Price movements and fundamentals across major commodities.
Analysis and reporting on commodities such as oil, natural gas, gold, industrial metals, and agricultural products. Focuses on supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical risks, inventory trends, and macro drivers affecting commodity markets.
1,590 total articles
A sharp rise in global urea prices linked to the Iran war has pushed the fertilizer to around $1,000 per ton in Argentina, up from about $500 a month earlier. The increase threatens wheat planting decisions ahead of the season starting next month, with farmers weighing reduced fertilizer use or switching to livestock-oriented crops.
Gold edged lower in Asian trading but remained on track for a mild weekly gain as markets digested prospects for further U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks, softer U.S. inflation data and moves in the dollar. Prices stayed within a defined $4,700-$4,900/oz range, with oil and geopolitical risk continuing to limit upside.
Oil prices dropped in early trade following signs the Middle East conflict might cool, with a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel taking effect and comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that talks with Iran may occur over the weekend. Brent fell to $98.05 a barrel and U.S. WTI to $93.40, while analysts note the closure of the Strait of …
The Panama Canal Authority said a recent auction outcome that reportedly awarded priority transit to an LPG ship for $4 million reflected temporary market pressures rather than a fee imposed by the canal. The authority emphasized auctions are one of several tools for securing transit and noted congestion and higher transits as trade routes adjust a…
Oil prices dropped sharply in early Asian trade after the United States announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, fueling expectations of reduced regional tensions. West Texas Intermediate fell to $89.88 a barrel and was on track for a second consecutive week of significant losses amid speculation that the U.S. and Iran may resume diplomati…
California's gasoline inventories have dropped to record lows, coinciding with a sharp rise in retail fuel prices. The state's dependence on refined imports from Asia, coupled with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is creating a lagged supply shock that analysts say will intensify in the coming weeks.
U.S. law enforcement agents this week served a federal search warrant at Ikon Midstream’s Houston headquarters, seizing computers and documents as part of inquiries linked to diesel shipments that investigators say reached companies suspected of being fronts for Mexican cartels. The operation, confirmed by company counsel and multiple officials, fo…
Senior officials from the U.S. Interior and Energy Departments are scheduled to speak with chief executives from major oil companies, including Exxon and Chevron, about the firms' capacity to raise production. The outreach comes as the conflict involving Iran pushes global oil prices up toward levels last seen after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukrain…
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on five individuals and seven companies tied to Nicaragua's gold industry, including two sons of the country's co-presidents and a senior energy and mines official. The action, announced April 16, follows U.S. allegations that the Nicaraguan government sought to fill state coffers by seizing American i…
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told lawmakers that the Energy Department’s lending arm will almost certainly provide loans for the first five to ten planned new large nuclear reactors. The announcement comes as the administration seeks to advance construction of 10 new reactors by 2030 and follows a government-backed industry partnership and pr…
The Energy Information Administration's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook projects U.S. net natural gas exports and liquefied natural gas shipments will climb through 2027 as additional export capacity begins operations and existing terminals run at higher utilization following disruptions to some global supplies.
European benchmark natural gas recovered part of the previous session's declines, with the Dutch TTF front-month contract up about 2.2% as markets monitor prospects for renewed U.S.-Iran discussions and ongoing disruptions to supply routes and facilities. Investment funds trimmed net long positions, while geopolitical frictions over a U.S. naval bl…
U.S. defense officials said American forces in the Middle East are prepared to resume combat operations if Iran does not accept a proposed peace agreement. Officials described a maritime blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iran, and warned that noncompliant ships could face interception and force. Senior leaders also cautioned that Iran …
Aluminum prices rose to their strongest levels in four years as markets priced in possible supply constraints tied to heightened demand and disruptions linked to developments between the U.S. and Iran. Benchmark contracts on the London Metal Exchange and a major Shanghai aluminum contract both advanced, while analysts flagged a significant primary …
Global equity markets have returned to record territory after a turbulent six weeks dominated by war-related headlines. Hopes for U.S.-Iran talks and a Pakistani mediator arriving in Tehran have eased risk concerns, prompting investors to shift attention back to corporate earnings and economic data. Major U.S. banks reported broadly positive first-…
A Bank of America analysis using a vector autoregression model indicates that a 10% jump in oil prices has roughly double the impact on euro area inflation and growth compared with the United States. The finding underscores Europe’s greater exposure due to a heavier energy share in household consumption and its status as an oil importer, while EU o…
The chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission will tell lawmakers the agency will vigorously pursue fraud, manipulation and insider trading in futures, swaps and event markets. His testimony comes amid growing scrutiny of trades ahead of major administration policy moves and while the CFTC operates with a single commissioner and limite…
A senior Iranian official said meetings mediated by Pakistan produced incremental progress toward extending a two-week truce with the United States, but significant disagreements - notably over Iran's highly enriched uranium and the length of nuclear restrictions - remain. Pakistan's army chief visited Tehran after Islamabad hosted the first round …
Gold and other precious metals advanced in Asian trading as a prolonged slide in the dollar reduced haven demand. Markets remain focused on potential extended talks between the U.S. and Iran and a ceasefire due to expire on April 21, while copper rose after China reported stronger first-quarter GDP.
A second supertanker listed under U.S. sanctions sailed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf despite an American blockade intended to stop ships visiting Iranian ports. Data from maritime trackers and state media show the empty VLCC RHN entered the Gulf following the transit of the VLCC Alicia, while U.S. military and commercial data report m…
Disruptions from the Iran war have pushed global buyers to seek U.S. crude, driving exports toward record levels and narrowing net imports to a weekly low. While refiners in Europe and Asia are taking more U.S. barrels to replace Middle East flows, analysts warn U.S. export capacity and shipping constraints may limit further growth.
Oil prices eased in early trade as signs of potential de-escalation between the United States and Iran — including a report that Iran could permit ships to transit via the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz if a deal is struck — offset persistent worries over supply disruptions and lower-than-expected inventories in the United States.
Oil prices slipped in Asian trading as traders weighed the prospect of renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations before a ceasefire expires and awaited Chinese economic growth data. West Texas Intermediate futures declined modestly, while uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, potential troop movements and prior releases from strategic oil reserves continue…
A recent corporate survey conducted by Nikkei Research from April 1-10 finds a rising proportion of Japanese companies do not want the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates. Firms point to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and its disruption of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, higher crude prices, and supply-chain strains as key reasons to dela…
Kalshi has introduced a Commodities Hub that brings 10 additional commodity markets onto its platform. The new offering lets users trade binary event contracts tied to physical commodities - available 24/7 including weekends - and supplements Kalshi's existing oil and precious metals markets. The rollout coincides with oil trading above $100 per ba…
