Why the Most Important Food Prices Are Rising Again
Canadian grocery inflation rose to 4.4% in March, outpacing the headline 4% CPI figure. Meat prices surged—beef up 12.7%, chicken 7.5%, pork 6.2%—as herd reductions and higher feed costs tighten supply. Vegetable prices also jumped, with cucumbers up 28.4% and tomatoes 14.3%, reflecting energy‑intensive greenhouse production and climate‑driven supply shocks. The combined pressure signals a new era of volatility in the food economy, not a temporary price dip.
Chile to US Fruit Trade Down
Cool Carriers, the world’s largest reefer vessel operator, posted strong results for the 2025/26 summer season despite a sharp decline in Chilean fruit export demand to the United States. The subsidiary moved 260,000 pallets of cherries, blueberries, grapes and stone...
Spot Prices Wrap: Cash Climbs as Natural Gas Demand, Supply Indicators Trend Bullish
Natural gas futures posted a fourth consecutive session of modest gains as cooler weather and robust LNG exports lifted demand, while U.S. storage reports show a growing surplus. Traders remain cautious amid lingering geopolitical tension from the Iran‑U.S. conflict, which...
Oil Prices Rise After Trump Says Iranian Ship Seized
Global oil markets surged after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy seized an Iran‑flagged cargo vessel, pushing Brent crude over 4% to $94.20 a barrel. The move follows Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that...
Crude Surges On Renewed Hormuz Fears
Oil and gas markets surged on April 20 as renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threatened to choke a quarter of global energy flows. Brent crude jumped 5.6% to about $95.50 a barrel and WTI rose 6.9% to $89.61,...
Futures Settle: Natural Gas Extends Quiet Winning Streak as LNG, Cool Temps Boost Demand
Natural‑gas futures posted a fourth straight session of modest gains as the market balanced comfortable supply with supportive demand cues. Midwest storage inventories remain below seasonal norms, heightening sensitivity to weather‑driven price moves ahead of the refill period. LNG feed‑gas...
LNG Demand Seen Rising on European Cold Snap, but Asian Weakness Keeps Gains in Check
A brief cold snap across Northwest Europe is expected to boost LNG demand over the next two weeks, offsetting the otherwise mild weather patterns in the United States that are dampening domestic gas consumption. While the European uptick adds upward...
Soybeans Trading with Fractional Gains on Monday
Soybean futures posted modest gains on Monday, with new‑crop contracts up 3 cents and the cash bean price edging to $11.03 per bushel. Export inspections showed shipments of 748,678 metric tonnes for the week ending April 16, a 33.7% year‑over‑year rise,...
Corn Higher at Monday’s Midday
Corn futures rose 3‑5 cents in the front months on Monday, with the CmdtyView cash corn price climbing to $4.165 per bushel. USDA’s FGIS reported 1.669 MMT of corn exports for the week ending April 16, a 2.89% increase from the prior...
Cotton Continuing Higher at Midday
Cotton futures gained between 35 and 46 cents by midday, extending a broader rally. Managed money flipped its stance, moving from a net short of 18,845 contracts to a net long of 16,825 contracts—the first net long in almost two...
Wheat Posting Monday Gains
Wheat futures posted modest gains on Monday, with Chicago SRW up 10‑12 cents, Kansas City HRW up 6‑7 cents, and Minneapolis spring wheat up 3‑4 cents. Export inspections showed 518,141 metric tons shipped in the week of April 16, a...
LNG Canada Nearing Full Capacity as Iran War Squeezes Global Supply
LNG Canada is set to operate at full capacity in April, loading about 15 cargoes per month. The plant’s 14.6 mtpa output will primarily serve Asian buyers as global LNG supplies tighten due to the Iran conflict. Rising demand for North...
Zambia’s Major Copper Smelters Face Extended Shutdowns, Raising Supply Concerns
Zambia’s two largest copper smelters, Mopani and Chambishi, will undergo unusually long maintenance periods later this year, with Mopani slated for a 40‑45‑day shutdown and Chambishi for roughly two months. The extended outages will sharply curtail domestic sulphuric acid production,...
Inflation Jumps to 2.4% in March Driven by Iran War Oil Shock, StatCan Says
Canada’s annual inflation rose to 2.4% in March, driven by a record 21.2% monthly jump in gasoline prices after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Without fuel, inflation would have been 2.2%, marking a second consecutive decline. The federal government’s...
Govt Doubles Down on Wheat Exports, Clears Extra 2.5 Million Tonnes
The Indian government approved an additional 2.5 million metric tonnes of wheat for export, raising the total wheat export quota to 5 million tonnes and wheat‑product quota to 1 million tonnes. The move follows a robust production outlook—120 million tonnes projected for 2025‑26 and...
Energy Chief Says Gas May Not Dip Below $3 Until Next Year
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN that U.S. gasoline prices are likely to stay at $3 per gallon or higher until next year, contradicting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s forecast of sub‑$3 fuel by the summer. Wright said prices have probably...
