2026 commodity market outlooks

Explore the latest on tariffs and the Supreme Court ruling affecting the steel industry and trade practices in the US.

Explore the global green steel markets as they evolve with new policies and a changing economic landscape in 2026.

Explore Brazil’s construction sector trends influenced by housing programs and urban infrastructure investments.

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

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

Explore the Middle East critical mineral landscape driven by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and booming non-oil economy.

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.

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.

CBAM could impose over €12 billion in costs on importers in 2026 based on provisional benchmark values, reshaping trade flows. Sectors like iron, steel, cement, fertilisers, and aluminium face escalating carbon charges, with significant downstream impacts on industries such as agriculture, automotive, and construction.

Navigate CBAM’s impact. Download our expert forecast to protect your margins and reshape your strategy for 2026.

The European green steel market, crucial for meeting the EU’s climate goals, faces challenges from high input costs, economic pressures, and trade uncertainties, while transitioning to low-carbon production methods like hydrogen-based steelmaking offers a pathway to near-zero emissions.

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.

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.

This Viewpoint is a follow-up to our previous analysis, Buckle up for 2026!, which unravels the turbulent political and economic storms shaking Latin America. Global supply chain realignment The region is entering 2026 in an environment where global competition for energy, critical minerals and strategic supply chains has become central and supply chains are being restructured. These shifts […]