Egypt Seeks IOC Upstream Boost to Offset Dwindling Gas Supplies
Egypt is confronting a second gas shortage in ten years as fuel prices surge due to the Middle‑East conflict. The government is urging international oil companies (IOCs) to accelerate upstream projects in its Mediterranean offshore basins to close the supply gap. Egypt’s extensive offshore reserves, domestic demand, and existing liquefaction and pipeline networks make it an attractive hub for Western majors such as Chevron, BP, ExxonMobil and Eni. The push aims to turn the country into a regional gas‑export platform while stabilising local markets.
Oil Prices Creep Higher Ahead of Ceasefire Decision
Oil futures nudged higher on Tuesday as President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the U.S. cease‑fire with Iran. The move lifted sentiment in the market, but analysts warned that the cease‑fire does not guarantee a durable peace. Prices...
Qatar LNG Disruption Triggers Power Crisis in Pakistan
Pakistan’s power grid is under severe strain after QatarEnergy halted LNG production following Iranian strikes. LNG imports fell 67%, forcing daily load‑shedding and factory shutdowns, while hydro, nuclear and gas outputs also slipped. The government faces a trade‑off between costly...
This Chevron Exec Has An Answer To Rising Gas Prices That Americans Aren't Going To Like
Gasoline prices in the United States hit $4.02 per gallon on March 31, 2026, the highest level since summer 2022, while diesel averages $5.51. Chevron downstream president Andy Walz told CBS News that there is no "silver bullet" for the surge, urging drivers...
Market Watch: May Nymex Gas Contract Inches Higher
May natural‑gas futures on the NYMEX edged up 0.8 cents to $2.697 per million British thermal units on Tuesday. Gelber & Associates noted the move recovers a fraction of the steep decline seen since the start of the injection season. The...
Global Energy Markets Are on the Verge of a Disaster
On April 17, Brent crude plunged 10% to $90 a barrel after Iran’s foreign minister announced the Strait of Hormuz was "completely open." Hours later Iran attacked an Indian tanker, prompting a modest 5% rebound the following day. Despite the...
War-Driven Gas Demand Destruction Unsustainable, Execs Warn
Executives at the FT Commodities Global Summit warned that the sharp demand destruction for natural gas—triggered by soaring prices after the Middle‑East war—cannot be sustained across all sectors. High gas costs have forced industry players, especially in power generation and...
U.S. Sugar Producers Close to Collapse as Alliance Calls for Higher Tariffs on Imports
U.S. sugar producers are facing a potential collapse as the American Sugar Alliance urges the U.S. Trade Representative to invoke Section 310 powers and raise tariffs on cheap imports. The Alliance reports a dramatic surge in foreign sugar shipments, climbing from...
Cattle Futures Lower Heading Into Midweek
Cattle futures slipped on Tuesday as technical selling pressured live and feeder contracts, with June live cattle down $2.52 to $243.55 and May feeder cattle off $2.55 to $358.55 per hundredweight. Direct cash cattle activity was muted, and auction prices...
Purdue Economist: Geopolitical Tensions Igniting Long-Term Concerns About Fertilizer Prices
Purdue economist Joana Colussi warns that the ongoing conflict in Iran has pushed U.S. fertilizer input costs up more than 30% since late February, creating immediate pressure on the current crop season and a heightened risk of elevated prices through the...
Former USDA Economist Explains What’s Driving the U.S. Ag Trade Deficit
Former USDA chief economist Joe Glauber told Brownfield that the U.S. agricultural trade deficit is shrinking, dropping from $6.5 billion in January 2025 to $1.75 billion in January 2026. He emphasized that the deficit reflects low export prices rather than a loss...
Italian Urea Spring Needs Mostly Covered
Italian urea imports for the 2026 spring corn season are now largely satisfied, as demand fell about 15% and total needs are estimated at 300,000‑350,000 tonnes. Prices have surged 77% year‑on‑year, climbing from €522/t (~$575) at the end of February...
