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Marathon Petroleum starts national contract negotiations with union
United Steelworkers and Marathon Petroleum started negotiating on Friday for a multi-year contract with U.S. refinery and chemical plant employees?with just a week left before their current contract expires. If the union and Marathon fail to reach an agreement, the contract will expire shortly after midnight on February 1st. This could lead to thousands of workers walking off the job. The last nationwide strike, which took place 11 years ago, lasted six weeks. However strikes at individual plants continued through the summer. A total of 7,000 workers went on strike. As the leading company in the national pattern negotiations, Marathon has committed to engaging with the USW in productive negotiations and working towards a mutually-beneficial agreement. A USW representative failed to respond to a?comment request. In August, 300 representatives from USW local unions of?oil workers set goals for negotiations, including "significant" wage hikes,?limitations on health care costs, and rules governing the use artificial intelligence in plant operation. Inside refinery operators make around $50 per hour. The USW represents approximately 30,000 workers in plants that produce motor fuels and other plastics using crude oil. (Reporting and editing by Nathan Crooks, Edward Tobin, and Erwin Seba)
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Striking workers block access to Chilean Escondida and Zaldivar Copper Mines
BHP, the global mining company, said that striking contract workers were disrupting an important route which?provides access? to Chile's Escondida copper mines and Zaldivar?copper?mines. This is causing problems with shift changes and a?intermittent vehicle traffic?. Workers employed by Finning, who have been on strike for the past month, have set up intermittent blocks on the roads leading to BHP’s Escondida mine and Antofagasta Minerals’ Zaldivar mining. BHP confirmed the roadblocks affected vehicle traffic at Escondida and shift changes. "Our company was affected by a conflict with a third party for four days. The blockades on the mining route have caused intermittent vehicle traffic into and out of our operations. This has led to delays with shift changes. He added, "We urge the authorities and all parties involved to solve this problem so we can continue our work in a safe environment." Sources from the Union had earlier warned of the disruption of the "mining road," the access route that connects Antofagasta, a northern city in Chile, with mining sites. After their contract negotiations broke down, members of Union 2 at?the machinery contractor Finning that provides services to a variety of mining companies began their work stoppage. In the last four day, temporary blocks have increased. Antofagasta did not respond when asked for a comment. (Reporting and editing by Cassandra Garrison; Fabian Cambero)
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Speculative frenzy catapults silver above $100/oz
Silver prices soared to $100 per ounce in the first week of January, continuing a 2025 surge. Retail investor and momentum-driven purchases added to an extended period of tightness on physical markets. Technical analysts, who use charts to determine past price movements in order to predict future movement, said that silver's rapid gains were preparing it for a significant correction. Silver is currently in a frenzy, and the geopolitical risks are a big part of what is driving it. Its lower price is helping silver to benefit, even right now. She added, "It seems that everyone wants to get involved, but there are also warnings about wealth in amber." When cracks appear, they can easily turn into chasms. "Stabilize yourself." Silver, which is used for jewellery, electronics, and solar panels as well as investment, was last up 5.1% to $101 per troy-ounce on Friday. Price has risen by 40% since 2026, after a 147% increase in 2025. Gold reached a record-high of $4,988 an ounce on Saturday. BofA's Michael Widmer believes that the fundamentally justified price of silver is $60, with solar panel demand likely to have peaked by 2025. As of Friday, silver will cost 50 ounces to purchase one ounce gold, down from the April figure of 105 ounces. This is a ratio. Silver's performance over gold is no longer as strong, according to traders and analysts. INVESTMENT DEMAND The LSEG data from?1983, which includes silver's growth, shows that the gain of 2025 will be the?largest yearly increase. Market performance in 2025 will be influenced by a robust investment demand in all precious metals, and a prolonged period of low liquidity on the London benchmark silver market. This is due to fears about U.S. Tariffs which have led to massive inflows into U.S. stocks. Analysts report that since October, there have been several waves of retail purchases through the purchase of small coins and bars as well as influxes into exchange traded funds with physical silver backing. Recycling accounts for almost 20% of the total silver supply, which is 1.0 billion ounces. The activity has been boosted by record prices. Metals Focus, a leading precious metals consultancy, said that inventories are not rebuilding as quickly due to a lack of high-grade refinery capacity. After five years of structural deficits, which are expected to continue into 2026, the availability of stocks on the market and the secondary supply has become increasingly important. Metals Focus estimates that these deficits, as well as the outflows of money to the U.S., and the inflows of money to ETFs, saw the amount of gold which could be readily mobilised during periods of high demand, in London's commercial vaults, drop to a new record low of just 136 million ounces at the end of September. By the end of 2025, the stocks would have recovered to 200 million ounces, helping to lower lease rates in London. However, they were still far below the 360 million ounces that were available in London at the peak Reddit-driven rally early in 2021. WHAT NOW? Analysts anticipate a rapid increase in outflows from U.S. stocks, which will boost liquidity on the traditional markets. This is because Washington did not impose any tariffs after announcing its results in mid-January. COMEX stocks peaked at 532 millions ounces on October 3, The inventories of metals worth approximately $11 billion have dropped by 114 millions ounces. COMEX silver stocks need to continue to be sold at a rate of approximately 113 million ounces per year to reach the levels pre-Trump's election. David Wilson, senior commodities strategist at BNP Paribas, said that profit taking is more likely to occur sooner than later due to the investor-driven rally which has been in place since late November.
