The Commodities Feed: LNG Supply Disruptions Now a Long-Term Problem as Iran Hits Qatari Facilities
Iranian missile attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffen LNG complex knocked out roughly 17% of the plant’s export capacity, equivalent to about 17 bcm or 3 % of global LNG trade. The disruption is expected to linger for three to five years, prompting the TTF forward curve to price tighter supplies through 2027. European natural‑gas prices reacted sharply, climbing 13% intraday to EUR 74/MWh. The broader energy shock is also reverberating across refined‑product markets and metal prices, tightening market sentiment.
This Is when Trump Will Need an Iran-Conflict Offramp if Oil Prices Aren’...
President Donald Trump’s team is scrambling for measures to curb soaring crude prices as the Iran‑Israel war enters its third week. Options on the table include a U.S. Navy escort for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and a rapid...
Supply Scramble Shows Market's Limits With Gulf Down
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has abruptly removed roughly 15 million barrels per day of crude and refined oil from global markets, creating an immediate supply gap. Nations are resorting to inventory drawdowns, opportunistic purchases, emergency policies, and limited...
Russia Eyes Export Bonanza Amid Global Energy Crisis
Russia is leveraging a U.S. waiver and global oil shortages to boost its crude and product exports. Seaborne product shipments jumped 25% to 2.6 million barrels per day, while crude exports rose about 10% in March. Production gaps caused by OPEC‑plus...
Marketview: Disruptions Drive Up Diesel
Diesel prices have spiked sharply as a series of supply‑chain disruptions converge on the market. Recent refinery outages, geopolitical tensions in key exporting regions, and unexpected weather events have tightened global diesel inventories. The price rally is reverberating through freight,...
Oil Set for Weekly Surge as Mideast War Heads Toward Fourth Week
Oil prices are set for a weekly rise as the Middle‑East conflict enters its fourth week, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut and strikes persisting across the region. Brent crude traded above $108 per barrel, marking a more than...
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MIDDLE EAST SPILLOVER: Don’t Call It a Fuel Crisis, but Prepare to Pay
South Africa is confronting an acute fuel supply shock after the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupted Middle‑East oil flows. The government assures no station shutdowns, yet industry‑level allocation bans have left diesel pumps dry in several provinces. A strategic petroleum...
Brazil's MGO Demand Slumps Due to Export Tax
Brazil imposed a 50% tax on diesel and marine gasoil (MGO) exports on 12 March, causing demand in Brazilian ports to collapse. Suppliers report "non‑existent" MGO volumes as buyers shift to very‑low‑sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). Even domestically flagged vessels now prefer...
Cattle, Hog Futures Lower Heading Into Friday
Cattle and lean‑hog futures fell on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as traders awaited the USDA On‑Feed report. Live cattle dropped $2.12 to $233.27 and feeder cattle slipped $6.07 to $347.75, while lean‑hog contracts were $1.70 lower at $92.05. Cash markets...
$166 a Barrel? Middle East Oil Gives Clue to Where All Prices Could Be Headed if Iran War Drags On
Dubai crude surged to a record $166 a barrel as U.S.-Iran hostilities crippled transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude has risen nearly 48% since the conflict began, trading around $106, while WTI lags but faces upward pressure. Analysts...
The Oil Shock May Not Stop at the Pump
The article warns that a disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could turn an oil price shock into a fertilizer shock, raising food costs and broadening inflation. About one‑third of global fertilizer exports, especially nitrogen‑based urea, pass through Hormuz, and...
Rising Gasoline Prices and Their Impact on US Inflation and Economy
U.S. regular gasoline prices jumped nearly 90 cents to about $3.80 per gallon, while diesel rose $1.40 to just over $5, according to AAA data. The surge could cost the average household more than $600 in extra fuel expenses this...
N Dakota Perks up on Widening Brent-WTI Spread
North Dakota regulators are watching a rapidly widening Brent‑WTI price spread, now $11.92 per barrel, after it nearly doubled since early March. State oil output slipped to 1.16 million barrels per day in January, down 13,000 b/d year‑over‑year, as cold weather and...
