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Israel is interested in developing a “substantial” domestic gas storage facility to ensure a “continuous and secure” supply of energy, with the country’s energy ministry on May 5 launching a new market survey into various storage solutions. Israel has become a significant gas producer thanks

Turkey is expected to play a pivotal role in delivering a diversity of gas and LNG this summer to Central, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, as it solidifies its place as a regional hub, traders said. Turkey signed around 10 deals late last year, securing

Houston-based Liberty Bay FLNG is finalizing plans for a 1.4 million metric ton/year floating LNG project in either Mexico or Argentina, aiming for startup in late 2029 or early 2030 as the developer looks to avoid delays and cost overruns experienced by a similar offshore

North America’s container market is sending conflicting signals heading into mid‑May, with some forwarders reporting early signs of peak‑season strength, including tight space, and strong bookings, while others say demand remains too soft to justify general rate increases. The result is a market divided between

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been named as a key emerging capability in Singapore’s long-term economic strategy, as the city-state looks to reinforce its role as a trusted energy hub while navigating structural shifts in global trade, technology and climate policy. In a keynote address

Brazilian biodiesel producer Be8 is shifting away from beef tallow toward other residual feedstocks as the animal fat returns to the export market, Commercial Director Ricardo Reckziegel told Platts in an interview at the Fenagra conference held in São Paulo. The producer has specialized in

Five former US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairmen aired concerns May 20 about the stability of future energy policy and public confidence in the regulator’s decisions, as the US Supreme Court nears a pivotal decision for independent agencies. By late June, the high court is

Germany’s gas grid operator group FNB Gas said May 27 that the need to implement a two-part strategic gas storage model was “all the more urgent” given recent geopolitical developments. FNB — which represents 12 gas grid operators — published May 27 its latest security

Global energy investment is on track to hit a record $3.4 trillion in 2026 despite growing pressure on Middle Eastern spending, shrinking financing for oil and the threat of higher borrowing costs, the International Energy Agency said May 28. The conflict in the Middle East

A wildfire that broke out over the weekend in north and central Alberta has not impacted any oil and gas production, with the forecast of rainfall widely anticipated to provide necessary relief from rising temperatures, industry stakeholders said June 1. The wildfire danger level in

Trafigura is set to operate more VLCCs under its ownership in bids to meet growing transport demand while reducing exposure to period charter markets, where rates could stay elevated amid consolidation and evolving geopolitics, according to the trading house’s top shipping executive. Andrea Olivi, global

Indonesia must adopt a balanced, integrated approach to its aluminum supply chain to avoid repeating oversupply pressures that have weighed on the nickel market, industry experts said June 4 at the 2026 Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference in Jakarta. Indonesia emerged as the world’s leading nickel

Chile’s mining industry would not have an easy time replacing sulfuric acid from China should reported export restrictions go ahead in May, analysts told Platts. Chile is among the countries most exposed to changes in Chinese exports, analysts said. If restrictions are long-lived and Chile

The price difference between US and Chinese polyvinyl chloride decreased on the West Coast of South America in April. Despite this, market participants have pointed to competition with Asian offers as one of the main downward pressures on import prices in the region, whose main

International Maritime Organization member states could still reach a consensus on the Net-Zero Framework without a vote despite currently divided views, the UN agency’s secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, said April 27 after what he described as “momentum” during recent technical meetings. The framework, designed to place

Nickel-based batteries could lose further market share amid rising production costs for a key battery input predominantly sourced from Indonesia, according to industry participants and experts. Higher input costs have raised prices for mixed hydroxide precipitate, an intermediate nickel product used in electric vehicle batteries.

India’s thermal coal imports by power plants dropped to their lowest level in four financial years in FY 2025-26 (April-March), to 45.38 million metric tons, down 27.5% year over year, the latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed April 28. This is the

If Iran collects tolls on vessels for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid the US/Israel-Iran war, countries or groups with the potential to control other critical energy chokepoints could consider similar moves, panelists at a shipowners forum in Houston said May 5. Michael

Shell continues to have conviction in the long-term role of LNG given its importance in energy security and its contribution to a diverse energy supply, CEO Wael Sawan said May 7. Speaking following the company’s first-quarter results, Sawan said Shell sees a global LNG market

Global pricing dynamics between recycled and virgin polymers have shifted dramatically since April, with recycled polymers now trading at a discount to virgin materials for the first time, data from Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, showed. Historically, clear-colored recycled polyethylene terephthalate and recycled polyethylene

