Commodities News and Headlines
Commodities News and Headlines
Commodities Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Oil prices surged after US‑Israeli air strikes on Iran and the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei, pushing Brent crude above $80 a barrel. The conflict threatens the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil, adding a risk premium to futures. In the UK, taxes absorb most of the pump price, so the direct impact on motorists is muted, but higher energy costs could feed broader inflation. Persisting supply disruptions may force the Bank of England to reconsider its rate‑cut agenda.
Natural gas futures slipped back toward $3 per MMBtu after early gains, as technical resistance halted the rally. The NYMEX April contract was rejected at $3.03, signaling market caution. Simultaneously, escalating Iranian attacks disrupted global LNG flows, adding geopolitical pressure....
The Pro Farmer podcast episode released on March 2, 2026 features market analyst Hillari Mason discussing how potential U.S. military strikes against Iran could reverberate through agricultural markets. The conversation highlights risks to fertilizer imports, shipping routes, and energy costs...
District Metals is moving ahead with its Viken uranium project after Sweden repealed its uranium mining ban on Jan. 1, reopening the jurisdiction for the first time since 2018. The Viken alum shale deposit is touted as the world’s largest undeveloped...
Space‑based photovoltaics are poised for rapid expansion as commercial aerospace launches and AI‑driven data centers create new demand. Triple‑junction GaAs cells dominate today, but their reliance on scarce gallium, germanium and indium drives costs sky‑high. Industry leaders, especially in China,...
Eurelectric’s presidency wrote to EU heads urging them to stop reopening the marginal pricing debate, warning that regulatory churn could jeopardise the massive investment needed for a decarbonised power system. The warning follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s indication that...
Australia’s ABARES crop report confirms a record barley harvest of 16.33 million tonnes, surpassing the previous high of 14.65 Mt set in 2020‑21. Wheat production is revised upward to 35.99 Mt, making it the third‑largest crop after the 2022‑23 peak, while canola reaches...
Canadian miner Taseko Mines announced its Florence Copper operation in Arizona has produced its first copper cathodes, the first new US copper output from a greenfield project since 2008. The electrowinning plant began commercial operations in late February, positioning Florence...
Shippers including Maersk, Hapag‑Lloyd and CMA CGM have halted Suez Canal transits as the United States and Israel intensify conflict with Iran, fearing renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Egypt estimates a $9 billion loss in transit fees, with canal revenues...
Asia can currently absorb the recent oil‑price surge, but the region’s heavy reliance on imported energy makes it vulnerable if prices stay high. Japan and the Philippines source almost 90% of their oil from the Middle East, while China and...
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reviewed crude, LPG and petroleum product supplies as Iran‑Israel tensions heightened global energy volatility. Brent crude surged to roughly $82 a barrel, prompting concerns over the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint that carries about...
Malaysia's national oil company Petronas reported a 2025 profit after tax of MYR 45.4 billion ($11.6 bn), down from MYR 55.1 billion in 2024. The decline reflects lower sales volumes, Brent prices under $70 per barrel, and the divestment of its 74% stake in Engen...
The United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, triggering a sharp rise in global oil prices. Brent crude surged 13% before settling 8.5% higher, marking its biggest daily jump in nearly three years. The conflict has halted...
Israel’s Energy and Infrastructure Minister ordered a security‑driven suspension of production at the offshore Leviathan gas field, prompting Chevron to declare force majeure. The pause halts the field’s 12 billion cubic metres per year output, which supplies Israel, Egypt and Jordan,...
Indian buyers are likely to face higher prices for pistachios, figs and raisins as the Gulf crisis shuts key Iranian and Afghan export routes. Pistachio prices have risen about ₹100 per kilogram, while figs are up a similar amount and...
Hedge funds significantly increased long positions in crude oil as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, anticipating a potential supply shock. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission shows a roughly 15% rise in net long exposure, equivalent to about...
The death of Iran’s supreme leader and subsequent missile exchanges have raised alarms about a possible Straits of Hormuz shutdown, which could cut 10‑20 million barrels per day from global supply. Analysts debate the price impact, with some warning that panic...
European natural‑gas futures surged up to 25% on March 2, marking the steepest rise since August 2023. The spike followed reports that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for roughly 20% of global LNG shipments—was largely halted amid escalating Middle‑East fighting....
