Crude Volatile as Hormuz Risks Increase
Oil markets remain volatile as the fifth day of the US‑Iran conflict curtails traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil. West Texas Intermediate steadied just under $75 a barrel while Brent hovered around $81, after an 11% surge in two days. Saudi Arabia is rerouting crude to the Red Sea and its storage tanks are rapidly filling, and the U.S. has floated vessel‑insurance guarantees that may take weeks to materialize. Analysts see mixed signals, with potential price relief if Hormuz flows resume but heightened risk from regional production cuts.
Drought Relief Could Be Coming Soon for Much of the Midwest
The Midwestern Regional Climate Center warns that more than 70% of the Midwest remains in moderate to extreme drought after a dry winter. New weather models, however, project several inches of rain across the Eastern Corn Belt in March, offering...
Cumulative Broiler Placements 2% Ahead of Last Year
The USDA reports that broiler hatchery activity is 2 percent ahead of 2025, with 254.46 million eggs set and a hatchability rate of 78.5 percent. Placements rose to 193.98 million chicks, up 1.532 million week‑over‑week and 2 percent year‑over‑year. State data show Arkansas leading placements while...
Brazil’s Record Soybean Harvest Adds Pressure to U.S. Prices
Brazil's soybean harvest hit record levels in 2026, with unprecedented acreage, yield, and total production. The surge creates a global surplus that could flatten U.S. soybean price expectations for the upcoming season. Economist Chad Hart notes the bounty mirrors last...
Is Myanmar’s Military Government Planning Airstrikes on Rare Earth Mines?
A potential supply shock emerged as Myanmar's junta reportedly plans airstrikes on rare‑earth mines in the Kachin‑controlled Pang War region. Chinese mining firms responded by raising national flags on sites and ordering bomb‑shelter construction to signal locations to aircraft. China...
Delayed Publication of US Sustainable Aviation Fuel Prices for March 3
Fastmarkets announced a delay in publishing the United States sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) price data for March 3. The postponed release covers three benchmarks: base cost ex‑works in Houston, delivered price in Los Angeles, and delivered price in Chicago. These prices...
Qatar LNG Shutdown Sends Global Gas Markets Into Turmoil
Qatar Energy declared force majeure on its LNG exports, halting production at the Ras Laffan plant amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The shutdown, which affects roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas, is expected to last at least...
Correction to Steel Hot-Rolled Coil Index Domestic, Exw Italy
Fastmarkets issued a correction for its domestic ex‑works Italy hot‑rolled coil (HRC) index, adjusting the price from €682.50 to €676.25 per tonne. The error stemmed from a reporter mistake and has been rectified in the pricing database. The revised figure...
Gulf Oil and Gas Crisis Sparks Calls for Renewables Investment
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, halting Qatari LNG production and sharply raising global energy prices. About one‑fifth of world oil and LNG passes the strait,...
North America Drops 11 Rigs WoW
North America’s weekly rig count slipped 11 units to 764, with the United States reporting 550 rigs and Canada 214. The U.S. saw a net loss of one rig, driven by a two‑rig decline in oil rigs while gas rigs...
Diana Rolls Panamax Bulker Into Improved SwissMarine Fixture
Greek dry‑bulk carrier Diana Shipping has secured a new time charter for its 77,525 dwt panamax vessel Crystalia. The ship will sail for SwissMarine at $16,200 per day, minus 5% commission, from mid‑March 2026 through early 2027. This rate exceeds the...
Cameco Signs $2.6B Uranium Supply Deal with India
Cameco announced a $2.6 billion agreement to supply uranium to India’s nuclear program, marking one of the largest contracts in its history. The deal, reportedly spanning several years, will deliver up to 5,000 metric tonnes of uranium to support India’s ambitious...
SLVO's Hidden Weakness Meets Its Match In KSLV
Kurv Silver Enhanced Income ETF (KSLV) employs an active, option‑based layer that captures more of silver’s upside than the covered‑call‑centric SLVO. The strategy’s unleveraged silver exposure and return‑of‑capital distributions give it a tax‑advantaged edge. The analyst upgrades KSLV to a...
Nanjing Tanker Orders Trio of Chemical Carriers
Nanjing Tanker, a Shanghai‑listed subsidiary of China Merchants Group, has signed a contract for three 6,600 dwt stainless‑steel chemical carriers with Yangzhou Dingheng Shipyard. The $71 million deal, including tax, targets delivery in the first half of 2028 and adds to the...
Expect More Platinum Price Gyrations, Warns WPIC
The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) projects the platinum supply deficit to shrink dramatically to 240,000 ounces in 2026, down from a record 1.082 million ounces in 2025. Despite the narrowing gap, demand is expected to dip 8% to 7.62 million ounces...
Urea Price Jumps as Iran Fall-Out Halts Shipping
Urea prices in Australia have surged by roughly A$150 per tonne after the escalation of the Iran‑US‑Israeli conflict shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments from key Middle‑East producers such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Spot prices have...
