How the Iran War Reveals the Extent of Fossil Fuel Propaganda
Oil prices are edging toward $100 a barrel for Brent crude as the Iran war disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, pushing national gasoline averages to $3.91 and squeezing low‑income households. Economists warn the ripple effect will raise costs for everything from fertilizer to consumer goods. While higher fuel costs traditionally spark interest in renewables and electric vehicles, Senate officials and think‑tanks allege a coordinated fossil‑fuel propaganda campaign, bolstered by Trump‑era subsidies, is dampening that shift. The article argues accurate government messaging could accelerate the clean‑energy transition.
Qatar's Prolonged Force Majeure Could Hit Many Offtakers
QatarEnergy announced it will invoke a multiyear force majeure on several long‑term LNG contracts after two of its export trains were struck by Iranian missile attacks. The suspension affects key offtakers across Asia and Europe, potentially curtailing deliveries for years....
US LNG Sector Sees Risks From Surge in Prices
The war in Iran and attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal have driven European spot LNG prices above $20 per million British thermal units, more than double pre‑conflict levels. This price surge fuels concerns that volatility could erode buyer confidence...
US Largely Insulated From Global Gas Market Upheaval
The United States has remained largely untouched by the recent turmoil in global gas markets caused by the Middle East conflict. Domestic natural‑gas production is at a record high, and LNG export terminals are operating near full capacity. Spot gas...
Oil Price Surge May Not Drive Permian Gas Production Surge
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure have driven oil and natural gas prices to new highs. Despite the price surge, operators in the Permian Basin are not accelerating associated gas production,...
Market View: Pipe Outages Push Permian Gas Prices Underwater
West Texas natural‑gas prices have plunged to historic lows as a combination of robust Permian output, seasonally weak demand, and unexpected pipeline outages throttles transportation capacity. The bottleneck forces producers to offer cash incentives for customers to take gas that...
Argentina's LPG Exports to India More than Double
Argentina exported 50,000 metric tonnes of LPG to India in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the 22,000 tonnes shipped to the country in all of 2025. The surge reflects Argentina’s steady rise in LPG output, which reached...
India’s Green Lentil Demand Remains Uncertain
Analysts are split on whether India will boost imports of Canadian green lentils as the government’s pigeon‑pea procurement under the minimum support price (MSP) program stalls. While the Ministry sanctioned 2.2 million tonnes for the 2025‑26 kharif year, market prices above...
Oil Surges as Iran War Escalates
Oil prices surged as the Iran‑U.S. conflict entered its third week, pushing Brent crude above $112 per barrel, the highest level since July 2022. The near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20% of global oil shipments, and...
Early Fertilizer Buy Saves Minnesota Farmer From Price Spike Pain
Minnesota farmer George Goblish bought all his fertilizer in the fall, shielding his 2026 corn‑soybean operation from a sharp price surge. Current fertilizer costs are described as outrageously high, forcing growers to reconsider planting decisions. The inflated prices could tilt...
Sugarbeet Growers Planting at a Loss After $500 Million in the Red in 2025
American Sugarbeet Growers Association reports that beet farmers lost an average of $500 per acre in 2025, a loss driven by a 30% drop in sugar prices and a 40% rise in input costs. The financial strain is compounded by...
Analysts Doubt Canada Can Meet IEA Oil Target
Canada pledged to add roughly 130,000 barrels per day to meet the IEA’s 400‑million‑barrel oil‑supply initiative, but seasonal maintenance, limited pipeline space and wildfire risk threaten that goal. Upstream firms have already scheduled over 300,000 bpd of spring turnarounds and...
Iraq Advises Foreign Firms to Curb Output
Iraq has instructed international oil companies operating in the country to curb output, invoking force majeure retroactively to March 3 because export routes through Basrah are effectively blocked. The loss of roughly 3.4 million barrels per day of export capacity follows a...
Gold Isn’t Your Safe Haven in This War: It Just Logged Its Biggest Weekly Drop in over 14 Years
Gold prices posted their steepest weekly decline in over 14 years, tumbling 9.5% in the week to March 20. The slide was sparked by heightened uncertainty from the Iran‑Israel conflict, which paradoxically dampened gold’s safe‑haven appeal. A shifting Federal Reserve rate...
Spice Exporters Brace for Tough Times as US Buyers Stay Away
Indian spice exporters are confronting a sudden halt in US buyer outreach after the Iran war erupted, threatening a $500 million annual trade stream. The suspension of early‑year call‑ons has stalled order flow, while soaring freight, insurance and war‑risk surcharges inflate...
Why The Strait Of Hormuz Blockade Spells Higher Beef Prices For U.S. Consumers
U.S. ground‑beef prices are poised to climb past $7.50 per pound as the Iran‑Iran war’s Strait of Hormuz blockade drives up diesel, fertilizer and corn feed costs. The national cattle herd has shrunk to 86.2 million head, the lowest level in...
DEF Pump Prices, so Far, Hold Steady Despite Middle East Turmoil
Diesel retail prices jumped to $5.18 per gallon, up sharply from $3.81, while the cost of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) has remained flat around $4.30‑$4.60 per gallon. The raw material for DEF—urea—saw its benchmark price surge from $482.50 to $712.50...
