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Market activity in the US and Latin America kept mostly quiet March 3, as participants across sectors continued mulling the impacts of the war in the Middle East on their local operations. Across multiple commodities, sources shared expectations of incoming increases in freight rates, while

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance Pty. Ltd. has warned workers in Queensland, Australia, that high royalties have rendered its metallurgical coal operations uncompetitive, according to an internal email seen by Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. BHP Group Ltd.’s results for the half-year period ended Dec.

Chinese domestic prices of low-density polyethylene have rebounded after four months of consecutive decline — fueled by concerns over the unrest in Iran, according to sources. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed Chinese domestic LDPE up Yuan 1,080/mt week over week Jan. 15 at

China’s corn imports in December 2025 surged 44.2% month over month to 800,861 mt, rising for the third month in a row, customs data for the month showed. The surge in imports occurred amid a continuing inflow of Brazil’s Safrinha crop, although the total import

Engie has signed a 10-year biomethane purchase agreement with PepsiCo UK, the companies said Jan. 21. Under the deal, the French energy company will develop an anaerobic digestion plant in Northern England to supply about 60 GWh/ year (5.7 million cu m) of biomethane for

Finland’s Nokian Tyres has launched the Betula concept tire, which contains raw material made from birch bark, the company said in a Jan. 22 statement. Sweden’s Reselo will provide the renewable material by using the residue from the global pulp, paper, and plywood industries. The

China’s rare-earth export restrictions are set to drive supply chain disruptions and higher prices in 2026, especially for rare-earth materials used in high-performance technologies, according to industry participants and experts. Rare earths became a linchpin in global trade in 2025 after China, a heavyweight in

Asian crude palm oil prices climbed to their highest level in more than three months on Jan. 28, supported by firmer rival vegetable oils, expectations of lower output in key producing countries, and improving export prospects, market sources told Platts. Platts, part of S&P Global

PT Pertamina International Marketing & Distribution, the trading arm of Indonesia’s Pertamina, has begun bunker fuel deliveries in Singapore using its own bunker delivery note from Feb. 1, after securing the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licenses at

US natural gas market analysts expect the US Energy Information Administration to report a record-breaking storage withdrawal for the week ended Jan. 30, as severe cold caused upstream production freeze-offs and an intense spike in heating demand. Analysts surveyed by Platts, part of S&P Global

Russian crude exports shipped by sea fell by double digits in January, according to cargo tracking data, with shipments showing India or China as the destination both falling steeply. The country’s seaborne crude exports dropped to 3.4 million b/d in January 2026, down 11.3% from

Traders in the global soybean market expressed doubts after US President Donald Trump said China is considering buying 8 million metric tons more of US soybeans this season, citing uncompetitive US prices. Trump Feb. 4. took to his social media platform Truth Social to say

Venezuelan crude shipments to the US are on track to rise 13% in February from January levels, with 7.08 million barrels scheduled for delivery month to date compared to 6.29 million barrels shipped in all of January, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea vessel-tracking

India added 34.96 GW of solar power capacity in the April-January period of the ongoing financial year 2025-26 (April-March), which accounted for slightly over 88% of the country’s overall renewable energy capacity addition and nearly 67% of the total electricity generation capacity addition in the

Germany-based European Energy Exchange has become a “global powerhouse in electricity trading,” with its focus for 2026 on a new margining methodology to “maintain growth and expand into new markets” such as Japan and Brazil, the outgoing and incoming CEOs told Platts, part of S&P

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reordered the European gas market as the continent deployed infrastructure and shuffled trade to abandon the flows that had been foundational to much of its economy. Four years later, market watchers widely see this pivot as a lasting rupture rather

While the Supreme Court decision overturning President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs opens the door to potential refunds, importers will likely face obstacles that prolong or even derail payments, trade experts said Feb. 24 at the Washington International Trade Conference. Even as lower courts rejected Trump’s

US wheat futures surged to multimonth highs on Feb. 27 as escalating geopolitical tensions triggered widespread fund short-covering and added volatility to a market that had been sidelined amid ample global supply. Chicago soft red winter wheat futures reached year highs for its front-month contract,

A federal appeals court on March 2 denied a request from the US Department of Justice to delay the start of the refund process following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs. The move greenlights the next steps for companies to receive

