Several cargoes of LNG loaded in recent days at U.S. export facilities and bound for Asia have changed course shortly after departing to avoid crossing the Red Sea, which has become theater of daily attacks on commercial vessels by the Iran-aligned Houthis from Yemen. Several vessels have indicated they would …
Read More »Vietnam’s Rare Earth Riches become Focus Point for U.S. and China
Vietnam finds itself wooed by two large world powers. However, this time, it is not over any geopolitical consideration, but for a resource that the modern world covets: rare earths. China and the U.S. are locked in a race to court a country that boasts the world’s second-largest rare earth …
Read More »Oil Extends Gains on US Strategic Reserve Purchases
Oil prices rose on Monday, extending gains for a second session as U.S. efforts to replenish strategic reserves provided some support, although concerns of crude oversupply and softer fuel demand growth next year persisted. Brent crude futures rose 0.6 per cent, or 48 cents, to $76.32 a barrel by 0406 …
Read More »OPEC and the US Wrestle for Control of Oil Prices
The US and OPEC+ are once again locked in a battle to establish a dominant position for control over oil prices. Oil prices have been on the slide for the past seven weeks; the longest sustained drop for around five years. From a 2023 high point of $94 a barrel …
Read More »U.S. Plans 3 Million Barrel Purchase of Crude Oil for SPR
The United States Department of Energy said on Friday that it plans to buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for March delivery as oil prices sink to levels below the stated threshold for the government’s refill plan. The Biden Administration saw the stockpiles of …
Read More »Surging LNG Exports Expose the U.S. to Natural Gas Price Swings
Soaring U.S. LNG exports have made natural gas a global commodity and the United States vulnerable to global price volatility. As American exports of liquefied natural gas are set to grow further this decade, the once-isolated U.S. natural gas prices will become increasingly linked to the pace of LNG exports …
Read More »The U.S. and France will Seek to Halt Private Funding for Coal Plants at COP28
Supported by the United States, France will propose at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai an exit of private financing for coal-fired power plants, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources with knowledge of the talks. According to Indian officials who spoke to Reuters, France has discussed with India – a …
Read More »Steel-Making Giant Seeks U.S. LNG to Secure Gas for European Operations
ArcelorMittal, the world’s second-largest steelmaker, is looking to sign an agreement with a U.S. LNG exporter as it aims to secure stable supply of natural gas following last year’s energy crisis in Europe, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, quoting sources with knowledge of the plans. Industrial giants in Europe …
Read More »Oil Prices Drop amid Warning Demand in US, China
Oil prices backed off on Monday, reversing their Friday rally, as renewed concerns over waning demand in the United States and China dented market sentiment. Brent crude futures for January were down 71 cents, or 0.87%, at $80.72 a barrel at 0400 GMT, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) …
Read More »U.S. Infrastructure Projects Boost Steel Demand
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continued to lack strong bullish or bearish pressure month-over-month. Overall, the index only dropped by a minuscule 0.13%. Still, many factors remain at play in the construction industry, which seems to be behind the index components’ steady sideways trends. With the winter months coming, …
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