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European natural gas prices surged at the start of trading March 9, with the benchmark Dutch TTF April 2026 gas contract jumping about 29% from the settle at the end of last week to just shy of Eur70/MWh as the Iran war carried into its

Germany and China have signed a declaration of intent to develop a regionalization agreement for African swine fever, a move that could pave the way for the resumption of German pork exports to China despite localized outbreaks of the disease. The memorandum of understanding was

Brazilian soybean farmers are feeling the effects of rising diesel prices driven by the war in the Middle East and rising global oil prices, amid the ongoing harvest, multiple Brazilian farmers said. Besides soybeans, farmers are also concerned that the planting of the second corn

China’s Envision Energy plans to expand global commercial shipments of renewable ammonia this year after its first delivery to South Korea, targeting offtakers in Asia and Europe, Frank Yu, Senior Vice President, told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, in an interview March 12. Envision

United Nations Industrial Development Organization has partnered with Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction to launch the detailed preparatory phase of a project aimed at mobilizing finance and enabling policies to decarbonize the country’s cement industry, UNIDO said in a statement March 16. The preparatory phase was

Europe’s utilities and traders are preparing to step up seaborne thermal coal purchases as the Middle East conflict adds volatility to gas markets and revives the economics of gas-to-coal switching ahead of summer demand, market participants said. The pickup is expected first in spot restocking

A shortage of polypropylene raffia packaging material stemming from the Middle East war has disrupted Asia’s rice supply chain and increased bag costs, sources said March 18. Market participants in the upstream PP segment said the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has halted cargoes

Europe’s jet fuel and kerosene imports have reached 1.064 million metric tons so far in March, down from the 1.111 mt imported during all of February, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data. According to CAS data, Europe’s March imports included 373,000 mt from

This content is part of a series exploring key themes from the World Petrochemical Conference by S&P Global being held in Houston from March 23-27. As the chemicals and energy sectors face pressure to decarbonize without impacting profitability, the chemical sector is looking to advanced

Europe’s gas market entered the summer injection season April 1 under an unusually complex and fragile supply outlook, as geopolitical shocks and structural shifts reshaped expectations for storage refilling and price formation in the LNG and gas complex. The combined impact of Iranian strikes on

Rising fertilizer and fuel costs are beginning to influence farm-level decisions across key rice-exporting regions, market sources said March 31. Market participants in Thailand and the US are signaling potential acreage cuts and lower input use that could tighten global supply in the next marketing

Unmanned aerial vehicles attacked Russia’s top Black Sea oil port city of Novorossiisk on April 5-6, according to local officials and media, as Russian energy infrastructure continued to come under attack. The drone attacks several districts in the Krasnodar Krai region, with Novorossiisk targeted in

Basmati rice prices in India and Pakistan have firmed in recent weeks on strong Middle East demand and tighter prompt availability, as high raw material costs and ongoing logistical challenges offset the temporary relief from the ceasefire, exporters and trade sources told Platts, part of

Global sulfur and sulfuric acid markets remained largely unchanged April 8 after the announcement of a temporary US-Iran ceasefire, as participants continued to point to persistent supply tightness across the region. The limited response comes after US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week ceasefire

US LNG prices fell to their lowest levels since the Feb. 28 start of the US-Israel war with Iran, tracking softer delivered prices in Europe and Asia as buyers take a more cautious approach to spot purchases. The Platts Gulf Coast Marker for US FOB

Oil prices rose April 20 following the US seizure of an Iranian ship and the continuation of the Strait of Hormuz blockade by the US. The strait is now back to being effectively closed, as expectations fade of a quick resolution of the Middle East

The long-troubled Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia will soon be competitive, despite doubts from part-owner IGO Ltd., according to Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia Pty. Ltd. CEO Raj Surendran. The Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant was beset with poor delivery of construction and cost overruns

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.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said March 9 that Russia is increasing oil and natural gas supplies to “reliable partners,” during a government meeting called to discuss global oil and gas markets. Putin referred to buyers in the Asia-Pacific region, Slovakia and Hungary as reliable, according

Brazilian soybean farmers are feeling the effects of rising diesel prices driven by the war in the Middle East and rising global oil prices, amid the ongoing harvest, multiple Brazilian farmers said. Besides soybeans, farmers are also concerned that the planting of the second corn

Trump administration officials have held discussions about taking positions in crude oil futures markets in order to lower prices, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said March 14. In an interview with Bloomberg TV in Tokyo, Burgum said he was not aware of any

Authorities in Vietnam’s Ninh Binh province are stepping up oversight of mineral extraction to ensure a stable supply of raw materials for the cement and construction materials industries, the Vietnam Cement Association said in a statement March 16. The province is tightening oversight of limestone

