Shell completes survey of Venezuelan gas field as winding down of license approaches
Shell, the oil and gas company, plans to finish a marine survey of the offshore Dragon gas field in Venezuela before the May deadline set by the United States to close all energy licenses in the country. According to LSEG vessel tracking data, the Colombian-flagged Dona Jose II survey vessel arrived in Venezuela sanctioned by the U.S. this month to collect data for Shell and Trinidad’s National Gas Company. Two sources said that the exploration work will be completed within the next few weeks and allow the company determine drilling locations as well as pipeline design, should Washington allow the development of the project, which is planned to supply gas to Trinidad.
Asian countries are looking to purchase more US energy in order to balance trade imbalance
As they try to reduce their trade surpluses with Washington, Asian governments are buying more U.S. gas and oil in order to ease their tariff burdens due to President Donald Trump’s new import duties. Many Asian countries have large trade surpluses and also are major energy importers. Trump's tariffs have caused economic and market turmoil. Here are some measures Asian countries will take to increase their purchases of U.S. gas and oil. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia said to local media that Indonesia would propose an increase in its imports from the United States of crude oil and LPG (liquefied Petroleum Gas) of around $10 billion, as part of its negotiations on tariffs.
Asian countries are looking to purchase more US energy in order to balance trade imbalance
As they try to reduce their trade surpluses with Washington, Asian governments are buying more U.S. gas and oil in order to ease their tariff burdens due to President Donald Trump’s new import duties. Many Asian countries have large trade surpluses and also are major energy importers. Trump's tariffs have shook markets and economies. Here are some measures Asian countries will take to increase their purchases of U.S. gas and oil. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia said to local media that Indonesia would propose an increase in its imports from the United States of crude oil and LPG (liquefied Petroleum Gas) of around $10 billion, as part of its negotiations on tariffs.
Venture Global LNG starts commercial operations at Calcasieu Pass plant
Venture Global LNG announced on Tuesday that it has started commercial operations at the Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana. This comes more than three year after the company produced its first liquefied gas. The move to commercial operations means the Arlington-headquartered company has brought an end to the extended commission of the plant which resulted in its customers taking legal action to try and force it to provide them with their contracted cargoes. Many LNG plants take months to commission a plant or ensure that its systems work as intended. Calcasieu Pass took three years to commission, or ensure that the plant's systems are working as designed.
ADM to cut jobs in Shanghai after halting its domestic trade in China
Global grain merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland has begun shutting down domestic trading operations in China and laying off staff within its largest business segment as part of a global cost-cutting push, the company said in an emailed statement on Monday. ADM's earnings are declining due to the slumping of crop prices, reduced consumer demand from inflation and low crop processing margins. Operating profit in ADM's large Agricultural Services and Oilseeds division (AS&O), which is its largest division, was down by 40% last year. ADM is facing new challenges as a result of the rising trade tensions between Washington, D.C. and Beijing.
Indian gas firm GAIL seeks 26% stake in US LNG
GAIL India Ltd. issued a tender Friday for a maximum 26% stake in an American liquefied gas project, along with a 15 year gas import agreement. This will help New Delhi to reduce its trade surplus. India is racing to be the first country to sign a deal with the United States after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs. This has led to a trade conflict with China, and other countries are now trying to negotiate. Trump has made it clear that he views U.S. gasoline as a bargaining tool. The document on GAIL's website shows that the company is seeking to purchase equity in a project for LNG liquefaction, either an existing project or one new.
Palm oil is gaining to follow Chicago soyoils and crude oil higher
Malaysian palm oils futures climbed slightly higher on Tuesday after three sessions of losses. They mirrored the movement in crude oil, Chicago soyoil and other commodities, but concerns over high Malaysian stocks of palm oil capped gains. At closing, the benchmark palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange for June delivery gained 2 ringgit (0.05%) to 4,187 Ringgit ($932.72) per metric ton. Early in the session the contract climbed as high as 2.27%, but palm oil "struggled" to remain upbeat due to weak fundamentals, a Kuala Lumpur based trader noted, citing the expectation of higher stock levels in March.
