Analysis: Commodities

Oil: Fresh boost due to supply tensions

The oil market slump did not last long. The decline in US production, temporarily affected by Hurricane Ida, has offset the increase in extractions decided by OPEC+, the organization following to the...

Precious metals: bad week for palladium, gold recovers

Gold rebounded above $1,800 on Friday, supported by bets that central banks could keep interest rates relatively low to stave off persistent growth risks. On the week, however, the ounce lost ground...

Sea freight: one route, two ways

Much has been written in recent months about the ins and outs of the current disruption of global freight. The result is an explosion in the cost of ocean freight, as illustrated by the Freightos...

Copper edges higher on weak dollar, U.S. jobs report eyed

Copper rose on Friday as the dollar sank to its lowest in almost a month, and was on track for a second straight weekly gain ahead of a crucial U.S. jobs report that is expected to guide markets on...

Gold extends decline on firmer dollar, pre-Jackson Hole jitters

Gold extended a retreat on Thursday as a firmer dollar and U.S. Treasury yields combined with uncertainty about the stance the Federal Reserve's could take on tapering of its economic support in its...

Corn down as USDA says U.S. crop better than expected

U.S. corn futures fell on Tuesday after a U.S. Department of Agriculture report eased concerns about the condition of crops in the United States. Soybeans firmed on hopes of more Chinese demand...

Commodities: A backlash and Beijing's iron ore offensive

The first half of the year has been full of twists and turns for commodity markets. Timber is certainly the most interesting case. Its price, which has doubled in a few months, is now back to levels...

Why the cost of ocean freight is set to rise further

ING experts believe that the cost of shipping has not yet finished rising. Shipping costs have risen sharply and fierce competition for ocean freight capacity is the new normal, they explain in a new...

Gold and cocoa miss out on broad-based commodity rebound

The commodity boom has been much talked about lately, especially its impact on inflation expectations. This gives us the opportunity to take a quick look at the situation in order to better understand...

CO2 prices become punitive for coal plants in Europe

The soaring price of European Union emissions permits is prompting more utilities to switch from high-carbon coal to natural gas for power generation in Germany, which could accelerate the phase-out...

Exclusive: Codelco chief bullish on copper price, fears fresh pandemic volatility

Copper prices are likely to remain strong, but the spread of COVID-19 variants could spark fresh volatility in the market, the chairman of Chilean state miner Codelco, the world's largest copper...

More than beans: Nestle recycles cocoa fruit waste to replace sugar in chocolate

As confectionery groups scramble to reduce added sugar, chocolate sweetened with cocoa fruit pulp is about to hit supermarket shelves with food giant Nestle ready to launch its Incoa bar....

Oil slips, retreats from gains notched on strong Chinese data

Oil prices edged lower on Monday, pulling back from early gains fostered on strong Chinese economic news and ongoing supply restraint from major oil producers....

Oil settles near $70/bbl on hopes of recovering demand

Oil settled near $70 a barrel on Friday, supported by production cuts by major oil producers and optimism about a demand recovery in the second half of the year....

On a retro style milk truck, London entrepreneur chases a 'zero waste' future

Heralded by the whirr of its underpowered electric engine and the clink of bottles stacked in crates on the back, Ella Shone's 'Topup Truck' started life ferrying morning milk to the doorsteps of...

England's sugar beet sector needs gene-editing - minister

Gene-editing could play a key role in England's sugar beet sector, Britain's farming and environment minister George Eustice said on Tuesday, reiterating his support for easing regulations covering...

EU envisages 1 billion euros aid to Ivory Coast to meet sustainable cocoa laws

The European Union envisages providing around one billion euros over six years to aid Ivory Coast's cocoa sector as it adapts to EU supply chain laws due to be introduced later this year, its envoy in...

Oil settles near 13-month highs; Texas deep freeze supports

Oil prices settled near 13-month highs on Tuesday, supported by a deep freeze in the U.S. South that shut wells and oil refineries in Texas....

Gold, silver funds see biggest weekly outflows in three months

Gold and silver mutual funds and ETFs witnessed the biggest outflows in three months in the week ended Feb. 10 as investors put their money into soaring equities and high-yielding bond markets....