Sheinbaum Vows to Slash Mexico’s 75% Reliance on U.S. Natural Gas Imports
Mexico currently sources about three‑quarters of its natural gas from the United States, importing over 7 billion cubic feet per day. President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to cut that reliance dramatically, aiming to halve imports by 2030 through expanded domestic...
US Senate Seeks Reporting of Weekly Ferts Sales Data
The US Senate introduced the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities to the USDA for public disclosure. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and...
Prices of Greener Jet Fuel Rise With Oil Shock, Leaving Airlines Exposed
Oil‑supply disruptions in the Middle East have pushed both conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices higher, narrowing the premium that SAF traditionally commanded. In March, SAF in Western Europe traded around $2,500 per metric ton, down from...
Iran War Puts Global Energy Markets on the Brink of a Worst-Case Scenario
The war between Israel and Iran has escalated into direct strikes on oil and gas infrastructure, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and pushing crude prices above $100 a barrel. Missile attacks have damaged the South Pars gas field and...
Lower Maize Prices May See Indian Farmers Switch Back to Oilseeds, Pulses This Kharif
Indian maize prices fell to ₹1,781 per quintal, about 30% below the minimum support price, prompting growers to reconsider crop choices for the upcoming kharif season. Despite record‑high projected maize output of 302.47 lakh tonnes, farmers are eyeing oilseeds and pulses...
Wholesale Prices Rise Sharply in February, Driven by Food Costs
Wholesale prices for fresh and dry vegetables surged nearly 50% in February, propelling the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final‑demand goods up 1.1% month‑over‑month—the fastest rise since August 2023. Overall wholesale food prices climbed 2.4%, with egg prices jumping over...
Chicken Prices Soar in India on Bird Mortality, Reduced Weight
Chicken prices in India have surged to record levels, now ranging between ₹270 and ₹340 per kilogram, driven by soaring bird mortality and reduced broiler weight during the summer heat. The average live bird weight has fallen to 1.5‑1.75 kg, down...
Softs Report 03/20/2026
The Softs report shows cotton prices under pressure from the ongoing Iran war and unusually hot, dry conditions across U.S. growing regions, while USDA projects a decline in global cotton production despite strong Indian and Brazilian output. Florida orange juice...
Nigeria Faces Iran War Oil Price Conundrum
Nigeria’s oil revenues are set to surge as the Iran‑Ukraine war pushes crude above $100 a barrel, a windfall for the country’s export‑driven economy. Yet the nation still imports most refined fuels, so higher global prices translate into steeper pump...
Midmorning Markets: Outsized South Central Natural Gas Storage Injection Pressures Permian Prices
Natural gas futures slipped Friday as traders weighed heightened Middle East war risk and a sharp rise in U.S. storage. The U.S. South Central region logged a 26 Bcf injection, pushing inventories to 721 Bcf, still 30 Bcf below the five‑year average. The...
Egg Scarcity Looms as Day-Old Chick Prices Surge 67%
Nigeria’s day‑old chick prices have jumped 67% since January, reaching N3,000, tightening the supply of pullets needed for egg production. Hatcheries are unable to meet the renewed demand as many farmers re‑enter the market after feed costs fell, while a...
China’s Green Ferro-Alloys Drive Gathers Pace, but Premium Pricing Remains Elusive – AFA2026
Chinese ferro‑alloy producers are rapidly installing direct‑current (DC) furnaces, delivering 10‑15% electricity savings and lower coke use while aligning with clean‑energy grids. Upstream collaborations, such as South32’s pelletization deal, aim to secure low‑carbon feedstocks, and steelmakers’ decarbonisation projects could boost...
Industrial Diesel Hiked by 25%: Textile Industry Faces Rising Input Costs
Indian Oil Corporation raised the price of industrial diesel to Rs 109.59 per litre, a 25% increase effective 20 March 2026. The hike targets bulk consumers such as factories, where diesel fuels captive power plants and heat‑intensive processes. The textile sector, which relies...
China’s Rare Earth Magnet Exports to the US Keep Falling as Europe Gains
China’s shipments of rare‑earth permanent magnets to the United States fell 22.5% year‑on‑year in January‑February 2026, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. The US now accounts for just 9.2% of China’s magnet exports, slipping to the third‑largest buyer behind...
What Does a 60-Day Suspension of the Jones Act Mean for U.S. LNG?
The U.S. Treasury announced a 60‑day suspension of the Jones Act, allowing foreign‑flagged vessels to transport LNG from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Analysts expect only modest relief for gas prices, as margins and netbacks remain near historic highs....
Middle East Energy Infrastructure Strikes and European Power Markets: Rising Power Prices, Stable Credit Profiles
Recent U.S., Israeli, and Iranian strikes on Middle East oil and gas infrastructure have sharply lifted European natural‑gas prices. Because gas‑fired plants often set marginal electricity rates, merchant power prices across Europe are expected to rise in the near term....
