
The whey protein concentrate (WPC) market is splitting as performance‑nutrition demand fuels stable, premium‑priced WPC80 while broader human‑use WPC stocks tumble about 25% year‑on‑year. USDA data show inventory declines through December 2025 and January 2026, signaling constrained production and tightening prices for lower‑concentration whey. In contrast, Vesper’s EU Price Index reports WPC80 at €16,900/tonne (≈$18,590) and U.S. prices at €18,204/tonne (≈$20,024), reflecting contract‑bound stability. Capacity limits and lagging plant investments are intensifying the supply‑side divergence.

As the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil tankers are increasingly diverting to the Atlantic Basin, boosting vessel traffic there. The rerouting eases regional freight rates, offering lower shipping costs for crude moving to Europe and the Americas. Traders note...

Oil prices jumped higher on Tuesday before slipping in after‑hours trading, reflecting the market’s reaction to fresh reports of potential US‑Iran talks aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. The price swing underscores how quickly crude markets respond to geopolitical...

China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is projected to avoid a supply shortage through March despite the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Shandong‑based consultancy SCI99. The firm cites robust existing contracts and a diversified import portfolio that includes Russia,...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told CERAWeek attendees that Canada can fill the United States’ oil‑gap by adding roughly 2.5 million barrels per day of southbound pipeline capacity. She reiterated Alberta’s goal to double crude output to about eight million barrels per...
Iran is testing a selective passage strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only certain vessels to transit the waterway. Analysts describe the approach as a calibrated tactic that balances political leverage with economic self‑preservation. By targeting specific ships, Tehran...

Recent attacks on Gulf LNG facilities, including Qatar's Ras Laffan plant, have driven JKM prices above $25 per MMBtu and tightened supply for Asia, which absorbs 86% of Hormuz‑transiting cargoes. In Europe, TTF prices have surged past $64 per MWh,...

Oil executives warn that the ongoing war in Iran is severely disrupting crude and refined product flows, creating a global supply crunch. The resulting shortages are driving price spikes that are eroding demand across industrial and consumer sectors. Analysts anticipate...

Diesel prices have climbed to $5.15 per gallon, up from $4.89 a week earlier and $1.57 above the month‑ago average, marking a $1.69 year‑over‑year increase. Ag economist Charley Martinez warns that the higher fuel cost is inflating livestock trucking expenses,...
Turkish refiner Tupras awarded part of its domestic sulphur e‑tender for April loading, pricing the commodity at $662‑672 per tonne FCA—an increase of $155‑$183 per tonne from the February round. The awards include 8,850 t from the Izmit refinery at $662‑664/t...

The European Commission announced it will postpone the planned EU-wide ban on Russian oil imports that was slated for 15 April, pushing the decision to after the Easter break without setting a new deadline. The delay is attributed to heightened energy...

Goldman Sachs predicts the U.S.–Iran war will keep the global LNG market disrupted through 2027, tightening supply after Iran’s attacks knocked out 17% of Qatar’s export capacity. Higher margins—averaging 200% above historical levels for 2026‑2028—create a favorable backdrop for producers....

France’s energy regulator, the Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE), is proposing to tie subsidies for large‑scale photovoltaic projects to the inclusion of energy‑storage systems. The rule change targets installations above 100 kW and aims to curb revenue erosion caused by...

The International Cotton Advisory Committee warned that cotton farming faces mounting threats from soaring input costs, climate‑driven disruptions, and insufficient policy support. Dr. Keshav Kranthi presented data showing farmer margins shrinking as pest pressures and extreme weather intensify. Meanwhile, apparel...

Global iron ore shipments rose 5% year‑over‑year in the first 12 weeks of 2026, driven by stronger Chinese import demand. Yet Chinese steel production slipped 4% in the same period, pushing inventories to a record 179.5 million tonnes by March 12....
U.S. aluminum scrap markets are feeling the ripple effects of a supply disruption in the Middle East, where cheap energy fuels large‑scale smelting. The interruption of primary aluminum shipments has driven U.S. manufacturers to lean heavily on recycled content, spiking...

