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MOL’s Green Hydrogen Production Vessel Makes First Onshore Delivery
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that green hydrogen produced from offshore wind using the demonstration yacht Winz Maru was supplied onshore in the central breakwater area of Tokyo, as part of the Wind Hunter Project.This marks the first time in the world that a ship has supplied green hydrogen, produced on its own while underway, for use on shore, according to MOL.Between FY 2021 and FY2 023, MOL conducted a demonstration test in Omura Bay in Sasebo City with the Winz Maru, successfully completing all phases of hydrogen production, storage and usage of stored hydrogen onboard.Since, MOL has focused on supplying domestically produced green hydrogen from the Winz Maru in Tokyo Bay to onshore facilities.The Winz Maru simplifies handling and transportation of hydrogen, a difficult process for hydrogen gas, by converting produced green hydrogen to methylcyclohexane (MCH) onboard the vessel in Tokyo Bay.To ensure sufficient supply, MOL has modified the MCH tanks and added turbine generators to the vessel.In addition, safety measures have been taken in light of rougher sea conditions in Tokyo Bay, compared to Omura Bay.MOL plans to continue its green hydrogen production activities in Tokyo Bay, producing about 100 Nm3 of hydrogen, or the equivalent of about 200 liters of MCH, in FY 2025, while at the same time supplying electricity to a trailer home and other facilities in the central breakwater area of Tokyo.MOL is also working on supplying hydrogen and studying a large demonstration vessel for the Wind Hunter.“Assuming that the hydrogen value chain will be established domestically in the future, we aim to construct and commercialize a large demonstration vessel as early as the 2030s,” MOL said in a statement.
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Stocks, yields edge higher; Powell says economy still in good place
Stock indexes rose Friday, after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell stated that the U.S. economic situation is still good and it remains unclear if Trump's tariff plans are inflationary. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury yields on 10-year bonds also increased. Stocks and Treasury yields fell earlier in the morning after data revealed that the U.S. economy had created fewer jobs last month than expected, adding to recent concerns about economic growth. The Federal Reserve's rate-cutting expectations were boosted by the jobs report. According to the closely followed employment report, nonfarm payrolls increased in February by 151,000, while unemployment edged up. The report was the first to be released under Donald Trump. It came after a week that saw confusion about U.S. Trade Policy and global borrowing costs. Powell's remarks came after Trump delayed and then imposed 25% tariffs against major trading partners Mexico, and Canada. The levies are still scheduled to take effect in early April. Other tariffs could also be on the way. Adam Sarhan, CEO of 50 Park Investments, New York, said that the economy was holding up despite the recent stock market sell-offs. He added that a bounce after the recent oversold condition is long overdue. S&P 500 registered its largest weekly percentage drop since September on Friday, while the Nasdaq confirmed on Thursday a correction defined as a decline of at least 10% since December's peak, due to tariffs announced by Trump that have fuelled investor uncertainty. LSEG data shows that traders increased their expectations after the release of the employment data. They expect the central bank to lower borrowing rates in June. Brian Jacobsen is the chief economist of Annex Wealth Management. He said, "The market has reverted to pricing three rate reductions in 2025." The yield of the benchmark 10-year Treasury bill in the United States rose by 3.8 basis points to 4.32%. The 10-year yield has risen about 9 basis points this week and is on course to end a five-week decline streak. After the largest two-day drop in Bunds in the past 40 years, the sharp selling of euro zone government bonds ceased on Friday. This was due to Germany's plans for a complete rewrite of its fiscal rules. The benchmark yield for the Eurozone, Germany's 10-year bonds, fell 5.5 basis points to 2.83%. The biggest weekly percentage increase in the euro against the U.S. Dollar since 2009 was recorded. The dollar index was up by 0.51% for the day, lastly at $1.0838. The dollar index fell 0.32% to 103.86. Wall Street saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise 222.64, or 0.5%, to 42.801.72, while the S&P 500 rose 31.68, or 0.5%, to 5.770.20, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 126.97, or 0.7%, to 18.196.22. The MSCI index of global stocks rose by 1.72 points or 0.20% to 852.10. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended the day down 0.5%. The STOXX 600 fell 0.7% in the past week, ending a winning streak of 10 sessions, its longest since 2024. Bitcoin dropped 3.31%, to $86,514.78. Trump signed an executive directive to create a strategic reserve for cryptocurrency tokens owned by the federal government. This disappointed some investors who had expected a firm plan of buying new tokens. U.S. crude oil rose 68 cents, settling at $67.04 per barrel. Brent climbed by 90 cents, settling at $70.36.
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Brazil soy prices shoot up after US tariffs on China
The premium for soybeans paid in Brazil compared to the futures contracts traded on the Chicago Board of Trade increased 70% this week. This reflects the impact of the trade war between the U.S. Cepea, a closely monitored indicator, shows that the premium for soybean exports at the Port of Paranagua reached 85 cents per bushel in March. This is the highest since 2022 when compared to previous years' shipment data in the same month. Last week the premium per bushel was 50 cents. Cepea says that the worsening trade war between the United States of America and China is responsible for the increased demand for Brazilian soya beans. Analysts predict that China will turn to Brazil to obtain additional supplies of corn, soybeans, cotton, and meat following the announcement of U.S. Tariffs against China. As exports of Brazilian grains increase, the costs for meatpacking and grain buyers in Brazil will tend to increase, they said. According to data released by the grain exporters' lobby Anec, 79% of Brazilian soya bean exports were shipped to China in January and February. This compares to 75% during the same period the previous year. The exporter group stated that the increase reflects the shift in Chinese demand towards Brazilian soybeans to the detriment U.S. products over the past few weeks. (Reporting and writing by Roberto Samora; editing by David Gregorio).