Bravo Motors, through its shareholder Elag Holding and partner Xponential Battery Materials, has revised its strategy for a planned battery gigafactory in Brazil. The company is now adopting a phased approach, prioritizing the establishment of a robust local supply chain for critical cathode and anode

Several companies, including a consortium of Britain’s BP and Japan’s Inpex, UAE-based Mubadala Petroleum, and Indonesia’s Medco Energi, signed new oil and gas contracts in Indonesia on May 20, as the government seeks to boost exploration activity and strengthen domestic energy supply, Oil and Gas

A significant uptick in European demand since the war in the Middle East broke out has kept US ethylene exports elevated, according to the latest full-month S&P Global Commodities at Sea data. US ethylene exports have been going steadily to Europe since 2025, but shipments

China’s tightening of beef safeguard measures is expected to shift global trade flows, impacting top suppliers Brazil and Australia, according to exporters and traders in both countries. China, the largest beef importer, decided to impose an additional tariff of 55% on beef imports from different

Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan aims to rebalance its business portfolio over the next five years, bolstering its foundation refining business and pursuing new LNG and North American gas trading businesses, while remaining committed to shaping its hydrogen, ammonia and SAF businesses, President Noriaki Sakai told Platts,

Suriname is considering providing tax incentives to accelerate natural gas exploration in its offshore acreage, as competition rises for capital to develop oil and gas resources in Latin America in the wake of the war in Iran, Patrick Brunings, Minister of Oil, Gas and Environment,

Platts assessed the Brazilian Decarbonization Credit, or CBIO, at the lowest level in its historical series June 2, at Real 24/metric ton of CO2 equivalent. The series dates back to June 3, 2024, with the previous low on Dec. 16, 2025, at Real 24.5/mt. The

The 50% tariff that the US imposed on steel and aluminum imports in June 2025 has scrambled trade flows, driven up prices and inspired some new investment. This is the final part of a series examining the effects one year later. Part one is here,

Bangkok-based Siam City Cement, or INSEE, is not seeing the kind of cement production restraint used in parts of Europe to protect margins, with regional supply-demand dynamics making such a strategy unworkable in Asia’s large, volume-driven markets, Raju Goyal, the company’s head of group technical

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority signed an agreement with the UN Conference on Trade and Development to support global maritime decarbonization and digitalization, both agencies announced April 22 during the Singapore Maritime Week 2026. The memorandum of understanding will combine UNCTAD’s trade development mandate with

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered sharp increases in global fertilizer prices and disrupted trade flows of up to 3 million metric tons per month, threatening agricultural productivity across key importing regions as planting seasons approach, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization

European ammonia prices have flatlined as the market awaits guidance from the next Tampa contract price settlement. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CFR NW Europe duty paid/duty free at $905/mt April 30, flat for the seventh day in a row. It comes as

US LPG exports climbed to a record high of 3.3 million barrels/day in April, led by propane, as the continued effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has boosted demand for US barrels, S&P Global Commodities at Sea data showed on May 5. China and

The Australian federal government will introduce a domestic gas reservation scheme requiring exporters to supply 20% of their volumes to the local market from July 1, 2027, according to a statement on the government website May 7. “The domestic gas reservation is a great outcome

China is accelerating construction of nearly 40 oil and natural gas infrastructure projects, including pipelines totaling over 9,000 kilometers, as the world’s largest energy importer seeks to strengthen domestic supply security and expand its role as a regional LNG hub, state-owned pipeline operator PipeChina said

Thailand’s rice exports are likely to recover in the second half of 2026 if geopolitical tensions in the Middle East ease, while Thai 5% broken white rice prices are expected to trade within a relatively narrow range as adequate domestic stocks cap gains, Mohit Agarwal,

US access to critical minerals and rare earth elements is expected to be a central issue on the agenda when US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on May 14-15, a topic of growing strategic importance amid escalating trade tensions

The EU needs to prepare for the possibility of Russian attacks on its energy system, a lead official at the European Commission warned attendees at a natural gas and LNG industry gathering May 20. “Both physical and hybrid attacks on our energy infrastructure, on our

Bangladesh launched an offshore bidding round on May 24, offering 26 hydrocarbon blocks for exploration to international oil companies, Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmood said. “I hope the initiative taken by the government in a very short time will receive

The heatwave sweeping India is set to take a toll on near-term demand for transport fuels as citizens look to cut travel and reduce outdoor activity, but higher usage of generators for power generation as well as agriculture during the monsoon season could limit the

Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan aims to rebalance its business portfolio over the next five years, bolstering its foundation refining business and pursuing new LNG and North American gas trading businesses, while remaining committed to shaping its hydrogen, ammonia and SAF businesses, President Noriaki Sakai told Platts,

US non-fed cattle slaughter has declined in 2026, with limited supply supporting prices amid rising imports, cold storage, and demand pressures ahead of the World Cup. So far in 2026, 2.186 million heads of bulls and cows, the main source of lean trims, have been

Australian beef exports to China are rapidly approaching a key threshold, with 90% of the country’s quota already exhausted as of June 1, China’s Ministry of Commerce said June 2. Once the quota is exhausted, a 55% out-of-quota tariff will take effect from the third

The 50% tariff that the US imposed on steel and aluminum imports in June 2025 has scrambled trade flows, driven up prices and inspired some new investment. This is part two of a three-part series examining the effects one year later. The Trump administration’s imposition

Investment in sustainable aviation fuel in Latin America remains constrained by high costs, limited policy certainty, and a lack of long-term revenue visibility, according to panelists at the ALTA Fuel & Sustainability Conference. The region has strong structural advantages, including feedstock availability and growing aviation

This report is part of the S&P Global Energy’s Metals Trade Review series, where we dig through datasets and digest some of the key trends in iron ore, metallurgical coal, copper, alumina, cobalt, lithium, nickel and steel and scrap. We also explore what the next

Reports that the European Union detected shipments of Argentine soybean meal with traces of genetically modified material not authorized by the bloc shook the market on April 27, boosting futures on the Chicago Board of Trade and pushing FOB Up River port differentials to nearly

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to 14 on April 29, with 11 of the vessels leaving the Persian Gulf, according to an S&P Global Commodities at Sea report on April 30. The count fell from 16 on April 28, CAS said. The

Ten ships used the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 after the US military announced “Operation Project Freedom” to guide ships through the critical passageway that has been essentially blocked by Iran for weeks, S&P Global Commodities at Sea said in a May 5 report.

The US data center building boom is putting the sustainability ambitions of power-hungry hyperscalers to the test, with capital expenditures climbing, natural gas deals proliferating and demand for electricity outpacing even some of the most bullish forecasts. US grid power supplied to hyperscale, leased and

Feedgas deliveries to Golden Pass LNG reached the highest level to date over the weekend to May 11, as the terminal, undergoing commissioning in Texas, exported its second cargo. The cargo was exported aboard ExxonMobil’s HL Sea Eagle on May 9, three days after the

The Milling Wheat Marker spread over the Australian Premium White wheat price assessment hit a record high May 13 driven by currency strength and production concerns, though ample old-crop stocks in Australia could temper tightness in the upcoming season. The spread reached $42/mt on May

Japan’s INPEX on May 18 received a notice from Australian unions of protected industrial action at its operated Ichthys LNG sites in Australia, an INPEX spokesperson told Platts the same day. “We confirm INPEX received notification of Protected Industrial Action today,” the spokesperson said, adding

The duration of the current disruption to LNG supply via the Strait of Hormuz will be “critical” to the global gas market, the International Gas Union said in its latest annual gas pricing survey published May 20. In the closely watched report, the IGU said

Thai 5% white rice prices rose to their highest level in over 16 months as millers held back supplies following the harvest and exporters rushed to cover short positions, with mounting concerns over El Niño’s potential impact on the next crop adding further upward pressure,

Data center development is continuing to create infrastructure investment and fuel supply opportunities for natural gas transporters in 2026, with behind-the-meter project construction poised to ramp up. Midstream companies and gas utilities announced deals to ship fuel to data centers with colocated gas-fired power generation

China plays a pivotal role in the global proteins trade, with its import patterns continuing to shape global trade flows. In 2025, despite a slight dip in animal protein imports, soybean imports grew 7% year over year, driven by strong demand for animal feed. Over

Brazilian market participants said over the past week that transit times for poultry exports from Brazil and Argentina to the UAE have increased, exceeding 80 days in some cases, reflecting longer shipping schedules and delays with previously shipped cargo. According to a Brazil-based trader, transit

Crude palm oil prices rose to near two-month highs on June 3 after a key industry group in Malaysia cut production estimate for May, coupled with higher oil prices amid the Middle East conflict, traders and analysts told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. The

The Philippines has identified sustainable aviation fuel production as a strategic investment priority, positioning the biofuel sector to receive government incentives aimed at developing domestic manufacturing capacity and reducing reliance on imports. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan on May

