
OPEC+ agrees modest oil quota increase amid Middle East war
OPEC+ members agreed in principle to raise production quotas for May by roughly 206,000 barrels per day, a symbolic adjustment as the war constrains output and shipments. Saudi Arabia and Russia led the video‑conference decision, signaling alliance cohesion despite the geopolitical shock.
Hecla Mining announced it will spend $55 million on exploration and pre‑development in 2026, almost doubling the $27.7 million invested last year. The budget targets its Nevada projects and existing assets in Alaska, Yukon and Idaho, aiming to replace or exceed annual reserve depletion. Hecla’s reserve base stands at 231 million silver ounces and 2 million gold ounces, while production last year hit 17 million silver ounces. The news lifted the stock 9% to $22.65, valuing the company at $15.2 billion.
Saudi Aramco will load its first cargoes of Jafurah condensate in March, following the start‑up of the giant Jafurah wet‑gas project late last year. The development converts wet gas into condensate and LPG, adding a new stream to the kingdom’s...

The episode reviews the recent rebound in gold and silver prices, with gold back above $5,000 per ounce and silver futures climbing to $77.89. It delves into the Indian silver market, highlighting rapid price spikes, profit‑taking, and a sharp correction...
Fastmarkets completed its annual open consultation on pricing methodology for non‑ferrous materials and industrial minerals, running from 6 January to 6 February. No feedback was submitted, so the firm will keep its current methodologies unchanged for the upcoming reporting period. An inquiry...
The Excelerate Shenandoah delivered a full LNG cargo from Trinidad’s Atlantic terminal to the Everett import facility in Boston Harbor. The shipment marks the fourth cargo received at Everett this winter, adding to a total of six deliveries last winter and...

The International Energy Agency trimmed its 2026 oversupply warning after a surprise 1.2 million barrels‑per‑day supply drop caused by cold snaps in the United States and a power‑outage‑forced shutdown at Kazakhstan’s Tengiz field. Europe’s gas inventories fell to just 35 % of...
Silver (XAG/USD) slipped to $77.35 on Friday, unable to sustain a breakout above the $79 resistance level. The metal is trapped below the 50‑period SMA at $81, reinforcing a bearish technical bias. A firm US Dollar Index and cautious market...
Agnico Eagle reported record 2025 gold reserves of 55.4 million ounces, a 2.1% rise, while net income surged 135% to $4.46 billion. Production hit 3.45 million ounces, meeting its target, and the company lifted its quarterly dividend to $0.45 per share. Exploration...

European pulp markets are seeing divergent trends as bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) prices jumped $120 per tonne for January, while northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) only posted modest gains. The BEK surge is driven by supply constraints from Iberian strikes,...

U.S. GASOLINE STOCKS are well above normal for the time of year, weighing on refining margins. Inventories totalled 259 million barrels on February 6, the second highest on record for the time of year, exceeded only before the pandemic in...
Senco Gold & Diamonds reported a 39% same‑store sales surge in Q3, driven primarily by a 65% rally in gold prices over the past year. Despite the topline boost, Q3 volumes slipped 3% YoY and nine‑month volumes fell 10%. EBITDA...

Australia’s latest carbon leakage review recommends a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), beginning with cement and clinker imports and potentially expanding to hydrogen, steel, ammonia and related products. The review, led by ANU professor Frank Jotzo, evaluated 75 trade‑exposed commodities...

A&S Resources announced strategic contracts to develop a 20 billion‑tonne high‑grade iron ore deposit in the Central African Republic, valued at up to $2.5 trillion in‑situ. The resource, located in the Bangui Anomaly, has been validated by an independent technical report, confirming...
Fastmarkets corrected the pricing rationale for its Premium Hard Coking Coal (PHCC) index FOB eastern Australian ports on 12 Feb 2026. The index fell $2.43 per wmt that day, reflecting limited market activity and the application of fallback measures. A notable trade...

🚨 THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR METALS AND RISK ASSETS Big news emerged yesterday: Russia is seriously considering returning to dollar-based settlements as part of a broader economic partnership with President Trump. For the past 3–4 years, Russia has been...