Copper Joins Gold in Broad Commodities Sell-Off. There's a Worrying Reason Behind It
Broad commodity prices plunged on Thursday as the U.S.–Iran conflict pushed oil higher, sparking inflation and rate‑rise concerns. Gold slipped nearly 6% and silver 8%, while industrial metals such as copper fell 2% and palladium 5.5%. The sell‑off reflects fears...
Higher Oil Prices Lead to More USA Production in EIA Forecast
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s March Short‑Term Energy Outlook raised its 2027 crude oil production forecast by about 0.5 million barrels per day, citing higher West Texas Intermediate prices. The agency now expects average output of 13.61 million bpd in 2026 and...
Scaled-Down Repairs Can Make Sense as Asphalt Prices Rise
U.S. paving firms warn that asphalt costs are climbing as crude oil prices surge amid the Iran conflict. In the Northeast, the average price per ton has risen 4‑5% over the past year, while some regions like Kansas see modest...
Mining Stock Eyes Worst Day Since 2024
Newmont Corp (NEM) slumped 9.4% to $96.70, marking its lowest price since December and its worst trading day since April 2024. The decline mirrors a broader gold‑price sell‑off triggered by persistent inflation fears, steady Federal Reserve rates, and heightened geopolitical...
Current Price of Oil as of March 19, 2026
On March 19, 2026, Brent crude rose to $113.71 per barrel, up $4.93 (4.5%) from the previous day and more than $42 above its level a year ago. The price has jumped over 60% in the past month, reflecting tightening...
Electricity Prices Have Increased and Vary by Region : The Latest BLS Data and Recent Research
Residential electricity prices in the United States have surged, climbing 44.4% between April 2020 and January 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The Northeast Census Region now pays the highest average rate at $0.265 per kilowatt‑hour, while the South remains...
As War in Iran Roils Energy Markets, Europe Pays Price of ‘Dependency’
Europe’s energy markets were jolted on Thursday as military strikes on Qatar and Iran drove natural‑gas prices above €70/MWh and Brent crude past $114 per barrel, levels not seen since the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine war. French officials highlighted that 90% of...
If the Iran War Takes Oil Above US$120 a Barrel, How Bad Could the Shock Get?
The escalating US‑Israel‑Iran conflict has pushed crude prices above $120 a barrel as Iranian forces strike Gulf oil and LNG infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Analysts warn that the disruption could evolve into a prolonged supply shock,...
Filipino Jeepney Drivers Struggle as Oil Prices Surge: ‘What We Earn Goes to Diesel’
The war in the Middle East has driven global oil prices higher, pushing Philippine diesel costs up more than double. Jeepney drivers like Toni Prado now earn as little as 200 pesos a day, down from roughly 1,000 pesos, prompting...
All That Glitters: Gold’s Exceptional Performance in 2025 and Portfolio Implications
Gold delivered the strongest return among major asset classes in 2025, climbing roughly 64% and breaching $5,000 per ounce in early 2026 with an 18% January surge. The rally was fueled by heightened geopolitical risk, a weaker U.S. dollar, aggressive...
China Cutting Back Fertiliser Exports
China has imposed strict limits on fertilizer exports, banning nitrogen‑potassium blends and many phosphate varieties while allowing only a few products such as ammonium sulphate. The curbs affect up to 40 million tonnes, roughly half to three‑quarters of last year’s shipments,...
We Can Tell You Who Will Really Get Rich From This Oil Crisis – and How We Can Stop Them...
Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel, up from $60 earlier this year, as the Hormuz Strait bottleneck intensifies amid the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran. The spike mirrors the 2022 oil‑gas crisis, prompting governments to adopt emergency measures like...
