Market insights

Search all the latest market insights and coverage

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s vegetable oil sector drive prices to multi-year highs

Since late December 2025 and into January 2026, Russia has deliberately targeted Ukraine’s vegetable oil sector through a concentrated series of systematic attacks aimed at disrupting the segment as an integrated system, which, along with other factors, has led to increases in delivered vegoil prices to their highest levels in the last few years. In particular, the sunoil FOB six ports price has been driven to its highest level since August 2022, Fastmarkets analyses showed.

January 15, 2026
·
By Masha Belikova, Yana Suharskaya, the Fastmarkets team

Insights
EU ETS reform: impending cost shocks for EU producers

The EU ETS reform, including the phase-out of free allocations, is set to significantly increase emissions costs for EU industrial producers, with effective EUA prices rising sharply by 2035, driving substantial cost pressures and price increases across key sectors like steel, aluminium, and downstream industries such as automotive and construction.

January 15, 2026
·
By Freya Gompertz, Felix Gallagher, Josh Cowley

Insights
Latin American steel sector expects stronger safeguards, clearer landscape in 2026

Learn how Mexico's tariff package on imported goods impacts the Latin American steel market in 2026 and beyond.

January 15, 2026
·
By Ana Enis, Rachel McGuire, Nina Gattis

Insights
Open consultation on Fastmarkets’ metals recycling methodologies

This consultation, which is open until Friday February 13, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical metals recycling markets, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) principles for price reporting agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency. View the […]

January 14, 2026
·
By Sean Barry

Insights
Open consultation on IOSCO-audited steel scrap price assessments, indices

The consultation, which is open until Friday February 13, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for steel scrap, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications […]

January 14, 2026
·
By Sean Barry

Insights
Open consultation on IOSCO-audited secondary aluminium price assessments

The consultation, which is open until Friday February 13, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for secondary aluminium, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications […]

January 14, 2026
·
By Sean Barry

Insights
A shift in iron ore trade flows, preferences across imported iron ore grades expected in 2026

Understand how changing demand and costs are reshaping the iron ore trade flows across global markets in 2026.

January 14, 2026
·
By Norman Fong, Alice Li, Shu Yi Zheng, Adele Pan

Insights
US corn exports pivot to new markets, driving growth | Chart of the month

In this month's featured insight, find out more from Fastmarkets' senior analyst Eduardo Gonzalez about how non-traditional destinations like South Korea and Vietnam fuel a structural shift in US export demands.

January 14, 2026
·
By Eduardo Gonzalez

Insights
Correction to rationale of copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany: pricing notice

Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-CU-0372, Copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany, $ per tonne price that was published incorrectly on Tuesday January 13.

January 14, 2026
·
By Fastmarkets pricing team

Insights
CME lithium hydroxide future contracts in record start to 2026

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lithium hydroxide futures contract achieved a record weekly trading volume of 8,296 tonnes in the first full week of 2026, according to CME data released on Monday, January 12. The previous weekly high trading volume was 6,366 tonnes in mid-February 2025. The contract also saw its third- and fourth-highest daily […]

January 13, 2026
·
By Viral Shah, Ewan Thomson

Insights

Top stories across markets

Middle East turns to copper with expected 40% surge in electricity demand by 2035

Discover the importance of copper in the Middle East in the context of energy transition and changing market conditions.

January 15, 2026

By: Julienne Raboca

Brazil’s construction sector in 2026: Housing programs offer support, rates stay high, risks persist

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

January 15, 2026

By: Pedro Conterno Rodrigues

Chinese tungsten product prices surge over 200% in 2025 amid export controls, fresh demand

Learn about the impact of national security concerns on Chinese tungsten prices and the challenges facing exporters in 2025.

January 15, 2026

By: Shalina Cao

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s vegetable oil sector drive prices to multi-year highs

Since late December 2025 and into January 2026, Russia has deliberately targeted Ukraine’s vegetable oil sector through a concentrated series of systematic attacks aimed at disrupting the segment as an integrated system, which, along with other factors, has led to increases in delivered vegoil prices to their highest levels in the last few years. In particular, the sunoil FOB six ports price has been driven to its highest level since August 2022, Fastmarkets analyses showed.

January 15, 2026

By: Masha Belikova

Key topics and special interest hubs

Browse our special interest content hubs to get deeper insights into the biggest issues across commodity markets

2025 outlooks

Trade policies

Critical minerals

Green steel

Recycling batteries

Electric car charge sign with wind turbines on background

Supply chains

Procurement insights

Methodology

We recognize the importance of being clear about our price assessment and index process. Our independently audited pricing process aligns with core IOSCO principles. Find out how our price reporters and analysts assess and forecast prices in agriculture, forest products and metals

Learn more

Fast Forward podcast

The definitive podcast for the critical minerals and battery raw materials markets. From uncovering market secrets to predicting future trends using Fastmarkets forecasting data, we’ve got you covered.

Subscribe now

Hotter Commodities

In Hotter Commodities, special correspondent Andrea Hotter cuts to the chase on the biggest stories impacting the natural resources sector, what it means for the markets, the key risks and opportunities.

Find out more

Fastmarkets combines the commodity intelligence of these familiar names:

Metal Bulletin • American Metal Market • Scrap Price Bulletin • Industrial Minerals • RISI • FOEX • The Jacobsen • Agricensus • Palm Oil Analytics • Random Lengths • Hardwood Market Report
• FastMarkets and more

Talk to us

Whether you’re interested in learning how to become a customer from our sales teams or looking to get in touch with one of our reporters, we’re here for you.

Speak to our team

Why use a price reporting agency?

Navigate uncertainty and make business decisions with confidence using our price data, forecasts and critical intelligence.

Learn more

Our insights

Discover our global market insights into commodity markets. See what's trending in the agriculture, forest products, metals and mining and new generation energy markets.