China Cannot Escape the Energy Shock
China is grappling with a global energy shock that has widened the price gap between its domestic fuel and the higher rates in neighboring Hong Kong. The disparity, driven by lingering subsidies and import dependence, prompts Hong Kong motorists to cross the 55‑km Zhuhai bridge for cheaper petrol. This behavior underscores the fragility of China’s energy security and the pressure on policymakers to balance affordability with sustainability. Beijing is responding by accelerating renewable projects and reforming fuel taxes to curb arbitrage and reduce oil reliance.
Delayed Publication of European Magnesia Prices
Fastmarkets announced a delayed publication of six European magnesia price indices, covering calcined agricultural, Greek raw, dead‑burned (90% and 95% MgO), fused (97% MgO), and lump forms (90% and 97% MgO). The notice lists the specific product codes (MB‑MAG‑0012, 0013,...
U.S. Exploring Venezuelan Fertilizer Purchases
The U.S. Treasury is expanding sanction waivers to allow imports of Venezuelan fertilizer as part of a broader effort to curb soaring input costs for American farmers. The move follows comments from Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins that the administration is...
UK Steel Decoilers Bracing for 50pc Quota Cut
The UK Department for Business and Trade is poised to slash tariff‑rate quotas for steel imports by up to 50%, targeting hot‑rolled coil (HRC) and hot‑dip galvanized (HDG) products. Argus estimates the cuts would create annual shortfalls of roughly 488,000 t...
Rising Crude Prices May Push US Towards Recession, Warns Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi
Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi warned that a 49% chance of a U.S. recession looms within the next year as crude oil prices surge amid the U.S.-Iran conflict. Brent crude jumped nearly 40% in March, reaching $119.50 per barrel, while...
Canadians Paying the Least at the Pump Are Complaining the Most, Poll Says
A poll by the Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians in the cheapest‑gas provinces—Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba—are the most vocal about the financial strain caused by rising pump prices. Nationwide gasoline has jumped 23% to $1.74 per litre since the Iran‑related...
The Tariff Mirage: Why Steel Prices Are Higher than They Should Be
U.S. steel prices remain elevated because tariff uncertainty adds a risk premium that outpaces weak demand and softening industrial indicators. Reduced imports have pushed buyers toward higher‑cost domestic mills, providing short‑term price support despite limited capacity. Ongoing legal challenges to...
Energy Storage to Emerge as Demand Driver for Lithium: Liontown CEO
Liontown Resources CEO Tony Ottaviano says large‑scale stationary energy storage is emerging as a second engine for lithium demand, reducing reliance on electric vehicles alone. Fastmarkets forecasts global storage installations will grow ~25% annually, reaching about 800 GWh by 2030 and...
Uncovering the Hidden Drivers of Commodities
CME Group’s economic research maps the long‑term drivers behind the Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM) and its six sectors. Historical analysis shows energy’s early‑2000s surge tied to China‑India demand and geopolitical shocks, while precious metals have led recent performance, with silver...
EU Hints at 'Soft Price Cap' For the ETS Before 3Q
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra signaled a soft price cap for the EU Emissions Trading System could be introduced before the third quarter, ahead of the scheduled ETS review in July. The Commission will first tackle the market stability reserve...
Gold, Silver Rates Today: Comex Gold Gains $47/Oz; Silver Rallies $2 as US Dollar Eases From 10-Month High
Gold rose to $5,049 per ounce and silver to $82.76 per ounce on 17 March as the U.S. dollar eased from a 10‑month high. The rally was fueled by the weaker dollar, central‑bank meeting anticipation, and a concurrent jump in crude‑oil...
Diesel Hits $5 a Gallon
U.S. diesel prices broke the $5 per gallon barrier on Monday, reaching a nationwide average of $5.044, the highest level since December 2022. The surge represents more than a 33% increase since the Iran‑related conflict began, outpacing gains in other...
