Commodities Focus

The International Maritime Organization has reduced the maximum amount of sulfur in bunker fuels from 3.5% to 0.5%, effective in 2020. Shipping companies will be paying more for fuel as they switch from high sulfur fuels to blends and distillates, but LNG is also emerging as an option. Jason Silber...

The recent industry downturn was painful for the oil patch, and especially subdued global offshore exploration. But the sector is emerging more efficient and with sophisticated technologies that will prepare it for the next few decades where more automation, more predictive analysis and more...

Getting new oil pipelines built in Canada has become a problem. Producers are keen on expanding their customer base outside the US, eyeing refiners in Asia and Europe. To reach those markets,producers need pipeline access from Alberta to coastal terminals, but they have faced a lot of pushback. Now...

S&P Global Platts editors Seth Clare and Jeff Bair discuss summer gasoline trends: what's going on with Mexico-bound exports, what you might pay at the pump and the competition to get fuel up the pipeline to New York. The US government has revised its forecast for pump prices upward. We welcome...

China's proposed 25% tariff on various US goods, including products such as soybeans and corn, and an additional 15% tariff on US ethanol, have left the agriculture and biofuels markets in a state of uncertainty. News of the tariffs has already begun to pressure prices and change trade flows...

Spot aluminum premiums have slipped from last week's near three-year high of $180/mt-$195/mt CIF Japan, after the US eased sanctions against leading Russian producer Rusal. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts editors Mayumi Watanabe and YuenCheng Mok examine the market's reaction to the US...

S&P Global Platts alumina price assessment jumped $160/mt overnight to $710/mt FOB Australia on April 18. It also increased $235 in the last week, on supply worries. In this podcast, metals editors Joanna Lim and YuenCheng Mok examine what's driving alumina prices, and talk about market outlook...

Coal is on its way out of the UK power generation mix, yet has remained as a fall-back option on days of peak demand such as when the National Grid warned of a natural gas deficit on March 1. Capacity market auctions are at a record low, which could speed up the closure of exiting UK coal plants...

US President Donald Trump spoke in favor Thursday of an RVP waiver for E15, or gasoline blended with 15% ethanol. The implications and motivations for such a waiver are a hot topic right now as refiners fight mounting biofuels compliance costs. S&P Global Platts editors Josh Pedrick and Wes...

The Permian Basin has attracted more than its fair share of attention due to its high pace of growth even in a low oil price environment. But since late March differentials have widened between the two grades: WTI Midland and MEH. This is a clear sign that the 300,000 b/d cushionin takeaway capacity...

European biodiesel trade flows have been rocked significantly by the latest policy changes, with uncertainty rife in the marketplace surrounding the future of antidumping duties. S&P Global Platts' George Griffiths, EMEA senior biofuels specialist, and Samar Niazi, APAC biodiesel editor take a...

S&P Global Platts editors Sophie Byron and Wes Swift and Director of Global Biofuels Analysis Corey Lavinsky discuss the impact from the proposed settlement agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency and Philadelphia Energy Solutions on the biofuels market. The trio review what...

After strong trading in the lead up to Chinese New Year in mid-February, market participants were expecting China to return to the seaborne spot market with gusto. But sellers have been left feeling disappointed as rising domestic coal production, falling Qinhuangdao prices and warmer weather in...

Details of US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports are expected to emerge this week. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts Regional Content Director for Metals Julien Hall and Senior Managing Editor for Steel and Steel Raw Materials Keith...

As London's annual International Petroleum week draws to a close, Jason Silber, Global head of Ocean Intelligence -- part of S&P Global Platts -– chatted with Peter Norfolk, S&P Global Platts editorial director, shipping and freight, for a quick yet incisive survey of the shipping...

Borouge chief executive Wim Roels joins S&P Global Platts Senior Editor Heng Hui in this podcast to discuss the competitiveness of Middle East producers, the company's outlook for 2018, as well as megatrends that could disrupt the polymer sector in the long run. We welcome any feedback or...

Ukrainian corn prices have risen to a 6-month high, rising sharply since the turn of the year, making it the most expensive origination globally. Driving the surge is demand from China, which has bolstered fundamentals. In contrast, traditional homes for Ukrainian corn are opting for US corn, the...

Aluminum premium swaps on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have been in contango. Spot market premiums have been surging this year. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts Regional Manager for Metals Derivatives Petter Kolderup and Senior Editor for Physical Metals Market Mayumi Watanabe discuss the...

With 23 months to go, it is still uncertain whether refineries will be able to meet demand for low sulfur bunker fuel. Jason Silber, global head of Ocean Intelligence -- part of S&P Global Platts -- sought out Janet McGurty, S&P Global Platts senior oil writer and resident refinery guru,...

With a lack of clarity over when biodiesel antidumping duties against Indonesia and Argentina will be removed, and the EU Commission launching an Argentinian biodiesel anti-subsidy investigation, George Griffiths, S&P Global Platts senior biofuels specialist, and Emma Kettley, S&P Global...

The surging prices of polyethylene in Asia are keeping Europe's prices flat despite abundant supplies being available in the market. With US exports widely expected to further increase supply availability in Europe in the coming months, the continents polyethylene prices look set to come under...

The start of 2018 has seen multiple bullish factors hit. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts metals editors Sarah Baltic Hilliard and Tina Allagh discuss causes behind the rise in US aluminum premium levels and outlook for the coming months. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics....

With biodiesel antidumping duties against Indonesia and Argentina to be removed, and palm oil banned as a biodiesel feedstock in Europe post-2020 following the RED II vote, Stephanie Wilson, S&P Global Platts agriculture managing editor, and George Griffiths, senior biofuels specialist look at...

Indonesian thermal coal prices have been on an uptrend since the latter half of 2016 and production may likely see a boost in 2018. What are the demand-supply factors to look out for this year? Platts Asia thermal coal managing editor Deepak Kannan and associate editor Arusha Das examine the key...

An Iranian tanker carrying condensate bound for South Korea was involved in a fiery accident in the East China Sea. In this podcast, Shipping associate editor Wanda Wang and Oil analyst Alexander Yap examine the incident's impact on tanker, condensate and naphtha markets. Related content:Iran NITC...