Gold prices surged to nearly US$5,400 an ounce, driven by escalating Middle East tensions, reinforcing the metal's safe‑haven appeal. The rally lifted several junior miners, with Catalina Resources posting a 48‑metre, 2.61 g/t assay that sent its share price up 60%...
Shipping lines are imposing emergency surcharges and rerouting cargo due to heightened security risks in the Middle East, especially around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. CMA CGM, HapagLloyd and Maersk have announced fees up to US$4,000 per container...
Chinese domestic sulphur prices jumped to 4,250 yuan per tonne, about $531, marking a roughly 5% increase from late February levels. The rise follows heightened US‑Iran tensions, prompting sellers to lift offers to 4,300 yuan/t in both paper and spot markets. While...
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz forced Indian LNG carriers to reroute, leaving only one of Petronet's three captive tankers able to unload at the Dahej terminal. The 138,000 m³ Disha is stalled at Ras Laffan, while Aseem diverted away...
China’s oil imports reached a record 11.55 million barrels per day in 2025, a 4.4% increase over the prior year, driven by aggressive stockpiling and expanded storage capacity. While the country continues to buy discounted Russian crude and benefits from Saudi...
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has placed two additional 306,000 dwt VLCC orders with China’s Hengli Shipbuilding, expanding its fleet to ten VLCCs at the yard. The vessels are part of a five‑ship order slated for delivery in 2029‑2030, completing a broader...
The ongoing West Asia conflict is expected to push global pulse prices higher, threatening a rise in dal costs for Indian households. India imports roughly 5‑6 million tonnes of pulses from Myanmar, Canada and Africa, leaving the domestic market vulnerable to...
The escalating Middle East conflict sparked a fire at Jabel Ali port, the UAE hub that moves roughly 65 % of GCC polymer exports and 33 % of regional petrochemical cargo. The blaze, caused by debris from an aerial interception, resulted in no...
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil conduit, has seen trade reduced to a trickle after a wave of escalatory attacks. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, followed by Iranian reprisals triggered by the reported assassination of Supreme Leader...
The article highlights how simultaneous geopolitical tensions at the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and Pakistan’s Arabian Sea threaten global maritime trade. Iranian Revolutionary Guard warnings triggered tanker stand‑offs, navigation interference, and a surge in war‑risk insurance premiums, while...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
U.S. natural‑gas futures slid below $3 per million British thermal units, marking a five‑month trough. The decline stems from milder winter forecasts that curb heating demand as the season ends. Elevated storage levels further buttressed the price drop, while market...
Oil prices jumped to eight‑month highs on Friday as diplomatic hopes between the United States and Iran faded, reigniting geopolitical risk premiums. Brent crude breached the $85‑per‑barrel mark while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose above $80. Traders cited potential supply...
U.S. grain futures closed modestly higher on Feb. 27, 2026, with March corn up 5.4 cents to $4.38, soybeans gaining 9.5 cents to $11.57, and Chicago wheat rising 19.5 cents to $5.91 per bushel. Rough rice also posted a 45‑cent...
Vice President J.D. Vance used a post‑State of the Union stop in Plover, Wisconsin, to spotlight the farm commodity‑price crisis and rising input costs. He promised continued bipartisan efforts with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to keep farmers afloat amid low...
UK hot‑rolled coil (HRC) prices are trading at an average €62 per tonne discount to north‑European benchmarks after Tata Steel UK closed its last blast furnace in September 2024. Imports have surged from 770,000 t in 2023 to 1.4 million t in 2025,...
The CME Group’s CBOT delivery intentions for March show modest soybean and corn allocations but a notable 340‑ton commitment for soybean oil and 445 tons of rough rice. Market commentary indicates mixed price trends across major grains—wheat edged higher in...
Transformer supply is hitting a critical bottleneck as lead times for large units have more than doubled since 2019 and U.S. prices have surged 79%. Hitachi Energy is responding with a $1.5 billion investment in new manufacturing capacity, part of a...
Gold surged past the $5,200 per ounce mark, targeting a seventh consecutive monthly gain as investors seek safety amid escalating US‑Iran tensions. The geopolitical flashpoint has revived haven demand, outweighing the muted impact of a weaker US Producer Price Index....