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Documents show that Newmont must approve Barrick's North America spinoff.
Documents seen by former Barrick executives and Canadian mining company Barrick show that the joint venture partner Newmont will be key to Barrick's plans to spin off North American assets. This is a dramatic change in fortunes for both global mining companies. The Denver-based Newmont has a lot of influence over Barrick's strategies. This is a big change from just a few short years ago, when the Canadian company had hoped to purchase Newmont's?minority?stake?in the Nevada mines. Barrick had tried to buy Newmont a decade before. Documents show that Newmont would have the right to first refusal if Barrick tried to sell its stakes in Nevada Gold Mines, NGM, which is the company's principal North American asset. Barrick holds 61.5% of the mine and Newmont has 38.5%. Barrick announced last year a restructuring to separate the North America operations from the riskier operations elsewhere in the world following the departure of former CEO Mark Bristow. Barrick's proposed initial IPO of North American assets include NGM, the Pueblo Viejo Mine in the Dominican Republic, and the underdeveloped Fourmile mine also in Nevada. The joint venture agreement between Barrick and Newmont, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifies that before selling its Nevada joint-venture interest to a third-party, either party has to offer it?to the member of the other party. The documents we have seen show that any transfer of shares must be approved by the other party. According to a source familiar with the project, Barrick will need Newmont to provide the capital to Fourmile. The miner has touted the development as its future flagship and it will be included in the IPO. Newmont's Natasha Viljoen, the incoming CEO of Newmont in October 2025 said that they were waiting to hear more information from Barrick prior to committing any additional capital. Barrick's attempt to restructure - potentially by splitting into 2 entities - is one of the most anticipated mining stories for 2026. This is due to the?strong interest from investors in gold bullion prices, which have been hitting record highs. The company will likely announce its plans during Q4 earnings in February. Barrick responded by email that it respected the joint venture agreement with Newmont, and adhered to all of its terms. Newmont spokesperson stated that the Nevada Gold Mines joint-venture agreement of the company has not been changed since it was made public. Newmont's spokesperson stated that "Newmont has no additional information beyond what is already in the public domain" regarding Barrick's possible IPO of North American gold assets. The company declined to comment on the Fourmile expansion. Barrick's shares rose 130% in 2025 but the company has had lower returns than its peers over the last five-year period, with a gain of 52%, while Agnico Eagle gained 142%. Barrick shares are still undervalued. According to three executives who are aware of the restructuring, Newmont's ability to influence the sale of Nevada mines even though it only has a minor stake is "unusual". Barrick was interested in buying Newmont, but the contract was negotiated after many years of back-and-forth between the two companies. Both companies formed a joint venture in Nevada after the merger failed. Former Barrick executive who was aware of the details of the joint venture said, "Newmont did a great job in being able call the shots. It wasn't long ago that Barrick tried to buy Newmont." Barrick experienced a turbulent year in 2025. The Mali military government took over the?mine and imprisoned its employees. It was only after the company negotiated an agreement to regain the mine and release its employees that the deal was reached. Barrick's former CEO has left the company, and it is now looking to restore investor trust under chairman John Thornton. Mark Hill, the interim CEO of Barrick, is in charge while Barrick searches for a new CEO who will have to deal with institutional investors like BlackRock and activist firm Elliott. Helen Cai was appointed as Barrick's new chief financial officer this month. Analysts expect that the combined entity could perform better than its current state. The North America business has a value of around $42 billion. The Toronto Stock Exchange traded shares of Barrick up by 1.90% on Friday, while the New York Stock Exchange traded shares up by 1.52%. (Divyarajagopal, Toronto; Editing done by Caroline Stauffer Veronica Brown David Gregorio).
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Sources say that Mexico is considering stopping oil shipments from Cuba due to Trump's retaliation.