The Trump administration is rolling out its plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz but does not yet have a timeline for when it will be safe for oil tankers, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said March 4. “Certainly, it is something that is

The Middle East war could significantly tighten supply in the already strained North American aluminum sector, experts told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. Increased strikes in the Persian Gulf region have led shippers to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, the main shipping artery connecting

The future lithium supply from Ukraine’s Dobra project is best suited for the European market despite US company involvement, because the EU will be less self-sufficient for battery precursors compared to North America by the time it starts production, according to Thomas Chandler, principal lithium

Following over 25 years of negotiations, the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement (EMPA) and the interim trade agreement (iTA) were signed on Jan. 17 in Asunción, Paraguay. The agreements will eliminate or reduce export and import tariffs for a wide range of goods, with poultry specifically highlighted

Pongamia oil could emerge as a scalable, sustainable aviation fuel feedstock later this decade if plantation economics, regulatory eligibility, and offtake demand align, Guillaume Foucheres, managing partner at Canopy Energies, said in an interview with Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. Canopy Energies is developing

India is set to deliberate on the next steps for its energy transition after a pivotal year in which it tendered major renewable hydrogen/ammonia projects and added its highest-ever renewables capacity, pushing non-fossil fuels to over 50% of its installed power mix. At India Energy

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and India, with the association saying Jan. 27 that the successful end to negotiations is a “landmark moment in global trade relations” as it will

Sharp price swings in sustainable aviation fuel highlight the limitations of current production pathways and raise concerns about the sector’s ability to expand to meet rising mandates, according to industry professionals. The volatility in SAF prices is being amplified by the small size of the

ArcelorMittal has extended its Mineral Development Agreement with the government of Liberia to 2050 and is considering taking its iron ore concentrate production in the country to 30 million mt/year, the company said in a Jan. 30 statement. “I welcome this Third Agreement to the

Solidсore Resources will bring its Syrymbet tin-polymetallic deposit in the North Kazakhstan region to production in the first half of 2029, if the gold mining company makes a positive investment decision on the project due in September. Syrymbet is estimated to contain 375,050 mt of

Uncertainty around costs and the staying power of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism have stifled European fertilizer trade leading into the spring planting season, market sources said Feb. 5. At issue are misconceptions in the market that fertilizer has been removed from CBAM or

Malaysia-based FatHopes Energy has completed an independent feasibility study for its planned integrated sustainable aviation fuel refinery, conducted by consultancy FGE NexantECA. The study assessed the technical, economic, and regulatory viability of the project, positioning it among the most competitive SAF production sites globally, according

Rotterdam is seeing its competitiveness erode as Europe’s largest bunker hub amid an uneven pace of national transposition of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive III, which has hurt sales of conventional, oil-based fuels at the Dutch port, but not necessarily aided alternative fuels. The Netherlands

Indonesia has lowered its thermal coal reference price, or Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA), for all grades for the second half of February, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ website Feb. 16, following uncertainty surrounding Indonesia’s 2026 production quotas, and fewer deals amid

Engineering firms are deploying artificial intelligence tools to accelerate energy infrastructure project delivery, cutting asset due diligence timelines from six months to three weeks, while digital twin technology is emerging as critical for repurposing gas pipelines and terminals for hydrogen transport. AI is transforming how

India and Brazil have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in mining and minerals used in steelmaking, as Indian producers expand capacity and seek to secure longer-term access to key raw materials, according to a Feb. 21 joint statement. Brazil ranks among the

While the Supreme Court decision overturning President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs opens the door to potential refunds, importers will likely face obstacles that prolong or even derail payments, trade experts said Feb. 24 at the Washington International Trade Conference. Even as lower courts rejected Trump’s

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Feb. 27 that the EU will proceed with the provisional implementation of its trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, after Uruguay and Argentina ratified the deal on Feb. 26. The agreement includes a duty-free import quota of

A federal appeals court on March 2 denied a request from the US Department of Justice to delay the start of the refund process following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs. The move greenlights the next steps for companies to receive

Oil and shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled despite a US insurance pledge, as recent attacks and security threats keep vessel traffic at a near standstill. “The situation remains fluid, but what’s clear is that prolonged conflict is very bullish for cracks

North Asia chicken leg prices climbed further by 6% in February, driven by Japan’s low boneless leg inventories and tight supply from exporters. CFR North Asia chicken leg prices climbed from $2,945/metric ton Jan. 27 to $3,125/mt Feb. 27, reflecting a 6% month-over-month increase, according

Brazilian state-led oil company Petrobras will restart full ammonia and urea production by the end of January at two fertilizer plants in the country’s northeast after years of shutdowns and delays, marking the company’s much-anticipated return to the fertilizer production segment, according to the company.