Venture Global reports that it exported 29 cargoes of LNG from Plaquemines plant in Q1
Venture Global, a U.S. developer of liquefied gas in Louisiana, exported 29 cargoes during the first quarter 2025 from its Plaquemines plant. The company announced this in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. Venture Global reported that it had received an average fixed liquefaction charge of $7.26 for every million British thermal unit (mmBtu), from its Plaquemines Plant, in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company played a key role in helping America become the largest exporter of super-cooled gas, by producing LNG ahead of schedule at its plants even while parts of them remain under construction.
Trump's tariffs have already been carved out in a significant way. Russell: Oil and gas
Energy commodities were excluded from the new tariffs announced by U.S. president Donald Trump. White House announced on Wednesday that the baseline of 10% for all imports into the United States and even higher for major trading partners will not apply to crude oil and natural gas, or refined products. The exemption of energy imports is an obvious tactic that will limit the pain Americans feel as a result of tariffs. It also fits in with Trump's larger goal to keep energy costs low. The rest of the world will also be faced with a dilemma in how to respond to Trump's disruption of the global trade system.
Trump tariffs stymie M&As and IPOs during what was expected to be a record-breaking quarter
The global trade war started by U.S. president Donald Trump, and the subsequent market turmoil, has shattered bankers' expectations for a strong start to Wall Street deals in 2018. Dealogic data for the first quarter showed that mergers and purchases volume increased 12.6% from the year-ago period to $984.38 Billion. The Asia Pacific region was largely responsible for this, where three state-run deals announced on Sunday by China and a port deal driven by Trump nearly doubled the M&A volume compared to last year. Worldwide, banks are reducing deals and revenue. The first quarter volume in the U.S. fell 13%, to $436.56 Billion. This is almost half of all global M&A deals.
M&A revenues fall as Trump pursues his tariffs. Global deal activity is disappointing
The global trade war started by U.S. president Donald Trump, and the subsequent market turmoil, has shattered bankers' expectations for a strong start to Wall Street deals in 2018. Dealogic data for the first quarter showed that mergers and purchases volume increased 12.6% from the year-ago period to $984.38 Billion. The Asia Pacific region was largely responsible for this, where three state-run deals announced on Sunday by China and a port deal driven by Trump nearly doubled the M&A volume compared to last year. Worldwide, banks are reducing deals and revenue. The first quarter volume in the U.S. fell 13%, to $436.56 Billion. This is almost half of all global M&A deals.
German power prices are boosted by mixed wind signals
German spot power prices for Tuesday were more than twice as high as the French equivalent contract at the start of trading on Monday. This is because wind power supplies are down in Germany, but increasing in France. Demand in the entire region has also increased. By 848 GMT on Tuesday, the German baseload electricity for that day was priced at 97.50 euro ($105.58). The French power for that same day was priced at 45 euros/MWh. On Friday, neither contract was traded for delivery on Monday. Florine Enengl, LSEG analyst, says that Germany will be a net exporter of goods on Tuesday except for a couple hours in the morning or evening.
The prize is worth billions of dollars, but winning it is the key: Russell
Decarbonising steel is one of the biggest challenges to meeting climate goals. However, it could be extremely profitable for those companies and governments willing to take on the risk. Steel value chain is responsible for 7 to 9% global carbon emissions. It is the biggest industrial contributor, and therefore a primary target for many countries' and companies' goals for net-zero in 2050. About 80% of the steel emissions are caused by one single process. This is the removal of oxygen and other impurities from iron ore to produce pig iron, or crude iron. The process now requires vast amounts of coal.
Can Trump's drive for critical minerals pass the test of copper? Andy Home
The executive order issued by U.S. president Donald Trump on increasing domestic mineral production is designed to cut through the mine permit maze in the United States. According to S&P Global, it takes on average nearly 29 years to bring a new mine from discovery to production. This is the second longest lead time in the entire world, after Zambia. The U.S. Government is uniquely qualified to address the problem of granting permits on federal land. The Joe Biden administration had a difficult time reconciling its desire to produce more "green metals" for the energy shift with its environmental and socio-political credentials. Trump is not averse to such criticism.
