Oil & Shipping Shock: Shell’s Q2 profit tripled to $10.8bn as the Middle East war pushed crude higher, even as volumes fell—another reminder that Latin America’s energy costs are still hostage to global supply swings. EV Demand Spillover: The IEA says EV sales roughly doubled in Brazil and other markets in March–June, with EV growth in Latin America supported by policy and price pressure from fuel volatility. Maritime Chokepoints: Houthi actions are rerouting Saudi crude around Africa, tightening tanker availability and raising freight rates; Indian refiners are now planning for a “dual choke point” risk through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Power Storage Buildout: RWE is moving ahead with a 236 MW / 470 MWh battery project at Germany’s Hambach mine site, underscoring how storage is becoming the backbone for wind and solar stability. Venezuela Upstream Tech: KAS Energy will sponsor Venezuela Energy Week 2026, pitching subsurface AI and geoscience tools to improve exploration and field optimization. Grid & Renewables in the Region: Ecuador will invest $117.6m in Galapagos renewables, while Mexico’s Elawan and CFE signed for a 98 MW solar-plus-storage project. Policy & Markets: The US is rolling out new tariffs tied to forced-labor claims, with energy and some food exempt—still a potential inflation headwind for the region’s importers. Brazil Auto Strategy: Hyundai’s chairman visited Brazil to reassess growth plans, highlighting local production needs amid 35% import tariffs and intensifying Chinese competition.