India will release an additional 2.5 million metric tons of wheat for exports, doubling its total export quota to 5 million mt, according to a document by India’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution April 20, seen by Platts, part of S&P Global

Project developer Vulcan Energy has started the construction of its central lithium chemical plant at Infraserv Industrial Park Höchst in Frankfurt, part of the company’s flagship Lionheart project. In a statement released April 24, the Australia- and Germany-listed company said the groundbreaking ceremony was attended

India’s top air carriers are “on the verge of closing down or stopping operations” as the Middle East conflict pushes aviation turbine fuel costs to 55%-60% of total operational expenses, up from a prewar norm of 30%-40%, the Federation of Indian Airlines said in a

China’s recent tightening of tax compliance regulations targeting the “invoice-driven economy” has restricted spot trading activities for copper cathode and scrap amid inadequate invoice quotas, said multiple China-based market sources, including traders and analysts, in the week ended April 30. However, the development is not

Bunker demand across India’s west and east coasts slowed in April compared with March amid tight credit and ongoing market uncertainty due to the Middle East war, while supply was moderate throughout April, traders, suppliers, and other market participants told Platts, part of S&P Global

India is eyeing deeper collaboration with Japanese companies in the shipbuilding sector, as New Delhi looks to invest billions of dollars to expand its fleet amid rising demand for energy transport in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said May

Vietnam’s Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s GIZ on May 7 to develop a power-to-liquid pilot plant producing sustainable aviation fuel and “green methanol” at its facility, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement May 8.

India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an increase in minimum support price for the kharif paddy of 14 crops for the marketing year 2026-27 (October-September), state-run Press Information Bureau said May 13. “The increase in MSP for kharif crops for marketing season 2026-27 is

Trade association PET Europe has withdrawn its antidumping complaint regarding imports of polyethylene terephthalate products from Vietnam, it said in a statement on May 15. “The EU has opened 24 antidumping investigations into chemical products over the past two years, with at least 26 additional

US LNG feedgas demand fell May 19 to the lowest level since late January amid seasonal maintenance work, led by sharp declines in nominations at the Freeport and Sabine Pass LNG export terminals along the US Gulf Coast. The nine major LNG export terminals operating

Acelen Renewables secured $1.5 billion in financing to begin construction of a renewable fuel biorefinery in Bahia, Brazil, marking one of Latin America’s largest sustainable aviation fuel projects as the country positions itself as a key supplier in global biofuels markets. The financing was arranged

The US and Mexico will hold a series of bilateral trade rounds under the joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the US Trade Representative said May 27. Under the agreement, Mexico exported 321,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphates and superphosphates to the US during

Asia-Pacific could become a key driver in commercializing low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives, as firm supply agreements, emerging infrastructure buildouts, and low production costs signal the region’s ambition to anchor the future global clean fuel trade. The region hosts about 795 projects with a combined

Geopolitical conflicts have pushed up vessel earnings while creating obstacles for shipping companies in crewing and making mid- and long-term investments, several shipowners said June 2. Freight rates in various sectors have risen as Iran seized control of the Strait of Hormuz since its war

India’s bunker fuel demand strengthened in May, supported by improved product availability and competitive pricing that stimulated buying interest, market participants told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, on June 3. Traders and suppliers said demand increased after May 15 at West Coast ports such

The Trump administration is bolstering its fossil fuel-focused energy agenda with another $700 million in federal subsidies for new and existing coal-fired power plants in 12 states. The funding, some of which will be released under the Defense Production Act, will also support the construction

Escalating tensions in the Middle East have injected fresh uncertainty into the global soybean market, with participants questioning whether China will step up purchases of US origin amid fears of disruption at the Strait of Hormuz — even as potential US–Iran negotiations emerge as a

The Trump administration’s invocation of the Defense Production Act was designed to accelerate US energy supply growth and lower consumer prices, but any impacts on domestic industry participants would be uncertain, subject to legal challenges, and likely to vary across sectors, analysts and trade groups

Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency has launched a premium-grade biodiesel produced via partial hydrogenation, positioning the fuel as a near-term decarbonization solution for hard-to-electrify transport segments such as logistics. The fuel, branded H-FAME and developed by NSTDA’s National Energy Technology Center, or ENTEC,

Singapore Airlines Group said it remains committed to adopting sustainable aviation fuel and is expanding capacity along certain Europe and Asia-Pacific routes despite the fuel cost shock. “The SIA Group remains committed to the adoption of sustainable fuels. We continue to engage different SAF suppliers