Cameroon’s ship registry, now Africa’s third‑largest, surged 126% in the past year, largely due to Russian‑linked vessels adopting its flag. The fleet’s average age has risen to 32.7 years, prompting safety concerns after several high‑profile incidents. Under pressure from the EU...

Maran Dry, the bulk carrier arm of Angelicoussis Shipping, has placed an order for four new capesize vessels at Hengli Heavy Industry’s Dalian yard, with options that could expand the deal to six ships. This marks the company’s first new‑build...
A Federal High Court in Nigeria overturned the 2020 revocation of the Dawes Island marginal field licence, reinstating Eurafric Energy Limited’s rights. The ruling challenges the Ministry of Petroleum Resources’ decision not to renew the licence after a decade of...
MOL Group has secured a 20% stake in Libya’s O7 offshore block through a joint venture with Repsol and Turkey’s TPAO. The block covers over 10,300 sq km in water deeper than 1,500 m, awarded in Libya’s first licensing round in 17 years....
ONE‑Dyas has launched the N05‑A development in the Dutch‑German North Sea, becoming the region’s first offshore gas project to earn MiQ Grade A certification for methane emissions. The field, part of the GEMS area, holds up to 50 billion cubic metres of...
YPF, Eni and XRG have signed a binding joint development agreement to move the Argentina LNG project forward, leveraging gas from the Vaca Muerta shale play. The plan calls for two floating LNG units delivering a combined 12 million tonnes per year...
Patriot Resources, an ASX‑listed junior, has assembled a global copper‑silver portfolio aimed at capitalising on the AI‑driven data‑centre boom. The company recently secured the high‑grade Tassa silver‑gold project in Peru for $500,000 and is advancing drilling that has returned multiple...

The Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) announced a record 2025‑26 harvest of 27.35 million tonnes, surpassing its December forecast of 26.55 Mt. Yield gains were driven by adequate July‑August rainfall, mild grain‑fill temperatures, and a 6.8% expansion of total crop...

Metals essential to electrification are seeing demand outpace supply, with copper at the core of grid, transportation, and industrial upgrades. VanEck’s Copper and Green Metals ETF (EMET) offers investors a liquid, diversified way to capture exposure to copper miners, refiners...

Link: https://t.co/VlV8K8X7eR 🇫🇷France set out a new energy law after years of wrangling on Thursday which slashes its wind and solar power targets and drops a mandate for state-run firm EDF to shutter nuclear plants. Summary France has cut its 2035 wind and...

The episode examines how shifting trade flows, tighter vessel availability, and rising freight costs are reshaping the global bitumen market in 2026, especially for Asian importers. It highlights a surge in Chinese bitumen exports that are undercutting traditional suppliers to...

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced a 40% increase in offshore wind capacity for 2026, targeting 3.5 GW of installed power. The expansion, executed with turbine maker Ming Yang Smart Energy, will roll out advanced turbines across southern provinces. Falling costs...
A bit of a stretch, attributing crude’s slump on Thursday to the #IEA report. If the market thought a 4 million b/d glut would cushion any supply disruption/shock, including the one posed by current US-Iran tensions, Brent would not have been...

Singaporean light distillate (eg gasoline/naphtha) inventories are *very* high right now. (seasonal chart, million barrels) https://t.co/ZgYbX7ZU9F
Natural‑gas spot prices surged as freezing temperatures drove heating demand, but the rally was tempered by broader market weakness. Midwest hub prices posted gains, yet they were insufficient to lift the overall bias, which slipped lower across most regions. Forecasts...
OIL MARKET: The core group of OPEC+ countries need to decide on March 1 whether to re-start production increases after the Jan-Mar pause. Some members in the group see scope for resuming the monthly hikes, although conversations haven't started yet....
"Cargill to Close Milwaukee Beef Facility, Cutting 221 Jobs on Herd Decline" https://t.co/R3enSgd7lj "An industry turnaround isn’t expected soon, as there are few signs of a much-anticipated rebuilding of US herds." 😬
Natural‑gas futures surged early Thursday after the Energy Information Administration reported a 249 Bcf net withdrawal for the week ending Feb. 6, marking a second consecutive week of above‑average draws. The data lifted front‑month prices as traders priced in tighter supplies, but...

