Today's Commodities Pulse
UK energy bills surge to two‑year high as Europe feels shock from Iran conflict
UK households are set to face their deepest‑unwelcome energy bill increase in two years as wholesale prices climb amid the Iran‑related war. Analysts say the conflict will push household energy costs higher for the first time across Europe.
Also developing:
By the numbers: M Battery Materials acquires graphite assets for $20M
The Minerals of War: Criticality in an Age of AI and Artillery
The article expands the "mineral imperative" concept, arguing that global demand for metals and critical minerals must roughly double by 2050 to sustain development, decarbonisation, digitalisation and now defence. While population growth, urbanisation, electrification and AI have already driven material intensity, modern great‑power conflict adds a fifth, under‑estimated driver. Weapons such as missiles, drones and advanced combat systems consume large quantities of copper, aluminium, rare‑earth magnets, tungsten, tantalum and other specialty metals. Ignoring the defence‑related mineral load risks severe supply gaps for both civilian and military high‑tech programmes.
Week Ahead: Shockwaves From Iran
In this urgent episode of Reuters Morning Bid, hosts Carmel Crimmins and Amanda Cooper dissect the fallout from a wave of US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, sparking Iranian drone and missile retaliation. They highlight the immediate...
UAE Fujairah Bunker Market Braced for Impact
Bunker traders in Fujairah, the Middle East’s largest marine fuels hub, are preparing for a sharp decline in demand after heightened Gulf tensions and unverified warnings of a Strait of Hormuz closure. Recent missile strikes near Fujairah and Jebel Ali have...
Qatar March Sulphur Price Announcement Postponed
State‑owned QatarEnergy Marketing postponed its March Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) announcement to 4 March, citing recent geopolitical developments. February’s QSP was set at $520 per tonne FOB, a modest $3 increase from January. The delay follows the US‑Israeli strike on Iran,...
Crude Oil Prices to Cross $100? What Experts Predict After US, Israel Attack on Iran
Following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, crude oil prices surged, with WTI at $67.29 and Brent at $72.87. Barclays raised its Brent forecast to $100 per barrel, citing heightened supply‑disruption risk...
Iran War's Oil Disruption May Have Begun; Oil Majors, Traders Suspend Shipments via Hormuz
Major oil majors and leading trading houses have suspended crude and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran‑Israel‑US conflict escalates. Israel launched a pre‑emptive strike on Iran, followed by U.S. air and naval attacks, prompting heightened security...
IRGC Closes Strait of Hormuz, Threatening 20% Oil Flow
🚨 IRAN WAR UPDATE — MARCH 1, 2026 🚨 Khamenei is confirmed dead by Iranian state media. But the bigger story: the IRGC has formally closed the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping firms are instructing vessels to shelter in place. About 20%...
Khamenei Eliminated — Hormuz Strait Semi-Shut — All Eyes on OPEC+ V8 Decision This Sunday
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, sparking a regional power vacuum and heightened political uncertainty. The Strait of Hormuz is operating at reduced capacity, causing semi‑shutdown conditions that disrupt global oil shipments. Market participants are closely watching...
Copper Shortage Imminent: Prices Set to Hit $15k
https://t.co/U4SkF1hAbc @UBS boosting its copper price target is just the latest confirmation of what we’ve been warning about for years: the world is flying head-first into a structural copper shortage. A projected $15,000/tonne copper price by 2027… and a half-million-tonne supply deficit...
Iran Conflict Will Expose Oil Market Fragility
IRAN WAR will test the vulnerability of oil markets - I got to write some thoughts in the Financial Times: https://t.co/L7TKTXxT7U
Thai Gold-Trading Curbs Take Effect as Authorities Rein in Baht
Thailand's central bank introduced strict retail gold‑trading limits effective March 1, 2026. Individuals can now trade up to 50 million baht per day on each online platform, aiming to dampen speculative buying that has lifted the baht. The cap excludes USD‑denominated...
Oil Spike Lifts Brazil Real, Sinks Turkish Lira
When markets open tonight, oil prices will spike, which will help oil exporters and hurt oil importers. In Q1 '22, oil prices spiked almost 40%. Single biggest beneficiary - by far - was Brazil's Real, which rose 20%. Turkish Lira...
Iran War Urges China to Fast‑track Renewables, Shun Coal
Thinking ahead... does this push China to further speed up the adoption of renewables + batteries and make it even more reluctant to wind down coal. The Iran war is an object lesson in a) American power (which shale has...
Botswana Advances Copper Beneficiation with Planned Khoemacau Refinery Study
Botswana’s government announced a feasibility study to assess a copper refinery linked to MMG’s Khoemacau expansion. The mine has already shipped about 587,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, containing roughly 177,000 tonnes of copper, and aims to boost concentrate output to...