Indonesia is currently restructuring its mineral industries following the nickel boom. Aluminum now sits at the center of this national industrial strategy, especially at a time when the global aluminum market is facing mounting uncertainties amid war in the Middle East. With the government doubling

Artificial intelligence helped BHP Group Ltd. unlock an extra 1 million metric tons of iron ore in 2025, Digital Officer Mikko Tepponen said at the Global Resources Innovation Expo in Perth on May 6. BHP, one of the major producers that makes Australia the world’s

Bunker fuel demand across key Middle Eastern ports declined in April as the war created uncertainty about ship movement and constrained fuel supply, although activity at some Omani ports recovered gradually, five market participants, including traders and suppliers, told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy,

Russia managed to use G7-linked tankers to raise crude exports in April as Western authorities signaled softer sanctions enforcement amid a looming oil supply shortage. Tankers flagged, owned or operated by companies based in G7 countries and their allies, or insured by Western protection and

African swine fever has weighed on European animal feed demand since April, according to Spanish feed traders and brokers. According to a local report published May 8, the Official Veterinary Services of the Government of Catalonia confirmed that it had detected a new outbreak of

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has shortlisted seven renewable hydrogen projects for the second round of the Hydrogen Headstart program, according to a May 13 announcement, a day after spending cuts to the flagship initiative. ARENA has invited the projects to submit full applications for

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to China on May 19-20 is putting bilateral gas cooperation back at the center of market focus, with participants watching for signs of movement on the long-awaited Power of Siberia 2 pipeline and for clues on whether rising Russia-linked

Brazilian beef trade with China entered a slower phase during the week to May 22 amid the SIAL Shanghai food expo, as quota constraints and renewed sanitary concerns dampened deal flow and weakened trading activity between exporters and Chinese importers. SIAL Shanghai, held May 18–20,

The US and Mexico will discuss farm and food trade under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) over June 16-17, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a release May 27. The two nations will review the implementation of USMCA in a series of

LNG imports into the European Union fell on an annual basis for the second consecutive month in May as disruptions from the Middle East war continue to curtail global energy trade, data from S&P Global Energy CERA showed. The EU imported about 8.8 million metric

US polyethylene and ethylene exports have begun retreating after a surge driven by Middle East war disruptions that positioned the country as a leading global supplier. The pullback in exports marks a notable shift from the previous surge in buying activity to a period in

Overall net positions for investment funds slid notably at the end of May, as players in both the European natural gas and LNG markets continue to digest the uncertainty around a peace deal between the US and Iran. Combined long and short positions held for

The Union of Greek Shipowners has reached out to Liberia and Japan to work on alternative proposals to the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework, the group said June 5, also calling on the EU to make firmer commitments in rolling back its regulations on maritime

Market participants at the Distillers Technology Council Symposium in Indianapolis highlighted growing concern over quality and consistency in US dried distillers grains with solubles, as evolving customer demands place greater scrutiny on nutrient reliability and process transparency. Speakers from major ethanol technology and production plants

Even as European natural gas prices remain elevated amid the persistent trade disruptions from the Iran war, fertilizer and chemicals producer SKW Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz, one of Germany’s largest gas consumers, is operating “more or less” at full capacity for the first time in three years,

Middle East poultry trading showed signs of selective restocking in the week to April 24, even as seasonal demand remains subdued and buyers continue to approach the market cautiously, according to market participants. Platts assessed chicken breast CIF Middle East, basis Jebel Ali, at $2,825/mt

US arbitrage to Asia through the Panama Canal opens amid stronger Asian demand following the Middle East conflict, although a recent rise in LNG transits through the canal is driven by unladen carriers returning east rather than westbound laden shipments Platts assessed the US-North Asia

BlueScope Steel Ltd.’s NeoSmelt pilot plant in Western Australia to test and optimize iron production from an electric smelting furnace is being delayed by a year, a NeoSmelt spokesperson said. “2029 is now a more accurate reflection of project execution timing as a result of

The Zambian government has rejected a proposed critical minerals partnership with the US, citing Washington’s efforts to link negotiations to a $2-billion health aid package and the requirement that US companies receive preferential access to Zambia’s mineral resources. The breakdown in talks underscores ongoing tensions

As the planned US-China summit approaches, participants in the global soybean market have mixed views on its prospects, with Chinese sources saying China could commit to buying US soybeans, while US sources are doubtful. The meeting with President Xi Jinping is due to take place