Commodities News and Headlines
Commodities News and Headlines
Commodities Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown threatens Japan’s aluminum supply chain, as the country imports roughly 20% of its metal from the Middle East. The closure disrupts shipments of primary ingots that feed industries ranging from beverage cans to bullet‑train components. Japanese producers are scrambling to secure alternative sources and boost inventories. The situation highlights the vulnerability of Japan’s manufacturing sector to geopolitical chokepoints.
Helios AI warns that if the Persian Gulf conflict ends tomorrow, global food prices could climb 12‑18% above pre‑crisis levels by the end of 2026 and rise further in early 2027. The startup’s model flags three sequential shocks: soaring fuel...
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a 54 billion‑cubic‑foot (Bcf) draw in natural‑gas inventories for the week ending March 20. Net working gas fell to 1,829 Bcf, tightening the supply balance ahead of the summer heating season. The draw reflects higher demand from...
Gold has surged roughly 50% over the past year, dramatically outpacing the S&P 500’s 14.5% gain. The rally is driven by rising inflation, higher oil prices and heightened geopolitical risk, especially the Strait of Hormuz tension. Federal Reserve rate hikes...
Oil prices jumped on March 26 as Brent crude rose 4.8% to $101.94 a barrel, driven by renewed doubts over the Iran‑U.S. cease‑fire talks and heightened tension in the Strait of Hormuz. The rally pushed the S&P 500 down 1.2%, the Dow...
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil. The disruption has sent fuel costs soaring across Africa, prompting...
The Philippines is entering a belt‑tightening phase as a four‑week‑old Middle East conflict drives global oil prices higher, eroding the peso and inflating consumer costs. A temporary suspension of petroleum excise taxes will cut government revenue by roughly $2.5 billion, potentially...
Senior Citizens Party‑list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes urged the Philippine House to investigate a sharp diesel price surge that has pushed pump rates above P100 per liter (≈$1.80), the highest increase among Asian nations. He blamed limited refinery capacity and alleged profiteering...
Indian oleoresin producers are cutting chilli extraction as prices double and carry‑over stocks swell, while turning to turmeric to meet rising demand for natural curcumin. China’s entry into the chilli oleoresin market has driven global prices lower, making Indian chilli...
The letters to the editor flag four pressing issues for India. A halted Russian oil import and the Hormuz Strait closure have strained the country’s energy supply, prompting calls for domestic gas, electric‑vehicle adoption, solar power and local oil extraction....
U.S. farmers are confronting a new wave of fertilizer cost pressure as the Middle Eastern conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for sulfur imports. The disruption threatens sulfur supplies essential for producing sulfuric acid, a core...
U.S. gasoline prices climbed to a national average of $3.96 per gallon, up from $3.72 a week earlier, prompting several states to weigh temporary gas tax holidays. Georgia has already suspended its fuel tax, while California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland and...
European green‑steel demand remains concentrated in a few high‑impact sectors, with the automotive industry driving most of the growth. By 2035, automotive purchases are projected to account for roughly one‑third of the continent’s low‑carbon steel, while construction’s share slips from...
India’s cotton imports jumped 130% in volume and 92.5% in value in 2025, driven by a steep fall in global cotton prices. Lower import prices prompted textile manufacturers to increase purchases, seeking cost savings and higher quality raw material. Brazil...
The latest ranking of the world’s 20 largest gold mines shows Nevada Gold Mines retaining the top spot with 2,595 koz in 2025, while production at several sites shifted dramatically amid market volatility. Gold prices surged to a record $5,600 per...
The renewed Iran war has disrupted urea and ammonium nitrate production, slashing exports and driving global fertilizer prices up roughly 30 percent. The price surge coincides with the critical U.S. planting window, adding $10‑$20 per acre to corn fertilizer costs....
The ongoing war in Iran is disrupting every node of the regional liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, choking exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. With Gulf output curtailed, European and Asian buyers are forced to vie for...
European households are grappling with soaring energy bills as gas prices remain high. The EU forced an 18% cut in gas consumption after Russia's invasion, surpassing its target, and experts now urge a repeat of that mandate. Alternatives such as...
Barclays estimates that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would remove 13‑14 million barrels per day from global oil supply, representing roughly 13% of projected 2026 demand. The bank warns that if the disruption extends into late April, Brent...
A sharp rise in diesel to about 39 baht ($1.11) per litre—driven by the US‑Israeli war on Iran—has left more than half of Samut Sakhon’s trawlers idle and threatens to shut down Thailand’s multibillion‑dollar fishing sector within days. Thailand exports roughly...
ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance warned that the removal of 8‑10 million barrels per day of oil and roughly 20% of global LNG capacity is creating a tight market that will push oil prices higher. He said U.S. shale output...
Saudi Arabia is accelerating crude exports from its Yanbu Red Sea terminals, aiming for a 5 MMbpd target as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed by Iran. The East‑West pipeline linking Abqaiq to Yanbu can handle 7 MMbpd, but 2 MMbpd are...
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s weekly mineral price bulletin for March 23‑28 2026 shows a broad slide in several key exports, with copper falling to $12,718 per tonne and gold dropping to $164 per kilogram. Zinc, tin, silver and nickel also...
Indonesia is seeing a surge in coal and crude palm oil (CPO) prices as the US‑Israeli war on Iran pushes oil to about $100 a barrel, prompting countries to seek cheaper coal and bio‑fuel alternatives. Newcastle coal futures have climbed...
The U.S.-led war in Iran has sent oil prices soaring, pushing gasoline costs for a heavy‑duty pickup in Houston from about $70 to $90 per tank. Phrostibe Italian Ice, a family‑run mobile vendor, is feeling the squeeze, redesigning delivery routes,...
