Commodities

A deal between Ukraine and Russia has enabled continued exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea.
Commodities

Wheat prices touch 14-month low on surging Russian exports

World's largest exporter seen easing upward pressure on food costs

8 December 2022
A shuttered fertilizer store in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, on April 25: Carving out targeted exceptions to Western sanctions to facilitate Russian fertilizer exports would support increased food production.
Opinion

Russia war sanctions should not deprive Asia of fertilizer

Expansion of domestic grain production depends on secure access to inputs

6 December 2022
Japanese scallops are a popular agricultural import in China and other countries. (Photo by Hirotake Takigawa)
Trade

Japan's agricultural exports on track for new record

Farm products benefit from weak yen and easing pandemic concerns

6 December 2022
The tanker Vladimir Arsenyev at the crude oil terminal Kozmino near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia on Aug. 12.
Commodities

Russia oil export curbs put focus on demand in China and India

Price cap and EU ban on crude shipments take effect

5 December 2022
An oil tanker off Cabimas, Venezuela: Russia and its crude buyers will be exposed to a bigger risk of shipping accidents and spills.
Opinion

Redirection of Russian oil to Asia is about to get much messier

Dependence on old ships with less insurance raises risks for buyers

2 December 2022
Building construction and infrastructure demand in China are the major drivers of demand for copper, which is mostly used for electric wiring. (Source photo by AP and Refinitiv)
Market Spotlight

Copper's green future keeps miners bullish despite China weakness

Experts expect more resource deals amid scramble for 'future-facing' red metal

28 November 2022
Central banks appear to be snapping up gold, but the identity of some of the biggest buyers is not clear.
Commodities

China thought to be stockpiling gold to cut greenback dependence

Buying of metal is at its fastest pace since the 1960s

22 November 2022
People walk along Shanghai's main shopping area Singles Day on Nov. 11. The unofficial shopping holiday saw a significant drop-off in package deliveries, indicating depressed consumption.
16 November 2022
An employee works at an electric cable factory in Baoying, Jiangsu province.
Commodities

China COVID resurgence weighs down global commodities market

Hope for economic recovery wanes as Beijing signals continued pandemic curbs

11 November 2022
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. 
Agriculture

Palm oil faces headwinds amid China lockdowns, EU phaseout

Indonesia sees 'stable' prices in coming months, but future outlook dim

8 November 2022
The Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta on Aug. 3. Indonesia's exports between January and September reached $219 billion, up 33% from the first three quarters of last year.
Economy

Indonesia's GDP grew 5.72% in July-September quarter

Economic growth accelerated from Q2, buoyed by exports of coal, palm oil

7 November 2022
Russia has pulled out of a U.N.-brokered deal that ensured safe passage for ships carrying grain from Ukraine.
Ukraine war

Global food crisis set to deepen as Russia pulls out of grain deal

Black Sea area is key supplier of wheat and corn to Asia, other regions

1 November 2022
Tugboats help a tanker to berth at an oil terminal in Zhoushan, China on July 18: This year's projected demand is well above that of 2020.
Opinion

China's slowdown will not slake its thirst for foreign oil

Global supply stability hinges on Mideast producers sticking to growth plans

28 October 2022
An LNG tanker arrives in Japan. A colder-than-expected winter could further tighten the world's gas market. (File photo by Kyodo)
Market Spotlight

Scramble for LNG brings winter risks for Asia

Supplies and storage levels look adequate for now but concerns remain for 2023

24 October 2022
The new industrial gas plant will join two others operated by Air Water in India.
Commodities

Japanese gas producer Air Water to build plant in India

Filling facility to supply small-scale buyers in auto industry and elsewhere

23 October 2022
Rio Tinto sees "further downside risks to demand" for iron ore and other resources.
Materials

Rio Tinto warns of weaker commodity demand as iron ore slumps

Shipment outlook curbed amid China's soft construction activity

19 October 2022
A pink diamond sold for a record-breaking 530 million yen in Japan in mid-September. (Photo courtesy of Mainichi Auction)
Commodities

Rare pink diamond breaks Japan auction record as soft yen draws bids

Gem fetches $3.3m with Japanese in search of safe haven driving hot market

16 October 2022
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia on Oct. 13.
Energy

Putin suggests Turkey become regional 'gas hub' to Europe

Russian president pitches Erdogan on new pipeline to increase energy flows

14 October 2022
Australia had 69 major coal projects in the pipeline in 2021, according to the federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Around 60% of these were greenfield developments.
Commodities

Price rally spurs Australian coal expansion, risks climate goals

Some miners have been using windfall to pay down debt, draw up growth plans

14 October 2022
Drought conditions have caused Mississippi River water levels to drop, triggering barge draft restrictions.
Inflation

Food inflation worries reignite as U.S. barge prices hit new highs

Surging fertilizer costs add to hunger threat in emerging nations

14 October 2022
Russian energy exports have helped fund Moscow's war in Ukraine. (TASS via Kyodo)
Energy

India's imports of Russian oil jump fivefold, helping war efforts

Shipments to China rise 17% even as Western sanctions spread

10 October 2022
Gold has been on a downward price trend in 2022, reflecting the attractiveness of holding U.S. dollars instead
Market Spotlight

Gold loses shine amid rising interest rates and strong dollar

Inflation can still propel it higher next year, analysts say

10 October 2022
Sumitomo Corp. is taking part in the Kayan Cascade project in Indonesia, the first big hydropower project for Japanese company in the country. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
Energy

Japan's Sumitomo joins $17.8bn Indonesia hydropower project

Kayan Cascade, part of China's Belt and Road, on track after 10-year delay

7 October 2022
Red-hot steel plates pass through a press at a Tata Steel plant. The company and its rivals face soaring production costs. 
Interview

India's Tata Steel taps Australia, North America for coal

CEO says company needs to replace Russian cargoes after halting purchases

7 October 2022
Many OPEC members rely heavily on revenue from oil exports.
Commodities

Line in the sand: OPEC+ defends $80 oil price floor with output cut

Anticipated drop in demand puts budgets at risk for Saudi Arabia and UAE

6 October 2022