Commodities

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Nikkei Markets

Asian stocks surge as Trump reportedly approves trade deal

Chinese companies post biggest gains on A300 index

13 December 2019
Across Southeast Asia, companies are hunting for access to carbon credits -- whether to meet their own climate change pledges, redeem themselves in the eyes of their customers, or preempt the regulations that many believe are inevitable. (Photo by Peter Guest)
The Big Story

COP25: A new carbon market offers hope for Asia's forests

From Mitsui to Shell, companies are investing in emissions offsets

11 December 2019
A voter raises his hands as he prepares to cast a vote in Buka, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 23.
Politics

Bougainville votes for independence from Papua New Guinea

China to step up its approach to South Pacific island if independence is granted

11 December 2019
Oil made from palm trees is in demand in China and Indonesia. 
Commodities

Asian palm oil futures hit near 2-year high on supply fears

Falling output in Malaysia and surging China imports have lifted prices

11 December 2019
Malaysia's palm oil output fell 14.4% to 1.54 million tons in November.
Nikkei Markets

Malaysia palm oil inventory dips as output falls more than exports

Plantation shares slip as analysts say data below expectations

10 December 2019
An employee checks a gas valve at the Atamanskaya compressor station, part of Gazprom's Power Of Siberia gas pipeline to China.
Energy

Russian gas pipeline to China links Putin with tough customer

Moscow's energy diplomacy faces headwinds as buyer nations push back

8 December 2019
Technicians walk next to an oil storage tank on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. India has sought membership in the International Energy Agency.
Energy

India poised to stockpile oil in exchange for IEA role

Move highlights efforts to stabilize global crude prices

8 December 2019
An LNG tanker in Yokohama, Japan: The U.S. state of Alaska is considering projects to export LNG to Asia, which it is much closer to than competitors in the Gulf of Mexico.
Interview

Alaska governor pitches LNG exports to Japan

Dunleavy says Alaskan arctic gas can compete on price in Asia

7 December 2019
The prices of neodymium and dysprosium were 20% lower in mid-November than their recent highs in June, and at their lowest points since April. (Illustration by Michael Tsang)
30 November 2019
An almond-sorting line at a ranch in California: The U.S. state produces about 80% of the world's supply.
Commodities

Demand from health-conscious Chinese underpin world nut prices

Despite high import tariffs, China is still buying from the US

29 November 2019
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vladivostok in September, Moscow and New Delhi adopted a five-year roadmap to boost Russian oil, gas, and coal exports to India.
Energy

India-Russia ties deepen as energy partnerships grow

New Delhi seeks new fuel supplies while Moscow keeps eye on China

29 November 2019
Saudi Arabia may deny any connection between the Aramco listing and its decisions at the helm of OPEC.
Opinion

IPO puts Saudi Aramco under Asian oil buyers' spotlight

Exporter will need to carefully balance expectations of investors and customers

29 November 2019
A ship at a Rio Tinto aluminum refinery in northern Australia: The mining titan is working to cut carbon emissions in its extraction and processing operations.
Commodities

Rio Tinto chases greener identity in Australia and China

Mining giant's projects seek to cut emissions in carbon-heavy industries

28 November 2019
A miner looks across a mine in Kalgoorlie, located around 500 kilometers east of Perth, Australia. 
Commodities

US and Australia form scrum to break China's rare-earth grip

Washington looks to ally to end reliance on trade war rival

26 November 2019
Major LNG development projects have been launched around the world in recent years.
Energy

LNG prices in Asia plunge 43% as new US supply hits market

Production at new fields in Australia and Russia adding to glut

25 November 2019
An Olam pepper farm in Vietnam: The Singaporean commodities trader plans to sell off business units that are unpopular with international investors concerned with sustainability.
Business trends

Southeast Asian companies jump on impact investment bandwagon

Businesses grow conscious of own environment and human rights records

23 November 2019
Formally known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Saudi Aramco is one of the world's largest oil and gas company.
Interview

Aramco IPO to spur model economic reform: Saudi foreign minister

Prince Faisal sees upsides to less than $2 trillion valuation

23 November 2019
Malaysia is raising its tax on palm oil to 14 ringgit per ton in to support efforts to make the industry more sustainable.
Commodities

Malaysia to levy additional 1-ringgit tax on palm oil next year

Income to fund reforestation, wild life conservation, boost sustainable farming

19 November 2019
A worker unloads palm oil fruit bunches from a lorry inside a palm oil mill in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Trade

Malaysia and Indonesia to take EU palm oil ban to WTO

Mahathir tells industry forum 'we must not hesitate to take countermeasures'

19 November 2019
Japanese diamonds are highly sought by international dealers. (Photo by Karina Noka)
Most read in 2019

World awakens to Japan's sleeping diamonds

Traders flock to Tokyo as '80s-era gems once kept in homes return to market

18 November 2019
The Japanese research ship Chikyu, shown in Shizuoka, will take part in development of offshore rare-earth deposits.
Commodities

In rare-earth quest, Japan to deploy US-made drone sub

'World's first' such survey will scan wide area of seabed for deposits

17 November 2019
East Asian exporters are finding it hard to make a profit as steel sheet prices fall. 
Commodities

Steel prices sink to 3-year low as trade war, weak auto sales take toll

Price of hot-rolled coils in East Asian fall to around $480 per ton

13 November 2019
Malaysia, the world's top palm oil producer after Indonesia, reported a 4.1% decline in inventory in October from a month earlier as exports surged.
Commodities

Palm oil prices may rise more on seasonally slowing output

Analysts expect inventory to erode as supplies taper despite sharp demand uptake

12 November 2019
Hindalco's net profit came in slightly lower than analysts had predicted. (Source photos by Reuters and Aditya Birla)
Materials

Hindalco quarterly profit slumps 33% amid falling commodity prices

One-time loss due to restructuring at Novelis unit also damped earnings

11 November 2019
Sulfur being moved at a port in Nantong in China's Jiangsu province. China is the world's biggest consumer of sulfur, accounting for 30% of demand.
Commodities

Chinese stockpiles and waning Indian demand hit sulfur prices

Expanding production and new maritime regulations to further depress market

11 November 2019