The European gas market is heading into the summer season with an almost unprecedented challenge; record low inventories and significant disruptions to supply. The most revealing signal, perhaps, lies in the inverted shape of the forward curve. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, last assessed

Disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war are no longer limited to energy markets, increasingly threatening food security across the Persian Gulf. Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran are among the nations that depend largely

Asian LNG buyers have diverted at least eight Atlantic Basin cargoes away from Europe since the Middle East war began Feb. 28, as escalating supply risks following strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility heighten near‑term urgency in Asia and reshape trade flows, according to S&P

Surging freight rates and tightening container availability are disrupting global rice trade flows, with higher costs and logistical constraints slowing deal-making across key export routes, sources told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. Breakbulk freight to West African destinations such as Abidjan has risen to

As the Middle East war bleeds into a second month, unprecedented disruptions to global LNG supply, low gas storage levels, and geopolitical uncertainty have primed the European gas market for a potentially tumultuous second quarter. The conflict continues to choke transit through the Strait of

Indian fertilizer company Paradeep Phosphates is considering increasing its procurement of domestic renewable ammonia to strengthen raw material security amid the Middle East war, which has brought imports of conventional ammonia to a halt, a company executive told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, March

India has taken steps to ramp up gas supplies to operating urea plants, while also increasing gas availability to other industrial and commercial sectors, including the City Gas Distribution network, even as the Middle East conflict persists, the Press Information Bureau, the government’s nodal agency,

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

The Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE, listed a new CIF Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp benzene futures contract based on the Platts CIF ARA (AAOAX00) benchmark assessment on April 7. The contract is based on the assessment specifications for the Platts CIF ARA assessment for physical cargo. The contract size

Market participants at the Distillers Technology Council Symposium in Minneapolis 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

Eight vessels transited the contested Strait of Hormuz April 19, a drop of roughly two-thirds from the day before, S&P Global Commodities At Sea said in an April 20 report. Many ships approaching the strait turned back April 19, CAS said, in response to shots

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

European weekly wind power output fell almost 50% week-over-week in the seven days to March 9, while solar output rose about 20% to the highest since September amid an early spell of spring weather across large parts of the Continent, system data analyzed by Platts

April on-peak power in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator footprint has surged, despite mild weather forecasts and continued weakness in natural gas. Industry observers differ on the causes for the strength of power forwards. The Platts M2MS Power Forward curves March 6 had April on-peak

The US launched Section 301 investigations into the manufacturing policies of 16 major trading partners, including the EU, China and India, to address unfair trade practices, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement March 11. The USTR said the probes under

North American grain markets have seen myriad responses to the war in the Middle East, with participants citing freight volatility and shifting global trade dynamics as key concerns. US soybean market fears China backing off Participants in the US soybeans market fear that China will

Global methyl methacrylate markets have surged to multi-month highs as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts critical supply chains, triggering inventory concerns across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Europe The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to delay the

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has driven fertilizer prices sharply higher across Asia since late February, but the surge in input costs has yet to translate into corresponding gains for key crop prices, creating a delayed risk to farmer profitability and planting decisions

Disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war are no longer limited to energy markets, increasingly threatening food security across the Persian Gulf. Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran are among the nations that depend largely

The US is not blockading Cuban energy imports, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said March 24, pushing back against criticism during an appearance at CERAWeek by S&P Global Energy that the Trump administration was using energy to inflict pain on the Cuban people. During a

This content is part of a series exploring key themes from the World Petrochemical Conference being held in Houston from March 23-27. At the World Petrochemical Conference on March 25, participants examined how the war in the Middle East is reshaping industry perspectives on supply.

Rising diesel prices, driven higher by conflict in the Middle East, are increasing logistics costs and complicating the collection of palm oil mill effluent and used cooking oil for biofuel feedstock exports, Malaysian feedstocks supplier Gamalux Sdn Bhd’s Chief Commercial Officer Amila Kamarudin told Platts,

The war in the Middle East could threaten food security in countries neighboring the Persian Gulf, which are largely dependent on imports, including animal protein and other agricultural commodities. The Gulf Cooperation Council countries import up to 85% of their food, according to the World

Europe is likely to see further gas price hikes, as low temperatures linger in some parts of the continent, countries refill depleted storage and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to impact markets, Bulgartransgaz CEO Vladimir Malinov told Platts. “Unfortunately, I do believe

Rare earth elements have come under increasing focus owing to their criticality to defense equipment manufacturing and clean technology. China has monopolized this supply chain for over two decades and has not shied away from using it for geopolitical leverage, forcing others to think of