Stock Market Today: Oil Soars Past $115, Dow Futures Inch Lower
Oil prices jumped to roughly $115 a barrel after fresh attacks on Middle Eastern energy infrastructure, while European natural‑gas futures surged more than 20% following reports of extensive damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG plant. The price spikes triggered broad equity...
Stopping Gas Dictating UK Energy Price Could Cut Bills by £200, Thinktank Says
A Common Wealth think‑tank report proposes decoupling fossil‑gas prices from UK electricity pricing, estimating household bill reductions of up to £203 per year. In 2024 gas set the wholesale electricity price 85% of the time despite supplying only about 25% of...
Is Coffee the New Cocoa? Some Expect Coffee Prices to Also Crash After Tariff-Driven Rally
Coffee prices, which surged to record highs in early 2025 due to adverse weather and U.S. tariffs, are now sliding toward $2 per pound as production forecasts improve. Analysts at the National Coffee Association convention warned that the commodity could...
Fertiliser Shortages Could Hit Australia in Late May, June: Collins
Minister Julie Collins warned that fertiliser shortages could hit Australian growers by late May or June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. While current stocks cover the early cropping season, 95% of Australia’s urea—65% shipped through the Persian Gulf...
Oil Settles Higher on Gulf Escalation
Crude prices rose on Wednesday as Iranian strikes hit the South Pars gas field and Asaluyeh processing facilities, shifting market concerns from shipping‑lane disruptions to direct infrastructure risk. Brent closed above $107 a barrel, while WTI settled at $96.32, widening the...
Spot Prices Wrap: Warming East Weighs on Natural Gas as Western Heat Drives Modest Gains
Spot natural gas prices fell on Wednesday as warmer weather forecasts for the eastern United States are expected to curb heating demand. The modest price decline outweighed a slight uptick in demand driven by a heatwave in the western region....
Road Projects at Risk as Bitumen Supplies Tighten
Australia’s bitumen stocks are dwindling as Middle‑East conflicts disrupt supplies from Asian refineries, prompting the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AFPA) to warn of possible depletion within weeks. Exporters have invoked force‑majeure clauses, cancelling contracts and driving price forecasts above a...
Crude Oil Edges Lower As Investors Assess Easing Supply Concerns
Crude oil prices slipped modestly on Wednesday, with WTI for April delivery down 0.19% to $96.39 a barrel, as traders booked profits after a prior rally. Iraq announced the resumption of oil exports from Kirkuk, limiting shipments to 250,000 barrels...
Cocoa Prices Climb Following Market Collapse
Cocoa futures have rebounded sharply, climbing to $3,349 per metric tonne after hitting a three‑year low of $2,886 in late February. The rally reflects a market correction from oversold conditions and a temporary easing of supply pressures after farmgate price...
Higher Energy Prices Might Eat Your Tax Refund, Economists Say
Stanford economists estimate that rising gasoline prices could cost the average U.S. household about $740 this year, roughly matching the projected $750 boost from the 2023 tax refund legislation. Their model assumes a brief Strait of Hormuz closure, with gasoline...
Congo Export Curbs to Keep Cobalt Scarce Till 2030
The Democratic Republic of Congo, responsible for over 70% of global cobalt, imposed an export ban in February 2025 and later introduced strict quotas, slashing refined output by roughly 20%. The curbs created an 82,000‑ton deficit in 2025 and drove...
Op-Ed: Copper Rally Masks Smelting Power Shift
Copper prices are hovering near historic highs, driven by electrification, AI‑related demand and limited new mine supply. However, treatment and refining charges for smelters have collapsed from about $80 per tonne in 2024 to near‑zero levels, with spot terms expected...
Calm Breaks as Oil Spike and Inflation Shock Hit Markets Ahead of Fed
Markets entered the day in a low‑volatility mode as investors waited for the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. The calm evaporated when reports of Israeli and U.S. air strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field sent oil prices sharply higher and a...