Three sources with knowledge of the discussions say that the Mexican government is considering whether it should continue sending oil to Cuba. There are growing concerns within the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum about the possibility that the United States could retaliate against Mexico for this policy. The policy is vital to the Communist-run Caribbean island. The U.S. blocked oil tankers from Venezuela in December, and President Nicolas Maduro was captured this month. This has halted Venezuelan oil deliveries to Cuba. Mexico is now the sole supplier of energy for the island which suffers from massive blackouts and energy shortages. Mexico's role as a major oil supplier to Cuba also puts 'the U.S.'s southern neighbor in Washington's crosshairs. In a post on Truth Social dated January 11, President Donald Trump said that Cuba was "ready to fall". Sheinbaum said publicly that Mexico would continue to ship oil to Cuba. He explained that the shipments are part of long-term contracts, and they are considered international aid. Senior Mexican government sources, however, said that the policy was being reviewed internally as Sheinbaum's Cabinet grows increasingly anxious about the possibility of Trump becoming upset by the oil shipments. Mexico is trying negotiate a revision of the USMCA North American Trade Pact while also convincing Washington that it is doing enough in combating drug cartels, and that U.S. Military action against these groups on Mexican soil is neither welcomed nor necessary. Sources requested anonymity in order to discuss a sensitive issue. Sources say that the Mexican government is still undecided about its final decision. They have said that a total halt, a reduced amount, or a full continuation are all options. The Mexican presidency said that the country has "always been in solidarity" with the Cuban people and?added, shipping oil to Cuba as well as a separate agreement for paying for the services provided by Cuban doctors are "sovereign decisions." The Cuban government has not responded to a comment request. White House official: "As President said, Cuba has failed on its own accord... There will be no more oil or money coming to Cuba from Venezuela and he strongly recommends Cuba make a deal before too late." CARTELS ATTACKED by LAND ATTACKS Trump has increased pressure on Mexico in recent weeks. He says that the cartels run the country and that a ground attack against them is imminent. Sheinbaum has stressed repeatedly that any unilateral action by the U.S. Sheinbaum has repeatedly stressed that any unilateral?U.S. One of the sources said: "There's a growing concern that the United States might take unilateral action against our territory." Two sources claim that during a telephone call with Sheinbaum last week, Trump asked about the crude and fuel shipments going to Cuba, and?the presence in Mexico of thousands of Cuban physicians. Sheinbaum replied that the shipments were "humanitarian assistance" and that doctors' deals "are in full compliance" to Mexican law, according to sources familiar with this call. The sources said that Trump did not ask Mexico directly to stop the oil deliveries. Three sources confirmed that officials within Sheinbaum’s government have also been growing increasingly concerned by the increased presence of U.S. Navy Drones in the Gulf of Mexico, since December. Local media reported that flight-tracking data showed at least three U.S. Northrop Grumman Triton MQ-4C drones had flown a dozen times over the Bay of Campeche. They followed the same route as tankers transporting Mexican fuel from Mexico to Cuba. The same reconnaissance aircraft was spotted in December off the Venezuelan coastline, just days before the U.S. attacked the South American nation. Sheinbaum led an offensive against the Sinaloa Cartel, and approved three mass transfers of drug kingpins in excess of 100 to?the United States. Sheinbaum, a senior U.S. official, has stated repeatedly that unilateral U.S. actions on Mexican soil represent a redline. Sheinbaum stated on Wednesday that "very little crude oil is exported to Cuba. But it's a form solidarity in times of hardship." Sheinbaum said that "that doesn't need to disappear". CUBA'S MEXICAN OIL FEEDLINE Trump's campaign of pressure against Cuba began during his first term, when he reversed many historic rapprochements orchestrated by the former Democratic President Barack Obama. It has increased ever since Trump returned to office one year ago. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is a Cuban-American and has been the driving force behind Trump’s Venezuela policy. He, along with other U.S. officials, also believes that this could weaken Maduro’s Cuban allies. The constraints on Trump's Cuba policy are even more difficult to overcome, considering Havana's regional support and international recognition, the entrenched nature and power of Cuba's security forces and leadership, and its ability to endure decades under the U.S. embargo. The Caribbean's largest island relies heavily upon fuel imports to meet its electricity, gasoline and aviation fuel needs. U.S. economic sanctions and the deepening crisis in the economy have made it impossible for the Communist government to purchase enough fuel. Three sources within Sheinbaum’s government said that there is a strong belief in the Sheinbaum’s government that Washington’s strategy to cut off Cuba’s oil supply could lead the country into a humanitarian catastrophe, leading to mass migrations from Cuba to Mexico. Some government officials are pushing for the continuation of fuel supplies on the island, the sources said. It is unlikely that other oil companies will step up to fill the gap, considering the U.S. military presence and focus in the area. The U.S. seized vessels that were involved in Venezuelan oil trading, vessels that are part of the shadow fleet, which supplies crude from countries that have been sanctioned by the U.S., such as Iran and Russia. According to data reported by the Mexican state oil company Pemex, between January and September of last year, Mexico exported 17,200 barrels of crude oil per day and 2,000 bpd refined petroleum products worth $400 million to Cuba.