Egypt’s NCIC Sells SSP/SOP Higher in Tender
Egyptian fertilizer producer NCIC announced the award of its latest tender, selling the full 25,000 t of single superphosphate (SSP) at $335 per tonne FOB and 1,200 t of sulphate of potash (SOP) at $620‑630 per tonne FOB. The SSP, containing 20.8%...
Pyth Network Introduces Pyth 24/7 Oil Index
Pyth Network has launched the Pyth 24/7 Oil Index, a proprietary price feed that delivers continuous, real‑time oil pricing across global markets. By aggregating first‑party data from exchanges, institutions and trading firms, the index eliminates traditional overnight and weekend price gaps...
South Korea Caps Fuel Exports to Safeguard Supply
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy imposed mandatory caps on refined fuel exports, limiting shipments to 100 % of the monthly 2025 volumes and introducing wholesale price ceilings for gasoline, diesel and kerosene. The measures, effective 13 March, aim to...
Consumer Impacts and Regional Supply Issues at Centre of Discussions at Emergency Fuel Meeting
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) convened an emergency meeting with major fuel producers, wholesalers and motoring groups in Sydney and Melbourne to address sharp price spikes and regional supply shortages triggered by the Middle East conflict. ACCC Chair...
How Governments Globally Are Shielding Consumers From War Fuel Shocks
Governments across Asia and Europe are rolling out fuel subsidies, price caps, and emergency stock releases to blunt the surge in energy and food costs triggered by the US‑Israeli war on Iran. The conflict has cut roughly one‑fifth of global...
The Iran War Is Roiling Commodities Far Beyond Oil
Since the third Gulf war erupted three weeks ago, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has immobilized roughly 10‑15 % of global oil supply, pushing Brent crude above $106 a barrel. President Donald Trump has ordered the largest-ever strategic reserve...
The Western Producer Livestock Report – March 19, 2026
U.S. hog carcass prices climbed to $92.77 per cwt on March 10, while weekly slaughter volumes rose to 0.98 million, edging past the same period last year. Canadian hog cash prices showed modest week‑over‑week gains, with the Signature Four price...
Feeder Cattle Market Incorporates Risk Discounts
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices slipped $5‑10 per cwt in the week to March 7, reflecting a risk discount tied to the escalating U.S./Israel‑Iran conflict. Feedlot operators reported deep‑red feeding margins and signaled lower bids for replacements unless live cattle prices...
Moody’s Says a Recession Will Be Hard to Avoid if Oil Prices Stay Elevated for Even a Few More Weeks
Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi warned that a sustained oil‑price spike—driven by the Iran conflict and a closed Strait of Hormuz—could push the U.S. into a recession. Moody’s machine‑learning recession model, which previously indicated a 49% chance, is expected to...
U.S. Makes Another Rare-Earths Deal. But the Threat of Shortages Persists.
The U.S. Defense Department has signed a new supply agreement with Australian rare‑earths producer Lynas, marking the latest effort to secure critical minerals for national security. The deal is intended to diversify the U.S. supply chain away from China, which...
Futures Settle: Natural Gas Slips Despite Chilly Weather, Iran Turmoil
U.S. natural gas futures slipped on Monday despite a cold snap that boosted heating demand. A rebound in deeply negative West Texas prices lifted the national average, masking softness elsewhere. European TTF gas and U.S. WTI crude stayed above recent...
How Federal Policy Can Supercharge Lithium Price Momentum
Spot lithium prices have surged 125.65% over the past year, with a 35.63% rise year‑to‑date as of February 28 2026. Jacob White of Sprott Asset Management notes expanding demand beyond electric vehicles into energy‑storage systems and AI‑driven infrastructure, while supply disruptions in...
Split Market Seen for Prairie Farmland
Prairie farmland is entering a split market, with premium land still appreciating while average parcels stagnate or decline. After 15‑20 years of steady gains, 2024 saw a 9.3% national price rise and a 13.1% jump in Saskatchewan, but offers per...
