Asia / Pacific

State media reported that a preliminary investigation into the 'deadliest mining disaster in China in over 15 years' revealed unmarked tunnels, fake doors, and missing trackers. The government has pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly, despite the fact that it is still early in the process. A gas explosion at the Liushenyu Mine in the coal-rich Shanxi province in northern China killed 82 people late Friday night. State media reported that two people were still missing and 128 others hospitalized. This is the worst mining accident to have occurred in China since 2009. A gas explosion in the Xinxing Mine,...

Calculations showed that the price of Russian oil, in roubles, has dropped 11% in May from April due to the strengthening of the rouble and lower global oil prices on anticipation of an agreement ending Iran's war. The Russian authorities use oil prices in roubles to calculate the mineral extraction tax. The?levy is the single biggest tax on the oil sector, and accounts for about a fifth (or more) of the total Russian budget revenue. The calculations show that the average price of oil in April was 7,299 roubles per barrel, the highest level since October 2023. The price in...

U.S. president?Donald Trump said on 'Monday that it should be mandatory for all countries, including Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, to sign the Abraham Accords en bloc as part?of a?effort to reach a?deal with Iran. Trump said he spoke to the leaders of these countries on Saturday, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, which has already signed the Abraham Accords. Trump said in a post posted on Truth?Social that it was "mandatory" that at least all these countries sign the Abraham Accords simultaneously. He said that these countries would be honored to have Iran included in the...

The Iran War has impacted crude oil and natural gas markets. However, the impact on coal prices has been muted. Prices for thermal grades are quietly rising to multi-year highs. The conflict between the United States of America and Iran has led to the loss of about 10% of crude oil and a fifth of LNG. However, the thermal coal supply has been largely unaffected by the conflict, despite the fact that the cost of shipping and producing has increased due to higher fuel prices. Coal prices are likely to be driven by a number of factors, including the Iran...

Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian Finance Minister, urged India to concentrate on fuels and fertilisers and to save foreign exchange amid the Gulf Crisis. Modi called for Indians this month to save fuel, avoid buying gold, and take other austerity measures to manage the energy crisis and economic headwinds. Sitharaman stated that it was important for the Prime Minister to call on all countries to conserve their foreign currency as much as possible. She added that this should be considered when focusing on the 3Fs (fuel, fertilizer and foreign exchange). India is suffering from the effects of high crude oil prices and...

Dealers said that India's state-owned fuel retailers raised diesel prices by 2.71 rupees ($0.0283) and petrol by 2.61 rupees per litre, marking the fourth increase in a month to recover some losses caused by higher crude oil costs as a result of the Iran War. Indian state fuel retailers who control 90% of the Indian market began increasing pump prices on May 15, after elections were completed in certain key states. Since then, the state companies have increased?the price of petrol and diesel by approximately 7.8% and 8.6% respectively. New Delhi petrol will cost 102.12 rupees per litre, and diesel...

Indian state-owned fuel retail companies raised the price of 'petrol and diesel for the third time this month. Dealers said that the companies are attempting to recover losses caused by the inflated crude oil prices during the Iran War. Dealers said that the price of petrol in New Delhi would increase by 0.87 rupees, or just under one U.S. penny, to 99.51 rupees, and diesel prices would rise 0.91 rupees, or 0.92 rupees, to 92.49 Rupees per litre. India, which is the third largest?importer of oil and a consumer, was the last of the major economies to increase?retail fuel costs...

France has written a U.N. Security Council Resolution on setting up a international mission to restore?movement?in Strait of Hormuz?and You could submit it, if The conditions are "right",?the Foreign Ministry said on Friday as Washington struggled to put to a vote an anti-Tehran text that Russia and China might claim is biased. The control of the narrow waterway is a major obstacle to ending the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has lasted for three months. It's a vital artery in the global energy trade, and its virtual closure caused oil prices to skyrocket. The U.S. and Bahraini resolutions on the strait have...

Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, said that although there has been some progress in talks with Iran, and the United States is constantly communicating?with pakistani'mediators', there is still a lot more work to be done. There has been progress. I would not exaggerate. "I wouldn't minimize it," Rubio said to reporters following a NATO Ministers Meeting in Sweden. He added, "There is still more work to do." "We are not yet there." "I hope we get there." Rubio stated that President Donald Trump prefers to make a "good deal". He said that the core concern is that Iran cannot...

Sources with knowledge of this matter said that a Qatari team was in Tehran Friday to "try to secure a deal" to end the "war" with Iran and to resolve outstanding issues. Doha had previously acted as a mediator for the Gaza War and other international conflicts, but it has now backed away from a role of mediation in the Iran War after being attacked by Iranian drones and missiles in the most recent conflict. The source added that "a Qatari team of negotiators is in Tehran this Friday" and that they had traveled in coordination with the United States....

Shiptracking data and three trade sources have confirmed that the first cargo of jet fuel from Northeast Asia to Europe has been shipped since the Iran war began at the end of February. Asian supplies are up, but European commercial stock levels remain low. Shiptracking data from Kpler and LSEG, as well as a fourth source, showed that around 745,000 barrels of aviation fuel from Yeosu, South Korea, were loaded onto the Seriana from May 1-6, and then transferred to Yuan Lan Wan, near the Strait of Malacca, on May 18-21. According to LSEG and two trade sources, the volumes...

The advisor to the president of the United Arab Emirates said that there is a 50-50 chance of a U.S. - Iran peace agreement. However, he stressed that any settlement should address the causes of instabilities in the region, if it's to prevent future conflict. Pakistan is mediating a U.S. - Iran ceasefire in order to end a war that has shaken 'the global economy, and disrupted the trade through the Strait of Hormuz. This route is a major one for oil and liquefied gas shipments around the world. "There is a 50% chance that we'll reach an agreement." Anwar...

Aluminum prices reached their highest level in over four years on Tuesday as rising feedstock prices, alumina,?added?to persistent concerns?about a tightening?market amid a?reduced supply from Gulf producers. The London Metal Exchange's three-month aluminium rose by 1.4%, to $3,698.50 at 0937 GMT, after reaching $3,707.5. This is the highest level since March 24, 2020. On March 7, 2022 the metal reached a record high of $4.073.5, as markets grappled with the immediate aftermath of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. A 5% increase in September alumina contracts on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which rose to their highest level since early May due to...

The disparity between China's low steel production and its robust imports of?iron ore is still evident, but it is now starting to appear as a structural shift instead of a temporary dislocation. China, which accounts for just over half the world's total steel production, produced 86.63 metric tons of steel in April. This is a 2.8% drop from the same period in 2025 and the lowest April figure since 2018. Steel production for the first four months of the year was 331.12 millions tons, down 4.1% from last year's same period. According to official statistics, however, iron ore exports increased...

Analysts expect that the worst mining disaster in China's history will have a negative impact on the coal supply during the summer, when demand is usually high. Gas explosions at Liushenyu Mine in Northern?Shanxi Province killed 82 people late Friday night. Officials called for better safety oversight. President?Xi _Jinping has ordered an investigation. How much coal mining has been halted due to safety checks? According to an analysis by Mysteel analysts, as of Monday, 319,000 tons of coal per day were halted in 109 mines across Shanxi for safety inspections. This is typical after a fatal accident. Mysteel stated that...

The dollar and oil prices fell on Monday, as a result of hopes for a possible peace agreement between the United States and Iran. This eased fears about inflation and an economic slowdown. By 0845 GMT, the most traded copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had gained 1.1%, to 105.650 yuan (15,548.76 dollars) per ton. We are hearing some good news about the conflict. Soni Kumari, an ANZ analyst, said that the positive market sentiment is a result of this. The Middle East conflict has caused supply disruptions, which have a negative impact on the demand for base metals....