Reprocessing Gamble Could Drain Nuclear Waste Fund, Raise Electricity Prices
The Department of Energy’s push to bundle spent‑fuel reprocessing with broader nuclear‑lifecycle initiatives threatens to siphon the $47 billion Nuclear Waste Fund. Reprocessing, which aims to extract plutonium and uranium, has repeatedly proven costly, technically fragile, and generates new waste streams...
Philippines Weighs Increase in Fish Imports, Subsidies as Fuel Costs Squeeze Seafood Sector
The Philippine government is weighing a boost to fish imports, potentially up to 350,000 metric tons, as soaring diesel costs threaten the viability of local fisheries. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. warned that fuel now accounts for 70‑80% of...
Europe, Atlantic Crude Tanker Rates at Pre-War Levels
Atlantic and European crude tanker rates have retreated to pre‑war levels as surplus vessels shift from the Middle East Gulf to other routes. The Black Sea‑Mediterranean Suezmax price fell from $57.19 per ton to $27.69 per ton within two days....
Commodities: Oil Takes the Reins From Gold
Oil has begun to outperform gold as the leading commodity on CME’s trading platforms, driven by stronger demand expectations and tighter supply outlooks. Recent price movements show crude futures gaining momentum while gold prices have softened amid easing inflation concerns....
EU Transport Chief Says ‘No Need’ to Curb Fuel Use Despite Supply Fears
EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said there is no need to curb fuel demand even as the war in Gaza and a near‑two‑month closure of the Strait of Hormuz have added roughly $540 million a day to EU energy costs and...
Copper Leads Weekly Surge in Global Commodity Prices as DRC Mining Products Show Mixed Trends
Copper prices climbed to $12,836 per ton in the week of April 20‑25, up $688 from the prior week, extending a multi‑week rally. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also projected gains for gold, tin, wolframite and silver ore, while...
Benefiting From Rising Lithium Prices, Ganfeng Lithium Expects Q1 Return to Profitability
Ganfeng Lithium said its Q1 2026 net profit will hit ¥1.6‑2.1 bn ($220‑290 million), a 550‑690% jump from a year earlier, with adjusted profit of ¥1.25‑1.75 bn ($174‑243 million). The surge stems from soaring battery‑grade lithium carbonate prices, now around ¥150,000 per ton ($21,000),...
Halliburton Upbeat on Post-Iran War Business Outlook, Predicts US Drilling Resurgence
Halliburton posted first‑quarter 2026 results that were essentially flat versus the same period a year earlier, aligning with Wall Street forecasts. CEO Jeff Miller said the company is optimistic about a post‑Iran war environment, expecting higher oil and gas prices...
Texas Oil Pipes Are Running All-Out on War-Driven Demand
Texas pipelines moving Permian crude to Gulf Coast export terminals have reached an all‑time high, averaging 5.27 million barrels per day—a 1.5% weekly increase. Some lines, such as the Corpus Christi system, are operating at 102% of their designed capacity as shippers...
Feed Market Analysis: Alltech Releases 2026 Agri-Food Outlook, Highlighting Production Trends
Alltech’s 15th annual Agri‑Food Outlook reports a 2.9% rise in global feed production in 2025, reaching 1.44 billion metric tons. The study, based on data from 38,837 feed mills in 142 countries, confirms that China, the U.S., and Brazil remain the top...
Aviation’s Decarbonization Bet Is Looking Shakier Than Ever
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was touted as a hedge against soaring jet‑fuel prices, but the Middle‑East conflict has driven fuel costs to more than double in a month, exposing the industry's reliance on volatile fossil supplies. SAF now accounts for...
Croatian Strawberry Production Declines as Prices Climb
Croatian strawberry production is slumping, pushing market prices to near‑luxury levels. Domestic growers report a 40% drop in output in the Vrgorac region and labor shortages hampering harvests. Prices have risen to about $7.60 per kilogram on average, with peaks...
Oil Traders Warn Worst of Demand Hit Is Yet to Come
Top oil traders warned that the demand destruction caused by the Iran‑Israel war could double to about 5 million barrels per day, roughly 5 % of global supply, if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed for three months. Gunvor and Vitol estimate...
