Oil prices settled little changed on Friday as markets weighed Chinese demand and interest rate-cut expectations after data showed cooling US inflation. Brent crude futures closed up 6 cents, or 0.08%, at $72.94 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 8 cents, or 0.12%, at $69.46 per barrel. …
Read More »China’s Coal Imports from Australia Rise to Highest Level since April 2020
China’s coal imports from Australia rose to their highest in more than four years in November, customs data showed on Friday, as shipments continue to recover from an unofficial ban on Australian coal that was lifted in January 2023. Australian coal imports were 9.3 million metric tons in November, according …
Read More »Lower Chinese LNG Imports could Ease Europe’s Energy Woes
The world’s top LNG importer, China, has hit the brakes on spot LNG purchases in recent weeks as Asian prices have hit the highest level for the year. After several months of stocking up on cheaper LNG supply, Chinese natural gas inventories are now estimated to be high enough to …
Read More »CNPC: China Reaches Refined Oil Demand Peak
China, the world’s heavyweight oil consumer, has officially hit its peak. According to CNPC’s Economics & Technology Research Institute, the country’s refined oil consumption maxed out in 2023 at 399 million metric tons (roughly 8 million barrels per day) and is set to decline by 1.3% in 2024. For an …
Read More »US to Increase Tariffs on Chinese Solar
US President Joe Biden’s administration plans to raise tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and some tungsten products from China to protect US clean energy businesses. The notice from the Office of US Trade Representative (USTR) said tariffs on Chinese-made solar wafers and polysilicon would rise to 50 percent from 25 …
Read More »China Looks to Build the Largest Human-Made Object in Space
Two months ago, we reported that Baiju Bhatt, one of the co-founders of the investing app Robinhood, debuted space solar power company Aetherflux. The startup plans to build a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that will use infrared lasers to transmit power to small ground stations on Earth. The …
Read More »The Lithium Glut could Persist until 2027
This year’s plunge in lithium prices has forced curtailments in production in China and Western Australia as lithium miners look to limit losses and reduce the oversupply hanging over the market and prices. However, the lithium glut has not gone away and the market could remain oversupplied until 2027, analysts …
Read More »Oil Up on Demand Hopes from China’s Looser Monetary Policy
Oil prices rose on Wednesday, with market participants expecting demand to rise in the world’s largest crude importer, after Beijing announced a looser monetary policy to stimulate economic growth in China. Brent crude futures gained 36 cents, or 0.5%, to $72.55 a barrel by 0430 GMT, while U.S. West Texas …
Read More »China Export Curbs to Impact US Clean Energy, Defense Industries
China’s retaliatory export curbs might take a toll on the growing U.S. clean energy sector and its defense industry, analysts opined as trade tensions escalate between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing announced this week it would ban exports of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States, targeting materials …
Read More »QatarEnergy Inks Deal to Supply LNG for Shell Operations in China
Shell PLC has committed to buy three million tons per annum (MMtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from QatarEnergy for the British energy giant’s activities in China. Delivery under the long-term deal will start January 2025, QatarEnergy said in an online statement, not specifying the duration of the agreement. “This …
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