Zodiac Maritime Stacks Tanker Orderbook
London‑based Zodiac Maritime is expanding its crude carrier renewal by ordering five new tankers in Asia. The deal includes four 319,000‑dwt VLCCs from Jiangsu New Hantong Ship Heavy Industry at roughly $120 million each, slated for 2029 delivery, and a 157,000‑dwt...
Gujarat Gas Shares Plunge 4% After 50% Supply Cut to Industrial Users Amid Middle East Conflict: Report
Gujarat Gas announced a 50% cut in gas supplies to industrial customers after the US‑Iran conflict disrupted regasified LNG imports, sending its shares down 4% to Rs 382 on the BSE. The company, which sources roughly 70% of its gas from...
Norway Warns Gas Production Maxed Out Amid Qatar LNG Shutdown
Norway’s gas producers are operating at near‑full capacity as Europe scrambles for supply after the world’s largest LNG export terminal in Qatar was forced offline by an Iranian drone attack. The shutdown sent European spot gas prices soaring more than...
Iran Conflict Could Turn Canada Into the Market’s Most Reliable Oil Supplier
Oil prices surged as Iran's IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, cutting 70‑80% of traffic. Brent crude rose above $80 per barrel for the first time since July 2024, while U.S. energy stocks outperformed the broader market. Analysts, led...
Farm Worries Crop up as Fertiliser Companies Fear a Gas Crunch
India faces a looming gas crunch after Qatar halted LNG production, jeopardising the primary feedstock for urea manufacturing. The country currently holds only about two months of buffer stocks for urea and DAP, and prolonged shortages could force local plants...
Atomic Eagle Sets Course for Growth as Uranium Feasibility Metrics Confirm 12-Year Muntanga Mine Life
Atomic Eagle announced a maiden ore reserve of 28 Mlb U3O8 at its Muntanga project in Zambia, backed by an independent engineering review of a feasibility study that confirms a 12‑year mine life. The study projects 25.3 Mlb total production, a 3.5‑year...
Oil Price Rise Might Push Peso Back to 59:$1
Rising crude prices, driven by the Iran‑Israel conflict, could push the Philippine peso past the 59 per‑dollar threshold. MUFG forecasts the PHP trading between 58.5 and 59.5 if oil steadies around $90 a barrel, while JP Morgan sees a modest global...
US to Insure Hormuz Tankers After Policies Canceled
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will provide war‑risk insurance for vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz after commercial insurers pulled coverage. The move may be paired with U.S. naval escorts to safeguard tankers amid heightened regional tensions....
Americas MGO Prices Soar on US-Iran War
Marine gasoil (MGO) prices in the Americas surged toward $1,000 per metric tonne, marking the highest levels since October 2023. The rally follows the US‑Israel weekend attacks on Iran, which threaten the flow of middle‑distillates through the Strait of Hormuz....
US Shale Producers to Hold Capex, Output Steady in 2026
U.S. shale producers have signaled that 2026 capital expenditures will remain flat or dip slightly, while overall output is expected to stay level or edge higher after accounting for acquisitions, divestments, and the cyclical nature of multiyear upstream projects. The...
Iran Expands Attacks to Targets Outside Strait of Hormuz
Iran escalated its campaign against regional energy assets, deploying armed drones against the United Arab Emirates' main oil export hub and striking major ports in Oman. The attacks, which originated beyond the Strait of Hormuz, signal a widening of Tehran's...
China's Gas Output Expected to Rise Amid Shale Push
China’s domestic natural‑gas production is set to climb in the near term as the government backs unconventional shale projects. Analysts forecast a steady output rise, driven by new drilling licences and financial incentives. The push aims to offset growing demand...
LNG Prices Surge on Qatari Supply Disruption
LNG spot prices jumped sharply after a supply disruption in Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters. In Northeast Asia, the price rose $1.75 week‑on‑week to $12.45 per MMBtu, while Southwest Europe saw a $5.05 increase to $14.75 per MMBtu....
Spot Prices Wrap: Bulls Wrest Control of Physical Natural Gas
Bulls have taken control of the physical natural gas market as spot prices showed mixed movement but futures advanced. Traders are looking past the early‑March shoulder season, focusing on colder weather forecasts and strong LNG export activity. Geopolitical tension from...
Oil Prices Surge Higher as Market Adjusts Ceiling Scenarios
Brent crude rose to $85 per barrel on Tuesday, marking a notable surge amid heavy trading. The rally reflects market reaction to escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over supply disruptions. Traders are now focusing on how constrained...
Feeder Cattle Mixed Waiting on Direct Trade
Live cattle futures closed about $1.02 higher, while feeder cattle slipped modestly, leaving the market mixed ahead of anticipated direct‑trade activity later in the week. Direct cash cattle trading was quiet on Tuesday, with no bids or offers surfacing. At...
Are Flex-Fuel Vehicles Making a Comeback?
Chevrolet is re‑launching flex‑fuel vehicles (FFVs) equipped with a 1.3‑liter engine, marking the first standard‑fit FFVs since 2026. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) highlights California’s dominant E85 market and urges other OEMs, including Toyota and Honda, to follow suit. Nationwide...