Central Asian states are mobilising substantial resources to become a new fertilizer hub, with Kazakhstan targeting 6 million tonnes of potash by 2028, Uzbekistan scaling green ammonia, and Turkmenistan expanding phosphate output. The region’s existing gas‑chemical complexes, such as KazAzot and...

Japan will begin releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Thursday to blunt rising fuel prices triggered by the U.S.–Israel‑Iran conflict, while the cabinet also approved mandatory ID checks for data‑only SIM cards to curb fraud. At the same time,...

Climate change is eroding Arabica coffee’s traditional growing zones, with up to 20% of current areas projected unsuitable by 2050. Farmers are countering the stress through irrigation, shade trees, and heat‑tolerant varieties, while Robusta, a more resilient species, is expanding...

The Philippines, which imports over 90% of its petroleum, faces a potential fuel shortage if Middle East tensions disrupt global oil routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz. DOE Secretary Sharon Garin warned that gasoline stocks could last about 64 days...

The Coonoor tea auction recorded strong sales, with internal buyers and blenders purchasing 78% of the 964,835 kg leaf offering and 87% of the 286,009 kg dust offering in Sale 12. Prices slipped across categories, typical declines ranging from ₹3‑₹10 (≈$0.04‑$0.12) per kilogram,...

Automakers are accelerating aluminium purchases as the Israel‑Hamas conflict disrupts key smelting hubs in the Middle East. Export restrictions and port closures have tightened global supply, pushing spot prices above $2,500 per metric ton. Companies such as Volkswagen, Toyota and...

Central banks are increasing gold purchases as geopolitical tensions and de‑dollarisation drive a safe‑haven shift, according to World Gold Council (WGC) executive Shaokai Fan. Guatemala, Indonesia and Malaysia have entered or re‑entered the market, signaling broader reserve‑strategy changes. Gold prices...

Japan’s retail rice price slipped below the ¥4,000 ($25.21) threshold for the first time in seven months, reaching ¥3,980 per 5 kg ($25.07) in the week to March 15. The decline marks the fifth consecutive weekly drop and follows an oversupply from...
The US‑Israel war in Iran has sent oil, gas, aluminum and fertilizer prices sharply higher, pushing global inflation expectations upward. Elevated energy costs are already biting manufacturers, farmers and freight carriers from India to Italy, while the conflict has forced...

Tisco Financial warns that a 10% rise in crude oil from a $72‑per‑barrel baseline could trim Thailand's GDP growth by 0.3‑0.4 percentage points and lift inflation by roughly 0.8%. The surge also strains the Oil Fuel Fund, which subsidises diesel...
Major U.S. and European liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters warned on Monday that the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East have created a sizable supply shortfall, threatening global energy balance. The conflict has disrupted key export routes and halted several...
Oil CEOs say current forward contracts underestimate the market strain caused by the ongoing Middle East Gulf war. Physical supplies of crude and refined products remain constrained, creating a gap between futures prices and real‑world scarcity. Executives warn that as...
Tensions in the Middle East remain high as the United States and Iran stepped back from a potential escalation on Monday. ADNOC chief Sultan al‑Jaber denounced Iran’s continued control of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as “economic terrorism” during...
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Refined product shipments on medium‑range tankers from the US Gulf to Europe broke the $100 per tonne barrier for the first time in nearly two decades, reaching $108.08/t on a Worldscale 545 voyage. The surge is linked to Iran's de‑facto...
India’s food consumption shows early strain as the Iran‑Israel conflict curtails LPG supplies, forcing hotels, restaurants and street‑food vendors to cut operations. Over the past three weeks wheat‑flour sales fell 5‑7% and edible‑oil demand plunged, with palm oil usage down...
U.S. natural‑gas inventories withdrew 43 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in the week to March 20, trimming the year‑over‑year surplus to about 101 Bcf. The lower‑48 storage balance is projected to end March at roughly 1,846 Bcf, still 68 Bcf above the 2010‑median but narrowing the...
Oil prices plunged more than 5% after President Donald Trump suggested his team was discussing an end to the Iran conflict, a claim Tehran denied. The comments temporarily eased geopolitical risk premiums, prompting a sharp sell‑off in crude futures. In...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a pause on attacks against Iranian energy assets, prompting a risk‑off wave that pushed April Nymex natural‑gas futures lower. The diplomatic de‑escalation eased Middle‑East tensions, further depressing global gas prices. At the same time, weak...