Crude Bottleneck Extends, but Geopolitical Premium Flaring; Brent Oil Will Likely Test $120
The United States carried out large‑scale strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island over the March 14‑15 weekend, targeting military facilities while sparing the island’s crude export terminal. Kharg processes over 90 % of Iran’s oil shipments, so the attacks raise geopolitical tension...
Fastmarkets to Launch Three New China Copper Scrap Grades, Increase Frequency
Fastmarkets will shift its CIF China copper scrap price publication from a monthly to a weekly schedule and add three new grades—millberry, cobra and clove—under the GB 38471‑2023 standard. Existing No 1 and No 2 grades retain their definitions, with minimum contract sizes...
Gold Prices Today: March 16, 2026
Gold opened at $5,008.56 per ounce on March 16, up 0.15% from the previous close, while still on a five‑day downtrend of 4.46%. The metal’s modest daily gain reflects ongoing macro uncertainty and shifting real‑interest‑rate expectations. Over 2024 and 2025...
Rising Fuel Price Could See Box Shipping Face a Bill of up to $35bn
Rising fuel prices linked to the Hormuz crisis could add $30‑35 billion to global container shipping costs if sustained for a year. Sea‑Intelligence estimates an extra $153‑$178 per TEU, potentially pushing freight rates higher. While direct fuel expenses are significant, analysts...
EIA Ups WTI Price Forecast by $20 in Wake of Iran Conflict
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its short‑term outlook for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, projecting an average price of $73.61 per barrel in 2026—$20 above its February forecast. The revision reflects heightened risk premiums after the February 28 onset...
The United States Is Losing Its Grip on Canada's Steel Market
U.S. steel exports to Canada fell 22% in 2025, dropping the United States' share of Canadian steel imports to 36% from 39%. Overall Canadian steel imports contracted 16% to 2.4 million tonnes as protectionist measures and retaliatory tariffs reshaped trade flows....
More Leaf Teas Unsold at Coonoor Auctions on Subdued Export Demand
Export demand slowdown in West Asia caused higher unsold leaf tea at the Coonoor auctions. In Sale 11, about 22% of leaf grades remained unsold, with leaf sales reaching only 75% of the 820,499 kg offered. Dust grades saw stronger domestic buying,...
Why Use MetalMiner for Metal Price Forecasting?
MetalMiner provides metal price forecasting services tailored to U.S. manufacturers, combining proprietary price indices, market‑signal forecasts, and support/resistance analysis. Its indices aggregate 10‑15 years of data and are normalized to reflect the actual mix of metals bought by U.S. firms....
Surge in Crude Prices Could Raise Global Inflation by 60 Bps, Cut Growth by up to 0.4 Pp in 2026:...
Crude oil prices jumped more than 40% in just 15 days after the U.S.-Israel‑Iran conflict disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, pushing the benchmark to about $103 a barrel. Former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath warned that if oil averages $85...
Singapore Bunker Sales Eased in February
Marine fuel sales at Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, slipped 10.6% month‑on‑month in February to 4.67 million tonnes, though they were 12.8% higher than a year earlier. Low‑sulphur VLSFO volumes fell 9.8% and high‑sulphur fuel oil dropped 15.2%, while alternative...
Oil Prices Trade Mixed as IEA Says Crude From Reserves Will Start Flowing in Soon
The International Energy Agency announced that member countries will release 400 million barrels from emergency reserves to calm markets disrupted by the West Asia conflict. Brent crude rose to $103.95 a barrel while WTI slipped to $98.62, reflecting mixed reactions. The...
Indonesia’s Nickel Pig Iron Spigot Reopens
Indonesia’s high‑pressure acid leach (HPAL) plants that produce nickel pig iron (NPI) saw output plunge more than 67% in mid‑February after a processing‑waste landslide disrupted operations near the Morowali Industrial Park. Satellite‑based monitoring by Navigate Commodities shows ore flows rebounding...