ExxonMobil Optimizing Assets to Offset Disruptions
ExxonMobil said its worldwide scale and diversified portfolio allow it to mitigate disruptions from the latest Middle East conflict. Senior vice president Jack Williams highlighted the company’s ability to shift feedstock and products using its trading arm and long‑term charter fleet....
US Gulf MR Freight Trades Just Under All-Time Highs
Freight rates for medium‑range tankers loading on the US Gulf coast surged as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly stopped, prompting buyers to scramble for alternative diesel supplies. Chevron’s Europe‑bound voyage hit Worldscale 365 ($72.39 per tonne), while ATMI’s Caribbean...
Fastmarkets Changes the Timing of Its Ilmenite Cif China and Rutile Fob Australia Assessments
Fastmarkets announced that, effective March 5, its price assessments for ilmenite concentrate (cif China) and two rutile grades (fob Australia) will shift from a fortnightly to a monthly cadence. The change follows market feedback indicating that prices have been moving slowly...
Fastmarkets Clarifies Publishing Schedule for Iran Steel Billet, Slab Export Prices
Fastmarkets announced that it will not publish weekly export prices for Iran’s steel billet and slab during the seven‑day public holiday declared after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death. The delay follows the firm’s policy of suspending price releases when a...
Hyperliquid Gold Perps Front-Ran CME After Iran Strikes and the Monday Gap Exposed a New Weekend Leader
During the weekend of Feb. 28 Iran strikes, CME’s COMEX gold futures were closed for 48 hours, leaving a gap for macro‑risk pricing. Always‑on perpetual contracts on Hyperliquid and Binance stayed live, with Hyperliquid’s gold and silver perps trading at...
Crop Economics Lift Corteva Returns
Corteva posted a modest 1% revenue rise to $5.26 billion, driven by higher commodity prices that revived farmer economics and supported seed and crop‑protection sales. The company leveraged disciplined pricing and cost controls to expand gross margins and lift net income...
Overlooked Tharisa, a PGM Bull Market Bridesmaid
Tharisa Resources has seen a 105% year‑on‑year rally but still lags larger PGM peers, trading at a deep discount despite strong fundamentals. The market penalises the stock for liquidity constraints and uncertainty around financing the Karo Platinum project. Spot PGM...
Lawmakers Push for Elimination of Indian Duties on US Cotton Amid Stalled Trade Deal
A bipartisan group of House members led by Rep. Jodey Arrington sent a letter to USTR Jamieson Greer urging the removal of India’s 11% tariff on U.S. cotton as a priority in the pending U.S.–India trade talks. They cite the...
Black Gold Rush: USO Call Options Surge on Iran Crisis
Bullish traders bought 2,000 USO March 20 84‑call contracts on Feb 26, just before the Strait of Hormuz was effectively shut after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The closure halted roughly 20 % of global seaborne oil, sending Brent up 13 %...
Shorter Commodity Cycles Reshaping Trading, Value: McKinsey
McKinsey’s latest commodity trading report warns that volatility cycles are shortening, diminishing the relevance of traditional super‑cycle models. Trading revenues slipped to $69 billion in 2025, yet remain about twice pre‑pandemic levels, establishing a higher baseline. The firm highlights AI and...
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Lift Freight Rates for Aluminium, Bauxite, Zinc, Lead and Lithium; Limited Fallout in China
Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have sharply lifted crude oil prices and triggered a surge in freight rates for key non‑ferrous commodities. Major carriers such as MSC, Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd have suspended Middle East bookings and imposed War...
WoodMac Warns of Lithium Supply Deficit by 2028
Wood Mackenzie warns global lithium demand could exceed 13 Mt LCE by 2050 under an accelerated net‑zero transition. Without new investment, supply deficits could appear as early as 2028, with gaps widening to 8.5 Mt LCE by 2050. Electric vehicles account for...
West Asia Tensions May Cloud India’s Coffee Export Momentum
Indian coffee exports are accelerating, with January‑February shipments up 40% to 80,931 tonnes and total 2025 sales surpassing $2 billion. The West Asia and North Africa region, accounting for roughly 20% of exports, is now a key growth market after Europe....
Middle East Conflict Stokes Inflation, Risks Higher Rates
The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has triggered the largest oil price jump in four years as the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, sending crude markets into turmoil. Inflation concerns now dominate Treasury trading, pushing the 10‑year yield above 4% and raising mortgage‑rate...
Analysts Warn of Largest Oil Supply Disruption in History
Analysts at S&P Global warn that the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could cause the largest oil‑supply disruption ever if tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz collapses. Recent data show only five tankers transited on March 1 versus the usual 60,...
ECB's Villeroy: It Would Be a Mistake to Predict Rate Move in a Hurry
ECB Governing Council member Francois Villeroy warned that forecasting a rate move too quickly would be a mistake, emphasizing that policy decisions will not hinge solely on volatile energy prices. He noted that France’s exposure to Middle‑East tensions remains limited,...
South African Corn Output Down but Not Out
South Africa’s 2025‑26 corn harvest is projected at 16.1 million tonnes, a 3.1% decline from the previous record‑high season despite a 4.6% expansion in planted area. Yield variability, especially in key provinces, outweighs the acreage gain, while white corn output edges...