Two Risks Threaten Commodities: Russell
It's not quite time to run up the red flags, but some recent developments in commodity markets suggest it may be time to start looking for them in the locker. The are two main factors that appear to be emerging that may threaten an end to the current quite rosy picture surrounding demand for commodities such as iron ore…
China Still the Main Game for Commodity Demand: Russell
China strode like a colossus over major commodity markets in 2017, as the world's biggest buyer of natural resources made its presence felt on demand for coal, iron ore, crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). China's influence on major commodities is likely to remain the single most important factor driving supply and demand in 2018…
Coking Coal Bubble to Deflate, Unlikely to Burst
When the price of a commodity rises by 117 percent in a mere 15 weeks, it's generally a sign that something is amiss in the market, and coking coal's recent stellar run is no exception to this rule. The spot price of Australian premium hard coking coal has surged from $83.40 a tonne on May 31 to $180.90 on Sept.
China's Hebei Province Sees Growth at 6.8%
China's biggest steel-producing province, Hebei, expects to achieve economic growth of 6.8 percent in 2015 from the previous year, state media said on Sunday, as the area grapples with tougher anti-pollution measures and slowing demand. The province surrounding the capital, Beijing, churns out nearly a quarter of Chinese steel output…
China Carbon Trading not all Bad News
China's planned national cap-and-trade carbon emissions system may at first appear to be yet another bearish factor for commodity demand in the world's largest consumer of natural resources. In theory, limiting the amount of carbon emissions by setting a price per tonne and then making polluters…
China Imports add to Slowing Growth Narrative
If the state of China's economy was to be judged solely on the strength of imports of major commodities, it would be a reasonable conclusion that things were pretty much fine. April imports of crude oil hit a record high, iron ore imports were slightly down but the year-to-date figure is still in positive territory…
New Dawn for Mexican Steel Puts Brazil in the Shade
Mexico is emerging as the preferred choice for investors in Latin American steel making as a landmark energy reform and exposure to a U.S. recovery help outshine regional rival Brazil, where the gloom of recession has taken hold. While steel executives in Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy…
China Aug Power Output Falls First Time in 4 yrs
China's power output, a bellwether for economic activity, posted its first annual decline in more than four years in August, adding to evidence that the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum after a brief rebound in the second quarter. Power output in the world's top consumer fell…
Egypt Needs Anti-Dumping Duties if Energy Subsidies Cut
Egypt needs to impose anti-dumping duties to protect power-hungry industries including steel if the government reduces energy subsidies, one of its top steelmakers said on Thursday. Energy subsidies are one of the most explosive issues facing Egypt's former army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose…