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Gold closes on $5,000 as silver reaches record high.
Gold and silver prices reached new records on Friday as investors piled into safe-haven investments amid geopolitical uncertainty and expectations of U.S. rate cuts. Spot silver rose 5%, to $100.94 per ounce at 1848 GMT. Silver should continue to be supported by many of the forces that support gold investment demand, said Philip Newman. He is a director with Metals Focus. The London market is still experiencing low liquidity and ongoing tariff concerns. The price of white metal has risen by more than 200 percent in the last year. This is also due to ongoing challenges with refining the metal, and a persistent shortage on the market. Gold spot was 0.6% higher, at $4,964.81 per ounce. It had previously reached a record high of $4,988.17. U.S. Gold Futures for 'February Delivery' settled 1.4% higher, at $4979.70. Gold's role in providing a safe haven as well as diversification during a time of?highly unreliable economic and political conditions? makes it an essential part of strategic portfolios. "It's not just a perfect hurricane that will pass, but a sign of fundamentally shifting times," said Tai Wong. The demand for safe-haven assets has risen since the beginning of 2026 due to friction between the U.S., NATO, and Greenland over Greenland. Concerns about the Federal Reserve and the continued uncertainty surrounding tariffs are also contributing factors. Gold's increase has also been fueled by central bank purchases and a move away from dollars. Gold is often a preferred asset during periods of low rates. Gold reached significant milestones such as $3,000/oz in March and $4,000/oz in October last year, fuelled by U.S. rate cuts and conflict around the globe. Commerzbank stated in a report that it anticipates the U.S. Rate cuts will accelerate this year after the appointment of?a new Fed Chair, which should give gold prices another boost. Platinum reached a record-high of $2,771.10 per ounce, and was last up 4.4%, at $2,744.40. HSBC stated that this metal was attracting investor interest as a cheaper gold alternative. It also predicted a structural shortage in this market of 1.2 million ounces for this year. Palladium, on the other hand, rose by 4.1%, to $1,999.64.
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Speculative frenzy catapults silver above $100/oz
Silver prices soared to $100 per ounce Friday, continuing a 2025-like surge into the New Year. Retail investor and momentum-driven purchases added to the prolonged period of tightness on the physical markets for precious and industrial metals. Technical analysts, who use charts to predict the future movement of prices, said that silver's rapid gains were a sign of a significant correction. Silver is currently in a frenzy, and the geopolitical risks are a big part of what is driving it. Its lower price is helping silver to benefit, even right now. She added, "It seems that everyone wants to get involved, but there are also warnings about wealth in amber." When cracks appear, they can easily turn into chasms. "Stabilize yourself." Silver, which is used for jewellery, electronics, and solar panels as well as an investment, was last up 5.1% to $101 per troy-ounce on Friday. Price has risen by 40% since 2026, after a 147% increase in 2025. On Friday, gold reached a record high of $4.988 an ounce. BofA's Michael Widmer believes that the fundamentally justified price of silver is $60, with solar panel demand likely to have peaked by 2025. The overall industrial demand will also be under pressure from high prices. As of Friday, silver will cost 50 ounces to purchase one ounce gold, down from the April figure of 105 ounces. This is a ratio. Silver's performance over gold is now stretched. INVESTMENT DEMAND Silver's gain for 2025 is the highest annual growth since 1983. Market performance in 2025 will be influenced by a robust investment demand in all precious metals, and a prolonged period of low liquidity on the London benchmark silver market. This is due to fears about U.S. Tariffs, which have prompted massive flows into U.S. stocks. Analysts report that since October, there have been several waves of retail purchases through the purchase of small coins and bars as well as influxes into exchange traded funds with physical silver backing. Recycling accounts for almost 20% of the total silver supply, which is 1.0 billion ounces. The activity has been boosted by record prices. Metals Focus, a leading precious metals consultancy, said that inventories are not rebuilding as quickly due to a lack of high-grade refinery capacity. After five years of structural deficits, the availability of stocks on the market and the secondary supply has become increasingly important. Metals Focus estimates that these deficits, along with?outflows into the U.S., and inflows into the ETFs, saw the amount metal in London's commercial vaults which could be mobilised quickly in times of high demand dwindle to a record-low of 136,000,000 ounces at the end of September. By the end of 2025, the stocks would have recovered to almost 200 million ounces, helping to lower lease rates in London. However, they were still far below the roughly 360 million pounds available in London at the peak Reddit-driven rally early in 2021. What now? Analysts anticipate outflows of?U.S. Stocks will accelerate and increase liquidity on the traditional markets, as Washington did not impose any tariffs after announcing its results for the critical metals review mid-January. After peaking at 532 millions ounces on October 3, COMEX stocks decreased. The inventories of metals worth approximately $11 billion have dropped by 114 millions ounces. COMEX silver stocks need to continue to be sold at a rate of approximately 113 million ounces per year to reach the levels pre-Trump's election. David Wilson, senior commodities strategist at BNP Paribas, said that profit taking is more likely to occur sooner than later due to the frenzied nature and investor-driven rally seen since late November.