Oil Prices Rise on Worries About Iran War
Oil prices jumped 3.8% on April 20, with Brent crude reaching $93.84 per barrel as U.S.-Iran tensions escalated following a U.S. seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel. The rise pressured fuel‑intensive companies, sending cruise lines and airlines lower, while the broader...
FMC Chief: Ocean Carriers Knew War Could Increase Fuel Prices
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) rejected Maersk’s third request to waive the mandatory 30‑day waiting period for emergency fuel surcharges, citing insufficient justification. Maersk argued that the Iran‑Hormuz conflict drove VLSFO prices from $509 to $929 per metric ton between...
Softs Report 04/20/2026
The latest Price Futures Group morning softs report shows divergent moves across key soft commodities. Cotton futures climbed as dry, hot conditions persist across the U.S. cotton belt, while frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) slipped on speculative selling after the...
Treasurys Hold Gains as Oil, Stocks Flash Mixed Signals
Oil prices jumped to their strongest level in four years as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude markets into turmoil. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields edged higher, with the 5‑year, 10‑year and 30‑year benchmarks posting...
3 Top Fertilizer Stocks to Watch From a Promising Industry
The Zacks Fertilizers industry is set to benefit from strong global demand for phosphate, potash and nitrogen nutrients as farm incomes rise and planted acres expand. While fertilizer prices have softened, healthy farmer economics in the U.S., Brazil and India...
PGM Price Underpin by Investment, Speculation Expected to Persist – Sibanye-Stillwater
Sibanye‑Stillwater warned that investment and speculation will continue to underpin platinum‑group‑metal (PGM) prices as macro‑level uncertainty persists. The company projects primary platinum output to fall from 6.2 million ounces in 2019 to 4.7 million ounces by 2034, with palladium supply slipping to...
The Peace Rally Gets Derailed
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have intensified, with the vital waterway largely shut after the U.S. seized an Iranian cargo ship. Oil prices are climbing and global stock markets are wobbling as U.S.–Iran negotiations stall, despite President Trump’s team...
Southeast Asia Scrambles for Supply as Crisis Tests Regional Unity
Petronas announced the receipt of a rare Iraqi crude cargo at its Pengerang refining hub, signaling a strategic move to shore up supplies as Middle East oil flows remain disrupted. The delivery comes amid a broader scramble by Southeast Asian...
Chinese Chemical Producer Hengyi’s Profit Jumps 40-Fold on Iran War
Hengyi Petrochemical reported a 3,773% jump in first‑quarter net profit to $291.5 million, driven by soaring oil prices after the Iran‑Israel conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Revenue rose 10.2% to $4.4 billion, while inventory values increased 40% to...
Kontali: Salmon Sector in Slowdown as Supply Tightens, Trade and Demand Dynamics Shift, and Tensions Rise in Middle East
Kontali analysts warn that the Atlantic salmon industry is entering a supply-constrained phase as harvest‑ready biomass declines in Norway, Chile and Scotland. At the same time, demand is becoming more price‑sensitive, pushing producers toward product innovation and promotions. Europe’s market...
Oil Prices Jump On Renewed US-Iran Tensions
Oil prices surged over 5% on Monday as U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks stalled, pushing Brent crude above $96 a barrel and WTI futures to $87.80. The dollar strengthened to a one‑week high while the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, tightening global...
Why Gas Prices Go Up Fast and Take So Long to Fall
Gasoline wholesale prices surged 39.6% in a week, pushing the rack price to $3.35 per gallon and prompting station owners to raise retail pump prices by roughly 34% to $3.88. The cost of a full truckload for a typical New...
‘No More Mr Nice Guy’: Oil Prices Spike as Trump Renews Iran Power Plant Threats
Oil prices surged over six percent on Monday, pushing Brent crude above $96 per barrel as tensions in the Middle East intensified. President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s power plants if Tehran rejects a U.S. deal, while Iran’s closure...
Strait Standoff Reshapes Fertiliser Trade and Crop Economics
Eight weeks of Middle‑East fighting have blocked roughly 24% of the world’s bulk fertiliser supply behind the Strait of Hormuz, stranding about 834,000 tonnes of urea. Shipping through the strait fell over 95%, driving nitrogen prices up nearly 40% in...
Oil Prices Rebound on Escalating US-Iran Tensions as Ceasefire Deadline Approaches
Oil prices rebounded over the weekend as the United States maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, despite earlier signals of a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran. The cease‑fire deadline looms tomorrow, and Iran’s decision to close the strait again...
Ganfeng Lithium Sees Profits Soar Amid Energy Disruption
China’s Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium‑metal producer, expects a profit of 1.6 billion yuan (≈ $221 million) for the quarter ended March, a sharp reversal from a 360 million‑yuan loss a year earlier. The surge is driven by soaring oil prices that have...
China’s Silver Imports Jump to Record on Retail and Solar Demand
China set a new record by importing 836 tons of silver in March, far exceeding the 10‑year seasonal average of about 306 tons. The surge was driven primarily by heightened demand from retail investors buying physical silver and the country’s expansive solar‑panel...
Hedge Funds Turn Bullish on Cotton for First Time in Two Years
Hedge funds have turned net‑bullish on cotton for the first time in two years, with long positions now outnumbering shorts by 16,825 contracts as of the week ending April 14. The shift follows a surge in oil prices driven by the...
Welfare of the People Must Come First Amid Oil Crisis, Says Selangor Sultan
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor warned that soaring global oil and gas prices, driven by the Middle East conflict, are inflating Malaysia’s cost of living. He urged the state government to place essential needs first and eliminate any wasteful...
Feedgrain Focus: Growers Hold as Dry Concerns Spread
Australian wheat and barley prices have firmed as a modest winter crop outlook in northern New South Wales pushes buyers southward. Indicative prices are now $277‑$284 USD/t for Downs barley and $226‑$231 USD/t for Melbourne barley, reflecting an $80 USD/t spread to the...
Pulse Update: Volume Thins as Dry in North Intensifies
Dry conditions across northern New South Wales and southwest Queensland are curbing the expected planted area for chickpeas and faba beans this season. Chickpea prices have held around US$415 per tonne, offering little incentive for growers to sell stocks or...
Oil Prices Jumped and Stock Futures Fell on Renewed Iran Conflict
Oil prices surged on Sunday after a U.S. Navy destroyer seized an Iranian‑flagged cargo ship and Iran re‑imposed strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, attacking two Indian‑flagged vessels. The renewed tension in the strategic waterway revived fears of supply...
Headwinds for Qube From Weather Events, Middle East Conflict
Qube Logistics warned that FY26 earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation will be hit by $10‑20 million AUD (≈$6.6‑13 million USD) due to the Middle East conflict and recent weather events, with an extra $3‑5 million AUD (≈$2‑3.3 million USD) loss from Cyclone Narelle...
Vietnam Plans to Extend Fuel Tariff Suspension, Extend Tax Incentives for EVs
Vietnam's Finance Ministry will extend the suspension of import tariffs on fuels until June 30, a measure aimed at stabilising domestic production amid an uncertain Middle East conflict. The extension will cost the state roughly 2.02 trillion dong (about $77 million) in...
Coles Announces $1m Relief Package for Farmers in Supply Chain
Coles announced a AU$1 million (≈US$660,000) one‑off relief package for its direct‑sourcing dairy farmers, adding roughly 5 cents per litre to the farmgate price. The move follows sharp increases in diesel and fertilizer costs triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure and...
Oil Prices Jump After Strait of Hormuz Setbacks
Oil markets surged about 6% on Sunday as the United States and Iran escalated tensions, prompting a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose to $95.42 a barrel and WTI to $89.77, reflecting fears of constrained tanker...
Gold Falls over 1% as Dollar Strengthens, Oil Surge Fuels Inflation Fears
Gold prices slipped more than 1% on Monday, with spot bullion falling 1.4% to $4,762 per ounce and June futures down 2% to $4,782. The decline was driven by a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes gold costlier for holders of...
Market, Rupee Fortunes May Prove Fickle Amid Iran Flareup
India’s equity markets are poised to extend recent gains despite renewed geopolitical tension after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, pushing Brent crude back toward $100 a barrel. The Sensex and Nifty have risen over 5% since early April, while...
Pineapple Prices up Despite China Ban
Taiwan’s pineapple farm‑gate prices have risen to NT$12‑NT$15 per jin (about $0.38‑$0.48) as domestic demand peaks during the harvest season. Wholesale prices reached NT$39.1 per kilogram ($1.25), outpacing the three‑year seasonal average of NT$31.95/kg. After China’s 2021 import ban, Taiwan...
Oil Rising Again as US, Iran Fire on Commercial Traffic While Peace Talks Are Disputed
U.S. forces and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard exchanged fire on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting geopolitical tension in the region. The confrontations pushed Brent crude above $95 per barrel and WTI near $90,...
Middle East Oil Pricing Is Cracking Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown has crippled the Platts Dubai benchmark, forcing Platts to cut its deliverable basket from five grades to just Murban and Oman, a roughly 40% reduction in pricing coverage. Thin liquidity and concentrated trading, highlighted by...
Gold Falls as Renewed Hormuz Disruption Stokes Inflation Concern
Gold prices fell sharply after a weekend flare‑up in the Strait of Hormuz reignited concerns about an energy‑supply shock and higher inflation. The bullion market dropped as much as 1.9%, later stabilizing around $4,790 an ounce. The tension escalated when...
Oil and Gas Jump After US Seizure of Iranian Ship Imperils Talks
U.S. Navy forces seized an Iranian vessel, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz again over accusations of a U.S. blockade. The move sparked a sharp rally in energy markets, with Brent crude jumping up to 7.9% and European...
Pure Silver Plays Strongly Leveraged to Metal’s Upside
Silver is trading near US$78 per ounce, still up roughly 140% from a year earlier, as industrial demand from electrification, renewable energy and high‑tech electronics outpaces supply. Sprott’s SLVR ETF, launched in early 2025, targets pure‑play silver exposure, offering more...