Pure Lithium is developing lithium-metal batteries with electrodeposited lithium-metal anodes and a cathode roadmap that starts with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and later advances to a vanadium-based cathode. CEO Emilie Bodoin explained the company’s approach to overcoming commercialization barriers for lithium metal batteries, including producing

High capex, a steeply falling cost curve and uncertainty over EU mandates and offtake terms are delaying investment decisions, leaving dozens of synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) projects without final approval. The eSAF or Power to Liquid cost curve sits very high today but has

US cattle put in feedlots in March totaled 1.709 million head, down 7.3% from 1.843 million head in March 2025, the US Department of Agriculture said in its latest Cattle on Feed report. “[March] placements were the second lowest for March since the series began

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

European urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) prices increased in early March as the Middle East conflict drove up natural gas and ammonia costs, exacerbating supply constraints from Russian sanctions and freight disruptions, resulting in a bullish market for nitrogen fertilizers across both Eastern and Western Europe.

Indian petrochemical producers are bracing for potentially acute raw material shortages expected to hit downstream petrochemical plant operations following the recent announcement by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The Indian government ordered March 9 all oil refining companies operating in the country to

The US launched Section 301 investigations into the manufacturing policies of 16 major trading partners, including the EU, China and India, to address unfair trade practices, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement March 11. The USTR said the probes under

South American soybean oil prices are trading below Asian palm oil values in a rare market inversion that traders say could deepen if the war-driven surge in energy prices continues to lift vegetable oil markets. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed Argentine soybean oil

The European Union’s ban on spot imports of Russian natural gas and LNG entered into force March 18, commencing the first in a series of stepwise halts under the landmark legislation approved in January to sever the EU from its once-central gas supplier. Restrictions on

The US dried distillers grains with solubles market has continued to show mixed signs as it shifts into a more volatile phase, with rising oil prices and escalating conflict in the Middle East beginning to impact freight markets and broader commodity flows, market participants said.

Green360 Technologies plans to produce as much as 30,000 metric tons/year of low-carbon cement replacement product Eco-Clay by the end of the first half of 2026, Australia’s only hydrous kaolin producer said in a statement March 23, with commercial sales slated to begin in the

Indian companies are finding it increasingly difficult to secure urgently needed spot LNG cargoes as volatile intraday prices and repeated tender cancellations showed weaknesses in traditional procurement methods, threatening supply to critical sectors, including fertilizer production, according to multiple traders and importers. Since conflict in

Turkey’s cement producers are battling a dual crisis of soaring costs and acute ship shortages that threaten to disrupt exports even as demand from key markets strengthens, Ender Sahin, president of Turkish Cement, a semi-governmental association representing cement producers and exporters in Turkey, told Platts,

Cargill confirmed to Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, that it will close its corn milling plant in Dayton, Ohio, a move that Ohio Corn & Wheat Organization says could reduce local competition for corn purchases and pressure farmers’ margins — particularly in Southwest Ohio.

Russia’s monthly seaborne crude deliveries rose to a three-year high in March on US sanctions relief, but exports marginally fell amid loading disruptions at its main Baltic hubs following relentless Ukrainian drone attacks. Preliminary data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea shows 4.61 million b/d

Singapore’s bunker fuel demand grew by double digits year over year in March, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data April 6, as more shipping companies turned to the world’s largest marine refueling hub amid disruption in the Middle East. Total bunker sales in

Miners are requesting upgrades to a 1,000-kilometer major rail corridor to support the next wave of Queensland’s critical minerals, ahead of the potential closure of Glencore PLC’s copper smelter and refinery in the Australian state. The North West Minerals Province in Far North Queensland holds

The North American aluminum sector is approaching a critical supply shortage as the impacts of lost Middle Eastern metal begin to settle in, industry leaders and experts told Platts. Iranian missile and drone strikes in the Persian Gulf region on March 28 shut down Emirates

Middle East poultry trading activity has slowed in recent days as buyers resisted higher replacement costs amid firm price indications across the market, participants said April 15. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed chicken breast CIF Middle East, basis Jebel Ali, at $3,150/metric ton

Brazil’s fed cattle market has remained under strong bullish pressure amid limited availability of slaughter-ready animals. However, after reaching record levels on April 17, prices have entered a more stable phase as uncertainty intensifies around both domestic and global supply and demand dynamics. São Paulo’s

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

Supply chain disruption stemming from the war in the Middle East has sparked bullish sentiment across European methanol and derivative markets, driven by shifting global trade balances and shipping delays from key suppliers in the region. Methanol Trading activity in the European methanol spot market

