Palm extends its losses amid China trade fears and weak demand
Malaysian palm futures fell for the second session in a row on Thursday as concerns about U.S. Tariffs on China, and a weakened demand for palm, sparked a sale on the vegetable oil market. At the close, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange for February delivery fell 46 ringgit or 0.96% to 4,769 Ringgit ($1,069.28). The contract fell by 2.21% during the previous session. Paramalingam Supramaniam is the director of Selangor brokerage firm Pelindung Bestari.
French farmers take to the streets in protest at Mercosur trade negotiations
Farmers protested across France Monday against the prospect of an agreement between the European Union (EU) and South America’s Mercosur bloc that will intensify the competition in the French agricultural sector. The EU, along with four Mercosur countries - Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay - is pushing for the conclusion of long-running commercial negotiations before the end the year. The protests on Monday were the largest since French farmers staged weeks-long demonstrations in January last year over lower imports, burdensome regulation and low incomes.
Report: Senior aide of Argentina's Milei claims Shell is eyeing LNG investment
According to the newspaper La Nacion, the cabinet chief of Argentine president Javier Milei cited Shell as a possible investor in a future liquefied gas (LNG), project that will be managed by YPF, Argentina's state-owned oil company. La Nacion reported that Guillermo Francos, the Cabinet Chief, said during an event the major energy company had shown "strong interest" for a possible LNG investment in the nation. Cynthia Babski, Shell's spokesperson in an email…
Report: Senior aide of Argentina's Milei claims Shell is eyeing LNG investment
According to the newspaper La Nacion, the cabinet chief of Argentine president Javier Milei cited Shell as a possible investor in a future liquefied gas (LNG), project that will be managed by YPF, Argentina's state-owned oil company. La Nacion reported that Guillermo Francos, the Cabinet Chief, said during an event the major energy company had shown "strong interest" for a possible LNG investment in the nation. Cynthia Babski, Shell's spokesperson in an email…
Exporters group says Brazil is likely to export record volumes of soybean meal by 2024.
According to the local grain traders' lobby Anec, Brazil's soybean meals exports will likely set a record in 2024, surpassing the previous best mark recorded in history in 2023. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Brazil will once again be the world's second largest soybean meal exporter in 2023/24. It had previously been the leader in 2022/23, following a crop failure that occurred in Argentina, the traditional leading exporter. Brazil also leads the world in soybean production and exports.
YPF, the Argentine oil company, is focusing on Vaca Muerta and a production boost by 2025.
The CEO of Argentina's state-owned oil company YPF, Horacio Martin, said that the firm expects shale production to rise by 30 to 40 percent next year. Marin said that YPF, during a conference call to discuss its financial results, will concentrate its capital investments in its main shale resources, specifically the massive Vaca Muerta Formation. Vaca Muerta has the second largest shale-oil reserve in the world and is also home to one of the largest shale-gas reserves.
Argentina's Pampa Energia will pump $1.5 bln into a key shale-oil project by 2027
Pampa Energia, a natural gas producer in Argentina, announced on Thursday that it plans to invest $1.5billion between 2025-2027 in order to increase production in a major oil field in the massive Vaca Muerta shale deposit. Pampa Energia announced its intention to invest $700 millions next year in the Rincon de Aranda shale shale in western Neuquen Province. According to the presentation, the investment in the project will reach $1.5 billion between 2027 and 2027.
Vista Energy accelerates oil production in Argentina
Vista Energy's chief executive announced on Thursday that the company expects to reach a 100,000 barrels per day oil equivalent goal next year. This was originally set for 2026. The company is betting on a higher output from the top shale formations in the world. In a press release following a quarterly earnings conference, the company said it would invest between $1.1 billion and $1.3billion next year in order to achieve its revised target of bringing 60 wells online.
Bunge's takeover of Vicentin, a bankrupt soy company, is set back by court decisions in Argentina
A court in Argentina has ruled an agreement between Vicentin, the soymeal giant, and its creditors unconstitutional. This will hinder any attempt to takeover the bankrupt company that is stuck in a long legal battle. The Supreme Court of Santa Fe Province, where Vicentin's headquarters is located, has ruled that the company must negotiate a new deal with its creditors before a proposed acquisition by U.S. grains traders Bunge and Glencore-backed oilseeds crusher Viterra, as well as local group ACA, can proceed.
Drill, baby, drill in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale lands!
Argentina's new, market-friendly government, and concerns about oil supplies from the Middle East, and elsewhere, are driving a boom in drilling and production in the Patagonian South, which is home to the giant Vaca Muerta shale, Spanish for "Dead Cow". In the flat, arid terrain, the production of shale oil and gas is surging. Fracking wells have been drilled in record numbers, and pipelines have been built to transport gas to the capital Buenos Aires – and beyond once LNG plants are operational.
Sources: Rio Tinto is in negotiations to purchase lithium miner Arcadium.