Tantalite Prices Jump to over Two-Decade High on Congo Supply Fears
Tantalite prices have surged to $200‑$210 per pound, the highest level in over twenty years, after a landslide shut the Rubaya mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC, which supplied more than half of global tantalum output in...
The Commodities Feed: Brent Remains Above $100/Bbl as Iran Conflict Develops
Brent crude surged to $106.50 a barrel as strikes on Iran's Kharg Island raised supply fears, while a drone attack temporarily halted loading at Fujairah port. The International Energy Agency announced a coordinated emergency release of just under 412 million barrels,...
Oil Prices Rise After Trump Claims US ‘Totally Demolished’ Iran’s Kharg Island Export Hub
U.S. forces struck Iran’s Kharg Island, a hub handling about 90% of Tehran’s oil exports, prompting a sharp rally in crude markets. Brent crude jumped 1.8% to $104.98 per barrel, pushing oil above $100 for the first time since the...
Hong Kong Should Work to Ensure a Steady Fuel Supply Amid War in Iran
The escalating U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran is disrupting global oil supplies, prompting price pressures across Asia. In Hong Kong, petrol station prices have risen modestly, while airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines are set to double fuel...
The Iran Crisis Is Hitting KiwiSaver Balances – but Market Volatility Can Work for You Too
New Zealanders watching their KiwiSaver balances see declines as oil prices jump above $100 per barrel following the US‑Israeli attack on Iran. Higher oil costs drive inflation, interest‑rate hikes and reduced corporate profits, pushing global equity markets lower, including the...
War and Summer–A Double Whammy for Energy Markets
The escalation of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has driven Brent crude above $100 per barrel, creating a global energy shock. Simultaneously, the Philippines faces a summer heat‑index surge that will require roughly 3,340 MW of additional peaking capacity to keep the grid...
Individual Investors Are Chasing Oil’s Surge Amid Iran Conflict; Institutions Are Thinking About What Comes Next
Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel as the Iran‑Hormuz crisis intensified, prompting a wave of individual buying in the United States Oil Fund (USO). USO attracted nearly $1 billion of inflows and has risen about 46% since the conflict began,...
Rising Oil Price and Inflation Fears Make Rate Hike Likely
Oil prices have spiked above $100 a barrel as the war in Iran forces the Strait of Hormuz to close, prompting the International Energy Agency to label the disruption the worst in history. Australian economists and the RBA’s futures market...
U.S. Intervention in Venezuela Could Help Solve Colombia’s Energy Crisis
Colombia’s natural‑gas output fell to a multi‑decade low of 683 mmcf/d in January 2026, a 17 % drop year‑over‑year, forcing the government to lean heavily on costly LPG imports that now cover about 30 % of domestic gas demand. The shortfall threatens electricity...
Oil Company Shares Soar to All-Time Highs as Middle East War Turbocharges Price per Barrel
Shares of the world’s oil super‑majors have surged to record levels following the US‑Israeli strike on Iran, driving oil prices above $117 a barrel. In the two weeks since the conflict began, the combined market capitalisation of the six listed...
Analysts Have a Message for Gold Investors Before the Fed Meeting
Gold investors face a pivotal Fed meeting on March 17‑18, with spot gold slipping below $5,050 and losing more than 1% for the week as a strong dollar and mixed economic data weigh on the metal. The Fed’s rate decision...
India to Procure Spot LNG for Urea Manufacturing
India’s government announced a rapid spot‑LNG procurement to offset a 40% supply cut from Qatar, which has jeopardised domestic urea production. Petronet LNG invoked force majeure after tankers failed to reach Ras Laffan amid the West Asia conflict. The first...
Coal India Aims to Ensure Power at Just Price Amid West Asia Crisis: Official
Coal India Ltd (CIL), which produces about 80% of India’s domestic coal, pledged to keep electricity prices fair amid the West Asia crisis that threatens imported coal costs. The state‑owned firm holds 122 million tonnes of pithead inventory and 53 million tonnes...