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Valero and Phillips 66 purchase Venezuelan oil as part of Washington’s deal with Caracas
Two sources confirmed that Valero had purchased a cargo from Venezuelan crude oil on Wednesday. This is one of the initial deals made by U.S. Gulf Coast refining companies as part of Washington’s agreement with Caracas for exports of up to 50,000,000 barrels. One source said that Phillips 66 had also bought a cargo. Sources said that both companies bought crude oil from Vitol. The crude was then traded to be delivered to the U.S. Gulf Coast for a discount between $8.50 and $9.50 per barrel compared to Brent crude. After President Nicolas Maduro was ousted in January, the U.S. Government awarded Vitol and Trafigura the first licenses to trade Venezuelan crude. The first deals for the U.S. are from trading houses who were just authorized to sell Venezuelan crude this month. Sources refused to identify themselves as the information about trade deals is confidential. Valero and Vitol didn't respond to requests for comment. The White House did not reply to a comment request either. Phillips 66 announced on Thursday that, while it doesn't comment on commercial activities, its Gulf Coast refining facilities are designed to process a variety of crude oil, including heavy. "Access to heavy crude represents a valuable opportunity for us." The company stated in an email that it optimizes its crude slate according to availability, economics and operational requirements. Sources claim that Vitol and Trafigura purchased the Venezuelan oil at a discount of $15 per barrel compared to Brent, the benchmark global oil. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that the initial sales of Venezuelan crude oil worth $500 million were?negotiated at a $15 discount per barrel to Brent. Shipping sources say that the trading houses are responsible for the costs of shipping the crude oil to the U.S. Gulf Coast. These range between $2.5 to $3.5 per barrel, depending on the tanker size. This would allow them to make a profit of $2 to $4 per barrel on the Venezuelan oil that they resell. Venezuelan Merey heavy oil is being offered to the United States. Last week, refiners started at a discount between $6 and $7.50 a barrel to Brent. However, this was lowered due to a lack of interest. Vitol, Trafigura and others also made offers to Indian refiners for $8-8.50 below Brent per barrel. However, this also failed to elicit much interest. According to U.S. Government data, before sanctions were imposed on Venezuela in 2019, several large U.S. Gulf Coast refining plants bought and processed as much as 800,000 barrels of heavy oil per day. (Reporting from Georgina McCartney in Houston and Arathy Sommesekhar; additional reporting by Marianna Parra and Shariq Khan; editing by Christian Schmollinger and Edwina Gibbs)
Chilean regulator fines Antofagasta Centinela Copper Mine for non-compliance
Chile's Environmental regulator announced?on Friday that Antofagasta Minerals was fined?about $775,000. This is because the company failed to comply with water management regulations in its Centinela Copper Mine.
Centinela's Esperanza project and El Tesoro, Antofagasta, will produce 223,800 tons of copper by 2024.
SMA, the regulator, said that the company did not follow the monitoring rules in the "El Tesoro project's" environmental impact study or the additional monitoring plan.
This was evident because the regulator did not have records of a well called 'LE-1. They also failed to measure water flow at "La Cascada", spring, as often as they were required.
Antofagasta stated that it was reviewing its resolution to determine the next steps.
The company stated that the resolution from the SMA marked the end of a collaborative process where Minera Centinela had?actively, and transparently? worked with authorities in accordance with its?ongoing commitment to environmental compliance? and sustainable development?.
The investigation was based on inspections that were conducted between 2019-2020.
The violation was classified as minor and must be paid in 10 working days after notification. Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Santiago; Editing and proofreading by Brendan O'Boyle Cassandra Garrison Alistair Bell
(source: Reuters)