Our insights

Vessels at Matadi, the main sea port of Congo

Ukrainian steelmakers welcome US decision to suspend 232 tariffs, call for cancellation of other restrictions

Ukrainian steelmakers, particularly Metinvest and Interpipe, have welcomed the decision by the United States to suspend Section 232 tariffs of 25% against imports of steel from the country for one year

May 18, 2022

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Vlada Novokreshchenova

Sustainability is fundamentally reshaping investors’ approach to finance | Hotter on metals

A shift in spending from high- to low-carbon assets as part of the energy transition culture could create the biggest reallocation of capital in history – and is already fundamentally reshaping investors’ approach to financing

May 17, 2022

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Andrea Hotter

Investment in battery recycling continues as Hydrovolt begins commercial recycling operations

In the face of a worsening supply deficit for key battery raw materials including lithium and cobalt, battery producers are seeking new ways to secure raw materials for electric vehicle batteries

May 17, 2022

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Callum Perry

Global market connections and trends - globe

What’s influencing global paper packaging price trends?

Inflation, war, the pandemic and e-commerce are shaping supply and demand packaging dynamics

May 17, 2022

US steelmaking raw material imports rise in March vs Feb

US imports of steelmaking raw materials rose by 7.46% month on month in March, with higher ferrous scrap and pig iron volumes outweighing declines in shipments of direct-reduced iron (DRI), according to the latest data from the US Census Bureau

May 17, 2022

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Arthur Robert

China new energy vehicles_energy transition

China’s battery raw materials supply chain struggling to recover from pandemic despite government support

Participants in China’s battery raw materials market are still struggling to recover from the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the country and the related lockdown measures imposed to prevent further spread of the virus

May 16, 2022

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Yingchi Yang

A Close Up Of Green Wheat Growing In A Field

“Unbelievable” India sparks chaos as government limits wheat exports

Indian wheat policy amended to prohibit exports with immediate effect

May 16, 2022

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Timothy Worledge

US ferro-alloy markets peak in wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine

The ferro-alloy markets in the United States have mostly surged since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine

May 13, 2022

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Chris Kavanagh

Wasde report: USDA set to chart Russia-Ukraine impact on wheat

Forecasting next year’s trends in the wheat market against the backdrop of the latest pandemic, extreme weather, and war

May 13, 2022

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Timothy Worledge

‘Extreme’ trucking tightness in Europe underpins elevated base metals premiums

Availability and the costs of trucking are now starting to significantly impact the flow of material in continental Europe, putting pressures on supply chains and keeping base metals premiums elevated, participants have told Fastmarkets

May 12, 2022

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Callum Perry

Direct lithium extraction: Could direct extraction technologies help secure more sustainable lithium?

As the energy transition unfolds, sustainability and security of supply have taken center stage in the lithium mining industry with investors and consumers pressing to meet growing demand in a sustainable manner. Could direct lithium extraction (DLE) be the answer?

May 12, 2022

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Dalila Ouerghi

Dry cob of ripe corn on green field at sunlight.

Brazil’s Paraná corn harvest 98% complete, second crop condition worse

An overview of the Brazilian corn, wheat, and soybean crop forecasts

May 12, 2022

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Marcela Caetano

US nickel cathode premiums tumble amid weaker LME prices

Nickel cathode premiums in the United States declined amid weaker prices of the metal on the London Metal Exchange in the week to Tuesday May 10, while spot trading activity was also low in Europe and China

May 11, 2022

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Yingchi Yang

Manganese Ore Stock Pile stacker in background

3 reasons why demand for high-grade iron ore in China is likely to remain limited

At least three reasons have been identified by market participants as the key factors constraining demand for high-grade iron ore concentrate and pellet in China - in turn, prompting premium levels to narrow

May 11, 2022

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Alex Theo

Trade on alert over India wheat exports despite government promise

Trade sources warn that there will be a drop in Indian wheat output compared to last year

May 11, 2022

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Masha Belikova

Caution slowed North American lumber markets dramatically

Russia-Ukraine war escalation, financial sanctions, rising fuel costs, and lingering trucking challenges contributed to a downturn in wood panel and lumber prices

May 10, 2022

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Gary Zauner

Albemarle increases exposure to variable pricing to boost 2022 sales

United States-based lithium and bromine miner Albemarle has been working for more than a year to increase the proportion of its supply contracts that are linked to variable pricing because it wants to “move with the market”

May 10, 2022

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Dalila Ouerghi

Farm machines harvesting corn in September, viewed from above

Higher blends of ethanol: challenges and opportunities in the US market

A recent report by the USDA analyzes the barriers faced by the transition to increase E15 volumes

May 10, 2022

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Amanda Luhavalja

Risk outlook for battery raw materials: price dynamics, supply/demand imbalance and demand destruction

Surging prices for battery raw materials including lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite, and the supply/demand imbalance from the lack of investment extraction and production were key topics from our recent risk outlook webinar

May 10, 2022

US to fall short of 2030 SAF target; EU ramp-up to struggle after 2027

SkyNRG’s report has found that feedstock supply shortages present an enormous challenge for the US and EU to meet SAF mandates; more farm and forest wastes are required

May 10, 2022

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John McGarrity

Forklift loading truck with wood products lumber

Russian sanctions mount as lumber traders seek more clarity

US lumber importers scramble to develop contingency plans, European softwood lumber supply shift could have a worldwide domino effect

May 9, 2022

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Peter Malliris

Iron ore concentrate, pellet prices track uptick in fines segment

Seaborne iron ore concentrate and pellet prices rose slightly in the week ended Friday May 6, tracking the upward momentum in the iron ore fines segment, market sources said

May 9, 2022

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Alex Theo

Nissan investing $700mln to upgrade Mexico ops

Nissan Motor has announced plans to invest more than $700 million in Mexico over the next three years

May 6, 2022

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Arthur Robert

Biodiesel factory for renewable fuel production

Biofuels capacity and feedstock update as reported by the EIA

The Energy Information Administration has released its February report on biofuels operable production capacity

May 6, 2022

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Robert Lane

Increased focus on battery recycling as Glencore announces strategic partnership with Li-Cycle

Global commodity producer and trader Glencore has announced a strategic partnership with battery recycling firm Li-Cycle, which will secure Glencore an off-take for products produced by Li-Cycle in North America

May 6, 2022

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Callum Perry

FP Packaging Crumpled Cardboard Box Containerboard - GettyImages-1215484506

Pressure mounts on Russian containerboard market

Russia’s containerboard prices remain largely stable in April but sources say this could change as economic activity slows

May 5, 2022

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Maria Petrova

How much are logistic costs eating into Ukraine’s grain trade?

An analysis of the extra costs affecting grain exports from Ukraine amid the Russian invasion

May 5, 2022

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Masha Belikova

Shanghai bonded base metals stocks diverge in April amid Covid-19 controls; copper build-up slows

The build-up of Shanghai bonded copper stocks continued in April, albeit at a slower pace, with restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 disrupting logistics, particularly earlier in the month

May 5, 2022

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Sally Zhang