Commodities

A heavy rare-earth mine at Mount Weld in Australia. Japan is investing in operations here to secure supplies of the materials. (Photo courtesy of Lynas Rare Earths)
Supply Chain

Japan takes first stake in heavy rare earths to reduce China reliance

Sojitz, JOGMEC aim to fill 30% of domestic demand in deal with Australian miner

9 March 2023
Palm oil, derived from the fruit seen here, is widely used as a vegetable oil and is an ingredient in processed foods and many other products, including cosmetics. 
Commodities

Indonesia palm oil consumption, El Nino worries, weigh on market

World's top producer expected to export less due to domestic biodiesel mandate

8 March 2023
Rare metals contained in electronic waste, like used computers and smartphones, are seen as a potential alternative to imports from producers like China. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Materials

G-7 eyes joint effort to turn e-waste into rare earths, other metals

Advanced economies look inward to shake dependence on imports from China

8 March 2023
A man unloads fresh fruit bunches from a cart at a palm oil fruit collection center for smallholders in Banting, Selangor, Malaysia, on June 10, 2022. Crude palm oil production in Malaysia and exports of the commodity are both expected to increase in 2023.
Commodities

Malaysia palm oil production, exports expected to rise this year

But country expresses concern over impact of EU effort to combat deforestation

7 March 2023
Workers stand overlooking the Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia's Papua province. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to ban copper experts tentatively in the middle of the year.
Commodities

Indonesia eyes extending export bans to bauxite, copper and beyond

Jokowi aims to develop downstream industries at home, but risks trade frictions

7 March 2023
Agricultural commodities trader Louis Dreyfus is working with smallholder farmer partners on a range of sustainability projects, such as one pictured here with coffee farmers in Indonesia. (Photo courtesy of Louis Dreyfus Co.)
Agriculture

El Nino threatens more food price volatility, Louis Dreyfus says

European commodities merchant engages startups to address Asia's food insecurity

6 March 2023
Tengku Muhammad Taufik, third from right, president and group CEO of Malaysia's Petronas, and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, second from left, and others attend a decarbonization conference in Tokyo on March 3. (Photo by Sayumi Take) 
Climate Change

Malaysia's Petronas CEO seeks 'practical' clean power transition

Southeast Asian energy leaders meet for Japan's decarbonization initiative

3 March 2023
Benchmark Australian coal prices have dropped by more than half from their September peak.
Commodities

Sky-high Australian coal prices drop back to pre-Ukraine-war levels

Europe's mild winter brings chance for cheaper power in Japan as supply fears ease

2 March 2023
Aluminum smelters account for 30% of Yunnan’s electricity consumption.
Caixin

China's Yunnan whacks power usage by aluminum producers again

Production cut is second in six months in hydroelectricity-dependent province

1 March 2023
The world may see a shortage of crude oil in the second half of 2023 due to increased demand from China and a further output cutback by Russia.
Datawatch

Renewed China energy demand threatens to fuel global inflation

Crude oil seen topping $100 a barrel this year as Chinese economy picks up

25 February 2023
MP Materials' rare-earth mine in Mountain Pass, California.
Supply Chain

MP Materials' rare-earths output hits record ahead of Japan entry

U.S. miner teaming up with Sumitomo to supply key EV materials

24 February 2023
A worker sprays water on a truck to reduce the dust at the Chatree gold mine in 2011. The Thai government, citing environmental and health concerns, forced the mine to halt operations at the beginning of 2017.
Materials

Australian miner Kingsgate resumes gold operation in Thailand

Company ends six-year health and environmental dispute with Prayuth's government

22 February 2023
A bulk carrier being filled with coal for export in British Columbia, Canada. Nippon Steel is investing in a company that operates coking coal mines in the region.
Commodities

Nippon Steel to invest in Canadian miner to secure high-grade coal

Company to bolster supply for 'carbon neutral' steelmaking

22 February 2023
The U.S. imported far less Russian crude oil in 2022, with shipments down 90%. China's imports of Russian crude, by contrast, rose 30%, while India's surged seventeenfold over the same period.
Commodities

Commodity prices dip in year since Russia's Ukraine invasion

Prices down from prewar level for 14 of 19 items in widely tracked index

21 February 2023
Drought in Cambodia is expected to reduce Vietnam's supply of rice, hindering its ability to export more of the staple to the Philippines.
Agriculture

Thai rice exports to Philippines set to double as Vietnam cuts back

Fresh demand to help boost Bangkok's annual trade in staple to 8.2 million tons

16 February 2023
Marubeni will embark on a business to extract vital metal compounds from recycled batteries. (Photo courtesy of Marubeni)
Materials

Japan's Marubeni to extract battery metals with U.S. recycler

Tie-up aims to create stable source of cobalt, nickel for EV supply chain

16 February 2023
A truck carries rare-earth elements toward Lynas Rare Earths' Mount Weld processing plant in Western Australia. The company has a major plant in Malaysia.
Environment

Malaysia says Lynas Rare Earths must stop key processing activity

Government cites radioactivity, but Australian company says operation 'low risk'

16 February 2023
A truck from the Las Bambas mine drives past residents holding a national flag in Sayhua, Peru, on Jan. 17.
Commodities

China's MMG secures supplies to continue copper production in Peru

Road blockades prevented arrival of key raw materials amid protests

10 February 2023
A worker collects fresh fruit bunches during harvest at a palm oil plantation in Indonesia.
Commodities

Indonesia shakes palm oil market again, eyeing biodiesel over exports

Jakarta pushes to boost domestic use as EU steps up deforestation battle

8 February 2023
A worker processes nickel at a nickel smelter.
Market Spotlight

EV battery material suppliers brace for gluts as competition heats up

Lithium, nickel producers expand as U.S. pushes for non-Chinese supplies

6 February 2023
Maike handles nearly one-third of China's refined copper imports.
Caixin

Chinese metal tycoon's liquidity woes disrupt copper trade

He Jinbi's Maike imported at a loss, leaving gap others can't fill

2 February 2023
Many central banks bought gold to counter sanctions-related risks and as an inflation hedge. (Photo by Masaru Shioyama)
Commodities

Gold snatched up by central banks at fastest pace in 55 years

China and Turkey among big buyers as dollar's dominance fades

1 February 2023
A salt flat in Uyuni, Bolivia: Bolivia has the world's largest known reserves of lithium, estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey at 21 million tonnes. (IC Photo)
Caixin

China consortium to develop lithium deposits in Bolivia

Expected to start commercial operation, export in Q1 of 2025.

27 January 2023
SteelAsia anticipates demand for the new plant's output from the construction, auto and shipbuilding industries.
Materials

Philippines' SteelAsia to build $2bn plant with China's Baowu

Project seen feeding country's infrastructure drive and 'spawning new industries'

26 January 2023
Tight supply, accompanied by increased demand as China reopens, could cause a global shortage of cotton.
Commodities

Cotton market faces price hike risk on Pakistan supply woes

Possible export limits in India and drought in U.S. compound worries

25 January 2023