Trump's War Risks Global Energy Market Instability
How Trump’s War Could Destabilize the Global Energy Market #energysky -- via Heatmap News https://t.co/5Rh1Ysyc2w https://t.co/XMEM6rLIOY
Iran Conflict Sparks Oil Surge and Market Turbulence
Major News to Track on March 1, 2026: 1. US-Israel Strikes on Iran Escalate, Khamenei Reported Dead 2. Oil Prices Surge Amid Fears of Strait of Hormuz Disruption 3. Global Stock Markets Brace for Volatility Post-Iran Attacks 4. EPF Announces...
Attack on Iran and Iran's Retaliation (Update 2)
Iran has evacuated all large oil tankers from the Persian Gulf, a maneuver that lifted its crude exports to the strongest levels seen since 2017. The clearance follows a recent attack on Iranian interests, which Tehran frames as a catalyst...
Hormuz Closure After US‑Israel Strike Sends Markets Tumbling
🚨 OPERATION EPIC FURY — Feb 28, 2026 US and Israel launched a massive military campaign against Iran at 1:15 AM ET. Regime change is the stated goal. Iran retaliated, striking US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE. US officials say...
Hedge Funds Maxed Bullish Brent Bets Ahead of Iran Attack
Bullish Brent positions at nearly two-year high prior to attack on Iran Before the United States and Israel attacked Iran, hedge funds and other money managers amassed the largest bullish position in Brent crude futures and options for almost two years,...
Gold to Surge After U.S. Strike on Iran
A U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran broke over the weekend, prompting immediate reactions in precious‑metal markets. Because traditional markets are closed, the first price signal came from crypto‑linked gold tokens, with Tether Gold jumping 1.57% to about $5,341 per...
Egypt Urea Sold Higher After US, Israel Attack on Iran
Egyptian fertilizer producers Mopco and Alexfert each sold 6,000 t of granular urea for March loading, pricing the cargoes at $505/t and $495/t FOB respectively. The transactions reflect a price jump after the United States launched major combat operations in Iran...
Hormuz Traffic Slows After Strike On Iran
Oil tankers are increasingly bypassing the Strait of Hormuz following the US and Israel airstrikes on Iran, prompting major shipping lines to issue cautionary directives. While the waterway remains officially open, Bloomberg tracking shows a buildup of idle vessels both...
DRC’s Cobalt Quotas Reshape the Global Critical Metals Market
The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced strict cobalt export quotas—18,125 tonnes for Q4 2025 and 96,600 tonnes for 2026—while reserving 10% of production as a strategic stockpile. The policy, aimed at curbing smuggling, stabilising prices and capturing more domestic value,...
Iran Strike May Push Oil to $73.90 Resistance.
$USOIL monthly - The Israeli-U.S. strike in Iran will propel the price of crude oil to the 1st yearly resistance at 73.90. Above that there's the June 2025 high at 77.64. These are the 2 potential upside targets for next...
Poland Cuts Copper Tax, KGHM Eyes 2026 Output Boost
Poland’s KGHM targets higher copper output in 2026 as Poland cuts its copper extraction tax from January. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/polands-kghm-targets-higher-copper.html
Iran-Israel Conflict: Expect a Gap-Up Opening in Gold and Silver. Here's How to Trade Bullion on Monday
The recent pre‑emptive Israeli strike on Iran has reignited geopolitical tension, prompting a sharp rally in precious metals. While Indian MCX gold and silver futures slipped modestly on Friday, COMEX prices surged, with gold up 2% to $5,296 per ounce...
Silver RSI Near 1980 Peak, May Surge Past 94
$Silver - Despite the 40% drawdown from the January high, February was the 10th up month in a row, which never happened before. The 14 month RSI is now at 93.42, its highest level since the 1980 top. My expectation...
Record US Crude Exports Threaten Brent Price Rally
Is Crude Oil Becoming a Rally to Sell? US crude and liquid fuel net exports approaching 4 million barrels a day in 2026 -- the highest ever -- may be a primary price-pressure factor for oil. My graphic shows an annual...
METL: Active Diversified Metals Miners, Up 50% Since Inception In The Past Year
Since its September 2025 debut, the Sprott Active Metals & Miners ETF (METL) has delivered a cumulative return exceeding 50%, outpacing the broader Natural Resources sector. The fund’s portfolio is notably overweight in copper and uranium, differentiating it from gold‑centric...
Lithium Demand Rebounds 25% as Low‑cost Supply Tightens Price Gap
Lithium bottom: demand +25% as EV/ESS rebound; SQM+Codelco JV raises low-cost supply, tightens cost curve; prices ≈70% below 2022 — overweight low-cost lithium producers. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
EU Targets Pre‑consumer Scrap in CBAM to Stop Evasion
EU proposes CBAM treatment for pre-consumer aluminium and steel scrap to curb circumvention and boost traceability. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/eu-cbam-pre-consumer-scrap-proposal.html
How Sanctions Can Help Stabilise Global Oil Supply
A G7‑backed price cap on Russian oil, introduced in 2022, is shown to boost near‑term extraction while curbing global oil prices and volatility. The cap neutralizes market power and reduces the option value of holding reserves, shifting producer incentives toward...