Diesel Tops $5 Nationally as Gas Inches Closer to $4
U.S. diesel prices broke the $5‑per‑gallon barrier, reaching a national average of $5.07, while gasoline edged toward $4 at $3.79. The surge stems from heightened Middle‑East tensions, notably the war against Iran, which have pushed crude oil above $100 a...
Tungsten 2026: Geopolitics Sets Global Tone
The global tungsten market entered 2026 amid extreme volatility driven by geopolitics, export controls, and resource nationalism. China’s February 2025 export controls on ammonium paratungstate (APT) and other tungsten products triggered a supply shock, pushing APT prices from $900‑$940 to...
Offshore Vietnam: Energy Imports Rise as Domestic Production Falls
Vietnam’s government forecast shows domestic crude production falling to 5.8‑8.0 million metric tons annually between 2026 and 2030, down from an eight‑year average of 8.6 Mt. Imports already rose 5.3% last year to 14.2 Mt, with roughly 80% sourced from Kuwait, now constrained...
DA Seeks Fertilizer Supply Deals with China, Russia Amid Mideast Tensions
The Philippine Department of Agriculture is negotiating fertilizer supply agreements with China, Russia, India and Belarus as Middle‑East tensions threaten the flow of nitrogen‑based inputs. While the agency has already secured more than 80% of its annual fertilizer requirement, rising...
Mitsui Locks 40% Josemaria Copper Concentrates Offtake, Fortescue Acquires Cañariaco for $101 Mln
Mitsui & Co secured a 40% off‑take right to copper concentrate from Argentina’s Josemaria deposit, a BHP‑Lundin joint venture containing roughly 4.6 Mt of copper and slated to start production by 2030. The right was purchased from JOGMEC via a public...
Global Markets Jolt as Iran War Escalates: Kharg Island, Energy Prices and Stock Volatility Under the Spotlight
Recent fintech developments highlight rapid innovation and regulatory friction. A new study shows traders are already profiting from stablecoin yield strategies while U.S. lawmakers debate the practice. Ortec Finance unveiled GLASS PRISM, a strategic asset‑allocation platform, as the U.S. pushes...
Fastmarkets Set to Launch New Rare Earth Spot Prices to Capture Global Trade Outside China
Fastmarkets will introduce three new global spot prices for dysprosium oxide 99.5%, terbium oxide 99.99% and ferro‑dysprosium 80% on March 19. The move responds to Chinese export controls and dwindling non‑Chinese supply, which have forced Japan and other magnet‑dependent economies...
Fuel Supply Pinch Hits Junior Miners: AMEC
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) warns that domestic diesel distribution bottlenecks are hampering remote Australian mining projects, especially junior operators. While fuel imports remain steady, major wholesalers are rationing supplies to independent distributors, creating uncertainty for smaller...
Oil Marches Higher as Mideast Crisis Persists
Benchmark crude oil prices surged to multi‑year highs on Tuesday after Iran struck a critical Gulf oil terminal and Israel reportedly killed Iran’s security chief in a bombing. The attacks heightened concerns over regional supply disruptions, prompting traders to bid...
Market Watch: Nymex Clings to $3 Handle as Winter Wanes
April natural‑gas futures on the NYMEX edged up 1 cent to $3.033 per million Btu, keeping the contract near the psychologically important $3 handle. Gelber & Associates highlighted a tug‑of‑war between brief late‑season cold snaps and a broader spring‑warming trend,...
Oil Prices Top $103 as U.S. Allies Reluctant to Escort Tankers in Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices surged on Tuesday, with Brent climbing to $103.42 a barrel and U.S. crude reaching $96.21, reflecting a 2‑3% jump amid heightened geopolitical tension. President Donald Trump warned that NATO allies are unwilling to join a U.S.-led naval escort...
Gas Car Drivers Hit 5 Times Harder By Iran Oil Shock Than EV Owners
A Transport & Environment study finds that a sustained oil price above $100 per barrel would make gasoline drivers in Europe pay roughly five times more per 100 km than electric‑vehicle owners. The analysis, based on the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine shock,...