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Daybreak April 21: Rollins Hints at Fertilizer Announcement This Week
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the administration will unveil a new fertilizer initiative this week, using tariff revenues to strengthen domestic supply amid an 80% rise in urea prices. Recent actions have included easing inland shipping rules and loosening...
Europe’s Electricity Prices Remain Tied to Gas Amid Geopolitical Risks
Europe’s power markets remain tightly coupled to natural‑gas prices, a linkage amplified by recent geopolitical tensions such as the 2026 Iran war. Gas price spikes quickly translate into higher electricity costs, especially in Italy and Germany where gas sets the...
Moroccan Tomato Growers Urged to Help Alleviate Domestic Supply Crisis
Morocco faces a severe shortage of round tomatoes after a February storm devastated greenhouses and compounded existing phytosanitary issues. Authorities have met with growers, urging them to divert more produce to the domestic market rather than export. While cherry tomato...
Agronometrics in Charts: Extreme Weather Sparks Stunning 32 Percent Surge in US Strawberry Prices
U.S. strawberry grower prices surged 32% in January 2026 as extreme weather disrupted supply chains. Production topped 2.6 billion pounds, with California providing roughly 90% of domestic output. Late‑2025 heavy rains and early‑2026 Florida freezes cut shipments, while imports hit a...
Energy Producing States Face Volatile Oil Prices
Oil prices surged above $114 per barrel in early March, the highest level since 2022, after the Iran‑Israel conflict ignited market volatility. The spike lifted revenue streams for oil‑producing states, especially Texas and New Mexico, whose 10‑year growth rates exceed the...
EU Mulls Fuel-Sharing as Airlines Juggle Costs and Capacity
EU transport ministers are debating a bloc‑wide jet‑fuel‑sharing scheme as Middle East tensions threaten both fuel prices and availability. Airlines such as Lufthansa CityLine have already suspended routes, while KLM plans to cut about 80 European return flights to protect...
The Current Oil Shock Most Resembles the First Gulf War, Says UBS. What that Means for Prices.
UBS analysts say the present oil supply shock, triggered by the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on Iran, most closely mirrors the 1990‑91 Gulf War disruption. In the first two to three months, crude prices have surged nearly 100%, outpacing the...
Gold and Silver Prices Today: Prices Drop Tuesday, April 21
Gold June futures opened at $4,842.40 per ounce, marginally above Monday’s close, before slipping to $4,801.80 in early trade. Silver May futures opened at $79.85, then fell to $78.96. Both metals are holding near key psychological levels as geopolitical tension...
Higher Fertiliser Costs Risk Lower-Protein Wheat
Higher fertilizer prices, spurred by volatile crude oil after the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict, are adding roughly $13 per tonne to UK wheat and $25 per tonne to rapeseed costs. Brent crude is about $20 above pre‑war levels, pushing fertilizer and energy...
European Electricity Prices Increase Despite Falling Gas Prices
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting reported that the weekly average electricity price topped €95 ($112)/MWh in most major European markets last week, except France, Portugal and Spain where prices hovered around €50‑€71 ($59‑$84)/MWh. Italy recorded the highest average at €123.19/MWh ($145), while...
Gold Dips Below $4800 Ahead Of Warsh's Confirmation Hearing
Gold slipped below $4,800 an ounce on Tuesday as investors weighed the looming expiration of a two‑week U.S.–Iran cease‑fire and the prospect of renewed peace talks in Pakistan. Spot gold fell 0.8% to $4,783.87, while U.S. gold futures dropped 0.6%...
‘Getting Off the Fossil Fuel Rollercoaster’: UK Sets Out Long-Awaited Measures to Decouple Gas and Electricity Prices
The UK government announced new measures aimed at weakening the link between gas and electricity prices, a relationship that currently drives electricity costs about 60% of the time through marginal pricing. The plan introduces voluntary long‑term fixed‑price contracts for low‑carbon...
