Know What's Happening in Commodities
Know What's Happening in Commodities
Ireland launches €250M relief package as heating oil prices double
Heating oil prices in Ireland surged from about $545 to over $1,090 per fill within a month amid the Middle East conflict. The government responded with a €250 million ($273 million) relief package that includes excise cuts and a diesel rebate, though experts say a national energy‑security strategy is still lacking.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Oil majors acquire $164M of Alaska oil leases
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure have driven oil and natural gas prices to new highs. Despite the price surge, operators in the Permian Basin are not accelerating associated gas production, sticking to earlier forecasts that anticipated a softer oil market and a cap on gas output. The region’s producers cite infrastructure bottlenecks and a strategic focus on oil as reasons for maintaining current gas plans. Consequently, the expected link between higher prices and increased Permian gas supply appears weak.
West Texas natural‑gas prices have plunged to historic lows as a combination of robust Permian output, seasonally weak demand, and unexpected pipeline outages throttles transportation capacity. The bottleneck forces producers to offer cash incentives for customers to take gas that...
In this episode, JP Morgan analysts Greg Scheer (precious and base metals) and Atar de Boadze (European natural gas) dissect the escalating Middle‑East conflict’s impact on commodities. They detail how attacks on Iranian, UAE and Qatari gas infrastructure have trimmed Qatar’s...
Argentina exported 50,000 metric tonnes of LPG to India in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the 22,000 tonnes shipped to the country in all of 2025. The surge reflects Argentina’s steady rise in LPG output, which reached...
The latest corn balance‑sheet analysis highlights a complex market landscape driven by rising energy costs, regional drought, and shifting farmer preferences. Energy‑price‑linked demand for ethanol is strengthening, while drought on the U.S. fringe is curbing planting intentions. Global cash markets...
Analysts are split on whether India will boost imports of Canadian green lentils as the government’s pigeon‑pea procurement under the minimum support price (MSP) program stalls. While the Ministry sanctioned 2.2 million tonnes for the 2025‑26 kharif year, market prices above...
Oil prices surged as the Iran‑U.S. conflict entered its third week, pushing Brent crude above $112 per barrel, the highest level since July 2022. The near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, and...
Minnesota farmer George Goblish bought all his fertilizer in the fall, shielding his 2026 corn‑soybean operation from a sharp price surge. Current fertilizer costs are described as outrageously high, forcing growers to reconsider planting decisions. The inflated prices could tilt...
American Sugarbeet Growers Association reports that beet farmers lost an average of $500 per acre in 2025, a loss driven by a 30% drop in sugar prices and a 40% rise in input costs. The financial strain is compounded by...
Canada pledged to add roughly 130,000 barrels per day to meet the IEA’s 400‑million‑barrel oil‑supply initiative, but seasonal maintenance, limited pipeline space and wildfire risk threaten that goal. Upstream firms have already scheduled over 300,000 bpd of spring turnarounds and...
In this brief episode, Andrew Sheets draws a parallel between March Madness basketball and the sudden shift in market narratives caused by the Iran conflict and a potential oil shock. He outlines how, after a period of strong economic signals—low...
Iraq has instructed international oil companies operating in the country to curb output, invoking force majeure retroactively to March 3 because export routes through Basrah are effectively blocked. The loss of roughly 3.4 million barrels per day of export capacity follows a...
Gold prices posted their steepest weekly decline in over 14 years, tumbling 9.5% in the week to March 20. The slide was sparked by heightened uncertainty from the Iran‑Israel conflict, which paradoxically dampened gold’s safe‑haven appeal. A shifting Federal Reserve rate...
Indian spice exporters are confronting a sudden halt in US buyer outreach after the Iran war erupted, threatening a $500 million annual trade stream. The suspension of early‑year call‑ons has stalled order flow, while soaring freight, insurance and war‑risk surcharges inflate...
Futures markets opened mixed but slipped into negative territory by mid‑session as traders engaged in end‑of‑week profit taking and consolidation. The lack of fresh domestic news left markets vulnerable, while external geopolitical developments dominated headlines. Growing concerns over the US‑Iran...
U.S. ground‑beef prices are poised to climb past $7.50 per pound as the Iran‑Iran war’s Strait of Hormuz blockade drives up diesel, fertilizer and corn feed costs. The national cattle herd has shrunk to 86.2 million head, the lowest level in...
Diesel retail prices jumped to $5.18 per gallon, up sharply from $3.81, while the cost of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) has remained flat around $4.30‑$4.60 per gallon. The raw material for DEF—urea—saw its benchmark price surge from $482.50 to $712.50...
Oil Prices and the Information War Global oil prices have risen surprisingly little given the war between the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market” according to the International...
Mexico currently sources about three‑quarters of its natural gas from the United States, importing over 7 billion cubic feet per day. President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to cut that reliance dramatically, aiming to halve imports by 2030 through expanded domestic...
The US Senate introduced the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities to the USDA for public disclosure. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and...
U.S. defense analysts warn Iran could shut the Strait of Hormuz for one to six months, creating a prolonged maritime bottleneck. The assessment, based on multiple sources, highlights the logistical nightmare of escorting tankers, which may need several destroyers per...
Oil‑supply disruptions in the Middle East have pushed both conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices higher, narrowing the premium that SAF traditionally commanded. In March, SAF in Western Europe traded around $2,500 per metric ton, down from...
The numbers are clear: Middle East oil crisis is already 3x WORSE than the UNREALIZED FEAR in 2022 @Rory_Johnston explains: in April 2022 fear was 3 Million Barrel per day (mb/d) shut in for Russian Crude (DIDN'T HAPPEN). In 2026...
