in such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, developments or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments or outcomes to differ materially include, among others: (1) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; (2) unexpected increases in XCF Global's expenses, including manufacturing and operating expenses and interest expenses, as a result of potential inflationary pressures, changes in interest rates and other factors; (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of negotiations and any agreements with regard to XCF Global's business combination agreement with DevvStream Corp. and Southern Energy Renewables Inc. (the "Business Combination") and/or its offtake arrangements; (4) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties to the Business Combination or others; (5) XCF Global's ability to regain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing standards and thereafter continue to meet Nasdaq's continued listing standards; (6) XCF Global's ability to integrate the operations of New Rise and implement its business plan on its anticipated timeline; (7) XCF Global's ability to raise financing to fund its operations and business plan and the terms of any such financing; (8) the New Rise Reno production facility's ability to produce the anticipated quantities of SAF without interruption or material changes to the SAF production process; (9) the New Rise Reno production facility's ability to produce renewable diesel in commercial quantities without interruption during the ongoing SAF ramp-up process; (10) XCF Global's ability to resolve current disputes between its New Rise subsidiary and its landlord with respect to the ground lease for the New Rise Reno facility; (11) XCF Global's ability to resolve current disputes between its New Rise subsidiary and its primary lender with respect to loans outstanding that were used in the development of the New Rise Reno facility; (12) payment of fees, expenses and other costs related to the completion of the Business Combination and the New Rise acquisitions; (13) the risk of disruption to the current plans and operations of XCF Global as a result of the consummation of the Business Combination; (14) XCF Global's ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination and the New Rise acquisitions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of XCF Global to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (15) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (16) risks related to extensive regulation, compliance obligations and rigorous enforcement by federal, state, and non-U.S. governmental authorities; (17) the possibility that XCF Global may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (18) the availability of tax credits and other federal, state or local government support; (19) risks relating to XCF Global's and New Rise's key intellectual property rights, including the possible infringement of their intellectual property rights by third parties; (20) the risk that XCF Global's reporting and compliance obligations as a publicly-traded company divert management resources from business operations; (21) LOIs and MOUs may not advance to definitive agreements or commercial deployment; (22) the effects of increased costs associated with operating as a public company; and (23) various factors beyond management's control, including general economic conditions and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in XCF Global's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its most recent Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026, this Press Release and other filings XCF Global made or will make with the SEC in the future. If any of the risks actually occur, either alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, or XCF Global's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that XCF Global does not presently know or that it currently believes are not material that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect XCF Global's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Press Release. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing XCF Global's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this Press Release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. While XCF Global may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, XCF Global specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.
Although the business combination agreement is binding on the parties, it does not obligate the parties to consummate the proposed transaction. The consummation of the proposed transaction remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of applicable closing conditions, and the business combination agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will be consummated on the terms described herein or at all. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. XCF undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or developments, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither future distribution of this press release nor the continued availability of this press release in archive form on XCF's website at www.xcf.global/investor-relations should be deemed to constitute an update or re-affirmation of these statements as of any future date.
SOURCE: XCF Global, Inc.
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire