Commodities Weigh Trump Win, Tariff Threats
Commodities reacted with trepidation to the election of Donald Trump to a second term as U.S. President, with most losing ground over fears the global economy will be hit by a new tariff war.The downbeat reaction was in stark contrast to U.S. equities, which surged to record highs amid optimism that Trump's agenda of lower taxes will boost growth, at least in the United States.The contrasting response to Trump's victory over Democrat nominee and now outgoing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris showed exactly why the likely…
Commodities fall amid increased risks of Trump's second-term: Russell
Commodities have reacted to Donald Trump's election to a second U.S. term with fear, and most are losing ground due to fears that a new trade war will hit the global economy. The negative reaction contrasted sharply with the record-breaking performance of U.S. stocks, which rose to new highs amid optimism about Trump's tax cut agenda, at least for the United States. The contrasting reaction to Trump's win over Democrat nominee, and now departing U.S. vice president Kamala Harris, showed why it is difficult to predict the impact of Trump's return as the White House. Take crude oil as an example.
Who Will Pay for the Energy Transition?
The transition from a fossil-fuel dominated energy system to one with zero emissions would require trillions of dollars of investment in new production, distribution and consumption equipment worldwide.New investments could support millions of new jobs in construction and manufacturing, but policymakers are struggling to decide whether to recover the costs from consumers or taxpayers.In most countries, the cost of providing energy commodities and services, including gas, electricity, other heating fuels, and road fuels…
Vitol, ENH Form LNG Trading JV
Commodity trading company Vitol and the Mozambican state-owned oil and gas company ENH have formed ENH Energy Trading, a partnership focused on trading oil products.The Dutch energy and commodity trading company said in a press note that ENH Energy Trading will initially be owned 51% by ENH and 49% by Vitol. It is anticipated ENH’s share will increase over time.ENH Energy Trading will focus on energy commodities, in particular LNG, LPG and condensate, enabling ENH to create additional value and develop expertise in trading energy commodities.Mozambique has an estimated 125 TCF of technically recoverable gas resources.
Suez Canal Accounts for 8% of LNG Trade
Total oil flows through the Suez Canal and the SUMED pipeline accounted for about 9% of total seaborne traded petroleum in 2017, and LNG flows through the Suez Canal and the SUMED pipeline accounted for about 8% of global LNG trade."The Suez Canal and the SUMED Pipeline are strategic routes for Persian Gulf crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG shipments to Europe and North America," U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.Located in Egypt, the Suez Canal connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, and…
Oil Rises On U.S.-China Trade Talk Optimism
Oil prices climbed around 3 percent on Wednesday as the extension of U.S.-China talks in Beijing raised hopes that the world's two largest economies would resolve their trade standoff.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $51.36 per barrel at 1500 GMT, up $1.58, or 3.17 percent, the first time this year that WTI has topped $50.International Brent crude futures were up $1.63, or 2.78 percent, at $60.35 per barrel.Both crude price benchmarks added to Tuesday's 2 percent gains and have now been on the rise for eight straight days - their longest rally since June 2017."After a dreadful December for risk markets…
EnBW: No Impact on Coal Generation from Low Rhine Water
German utility EnBW said on Friday it had enough stocks and rail transport options for the time being to secure coal deliveries from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp port areas while the river Rhine had low water levels. "There are currently no important limitations on our coal receipts via the Rhine," a spokeswoman said in a written response to questions. She said EnBW’s coal plants had rail network connections as well as access to barge ports. On-site coal stocks were well filled, she said. As a result of dry weather…
U.S. Managing Director of Trader AOT Energy Departs
Lance Perdue, managing director for energy commodities trader AOT Energy Americas in Houston, has left, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. It was not immediately clear where he was going. Swiss-based AOT Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Perdue served as managing director for AOT Energy Americas since August 2016, and before that spent three and a half years as a commercial manager for the trader. Prior to joining AOT Energy he held senior positions at Glencore and Cargill. Reporting by Liz Hampton in Houston and Devika Krishna-Kumar in New York
Sanjeev Gupta to Buy US-based Steel Assets in 2018
British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta is in talks to purchase and build more U.S.-based steel and industrial assets next year, after buying ArcelorMittal's Georgetown Steelworks at the weekend. Gupta, executive chairman of GFG Alliance which is a $10 billion metals, industrials and energy group, has been snapping up distressed industrial assets in Britain, Australia and the United States in the past few years. Last week, GFG Alliance struck a deal with UK-based tidal power firm Atlantis Resources to form a listed company that marked Gupta's first step onto the stock market, with further such steps expected next year.
BP, Shell to Lead Blockchain-Based Energy Effort
A consortium including energy companies BP and Royal Dutch Shell will develop a blockchain-based digital platform for energy commodities trading expected to start by end-2018, the group said on Monday. Other members of the consortium include Norwegian oil firm Statoil, trading houses Gunvor, Koch Supply & Trading, and Mercuria, and banks ABN Amro, ING and Societe Generale. Blockchain technology, which first emerged as the architecture underpinning cryptocurrency bitcoin, uses a shared database that updates itself in real-time and can process and settle transactions in minutes using computer algorithms…
South Korean Yards Eyed for $3.8 Bln LNG Shipbuilding Deal
A little-known investment company said it intends to order up to 20 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, probably from South Korean shipbuilders. The contracts would be worth as much as $3.8 billion, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. CBI Energy and Chemical, which is controlled by Australian and Canadian investors and has offices in Hong Kong, also said in a statement to Reuters that it would be seeking to buy floating LNG production and import facilities as part of an ambitious plan for Africa and Asia.
US Shale Cash Markets Offer Hope amid Gloom
In shale strongholds of North Dakota and Texas, physical crude grades are trading at the highest premiums to futures prices in years, offering a glimmer of hope that a pickup in global oil markets might follow. While crude futures hover around 6-1/2-year lows, the cash markets, where producers and refiners buy and sell physical barrels of oil, are sending a more optimistic, if short-term, signal. West Texas Intermediate crude delivered to Midland, Texas <WTC-WTM>, at the heart of the Permian Basin, is trading at a record $2.75 premium to benchmark U.S. futures.
Oil moves Nears Six-Year Low on Japan, Rig Data
Japan economy shrinks in Q2; U.S. rig additions rise for fourth straight week. Oil fell towards six-year lows on Monday, on data showing the economy of Japan, the world's third biggest oil consumer, contracted in the second quarter. The global oversupply picture was exacerbated by another weekly jump in U.S. oil rig additions, hinting at growing production, and news that Oman produced a record-breaking 1 million barrels a day in July. U.S. crude, or West Texas Intermediate (WTI), for September was trading 36 cents lower at $42.14 a barrel at 1038 GMT, close to its lowest level in more than six years.
U.S. Energy Security: Maritime Infrastructure Investment is a Key, says Moniz
The maritime industry was front and center yesterday in Washington, D.C., as “getting more oil on the water” was touted as one piece of the puzzle in ensuring future U.S. energy security, said U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. Sec. Moniz spoke yesterday at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2015 EIA Energy Conference at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington, DC. Building U.S. energy security via a strategic evaluation of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was central to his comments, noting that the size, shape, release triggers and distribution channels of the SPR oil are under review.
U.S. Shale Firms Hedging as Oil Rebounds
Oil's 'fear gauge' falls 30 pct to lowest since December. U.S. oil producers are rushing to take advantage of the rebound in oil markets by locking in prices for next year and beyond, safeguarding future supplies and possibly paving the way for a rebound in production. The flurry of hedging activity in the past month will help sustain producers' revenues even if oil markets tumble again, which is bad news for OPEC nations, such as Saudi Arabia, that are counting on low prices to stunt the rapid rise of U.S. shale and other competitors.
Oil Glut Strains West Texas Storage Logistics
Four-hundred miles from the near overflowing tanks at the U.S. oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, a second glut in the Permian Basin of West Texas is pressuring oil prices once again as pipeline disruptions strand millions of barrels in the region. The Permian, the fastest-growing shale play, accounts for about a fifth of the country's total oil production, and is expected to produce about 2 million barrels of crude a day in May. The region houses over 20 million barrels of crude storage. Stockpiles in the Permian have hit several records in the last four weeks, according to data from industry information provider Genscape.
MOL JV Ink Deal for 2 LNG Vessels
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced today that through a joint venture ship-owning company with Itochu Corporation charter agreements have been signed with E.ON Global Commodities SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of E.ON SE. The joint venture also signed a deal with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.’s shipyard in Korea to build maximum of two new 179,900m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to be able to fulfil the contractual requirements to EGC. MOL will manage the two new vessels, which will transport LNG from a shale gas liquefying plant in North America to Europe and other destinations around the world.