The war between Israel and Iran has escalated into direct strikes on oil and gas infrastructure, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel. Missile attacks have damaged the South Pars gas field and...
Indian maize prices fell to ₹1,781 per quintal, about 30% below the minimum support price, prompting growers to reconsider crop choices for the upcoming kharif season. Despite record‑high projected maize output of 302.47 lakh tonnes, farmers are eyeing oilseeds and pulses...
Wholesale prices for fresh and dry vegetables surged nearly 50% in February, propelling the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final‑demand goods up 1.1% month‑over‑month—the fastest rise since August 2023. Overall wholesale food prices climbed 2.4%, with egg prices jumping over...
Chicken prices in India have surged to record levels, now ranging between ₹270 and ₹340 per kilogram, driven by soaring bird mortality and reduced broiler weight during the summer heat. The average live bird weight has fallen to 1.5‑1.75 kg, down...
The Softs report shows cotton prices under pressure from the ongoing Iran war and unusually hot, dry conditions across U.S. growing regions, while USDA projects a decline in global cotton production despite strong Indian and Brazilian output. Florida orange juice...
Nigeria’s oil revenues are set to surge as the Iran‑Ukraine war pushes crude above $100 a barrel, a windfall for the country’s export‑driven economy. Yet the nation still imports most refined fuels, so higher global prices translate into steeper pump...
Natural gas futures slipped Friday as traders weighed heightened Middle East war risk and a sharp rise in U.S. storage. The U.S. South Central region logged a 26 Bcf injection, pushing inventories to 721 Bcf, still 30 Bcf below the five‑year average. The...
Two weeks ago, Brent oil futures were in the 80s; the president was telling reporters that the war was "very complete" and that Iran was begging to negotiate; and WH defenders were claiming the war was "over" and accusing commodity...
Nigeria’s day‑old chick prices have jumped 67% since January, reaching N3,000, tightening the supply of pullets needed for egg production. Hatcheries are unable to meet the renewed demand as many farmers re‑enter the market after feed costs fell, while a...
Chinese ferro‑alloy producers are rapidly installing direct‑current (DC) furnaces, delivering 10‑15% electricity savings and lower coke use while aligning with clean‑energy grids. Upstream collaborations, such as South32’s pelletization deal, aim to secure low‑carbon feedstocks, and steelmakers’ decarbonisation projects could boost...
Indian Oil Corporation raised the price of industrial diesel to Rs 109.59 per litre, a 25% increase effective 20 March 2026. The hike targets bulk consumers such as factories, where diesel fuels captive power plants and heat‑intensive processes. The textile sector, which relies...
White sugar futures jumped to a 4.75‑month high as crude oil and gasoline prices surged, lifting the energy‑linked ethanol diversion mechanism. The rally is mechanical, not driven by tighter supply‑demand. India’s record sugar output and an approved export programme add...
China’s shipments of rare‑earth permanent magnets to the United States fell 22.5% year‑on‑year in January‑February 2026, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. The US now accounts for just 9.2% of China’s magnet exports, slipping to the third‑largest buyer behind...
The article showcases a gold DMA (moving‑average) chart that recently slipped below a key technical threshold, prompting a sharp sell‑off. It outlines four competing narratives: reporters link the decline to rising yields and inflation expectations, junior traders cite profit‑taking, advisory...
Iranian oil has been sanctioned for many years. The 140 million barrels he is referring to are part of the "dark fleet" that has been shipping Iranian oil to Asia (mainly China) for years. Iran gets money for oil, and...
🛢️ OIL & IRAN WAR CONTEXT WEEKLY 🛢️ Crude rose in further fits and starts as the Iran War stretches into its 4th week and belligerents escalate to attacks on upstream infrastructure that have already wrought durable supply losses. Summary below, link...
In Africa, the cost of jet fuel is changing faster than you can fly https://t.co/39KuWJkWGP
3w into conflict, gas prices on higher trajectory than in 2022 (Ukraine invasion). WTI 1M/6M spread off peak inversion, so are implied vols for WTI. 2YR inflation expectations on similar trajectory as 2022. LT inflation exp not reacting much...
Iran War Puts Global Energy Markets on the Brink of a Worst-Case Scenario | WIRED Quoted here with the always on point @Rory_Johnston https://t.co/mDCdbWwTqc
GOLD FALLS TO UNDER $4500, SET FOR ITS BIGGEST WEEKLY FALL SINCE 1983. - @FirstSquawk Gold volatility in USD is doing what gold volatility did in 1920s Weimar German Reichsmarks, which makes perfect sense once you understand our present context. Chart...
Is it reasonable to say that a long-term, structural decline in global oil demand would not necessarily translate into lower prices, and could plausibly turn into significantly higher prices in the future?
I think I will end up being right that Silver trades below 50 by year-end. Remember the insults I received?
Gold prices down 9.5% this week, the largest one-week decline since **September 2011** --Dow Jones Market Data
Lower prices, lower yields, lower oil. Either that, or a new war in the Middle East. https://t.co/mnkr6zwlk9
FLOWS before SPROS: While the announced volume of IEA coordinated SPR release is equal to a 4-week full Hormuz disruption. The SPR release RATE still means the supply losses compound over time. FYSA: Back in my days at DOE, the short-hand...
strong trends come out of coils. so easy to see now... (this deterioration started well before Iran SNAFU). https://t.co/GjLz7VyWLz
If gasoline hits $4 now, that's still a third less than the $6 it hit in 2008 in today's dollars ($4 in nominal dollars then).