Rio Tinto is in talks with Arcadium to purchase its lithium mine, according to three sources who have direct knowledge of these negotiations. This would make Rio Tinto the third largest producer of battery metal for electric vehicles. One source said that talks have continued and been ongoing in London during the LME Week Conference. According to a second source, an offer should be forthcoming in the near term. The sources stated that talks are continuing and could not necessarily lead to a deal.
TotalEnergies begins early production of Fenix gas in Argentina
TotalEnergies, a French oil company, said that natural gas production had begun earlier than expected at Argentina's Fenix off-shore field. The $700-million project was originally scheduled to start operating in November. It has a daily production capacity of 10,000,000 cubic meters of gas, which represents 8% of Argentina’s total production. Gas from the Fenix Field off Argentina's southern coast will be used for domestic consumption. Argentina is trying to reduce imports and deregulate prices locally, encourage energy investment, and become a LNG exporter.
Analyst Mielke predicts that refined palm olein will average 23% more in the first half of 2025.
Thomas Mielke, a leading industry analyst, said that the price of palm olein in Malaysia, which is refined, bleached, and deodorized, will be $1,100 per ton, free-onboard (FOB), in the first half 2025. This represents a 23% increase from last year. RBD palm oil prices could rise, which would support the benchmark Malaysian palm futures and increase demand. Mielke, who spoke at the Globoil India Conference, said that palm oil production in Indonesia…
Official: Argentina's energy subsidy cuts as government tackles fiscal deficit
Energy Secretary Eduardo Rodriguez Chirillo announced on Thursday that Argentina had reduced its energy subsides by $2.7 billion in the first seven month of the year, as part the government's aim to reduce its fiscal deficit. Rodriguez Chirillo, in a meeting held with officials from the energy industry in Houston, said that Argentina achieved a surplus of $2.9 billion between January and July. "Our mission with the new model is to allow the investor to design his (...) model and know that he can export," said Rodriguez Chirillo.
Argentina's energy investments are expected to reach $15 billion next year due to deregulation
The Energy Secretary Eduardo Rodriguez Chirillo stated on Tuesday that Argentina expects to see investments in its energy sector reach $15 billion by 2025, and $16.5 billion by 2026 as a result of the market deregulation efforts. According to Rodriguez, the estimated expenditure includes additional funds flowing from the country's investment promotion regime RIGI, which Rodriguez estimates ranges from $2 billion to $25 billion per year. At an event hosted by Shell…
Russia invites Saudi Crown Prince to October BRICS Summit
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, announced on Monday that Russia had invited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from October 22-24 to attend a BRICS Summit in Kazan. Last year, the bloc of developing countries invited Saudi Arabia and Iran to join, as well as Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates. The move was intended to accelerate its efforts to reshuffle an outdated world order. Lavrov is in Saudi Arabia on an official trip.
Pampa Energia, Argentina raises over $400 mln for Vaca Muerta campaign
Pampa Energia, a natural gas producer in Argentina, announced a $410 million debt issuance on Friday. This demonstrates investor confidence as the company expands its operations in the Vaca Muerta shale in the country. The massive shale deposits, where state-owned YPF, Vista Energy and other competitors are investing, is a bright point in the ongoing economic crisis of South America, marked by triple-digit rates of inflation. Pampa said that its new debt will be due in 2031, and it was issued with a 7.95% coupon.
Official from RPT-Argentina says that lithium and copper will drive metal exports up to $10 billion by 2027
Luis Lucero, Argentina's Mining Secretary, said that the country's mining exports would more than double in 2027 to $10 billion from $4 billion. This is due to a slew of new lithium projects and a nascent push for copper. Lucero, in his first remarks to the international media after taking office in April this year, said that lithium for electric batteries would be the main driver of the mining boom. A number of projects are set to enter production by the end of the year.
BHP's return in Argentina is a new sign of hope for copper mines that are still untapped
More than half a dozen officials from the mining industry said that a new incentive program for mining in Argentina has attracted major players like BHP. They are now looking to the South American nation as the next frontier for the copper market. BHP's investment in Argentina last month was the first time in 20 years that BHP had invested in mining. The company teamed up in the $3.25billion buyout of Filo Corp with Canada's Lundin Mining with the goal of developing two mines of copper along the Andes Mountains bordering Chile.
Shell Restarts Operations in Vaca Muerta Block
Oil company Royal Dutch Shell Plc said on Tuesday it had resumed activities at its Bajada de Añelo block in Argentina's Vaca Muerta area after seismic activity in the region led to a halt late last week."Shell Argentina resumed its activities on Pad 22 of the Bajada de Añelo block, after determining that the conditions for a safe and sustainable return to work were guaranteed," the company said in a statement.The oil firm said on Saturday it had suspended activities after seismic movements in an area of Argentina's Neuquén province near the Andes mountains bo