European methyl methacrylate spot prices increased 58.2% in the week ended March 9 driven by escalating supply concerns following the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the three-to-30-day forward DDP NWE methyl methacrylate spot price at Eur2,216.50/metric

Ocean carriers are introducing emergency fuel surcharges and raising freight rates across key global trade lanes as rising bunker fuel costs and geopolitical tensions disrupt shipping services, with Indian rice exports to the Middle East facing delays, higher logistics costs and container shortages, market sources

The US launched Section 301 investigations into the manufacturing policies of 16 major trading partners, including the EU, China and India, to address unfair trade practices, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a statement March 11. The USTR said the probes under

S&P Global Energy provides essential market intelligence, pricing data, and energy transition analysis for informed decision-making. Discover more.S&P Global Energy provides essential market intelligence, pricing data, and energy transition analysis for informed decision-making. Discover more.Read More

DHL Express has signed an agreement with Malaysia Aviation Group to deploy sustainable aviation fuel under its GoGreen Plus service, targeting a reduction of about 300 metric tons of life cycle CO2 equivalent emissions in 2026. The agreement will see MAG use SAF within DHL

Australian wheat prices hit multi-month highs on March 20, driven by rising internal logistics costs and subdued grower sales amid widening concerns over diesel and fertilizer supply security during the Middle East conflict, several Australian and Asian grains trade sources told Platts, part of S&P

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said March 25 that the agency’s coordinated oil stockpile release has had a “very good” impact on the market, helping ease oil prices. Asked to comment on his assessment of the oil release’s impact on the market so

Natural gas industry groups expressed optimism that US permitting reform legislation could be passed in the coming months, but stressed there is a narrow window for progress. “I’m actually bullish on it, I think we are going to see it,” Marty Durbin, president of the

Imported boneless, 90Cls frozen beef wholesale prices for the Central US for March sales were estimated at $386.00/hundredweight by the US Department of Agriculture in its last Livestock and Meat Domestic report. The estimate was up 0.2% from February prices and 21.3% from March 2025.

European jet fuel flat prices rose to an all-time high April 2, driven by new record highs for the ICE low-sulfur gasoil futures contract, after US President Donald Trump’s comments stoked fears of further escalation in the Middle East war. The Jet CIF NWE cargo

The US Energy Information Administration on April 7 again trimmed its natural gas spot price forecast for the second and third quarters of 2026, saying that it expects Henry Hub prices to remain closely aligned to the year-ago quarters, with inventories remaining near average. The

Rare earth elements have come under increasing focus owing to their criticality to defense equipment manufacturing and clean technology. China has monopolized this supply chain for over two decades and has not shied away from using it for geopolitical leverage, forcing others to think of

This report is part of 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

China’s reported plan to further restrict sulfuric acid exports starting in May is set to squeeze miners on costs and supplies of the crucial input, especially in import-dependent countries like Chile and Indonesia, analysts said. The Iran war disrupted the seaborne market for sulfur, which

Malaysia’s Southern Alliance Mining and Australia-listed Brazilian Critical Minerals have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly identify opportunities for rare earth production, both companies said in a joint statement April 20. The deal aims to maximize the value of their respective rare earth assets and

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…

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…

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…

Very Large Gas Carrier, or VLGC, rates are set to rally further in the near…Very Large Gas Carrier, or VLGC, rates are set to rally further in the near…Very Large Gas Carrier, or VLGC, rates are set to rally further in the near…

The ongoing second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in India is expected to snowball…The ongoing second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in India is expected to snowball…The ongoing second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic in India is expected to snowball…

US Gulf Coast refining margins have risen as the lifting of coronavirus restrictions have boosted…US Gulf Coast refining margins have risen as the lifting of coronavirus restrictions have boosted…US Gulf Coast refining margins have risen as the lifting of coronavirus restrictions have boosted…

The S&P Global Platts India CEO Series is a compilation of exclusive interviews with the…The S&P Global Platts India CEO Series is a compilation of exclusive interviews with the…The S&P Global Platts India CEO Series is a compilation of exclusive interviews with the…

Headwinds have reemerged for the Asian gasoline market, as new pockets of COVID-19 infections across…Headwinds have reemerged for the Asian gasoline market, as new pockets of COVID-19 infections across…Headwinds have reemerged for the Asian gasoline market, as new pockets of COVID-19 infections across…

Green hydrogen company Everfuel is planning a 300 MW electrolyzer project adjacent to the Fredericia…Green hydrogen company Everfuel is planning a 300 MW electrolyzer project adjacent to the Fredericia…Green hydrogen company Everfuel is planning a 300 MW electrolyzer project adjacent to the Fredericia…