Economists note February CPI showed modest food price shifts—beef remains high while chicken and eggs fell. A new conflict with Iran has driven Texas gasoline up 90 cents, a 38% jump, foreshadowing higher March CPI. The war threatens the Strait...
At CERA Week in Houston, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told U.S. oil executives that the ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict is likely to keep crude prices elevated, creating a favorable market for American shale producers. The war has already pushed Brent above $90...
Soybean futures rose on fund buying and anticipation of the EPA's upcoming blending mandate announcement, buoyed by optimism from Middle East peace talks and a scheduled Trump‑China meeting. A recent Brazil‑China phytosanitary agreement is expected to smooth soybean shipments that...
U.S. grain futures closed higher on March 25, with May corn edging up to $4.67 per bushel and soybeans climbing to $11.71. Livestock prices slipped, as April live cattle fell to $234.42 and feeder cattle slipped modestly, while lean hogs...
Natural gas futures rose on Wednesday after earlier declines, driven by heightened geopolitical risk following Tehran's rejection of a U.S. peace proposal. The market also absorbed bullish signals from rising LNG feed‑gas demand and expectations of tighter storage balances. Despite...
UK businesses are confronting an energy price shock, with the nation already holding the highest industrial electricity rates among G7 nations. Cornwall Insight forecasts electricity could jump 10‑30 % and gas 25‑80 %, pushing a typical 12‑month electricity contract to about £578,000...
Asian ocean carriers are currently managing bunker fuel supplies, but tightening inventories signal a looming shortage if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. Global fuel suppliers warn that prolonged closure could trigger worldwide deficits. To cushion the impact, operators are...
Geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East has driven jet‑fuel prices to record highs, forcing airlines such as Wizz Air to project roughly $55 million in losses. The shock underscores aviation’s exposure to fossil‑fuel volatility and accelerates interest in sustainable alternatives. Emerging technologies...
The USDA reported that U.S. pork belly stocks rose to 44.9 million pounds in February, a 4.5% increase from January but still 7.6% below a year earlier. Wheat and corn futures gained after President Trump signaled a pause in Iran...
The West Asia war that began on 29 February 2026 has pushed global petrol prices to an average of $1.41 per litre, with the United States seeing a 30.2% jump to $1.13/L. Australia leads the surge at 42% higher, while Sri Lanka’s...
Maharashtra announced a high‑level, multi‑department panel to address the state’s chronic onion price glut and farmer distress. The committee, led by senior officials from Agriculture, Finance and Marketing, will propose immediate relief measures and a two‑to‑three‑month roadmap for long‑term sector...
Gold demand in Kashmir stayed muted despite a recent dip in prices ahead of the wedding season. Traders expected a surge as gold corrected, but footfall in stores remained thin and buyers opted for lighter pieces. Consumers are favoring 1‑gram...
The Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2026 Gas Statement of Opportunities shows that expanding grid‑scale battery storage and accelerated electrification have pushed the nation’s first major gas shortfall from 2026 to 2030. AEMO still flags a peak‑day risk in the southern...
The U.S. import price index jumped 1.3% month‑over‑month in February, the strongest gain since March 2022, driven by a 3.8% rise in fuel imports and a 1.1% increase in non‑fuel goods. Capital goods such as computers and industrial machinery posted...
Asia, which purchases more than 80% of the crude transiting the Strait of Hormuz, is confronting a severe fuel shortage after Iran blocked the waterway following its war on February 28. Governments from South Korea to the Philippines are reviving...
Iran’s abrupt closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring, prompting non‑Middle‑East exporters to step into the breach. Canada’s energy minister hailed the country’s surge as a strategic moment, positioning it as a reliable guarantor for allied...
California’s average pump price hit $5.88 per gallon, the highest in the nation, driven by a mix of state policies and global market shocks. Long‑standing factors such as high excise taxes, cap‑and‑trade fees, and limited refinery capacity have kept prices...
Asian airlines are increasingly hoarding jet fuel as the Iran‑Russia war drives crude prices above $120 per barrel. South Korea’s transport ministry is debating redirecting export‑bound jet fuel to the domestic market, while Philippine Airlines warns of imminent fuel rationing....
IGD warns that prolonged Middle East instability could trigger an energy shock that pushes UK food inflation above 8% by June 2026. In its worst‑case scenario, the surge would add roughly $190 to the average household grocery bill, while even...
Blue Moon Metals completed its acquisition of the Apex mine, a former U.S. producer of gallium, germanium and copper, to re‑establish domestic supply of these critical metals. The deal includes a 0.5% net smelter return royalty for Teck and positions...
Kenya’s flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million each week since the Iran war began. The Kenya Flower Council reports over $4.2 million in losses across three weeks, with export volumes dropping by more than half. Freight costs have surged to...
India's air‑conditioner makers are confronting a sharp LPG shortage that is disrupting the brazing process essential for unit assembly. To keep lines running, firms have shifted to oxy‑acetylene, a fuel tied to Middle‑East limestone imports, raising exposure to geopolitical volatility....
Israel launched a missile strike on Tehran while President Trump announced that the United States is negotiating a cease‑fire with Iran. The news sent crude oil prices plunging more than 6%, before partially recovering on doubts about the report’s veracity....
Indian steel producers are preparing for another price increase as U.S. attacks on Iran lift coking coal, ferro‑alloy and shipping costs. Domestic hot‑rolled coil prices have risen 23 percent to roughly $650‑$700 per tonne, up from about $566 a month earlier....
Oil prices plunged about 5% on Wednesday as optimism grew that a US‑Iran cease‑fire could be negotiated, pushing Brent crude below $100 per barrel and WTI to $88.31. The decline follows a recent peak near $119, but ongoing strikes and...