Vietnamese rice prices are expected to remain stable in February as the Philippines plans to import 300,000 metric tons of rice in February, multiple market sources told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, on Jan. 19. The Philippines will bring in 300,000 mt of rice

Imported lean beef trimmings CIF US prices climbed 2% in the week ended Jan. 16, supported by heightened demand from China for Australian and New Zealand beef. Prices were up during the week as “China has made a big push to secure as much volume

India may raise its target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030 if electricity demand grows at the projected 6%-7% annually and transmission upgrades come online as planned, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, told Platts, part

The India-EU trade deal has excluded rice from liberalization due to its sensitivity to the EU domestic market on food and health safety concerns, while negotiations on geographical indications are ongoing, the European Commission said in a statement Jan. 27. Indian rice exporters have said

Asian propylene prices have risen to levels not seen in about nine months amid rising propane prices, several plant shutdowns in Northeast Asia, and an uptick in downstream demand ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, market participants told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.

Financial players active in the EU carbon market have started curtailing positions while increasing bets on natural gas, amid a tightening fundamental energy picture and a mood shift from investors in EU Allowances. This comes amid a sharp rise in volatility over recent weeks as

Less than a month before Brazil’s latest increase in mandatory blending of biodiesel into diesel is due to come in, biofuel producers and distributors view the likelihood of hitting the deadline with skepticism. Under the Fuel of the Future law, the biodiesel blend is scheduled to increase

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

Japan’s exports of ethylene dichloride dropped 65.1% year over year to 8,934.04 metric tons in 2025, reaching the lowest annual volume since 2020, when shipments totaled just 3,132.45 mt, according to the latest Japanese customs data. China emerged as the top destination for Japan’s EDC

Regulatory support is vital for the European chemical recycling industry, which is currently undergoing a transition period as petrochemical producers face a downcycle, said Ian Temperton, CEO of UK-headquartered chemical recycler Plastic Energy. In an exclusive interview with Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, on

Diamond Gas International bid their first cargoes in the Platts Atlantic LNG Market on Close assessment process through a one-cancels-the-other order for Northwest Europe and Mediterranean LNG on Feb. 16. During the physical MOC on Feb. 16, Diamond Gas International reported its first-ever bids into

The rapid commercialization of humanoid robots will require unprecedented growth in the production of battery metals and rare earth magnets, with industry analysts warning that supply constraints could delay mass deployment beyond manufacturers’ timelines. AI-powered robots capable of mimicking human behavior and interactions are rapidly

The arrival of Simandou’s high-grade iron ore has the potential to alter the landscape of the iron ore markets. This is the second of a six-part interview series, in which Platts News has talked to magnetite ore producers to discuss their strategy and competitive advantage.

While the Supreme Court decision overturning President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs opens the door to potential refunds, importers will likely face obstacles that prolong or even derail payments, trade experts said Feb. 24 at the Washington International Trade Conference. Even as lower courts rejected Trump’s

India, the largest buyer of vegetable oils in the world, has seen cancellations of around 75,000 metric tons of soybean oil cargoes from Brazil and Argentina after a sharp rally in global prices created profit-taking opportunities for traders, four traders and analysts told Platts, part

The NWE-TTF spread flipped to a premium March 2, as the Middle East conflict disrupted LNG supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Platts assessed the DES Northwest European marker for April at $15.479/MMBtu on March 2, a premium of $0.50/MMBtu to the April TTF hub

Major container carriers have begun suspending bookings to and from the upper Persian Gulf as escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt shipping operations across the region. Germany-based Hapag-Lloyd said, as of March 4, it has implemented a booking stop with immediate effect

Prices for some of the world’s most vital commodities leapt in the week starting Feb. 23, on fears about supply disruptions as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Assessments published by Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, show that the largest price