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) trimmed its 2026 global oil‑glut forecast to 1.87 million barrels per day (bpd) in the March short‑term energy outlook, down from 3.05 mbpd projected in February. Quarterly projections show a modest surplus early in the year,...

Global demand for copper and lithium is surging as electrification, AI data centers, and defense spending accelerate, pushing copper prices up 53% to around $13,000 per ton and keeping lithium in a $11,500‑$28,500 range. Analysts forecast a copper production deficit...
Rising demand from LNG terminals, industrial plants, petrochemicals and power generators is tightening U.S. pipeline capacity, forcing natural‑gas end users to rethink supply strategies. The surge pushes LNG feed‑gas deliveries toward 20 billion cubic feet per day, creating price spikes during...

Portugal is close to meeting EU criteria for declaring an energy crisis as natural‑gas wholesale prices surge past €180 per megawatt hour (about $195) and are 85% above pre‑war levels. If the European Council confirms the crisis, the government could...

China's National Development and Reform Commission trimmed a planned gasoline hike, setting the average pump price at $4.70 per gallon instead of the slated $5.10. The adjustment follows a 20% price surge since the Iran conflict began and aims to...
US President Donald Trump’s fluctuating threats and subsequent pull‑back on striking Iranian power plants sent oil prices tumbling and sparked sharp moves in grain futures. Canola, soybean, corn and wheat contracts all slipped, with canola down $6‑7 per tonne and...

Gold futures opened at $4,495.20 per ounce on March 23, 2026, slipping 0.09% from the prior close of $4,499.36. The metal has fallen 10.8% over the past five trading days, reflecting short‑term volatility. Despite the dip, gold posted strong gains...

Oil prices have surged as the Strait of Hormuz closure removes roughly 20% of global supply, double the impact of the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine war. In the week of March 9, U.S. diesel jumped $0.96 per gallon to $4.86, marking the largest...

The war in the Middle East has shut the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices soaring and causing farm diesel in the West of England to double to about £1.25 per litre. Fertiliser costs have jumped from £350 to...

China’s refined copper inventories shrank by 78,700 tons in the week to March 23, falling to 486,200 tons—the steepest weekly drop this year. The decline was driven by a roughly 12% price plunge on the London Metal Exchange this month, spurred...

The Iran‑Israel conflict has nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending Singapore diesel swaps soaring to about $180 a barrel—almost double pre‑conflict levels. Fortescue Metals Group, the world’s fourth‑largest iron‑ore producer, said a 10‑cent diesel price shift translates to $70 million...

Three weeks into the Iran‑Israel war, Brent futures have jumped about 50 % to roughly $110 a barrel, yet physical oil prices are rising even faster as supplies tighten. Spot benchmarks such as Oman ($162) and Murban ($145) are soaring, and...

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said Petronas is preparing contingency plans to source oil and gas from Australia and other Asia‑Pacific nations as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the Middle East conflict. The closure has pushed...

A war‑induced energy shock in Iran has tightened global oil supplies, prompting bond markets to price a 50% chance of a U.S. rate hike by October and spurring tighter monetary policy in Asia. Central banks such as the Reserve Bank...

Gold prices have fallen 17% since their January peak, pulling South Africa's all‑share JSE index down 14.8% as gold miners, once 20% of the top‑40, saw sharp sell‑offs. The decline is linked to leveraged positions unwinding after gold’s rally to...