Goldman Sachs Says Oil Prices Could Stay in the Triple Digits for “Years”
Goldman Sachs analysts project that oil prices will remain above $100 per barrel through 2027, citing recent Brent levels at $110.2 and WTI at $95.9. The forecast reflects persistent supply shocks, especially the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz,...
China’s Russian Oil Imports Spike in Early 2026, but Iran War Changes Outlook
China’s imports of discounted Russian crude surged to 21.8 million tonnes in January‑February 2026, a 40.9% year‑on‑year increase, while the dollar value rose only 5.8% due to steep discounts. Russian oil now makes up more than one‑fifth of China’s total crude...
Iran Escalates Attacks in Gulf Striking One of the Region’s Major Refineries in Kuwait
Iran intensified its campaign against Gulf energy assets, launching two waves of drones that struck Kuwait's Mina Al‑Ahmadi refinery, one of the region’s largest, causing a fire and damage. The attacks coincided with explosions over Dubai and heightened aerial defenses...
Oil Whipsaws as War Risk and Emergency Supply Measures Collide
Oil prices swung sharply this week as escalating war risk in the Middle East collided with a series of emergency supply measures. WTI fell to $94.13, down 3.98%, after traders weighed tanker delays in the Strait of Hormuz against strong...
Iran Conflict Stirs Solar Demand Debate in Germany
Germany’s residential solar market is seeing a sharp uptick, with E.ON reporting that inquiries for rooftop installations have roughly doubled since the Israel‑U.S.-Iran escalation in late February. Other installers such as 1KOMMA5° and Enpal echo the surge, while some industry...
Veg Oils Price Surge: CPO and CME Soyoil Futures Extend Gains
Vegetable oil futures, led by crude palm oil (CPO) and CME soybean oil, surged amid rising crude oil prices and heightened Middle East tensions. The most active May CPO contract on Bursa Malaysia rose 0.93% to 4,541 ringgit per tonne,...
Iran-Driven Energy Shocks Elevates Credit Risk for UK Energy Suppliers
UK energy suppliers face heightened credit risk as Iran‑driven gas price shocks double wholesale gas prices to 174 pence per therm in March 2026. The UK’s electricity market relies on gas‑fired generators for marginal pricing, so wholesale spikes directly erode supplier...
Fuel Prices Set for Another Increase, but Hikes to Ease
Diesel and gasoline prices in the Philippines will rise next week, but the hikes are milder—diesel by about P14‑P14.50 per litre and gasoline by P7‑P7.50, marking the tenth consecutive weekly increase. Jeepney operators are pressing the government for the same...
Platinum Is Back. So Why Are Its Miners Shunning Growth?
After a year of depressed prices, platinum‑group metal (PGM) prices have nearly doubled and producer shares rose over 70%. Despite the rally, CEOs of companies that control 80% of global PGM output said they will prioritize life‑of‑mine extensions, cost discipline...
Delayed Publication of India Steel Price Assessments: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets announced that its India steel price assessments were published on March 20, a day later than scheduled. The delayed release includes domestic and export prices for hot‑dipped galvanized coil, cold‑rolled coil, hot‑rolled coil, heavy plate, billets, and electrical steel,...
European Gas Falls as US, Israel Seek to Ease Iran War Concerns
European natural gas futures fell up to 3% after the United States and Israel announced steps to reduce the risk of Iranian attacks on Persian Gulf energy facilities. Despite the dip, the contracts remain on track for a roughly 20%...
Asia Turns to Coal as Iran War Rapidly Shrinks Supplies of Gas
The escalating war in the Middle East has sharply curtailed liquefied natural gas shipments from Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, creating a supply gap for Asian importers. In response, countries such as South Korea, Indonesia and Bangladesh are accelerating...
Dangote Demand Soars As War Disrupts Africa Fuel Supply
Dangote’s 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day refinery, now two years operational, is seeing soaring demand as the Ukraine war disrupts traditional fuel imports to Africa. Roughly 75% of its output is reserved for Nigeria, leaving limited capacity for export to neighboring economies. Countries across...
Map: States Where Electricity Costs Went Up the Most in 2025
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that residential electricity bills rose nearly 7 percent in 2025, double the overall inflation rate. Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee used federal data to show that while New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois saw price...
Fuel Chief Blames Panic Buying for ‘Short-Term’ Shortages
Australia’s largest fuel retailer Ampol says it has enough stock to meet demand despite panic‑driven shortages at some stations. The Middle‑East war and China’s suspension of 15% of regional fuel exports have strained traditional supply routes, prompting Ampol to secure...
ACCC Authorises Fuel Majors to Coordinate to Ensure Fuel Supplies, with Conditions
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued an urgent interim authorisation allowing the Australian Institute of Petroleum and its members to coordinate fuel supply logistics across the country in response to Middle‑East conflict‑driven disruptions. The permission expressly forbids...
Iran War-Induced Fertilizer Shortage Threatens Republicans in Farm States Ahead of Midterms
The war in Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting the flow of roughly half the world’s nitrogen‑rich urea fertilizer. U.S. corn growers see prices jump from about $350 to $600 per ton, squeezing margins just before planting. Democrats...