Oil Prices Edge Lower As US-Iran Ceasefire Deadline Looms
Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as hopes rose for fresh U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan, with Brent crude slipping to $95.05 a barrel and WTI to $86.91. The decline was modest, capped by the International Energy Agency’s warning that the...
Don't Mistake Easing Oil Prices for Calm, Analyst Warns
Oil analyst Ole R. Hvalbye of SEB warned that Brent’s front‑month price, now around $95 per barrel, masks underlying volatility and supply risk. Over the past two weeks the contract has swung between $86 and $104, while dated Brent—a better...
Mideast Gulf War 'Locks In' Higher Fossil Fuel Cost: UN
The UN climate chief warned that the Middle‑East war has locked in higher fossil‑fuel prices for months, adding roughly $23.5 bn to Europe’s import bill. He described the surge as a "gut punch" that fuels stagflation, raising inflation while choking growth...
China’s Tsingshan Plans to Build Another Aluminium Smelter in Indonesia
Chinese aluminium giant Tsingshan announced plans to build a new $3 billion smelter at Weda Bay Industrial Park in Indonesia, with a planned annual capacity of 800,000 tonnes split into two phases. The project joins existing Tsingshan‑linked facilities that will together...
Gold Remains a Safe-Haven Investment – Heraeus
Gold’s safe‑haven status faced volatility in early 2026 as prices dropped following the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict, breaking key moving averages before rebounding after a cease‑fire announcement. Heraeus’ Precious Appraisal highlights an 11% increase in gold exploration spending to $6.15 bn, while noting...
Reading the 2026 Fuel Adjustment: A Middle-Class Story
Indonesia’s April 2026 fuel-price adjustment raised only select nonsubsidized grades—Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite and Pertamina Dex—while keeping Pertamax, the most common fuel, and the subsidized Pertalite unchanged. The move shields the poorest but shifts the burden to the middle class, whose...
Aluminium Recyclers Push for Duty Cut as Supply Tightens Globally
India imports 85% of its aluminium scrap and faces a 2.5% customs duty that raises costs for downstream users. Geopolitical tensions and the EU’s planned export curbs have tightened global scrap supplies, prompting the Material Recycling Association of India to...
Malaysia Consumes 700,000 Barrels of Oil a Day, Twice Its Daily Production, so Importing Still Needed – MoF
Malaysia consumes about 700,000 barrels of oil each day, roughly twice its domestic production of 350,000 barrels. To meet the shortfall, the country imports roughly 48% of its crude, with about 40% of those imports transiting the conflict‑affected Strait of...
The Forces of Scarcity Hitting Asia May Soon Spread Across the World
The United States and Israel’s war on Iran has triggered a rapid, region‑wide scarcity shock across the Asia‑Pacific. Jet fuel prices have doubled and air traffic has fallen by roughly a third, while manufacturers face fuel‑driven cuts to output, from...
Sadhbh O'Neill: The Simple Text Message that Helped France Reduce Its Electricity Usage by 10%
France’s grid operator launched the Ecowatt app, sending colour‑coded text alerts that prompted households to shift usage away from peak periods. The campaign, part of a 15‑point “energy sobriety” plan, trimmed electricity consumption by 10% in December 2022. Across the EU,...
Philippines Wheat Demand Forecast to Fall as Higher Prices Bite
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects Philippine wheat demand to decelerate, rising only 2.2% to 7.05 Mt in the 2026‑27 marketing year after a modest 6.2% increase to 6.9 Mt this year. Higher global wheat prices, driven by...
The Commodities Feed: Peace Talk Optimism Clouds Reality
Oil markets rallied on optimism that renewed US‑Iran peace talks could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts warn the price gains under‑price the ongoing supply disruption. European gas prices remain low, with the Dutch TTF below €40/MWh despite a...
Oil Falls as Investors Assess Mixed Messaging on Iran Peace Talks Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
Oil prices slipped on Tuesday as investors weighed mixed signals from the United States and Iran ahead of a looming cease‑fire deadline. Vice President JD Vance is expected to head a U.S. delegation to Pakistan, while Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned...