Countries Must Not Hoard Fuel During Iran War, Warns IEA
The International Energy Agency warned that countries should not hoard fuel as the war involving Iran escalates, fearing supply disruptions could tighten global markets. Iran, an OPEC member, accounts for about 4% of world oil output and controls the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The IEA cautioned that panic buying would push oil prices higher and urged coordinated use of strategic reserves. It called for transparent communication to keep markets stable amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Gasoline, Diapers and Drinks: Japan Faces Wide-Ranging Impact Amid Concern over Oil
Japan relies on Middle‑Eastern crude for 94% of its oil, with 93% transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A closure of the strait has forced the government to tap its strategic reserves, now covering roughly 230 days—about eight months—of consumption. Because...
Is EQT Well-Positioned to Gain on Mounting Clean Energy Demand?
EQT Corp, a leading natural‑gas producer in the Appalachian Basin, is positioned to profit from the accelerating shift toward cleaner energy. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts spot gas prices rising to $3.76 per MMBtu in 2026, bolstering EQT’s revenue...
Top 50 Mining Companies Power Through Iran War – up $250 Billion in 2026
The MINING.COM Top 50 miners posted a combined market capitalization of $2.41 trillion at the end of Q1 2026, up roughly $250 billion from the start of 2025. Despite the onset of the US‑Iran conflict and a sharp drop in gold and silver prices,...
Bessent Makes Stunning Claim About Iran and Its Oil
Amid oil prices breaching $100 per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. would temporarily lift sanctions on roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian crude already stranded at sea. The unsanctioned oil is...
US Inflation Seen Spiking in First Snapshot Since Iran War
The U.S. consumer price index for March is expected to rise 1% month‑over‑month, the steepest gain since 2022. The jump is largely attributed to a roughly $1‑per‑gallon increase in gasoline prices following the Iran‑Israel conflict. This surge will be the...
The Two-Week Window That Could Break Global Commodity Markets
A fragile web of commodity chains—oil, gas, naphtha, fertilizer, helium and logistics—is shifting from price volatility to deliverability risk. Physical shortages are surfacing even as paper markets appear stable, and the next two weeks could see cascading disruptions that spark...
Goldman Sachs Has Blunt Message on Gold Price for Rest of 2026
Gold experienced its steepest monthly drop since 2013, sliding more than 10% in March 2026. Despite the sell‑off, Goldman Sachs reaffirmed its year‑end 2026 gold price target of $5,400 per ounce, up from $4,900 earlier in the year. The bank’s...
Should You Buy Silver While It's Under $100? The Answer Might Surprise You
Silver’s price surged 144% in 2025, hitting a record $121 per ounce, then fell 38% to about $75 in early April 2026. The metal’s value is tightly tied to industrial demand, especially from electronics and automotive sectors, making it sensitive...
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Southeast Asia saw sharp fuel price hikes in early 2026, with the Philippines posting a 54.2% increase, second only to Myanmar’s 55.4% surge. Thailand kept pump prices low by draining its Oil Fuel Fund at roughly $70 million per day, while...
Crude Check: Strength Intact in Oil Futures
Crude oil futures posted notable gains last week, with Brent climbing to $109 per barrel and India’s MCX crude reaching an all‑time high of roughly $125. Brent’s 7.8% jump on Thursday kept the bullish bias alive, while the MCX contract...
U.S.-Iran War 'Tax' Begins to Hit American Businesses and Consumers
The U.S.–Iran war has triggered a sharp rise in diesel and jet‑fuel prices, turning fuel costs into a de‑facto tax on American businesses and consumers. Moving‑company College Hunks sees its fuel expense share double from 3‑5% to 6‑10% of revenue, while...
Some Central Banks Have Been Selling Their Gold. That Doesn’t Mean You Should Too.
Gold experienced its steepest monthly decline in nearly 13 years, prompting several central banks to shift from net buyers to sellers. The sell‑offs are linked to acute currency pressures in a few economies rather than a strategic move away from...
Here's Why Getting Rid Of Gas Taxes Might Not Lower Prices After All
Georgia has temporarily suspended its gasoline excise tax for 60 days, a move that would shave roughly $0.33 off each gallon. Despite the tax cut, numerous stations are keeping prices unchanged, effectively retaining the saved amount. The state’s Attorney General...
Turkey Weighs Raising Energy Prices
Turkey is debating whether to raise electricity and natural‑gas tariffs as global energy costs climb, potentially adding roughly $14 billion to the state budget. Any adjustment requires President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s sign‑off and could complicate the country’s aggressive disinflation programme. The government...
Turkey Raises Energy Prices
Turkey’s energy regulator announced steep hikes in electricity and natural‑gas tariffs, raising household electricity rates up to 25 % and introducing consumption‑based pricing. Public‑private services see a 17.5 % electricity increase, while industrial users face roughly 6 % rises for both electricity and...
Your Produce Bill Is About to Get Pricey as the Iran War Jacks up US Food Costs
U.S. grocery prices for fresh produce are spiking as the Israel‑Iran war drives oil above $100 per barrel, inflating diesel and refrigeration costs. USDA data show wholesale lime prices up 63% and blueberries up 44% between late February and March....
Israel, Iran War: Torrent Gas Raises CNG Price by ₹2.50/kg; Locals Flag Rising Cost Burden
Torrent Gas increased compressed natural gas (CNG) prices by ₹2.50 per kilogram (about $0.03) in a major Indian city. The hike comes as commercial LPG cylinder rates rose to ₹2,078.50 (~$25) after a ₹195.50 (~$2.4) increase, and aviation turbine fuel...
Silver Drags Commodity ETFs Down up to 15% in March. What Next for Investors?
In March 2026, silver‑focused commodity ETFs slumped as much as 15%, with UTI Silver ETF posting the steepest decline of –14.72%. The broader commodity‑ETF universe saw 43 funds in the red, while gold ETFs also recorded double‑digit losses. The sell‑off...
Egg Prices Surge in Europe Ahead of Easter: Which Countries Saw the Highest Rise?
Egg prices across Europe are soaring ahead of Easter, with consumer inflation averaging 9.3% versus 2.3% overall EU inflation. Spain leads the surge, recording a 31.3% rise in consumer egg prices and a 33.7% jump in wholesale rates. Wholesale egg...
The Week in Charts: Jet Fuel Prices, FPI Exodus, E20 Vehicle Gap
India’s economy faces multiple pressures as the West Asia war fuels a global energy squeeze. Jet fuel prices have surged, squeezing airline fares, while the manufacturing PMI slipped to a 45‑month low of 53.9 in March, indicating a sharp slowdown....
Will the Iran War Redraw the Global Energy Map?
The Iran‑Israel conflict has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, instantly choking a key artery for global oil shipments. The disruption has triggered a sharp supply shock, pushing crude prices higher and exposing Asia’s heavy reliance on Middle‑East...
A Light Round of Direct Cattle Business on Friday
Direct cattle trading was muted on Friday, with only a handful of deals reported in the South. Weekly live cattle prices in the South edged up $8‑$9, while dressed cattle in the North averaged $385, about $13 higher than the...
Stop Selling Your Cows in a Drought—Here's the Smarter Play
Producers who panic‑sell cattle during droughts trigger a price spiral: mass sell‑offs depress prices, then simultaneous restocking inflates them, eroding margins. The author advocates a sell/buy approach that keeps head‑per‑head revenue stable while stretching feed budgets. Current market data shows...
Steel Cooling: Steel Costs Steadily Decline After Pandemic Price Shock
Steel prices have continued a steady decline, with the national average for structural steel falling to roughly $2,344 per ton in January 2026. That represents a 5.38% drop from the previous quarter and a 7.18% decrease year‑over‑year, extending a correction...
Trump Loses Grip as Oil Surge Signals Deeper Crisis
Oil prices surged past $140 a barrel as renewed U.S.-Iran tensions reignited market bullishness, pushing WTI and Brent to levels not seen since 2008. OPEC+ is weighing a 206,000‑barrel‑per‑day production increase for May, despite most members having cut output amid...
No Jet Fuel Shortage for '4 to 6 Weeks' - Airline
Aurigny, the Guernsey‑based airline, reports a 120% rise in jet‑fuel costs since the Iran war began but expects no fuel shortages for the next four to six weeks. The carrier introduced a temporary $2.50 surcharge on new bookings and has...
Electrification May Not Be Enough to Protect Against Gas-Driven Price Shocks
Electrification does not fully insulate companies from natural‑gas‑driven electricity price spikes, as grid pricing remains tied to gas dynamics. ABB’s Stuart Thompson warns that static supply contracts and unchanged grid infrastructure leave firms exposed to real‑time market volatility. Storage and...
Continental Resources to Boost U.S. Oil Output as Crude Tops $100
Continental Resources announced it will raise its 2026 capital budget to boost oil production as crude prices break $100 a barrel amid the Iran‑Israel conflict. The Oklahoma‑based producer, which delivered 475,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Q4 2025,...
Northern Ireland Leads Surge in Fuel Prices Since Start of Iran War
Fuel prices in Northern Ireland have surged the most among UK regions since the Iran‑Israel conflict began in late February, with petrol up 19% and diesel up 35%. A 50‑litre tank now costs about £75 ($94) for petrol and £91...
Are Oil Tankers Moving Through Hormuz Again?
The Strait of Hormuz, once handling roughly 100 east‑to‑west crude tankers daily, saw traffic collapse amid the Iran conflict, prompting concerns about global oil supply. Analysts now question whether tanker movements have resumed, as the region remains a critical chokepoint...
Pakistanis Face up to 54% Rise in Fuel Prices
Pakistan announced record fuel price hikes on April 3, 2026, with petrol rising 49 cents per litre and diesel jumping 67 cents, a rise of up to 54 percent. The surge, driven by the Middle East conflict and global oil price spikes, follows...
Japan Gov't Shifts Rice Policy to Demand-Based Output After Crisis
Japan’s government has reversed its rice‑output boost, adopting a demand‑driven production model to avoid future shortages. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet approved a bill that eliminates automatic production adjustments and requires private firms to hold 200,000 tons of rice reserves....
U.S. Solar Module Prices Face Upward Pressure as Trade Risks and FEOC Rules Dominate Q1 2026
The Anza Q1 2026 report shows U.S. solar module prices stabilizing at a median $0.28 per watt, up from $0.25 in early 2025. The rise reflects tighter anti‑dumping and countervailing duties, plus new Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules that tighten...
World Food Prices Rise Set to Continue if Iran War Lasts
The FAO Food Price Index rose 2.4 % in March, reaching its highest level since September 2023. Higher oil prices and the ongoing Middle East conflict are driving modest but notable increases across key commodities such as wheat, vegetable oil and...
Recent Data Challenges Traditional Grain Marketing Strategies
Grain and oilseed markets experienced an unprecedented lull in 2025, marking the first year in 36 years without a single volatile month—defined as a 10% price swing—in new‑crop corn and soybean futures. Seasonal price patterns also flipped, with February 2025...
Spring Volatility Expected in Winter Wheat Prices
Hard red winter wheat (HRW) futures typically become more volatile as spring arrives, with the July contract delivering returns of +8% in April, +1.5% in May and –34% in June over the past decade. Drought affected 55% of the crop’s...
Extreme Weather Pushes Easter Lamb Prices up by a Fifth
Extreme weather events have driven Easter lamb prices up by between 7% and 21% across the UK. Drought, record heat and heavy rainfall have reduced pasture quality, increased feed costs and lowered animal growth rates. The price surge threatens traditional...
Tariffs Strained U.S. Aluminum Supplies. Now the Iran War Is Making It Worse.
U.S. tariffs on imported aluminum have tightened domestic supply, and the escalating conflict in Iran is further disrupting global metal shipments. Manufacturers like Awake Window & Door in Arizona are already cutting production, while Reitnouer Trailers relies on roughly 4,500 pounds...
Oil Prices Jump and Shares Drop After Trump Threatens More Iran Strikes
Former President Donald Trump’s warning of further strikes against Iran sparked an immediate surge in oil markets, with Brent crude climbing over 8% and U.S. West Texas Intermediate briefly exceeding $110 per barrel. The rhetoric revived fears of prolonged disruption...
Market Watch: May Nymex Dips After Above-Average Storage Build
May NYMEX natural gas futures slipped 1.9 ¢ to $2.80 per MMBtu, marking the first decline of the month. The drop was driven by an unexpectedly large weekly storage build, which lifted inventories above seasonal norms. Analysts attribute the easing to...
Comparative Fuels, Apr. 2, 2026
The piece titled “Comparative Fuels” offers no substantive text, but its headline signals a focus on the emerging segment of alternative and renewable fuels. Industry analysts project the global comparative fuels market to exceed $250 billion by 2030, driven by stringent...
Saudi Maxes Yanbu Flows, Taps Storage in March
Saudi Arabia rerouted most of its March crude shipments to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, pushing crude exports to an average of 5.3 million barrels per day and refined product exports to about 800,000 b/d. The 1,200‑km East‑West pipeline reached full...
Falling Maize Prices to Spell Doom for Farmers
Kenya is confronting a record maize harvest of roughly 70 million 90‑kg bags, the largest in recent history. The surplus has driven farmgate prices down from about $30 per bag to under $16, squeezing farmers’ ability to recoup high input costs....
Morgan Stanley’s Defensive Playbook for Spiking Oil Prices Amid Iran War
Morgan Stanley is urging investors to adopt a defensive stance as the Iran‑Israel conflict pushes oil prices sharply higher. West Texas Intermediate futures surged more than 11% to $111.54 per barrel, the highest close since June 2022, while Brent rose...
The Next Global Food Crisis Has Already Begun
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran has choked a key maritime route for fertilizer shipments, pushing nitrogen and phosphate prices up 20‑40 percent. Rising transport costs and insurance premiums are forcing farmers in...
Western-Insured Tankers Continue to Load Urals Crude
Western‑insured, primarily Greek‑owned, tankers are still loading Russia's Urals crude at Black Sea and Baltic ports. The FOB price of the blend has risen to roughly $100 per barrel, more than twice the EU price‑cap of $44.10. Despite heightened sanctions,...
As Oil Shortages Deepen, Wartime Rationing Offers a Guide for Today’s Governments
The U.S.-Iran conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly eight million barrels of oil per day—about eight percent of global demand—and driving prices sharply higher. In response, the Philippines, South Sudan and Mauritius have declared emergencies or begun...
Avgas Prices Climbed in March
National avgas prices rose in March, with 100LL full-service averaging $6.80 per gallon, a 5.9% increase from February. Self‑service 100LL climbed to $5.69, up 4.7%, still offering roughly 16% savings where available. Jet A full-service prices jumped to $7.64, a...
US Natgas Storage Rises by 36 Bcf
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 36 billion‑cubic‑feet (Bcf) increase in natural‑gas inventories for the week ending March 27, pushing net working inventories to 1,865 Bcf. The build reflects a modest supply surplus after a relatively mild winter heating season. Analysts note...