Iran’s Oil, Gas, Power Sectors Summarized in One File
💥Here is a comprehensive but condensed file on energy sources in Iran, covering its oil, gas, and power sectors, including several charts. Click the link, then switch the language in your browser.👇
Gold Steadies Near $5300 After Morning Dip
Gold LoD .. near $5300 +0.8% vs 24hrs ago, -3% from the morning high https://t.co/m5RGmaZaR4
NRG Targets Data Centers With 6.4 GW of Gas-Fired Capacity
NRG Energy announced plans to add 6.4 GW of gas‑fired generation capacity aimed at powering the United States’ rapidly expanding data‑center sector. The utility sees data‑center electricity demand outpacing traditional commercial loads, prompting a strategic shift toward flexible, dispatchable gas assets....
Hormuz Closure Turns Oil Crisis Into Prolonged Risk Game
Strait of Hormuz. Closed. The ‘crisis’ will be defined by the length of the war and by risk. Oil supply. Maritime and cargo insurance. Houthis. Freight rates.
Strait of Hormuz Status Threatens Shipping and Consumers
Is the Strait of Hormuz Open? ▶️Danger to Shipping ▶️US and UK Waring ▶️Impact for Consumers ▶️Other Factors Impacting Global Tanker Market ▶️Is US Sealift & Afloat Prepositioning Moving? Video: https://t.co/SgdGJdWaSD https://t.co/Cvj3mRaiq7
For Two Large US Gulf LNG Projects, Diverse Paths Ahead
Two major LNG export projects on the U.S. Gulf Coast are taking divergent routes. One developer announced confidence in securing investment and long‑term offtake contracts, signalling a clear path to construction. The second project’s sponsor warned that without an external...
IRGC Threatens Hormuz Closure, Risking Oil Price Surge
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly warned that no vessels are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This blockade of the channel, which carries ~20% of global oil, threatens massive energy price spikes and severe, immediate disruptions...
US-Israel Strikes Trigger Global Market Volatility
🚨 The US and Israel just launched strikes on Iran. Tehran is firing back. Missiles hitting Gulf states. Markets open Sunday night. Oil. Gold. Nasdaq. Forex. Everything gaps. I'm going LIVE Sunday 6PM ET to break down what this means for your trades. Don't...
Higher Diesel Prices Boost Profits for Large Truck Fleets
A weird irony is that most mid and large trucking fleets make more money with higher diesel prices due to fuel surcharges.
Q2Metals Hits All‑time High in Lithium Exploration
Check out our latest #RockStockRecap + update with the lithium industry’s most exciting spodumene exploration story @Q2Metals which closed yesterday at an all-time high. $QTWO.V 👇👇
Iran Bans Hormuz Traffic, yet Tankers Still Sail
Iran is sending out warnings on VHF announcing the banning of all ships from the Strait of Hormuz. However, traffic is still moving. What's Going on with Shipping will be monitoring traffic through the Strait. https://t.co/0rPIFY825Q
Gold +22%, Silver +31% Amid Global Chaos
The chaos doesn't stop. There's been Greenland, a yield spike in Japan, private credit ructions and AI. Now it's Iran. Easy to miss the forest for the trees and that's precious metals. Gold is up 22% this year. Silver 31%....
Recapping a Coast‑to‑Coast Lithium Tour in Podcast
Sun coming up on a redeye home from Reno after a long #lithium week stretching from meetings with investors & producers in south Florida to northern Nevada to see Thacker Pass. Will do a solo podcast to recap what I...
PAX Gold Surges Past $5,500 as Spot Gold Nears Record
PAX Gold up about $200-250 today from the close of spot gold on Friday. At one point was north of $5,500. Plausible spot gold retests all-time highs early Monday https://t.co/dFRK76xspa
Gold Breaks Yearly Resistance, Targets 5764 Despite Record RSI
$Gold - The 14 month RSI closed at 95.67, its highest level in history, but it probably doesn't matter since gold closed the month above the 1st yearly resistance at 5043, and is headed to the 2nd yearly resistance at...
Chinese Drones Plausible, Hypersonics Doubtful; Markets See Calm
Reports of Chinese drones to Iran are plausible But talk of hypersonics is a leap. If true, I see little effect for the present Iran crisis Markets agree with Brent rolling into contango. This looks like calibrated support, not crisis-altering escalation https://t.co/x606IhOrev #Iran...
Brent Contango Signals Market Downplays Iran Disruption Risk
Brent DFL rolling into contango suggests the market is fading the Iran oil disruption risk @Rory_Johnston A US strike will probably still happen But traders aren’t pricing sustained barrels off the market. #Oil #Brent #Iran #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics
February: Metals and Energy Surge While Stocks and Crypto Dive
February... Silver $SLV: +13% Energy $XLE: +10% Gold $GLD: +9% International Developed $VEA: +6% EM $IEMG: +6% Oil $USO: +3% Bonds $AGG: +2% S&P 500 $SPY: -1% Nasdaq 100 $QQQ: -2% Financials $XLF: -4% Mag 7 $MAGS: -7% Software $IGV: -10% Bitcoin $IBIT: -22% Fartcoin $FART: -31%