The Philippines has officially reopened its market to Polish pork and pork products, recognizing the regionalization system for African swine fever (ASF), Poland’s Agriculture Ministry and the Polish Meat Association said Jan.14. The decision comes after months of negotiations led by the Polish Meat Association,

Nordic energy company Fortum and Skavsta Logistics and Air Freight have signed a letter of intent to jointly explore the development of hydrogen and electro-sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production at Stockholm Skavsta Airport, the airport said in a Linkedin post on Jan. 19. Under the

Soybean meal prices in the Netherlands fell sharply, declining 3.37% week over week, as expectations of ample supply from Brazil weighed on the market. Platts assessed soybean meal FOB Netherlands at Eur313.25/metric ton for the February-March loading period on Jan. 19, down Eur10.75/mt week over

Pakistan’s fuel oil exports surged 9.1% year over year in December amid subdued domestic demand for the residual fuel grade as utilities increasingly opt for cheaper alternatives such as coal, regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) or solar power. The South Asian country, which has transformed

North China used cooking oil prices have flipped back to a premium to UCO FOB Malacca Straits for the first time in over a month, with Chinese buyers’ procurement ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays driving a strong rebound in prices over recent trading

The competitiveness of sustainable aviation fuel will increasingly be determined by how the entire production system is decarbonized — including hydrogen, steam and power — rather than feedstock conversion alone, India-based TruAlt Bioenergy said, as it bets on biomass-linked ethanol-to-jet pathways to scale low-cost SAF.

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US packaging, electrical applications and data centers are driving demand for aluminum producers, even as demand from construction and car making falters, industry leaders said at the S&P Global Aluminum Symposium. “There’s been winners and losers, some sectors have been a little bit stronger than

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

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The CFR Japan naphtha physical crack spread against front-month ICE Brent crude futures hit a near three-month high of $95.48/mt at the Feb. 10 Asian close, widening $7.55/mt week over week, Platts data from S&P Global Energy show. The spread was last wider at $99.25/mt

Italy’s steel industry is urging the EU to address perceived structural distortions in the EU Emissions Trading System, arguing that Italy’s reliance on gas for power generation puts its energy-intensive producers at a disadvantage compared to competitors in countries with nuclear or coal-based energy systems.

California’s Democratic governor is setting himself up as a national climate champion by pursuing international climate cooperation despite President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the global Paris Agreement on climate change. Governor Gavin Newsom, regarded as a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, on Feb. 16

Turkey stands at a critical crossroads in the global polymer trade in 2026, positioned between a struggling European market and an oversupplied Asia while grappling with domestic economic volatility. Yet amid these challenges, Turkey’s appeal extends beyond its import appetite. The country is emerging as

Oil markets are bracing for potential US attacks on Iran as nuclear talks drag on, with prices opening higher Feb. 24, on perceived risks to energy shipping and infrastructure in the Middle East. Longstanding expectations by many analysts of a supply glut in 2026 are

India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated a countervailing duty investigation into imports of PVC suspension resins from China, following petitions from leading domestic producers Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls, DCM Shriram and DCW. The companies allege that Chinese manufacturers benefit from a range of

Aluminum market observers expect the escalating conflict in the Middle East to cause supply disruptions to both aluminum and aluminum raw materials shipping to and from the region, together with short-term market volatility and a squeeze on global producer margins from higher energy and freight

The differential for benchmark Platts cash Dubai surpassed a $10/b premium for the first time since 2022, data from Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, showed March 4, amid the ongoing fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. The marker was assessed at a

Prices for some of the world’s most vital commodities leapt in the week starting Feb. 23, on fears about supply disruptions as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Assessments published by Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, show that the largest price

This report is part of the S&P Global Energy 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

European hexane spot prices dropped to more-than-four-year lows Jan. 19, as seasonal demand patterns failed to materialize and abundant supply weighed heavily on market fundamentals, sources said. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the Northwest Europe free-delivered spot price of hexane at Eur810/mt Jan.

