Brent rose to about US$88.98 and WTI to about US$83.27 per barrel on 12 Aug 2026 (up about US$0.07 each) as US-Iran ceasefire talks stalled and Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed. Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Bab el-Mandeb strait killed four crew, the first Houthi maritime deaths since the war began. US crude inventories rose 17.4 million barrels in the week to 7 Aug, the largest weekly build since Jan 2023, while OPEC cut its 2026 demand growth forecast to 580,000 barrels/day. For a Thai SME, the risk is higher diesel and shipping costs in coming weeks; avoid locking in fuel-sensitive prices without a buffer, and check freight surcharges with logistics providers.