BOMBSHELL @FT scoop: Trump admin mulls cutting steel/aluminum tariffs bc these taxes 1) raise US prices; 2) are insanely complicated; 3) had other unintented consequences (incl lobbying). They're admitting, in other words, that gravity exists. Good. https://t.co/o4RkfMWxlF

The Trump administration has announced a plan to create a $12 billion stockpile of rare earths. The goal is to create a buffer against any supply disruptions, but this is just a band-aid. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/daeIxnpldt #rareearths #trump #projectvault https://t.co/p6icljXtjO
Canadian dairy farmer organizations are overhauling milk pricing to reflect a surge in protein‑rich product demand, with cottage cheese volumes up 32% and yogurt up 7% in 2025. The Western Milk Pool will pay 70% for butterfat, 25% for protein...

OIL: ticks back into the green and remains Bullish TREND @Hedgeye Yesterday was the 1st day where we could start buying some Energy Exposure on red https://t.co/eURgEMfFpO

U.S natural gas comparative fell 7 bcf for the week ending February 6 It moved to the greatest deficit since March 2025 Henry Hub spot price decreased $8.78 from $13.79 to $5.01 #energy #NaturalGas #shale #fintwit #oilandgas #Commodities #ONGT #natgas #LNG https://t.co/tLe3q7z4xZ
TotalEnergies announced that Mexico’s Energía Costa Azul LNG terminal is expected to enter service later this year, adding a new export hub on the Pacific coast. The company projects a total LNG output of 44 Mt per year from its combined...
You can’t stockpile what you don’t control. The easy part is $12 billion from the Trump Adminstration. The hard part is finding the mines, processing & pricing. Washington needs to build alliances instead of burning them. https://t.co/JfhrJs5VnH #CriticalMinerals #Geopolitics #China #SupplyChains #EnergyTransition #Mining #USPolicy
The European Investment Bank plans to advance electricity capacity by moving grid debt off bank books & monetizing future revenues I'm not holding my breath. This is Europe, after all. https://t.co/UHQ7GprVvL #PowerGrids #EnergyInfrastructure #Europe #EIB #Electricity #EnergyTransition
Natural gas cash prices showed regional divergence on Thursday, with the Henry Hub benchmark rising to $3.425 per MMBtu, up 18 cents, while the NGI Spot Gas National Average slipped 2 cents to $2.955 per MMBtu. The overall market trend...

A mixed week for the oil glut story CI rose but has fallen from its mid-January maximum U.S. comparative inventory rose 1.7 mmb for the week ending February 6 Crude C.I. rose 7.1 mmb, gasoline rose 1.0 mmb but distillate fell 2.4...

Record gold prices + a weakening dollar don’t scream “risk-on.” They signal global capital reallocation and rising demand for insurance amid lingering policy uncertainty. Hedging behavior is increasing even as equities grind higher.

Vista Energy reported a 57% jump in proved and probable reserves to 588 MMboe at the end of 2025, driven largely by the acquisition of Petronas assets. The reserve replacement ratio surged to 605% overall and 260% on a organic basis....

WTI comparative inventory has decreased 14 mmb (54%) from its mid-January maximum $63.09 WTI was $6.50 > marginal price on the red yield curve the week ending February 6 Markets may be adjusting price upward toward the yellow yield curve #energy #OOTT #oilandgas...
30-40% growth *from what baseline*?! Venezuelan production has been all over the map over the past few months—some very flattering base effects from which to cherry pick.
Again I’ll say: Virtually anything is physically *possible* in the oil market. Far fewer things are economically viable, let alone profitable. This is a nonsense take.

"Aluminum prices in the US have been rising faster than global prices for much of this past year because of tariffs. The so-called US Midwest premium...climbed to an all-time high of $1.03 a pound on Wednesday" https://t.co/lVUj91ooyh https://t.co/lIKmsxcJem

Natural gas storage is part of the reliability and resilience story too. When there’s insufficient long-distance pipeline capacity, access to storage is your next best bet. This is part of the solution too.🧵 https://t.co/o35G4ig5HU