This Fastmarkets Viewpoint explains how headline growth has been buoyed by AI‑driven investment even as the broader goods economy cools, and why truly disposable income and packaging demand move in lockstep.

Learn about the challenges of steel overcapacity in the US as tariffs shift and affect producers and consumers alike.

Explore the battery raw materials outlook for 2026, highlighting market volatility and shifting geopolitical factors.

Prices for European biofuel feedstocks from the Annex IX A and B list, including animal fats, used cooking oil (UCO) and soap stock acid oil (SSAO), showed a wide range of volatility during 2025, according to Fastmarkets’ assessments, with levels fluctuating by $152.50 per tonne (16.5%) on average.

Fastmarkets hosted a pivotal discussion recently on the state of the global pulp and paper market. While the calendar pages have turned, the realities outlined during that session have only crystallized further. The pulp industry remains in a precarious balance where supply-side mechanics – rather than surging demand – are dictating the tempo of the market.

Explore Kazakhstan's critical minerals role in the global tungsten market amid changing supply chains and rising prices.

As the Nordic and North American timber sectors grapple with sweeping operational changes, mounting trade pressures, and subdued market demand, industry leaders are pivoting strategies to preserve resilience.

Explore the latest updates on lithium spodumene production and market trends from Australian producer PLS.

The start of the new 2026 financial year makes it possible to highlight several key developments in the Russian wheat market during the first half of the 2025/26 marketing year. These include higher production, slower export activity, very stable prices and the continued dominance of three major exporters in terms of market share.

The Constanta-Varna-Burgas (CVB) wheat market has entered the 2025-2026 marketing year from a firmer price base than last season, but underlying fundamentals point to a more challenging trading environment. While early summer values reflected a sense of tightness, high regional yields, weak margins and cautious farmer behavior are reshaping market dynamics and export flows, according to sources.