The Trump administration on Jan. 21 finalized a rule to accelerate deepsea mining in international waters by consolidating permitting processes, potentially positioning the US to unilaterally launch the controversial industry. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 113-page rule merges the existing two-step permitting process for

India aims to finalize a new term crude deal, award shipbuilding contracts to Japanese and South Korean firms and collaborate with global oil majors for overseas upstream opportunities, leveraging India Energy Week to advance its twin goals of energy security and diversification, according to Petroleum

Swiss building materials giant Holcim has invested in Norway’s Capsol Technologies to advance carbon capture capabilities at its cement plants, as the industry seeks solutions to reduce emissions from one of the world’s most carbon-intensive manufacturing processes. The investment targets Capsol’s hot potassium carbonate technology,

This report is part of a series on impactful trends in the US aluminum market based on S&P Global Energy pricing, news, and analytics from S&P Global Energy CERA, as well as a review of other statistical data. Many US aluminum extruders began the year

The Indian polyethylene market tracked an uptrend over the past few weeks, following months of price declines amid slow demand and steady supply. The PE market began strengthening at the start of the new year, with the HDPE film CFR South Asia marker rising $35/mt

Record-high US aluminum prices fueled by US tariffs have sparked concerns about North American industry swapping out aluminum for more affordable materials, industry leaders said on Feb. 2 at the S&P Global Aluminum Symposium. US President Donald Trump implemented 50% tariffs on all aluminum imports

The US signed 11 new bilateral critical minerals frameworks and memorandums of understanding after delegations from around the world convened at the State Department’s Critical Minerals Ministerial on Feb. 4, the State Department said. The US has memoranda of understanding or framework agreements with Argentina,

Incoming demand for recycled aluminum in China is likely to start having a knock-on effect on consumption habits elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe, according to Miles Prosser, the secretary-general of the International Aluminium Institute. Appetite for primary aluminum will grow too, although this

Straits-origin methyl tertiary butyl ether prices rose to their highest since September 2025 due to expectations of stronger buying interest amid potentially tighter supplies, according to market sources. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed Asian MTBE FOB Singapore at $677.79/metric ton on Feb. 10,

The US has announced a new proposal to impose port fees on foreign ships as part of its shipbuilding revival project, prompting renewed concerns among shipowners about inflation and market distortions. On Feb. 13, the White House unveiled “America’s Maritime Action Plan” that includes a

Rising imports of Venezuelan crude into the US Gulf Coast are reducing refinery demand for Mexico-origin fuel oil as coker feedstock, pushing those volumes into the marine fuel blending pool, sources said this week. The shift comes amid USGC refiners’ preference for Venezuela’s heavy sour

Uniper remains open to expanding its exposure to LNG from the US, even as it seeks to diversify its portfolio, the German energy company’s chief commercial officer for gas and LNG told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. “We have not reached the peak” of

The US military has captured a third vessel accused of violating sanctions in the Indian Ocean, the oil tanker Bertha, which was intercepted after attempting to evade a quarantine zone in the Caribbean, the US Department of Defense said on X Feb. 24. US forces

Chinese MTBE producers are bracing for higher feedstock costs in the near term due to term supply disruptions, producers and traders said Feb. 27. Key supplier Saudi Aramco suspended shipments of LPG from its Juaymah terminal in Ras Tanura “for the next few weeks” after

Geopolitical developments in the Middle East were expected to boost prices across the Asian aluminum market amid a tight supply-demand balance, and could push Japanese aluminum premiums higher, market sources said on March 2. Market views on the ongoing second-quarter negotiations over main Japanese port

The ongoing war in the Middle East has nearly halted oil shipments from the Persian Gulf, prompting refined product buyers to look elsewhere, and has brought West Coast India into focus, multiple market participants said March 4. Several distillate cargoes were covered overnight for loading

A rise in crude oil prices due to the war in the Middle East has pushed palm oil prices up 3.7% day over day, along with the highest daily traded volume of contracts, exchange data and market analysts said March 6. The rise in crude

A weaker US dollar helped propel crude futures higher May 7 despite a weaker-than-expected US…A weaker US dollar helped propel crude futures higher May 7 despite a weaker-than-expected US…A weaker US dollar helped propel crude futures higher May 7 despite a weaker-than-expected US…

Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack, restricting the delivery…Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack, restricting the delivery…Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack, restricting the delivery…

Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack involving ransomware, restricting…Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack involving ransomware, restricting…Colonial Pipeline has halted all pipeline operations because of a cybersecurity attack involving ransomware, restricting…