The dollar and oil prices fell on Monday, as hopes of a possible peace deal between the United States and Iran grew. This eased fears about inflation and an economic slowdown. By 0552 GMT, the most traded copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had gained 0.9%, to 105.370 yuan (15,507.56) per ton. "We're getting positive news about the conflict." Soni Kumari, an ANZ analyst, said that this is good news for the industrial metals market. The Middle East conflict has caused supply disruptions, which is why metals demand remains strong, according to Kumari. Oil prices fell below $100 per...

Copper prices rose on Monday, as the dollar and oil fell in anticipation of a possible 'peace agreement' between Iran and the United States. This eased fears about inflation and an economic slowdown. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract rose 1.1%, to 105 590 yuan (15,539.93 dollars) per ton. Oil prices fell below $100 per barrel as oil traders awaited the announcement of a U.S. Iran deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz. The Middle East conflict has caused energy prices to rise sharply, raising inflation fears and changing the outlook for global interest rates. Hopes of a peaceful...

Authorities said that a'strong earthquake' struck Chile’s mining region?Antofagasta?on Monday afternoon, disrupting operations at?some mines, but ultimately saving lives and critical infrastructure. Major miners have reported minimal damage from the magnitude 6.9 quake that struck the heart of the largest copper producing country in the world. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the depth of the earthquake at 109 kilometers (68 miles). A spokesperson for Chilean copper miner Codelco said that some activities were halted due to a?lack of visibility or disruption of electricity in certain?areas. BHP and Antofagasta, both mining companies, said that their operations were not affected by earthquake....

Norilsk Nickel's board recommended that there be no dividend payouts in 2025. It added on?Monday, it was prioritising the financial stability of its company during a time of "elevated economic instability". Nornickel, if approved, would withhold?its annual dividend for the fourth consecutive year. In 2022 the Russian metals manufacturer's finances deteriorated because of geopolitical forces. On June 30, shareholders in one of world's largest nickel producers and the largest palladium producer will discuss the proposal. Nornickel hasn't paid a full-year dividend since 2024, nor for 2022, 2023 or 2024, due to Western sanctions and the falling price of its main...

Mount Everest Expedition operators should focus on the experience of climbers and their 'knowledge' to reduce risks and minimise deaths, according to a British climber who is a guide and has made more ascents up the mountain than any other non-Sherpa. Five people died on Everest in this year. Some had problems at high elevations and needed to be rescued while descending. Kenton Cool, 52 who last week climbed Everest for the?20th time, said that climbing it wasn't as risky as people thought if you used the right techniques, guides and planning. Cool said that operators should be more careful...

Prices of Chinese 'coking coal' soared to their highest level in nearly two weeks on Monday, after a series of strict safety checks were conducted at coal mines as a result of a fatal mine accident that occurred near a key production hub. This led to expectations of a tightening of supply. The gas explosion that occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in northern Shanxi province late Friday night has claimed the lives of 82 people. This is the deadliest mining accident to have happened in China since 2009. Local officials announced at a Sunday 'news conference' that the mine...

Myanmar's military launched a renewed offensive into several border areas, including an area with rare earth deposits, and other important trade routes. This comes a month after the new administration officially took control of this?war-torn nation. Ye Win Oo is the new military chief who took over in March, after his longtime predecessor left to become president. He has been aggressively reclaiming strategic border strongholds that ethnic armies have taken control of in recent years. Recent military offensives focused on Kachin State - a region rich with heavy rare earth elements bordering China - as well as Chin State near...

Prices of Chinese coking coal soared to their highest level in almost two weeks on Monday, after a 'wave' of safety checks in coal mines in response to a fatal mine accident that occurred in a key production hub. This triggered expectations for a tightening in supply. The gas explosion that occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in the northern province of Shanxi on Friday night has claimed the lives of 82 people. This is the deadliest mining accident to have happened in the country since 2009. Local officials announced at a Sunday news conference that the mine belongs to...