Nigeria’s Refining Revolution is Reshaping West Africa’s Energy Landscape
The launch of the Dangote Refinery near the Port of Lagos presents an exciting opportunity to transform the energy and shipping markets in West Africa. And it stands to boost Nigeria’s role as an influential player in the global oil industry, fostering economic growth and regional development.Nigeria’s standing in the global energy landscape is getting a boost with domestic refining capacity expanding in 2025. The Dangote Refinery near Lagos presents a transformative opportunity for Nigeria’s economy and is expected to reshape global tanker routes and trade flows.The country has long been a leading exporter of crude oil, taking advantage of its abundant natural reserves.
The drilling of the offshore gas project in Romanian Black Sea has begun.
On Tuesday, the owners of Romania's Neptun Deep offshore project announced that drilling had begun in the Black Sea. This could lead to the production of one the EU's biggest gas deposits in 2027, which would ease the transition from Russian gas. Neptun Deep is jointly owned by the oil and gas company OMV Petrom, and Romania's Romgaz. It holds approximately 100 billion cubic metres of recoverable gas. OMV Petrom, a majority-owned company of Austria's OMV, is the largest shareholder in Neptun Deep. Neptun Deep is expected to double Romania's production of gas and turn it into a net-exporter…
South Korea hosts Alaska Governor, energy team amid talks of gas pipeline
Alaskan state officials, including the governor, and energy officials will visit South Korea Tuesday amid expectations that talks with U.S. ally countries in Asia can revive a natural gas project that has been stalled. The main U.S. Business lobby in Seoul announced that the delegation of Governor Mike Dunleavy will include representatives from the Glanfarne Group, which is a partner on the project to transport natural gas from Alaska's remote northern region via a $44-billion pipeline, and the state agency for gas. It said that the officials will meet with senior South Korean officials…
Indonesia Minister says other countries will not follow U.S. withdrawal from JETP Energy Transition Funding
A senior Indonesian Minister said that the United States' decision not to continue with the Just Energy Transition Partnership (a commitment of developed countries to fund energy transition) will have no impact on the commitments made by the other partners. JETP, a global financing initiative that brings together rich nations with lenders from around the world to assist poorer countries adopt cleaner energy sources, has allocated $20 billion for Indonesia to reduce its emissions. Earlier this week, the U.S. announced that it was withdrawing from its JETP agreements with Indonesia and South Africa. The U.S. commitment to Indonesia is over $2 billion.
Palmetto slips with a second consecutive weekly loss
Palm oil ended lower on Friday, and recorded a second consecutive weekly loss. This was due to a decline in Chicago soyoil and the persistently slow performance of Malaysian palm oil exports. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in June on the Bursa Derivatives exchange lost 37 ringgit or 0.84% to 4,376 Ringgit ($990.27). The contract has lost 4.37% in the last week. Anilkumar bagani, Sunvin Group's head of research, said that the futures traded sideways with prices opening lower. This was due to the weakness in Chicago soybean futures as well as a slowdown in Malaysian palm oil. Both countries are among the top palm oil importers in the world.
VEGOILS - Palm up in hopes of better demand, but second consecutive weekly loss
Palm oil prices rose on Friday, on the hope of improved demand from India and China. However, they were still heading for their second consecutive weekly loss because of weakness in Chicago soyoil contracts and Malaysian palm oil exports that have been slowing down. By midday, the benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in June on the Bursa Derivatives Market gained 5 ringgit or 0.11% to 4,418 Ringgit ($999.32). This week, the contract has fallen by 3.45%. Anilkumar bagani, Sunvin Group's head of research, said that the futures traded sideways with prices opening lower. This was due to the weakness in Chicago soybean futures as well as a slowdown in Malaysian palm oil.