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Investors react to Powell's comments by increasing stocks and yields
The stock indexes rose on Friday, after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell stated that it is still unclear if Trump's tariffs will be inflationary. Yields for 10-year Treasury bonds also increased. Stocks and Treasury yields fell earlier in the morning after data revealed that the U.S. economy had created fewer jobs last month than expected, adding to recent concerns about economic growth. The Federal Reserve's rate-cutting expectations were boosted by the jobs report. The euro is on course for its best weekly performance since 2009. The last time it was up 0.54% versus the U.S. Dollar at $1.0841. According to the closely followed employment report, nonfarm payrolls increased in February by 151,000, while unemployment edged up. The report was the first to be released under Donald Trump. It came after a week that saw confusion about U.S. Trade Policy and global borrowing costs. Powell's remarks came after Trump delayed and then imposed 25% tariffs against major trading partners Mexico, and Canada. The levies are still scheduled to take effect in early April. Other tariffs could also be on the way. Adam Sarhan is the chief executive of 50 Park Investments, a New York-based investment firm. "Powell has made it clear that he will stay focused on his goal, and this is what he should do," he said. He said that after the recent sharp sell-off in stocks, a "oversold bounce" is long overdue. The Nasdaq confirmed on Thursday that it has experienced a correction of at least 10% since December's peak, due to the uncertainty created by Trump's tariffs. LSEG data shows that traders increased their expectations after the release of the employment data. They expect the central bank to lower borrowing rates in June. Brian Jacobsen is the chief economist of Annex Wealth Management. He said, "The market has reverted to pricing three rate reductions in 2025." After the largest two-day drop in Bunds in the Euro Zone since the 1970s, the sharp selling of euro zone government bond has ceased on Friday. This is due to Germany's plans for a complete rewrite of its fiscal rules. Germany's benchmark 10-year bond rate, which is the benchmark for the Euro Zone bloc, fell 5.5 basis points to 2.83%. The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10 year notes increased 3.6 basis points from 4.282% to 4.32% by late Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 164.85, or 0.39 percent, to 42.745.47. The S&P 500 gained 21.42, or 0.37 percent, to 5,760.02, and the Nasdaq Composite increased 95.56, or 0.53% to 18,164.82. The MSCI index of global stocks rose by 0.27 points or 0.03% to 850.65. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended the day down 0.5%. The STOXX 600 fell 0.7% in the past week, ending a winning streak of 10 sessions, its longest since 2024. Bitcoin dropped 1.82% to $88,848.96. Trump signed an executive directive to create a strategic reserve for cryptocurrency tokens owned by the federal government. This disappointed some investors who hoped to see a plan to purchase new tokens. U.S. crude oil rose 68 cents, settling at $67.04 per barrel. Brent rose 90 cents, settling at $70.36. (Reporting and editing by Alex Richardson; Additional reporting by Tom Wilson, Rae Wee, and Chuck Mikolajczak, in London; and Deepa Babington, Hugh Lawson and Chris Reese, in New York)
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As Syrian forces try to crush the Alawite Insurgency, scores of people are killed
The Syrian security forces fought for a second straight day to suppress a new insurgency led by Alawite fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad. Scores of people were reported dead as the islamist-led government was facing its biggest challenge to date. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that over 180 people have been killed during two days of violence along the coast of western Syria. This area is heavily populated with members of the Alawite minority. The Observatory and two Alawite activist cited contacts in the area and video footage of the scene to confirm that at least 20 male residents of Al Mukhtareyah, an Alawite village, were killed by gunmen Friday. The violence in Syria began on Thursday when remnants loyalists to the ousted leader Assad attacked their forces with a well-planned and deadly attack. The violence has shaken the efforts of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa to consolidate his control, as his administration struggles with getting U.S. Sanctions lifted and deals with wider security issues, particularly in southwest Syria, where Israel says it will stop Damascus deploying troops. The oil-rich northeastern part of the country is also outside state control. It's held by an American-backed Kurdish group. On Friday, Syrians rallied in the streets to support the government of Damascus as well as other cities. Saudi Arabia and Turkey - both allies of government - also expressed their support, and the U.N. Envoy in Syria was alarm by the violence and deaths, including civilians. Russia , which had been a major supporter of Assad, but sought to establish ties with the newly formed government, has called on all the "respected leaders" of the country, to stop the violence. , formerly Assad’s closest ally said that it “strongly opposes violence, insecurity, killing and harming Syrians of all groups and tribes." Al Mukhtareyah's images showed 20 men, some of them bloodied, lying close together by a roadside in the centre of the town. The location of the video was confirmed, but the date and who filmed it were not. Alawite activists, speaking under condition of anonymity attributed the deaths to gunmen associated with the Islamist ruling authority. Citing a source in the security sector, the Syrian state news agency SANA said that "individual violations had been committed" after the unorganized crowds headed for the coastal area following the attacks against government security personnel. Source: "We're working to stop these violations," source says. According to two Alawite source, a prominent Alawite Sheikh Shabaan, aged 86, and his son were killed in the village Sahlab, in western Syria. Residents in the village of Sahlab accused fighters aligned to Damascus for killing them. CURFEWS On Thursday, violence escalated when authorities reported that groups of Assad-aligned militias attacked security patrols and checking points in the Jableh region and surrounding countryside before spreading. Moussa Al-Omar, an influential Syrian media figure who is close to the new leadership of the country, said that the newly formed security forces of Syria had deployed tens and thousands of fighters to the coast as part of the operation, and the order was largely restored by Friday night. He said that the crackdown "is a message to anyone living in the south and east of Syria, that the state is capable of a violent resolution at any moment even while it seeks peace solutions." SANA reported that curfews had been declared in Tartous, Latakia and other coastal cities on Friday. SANA reported that security forces conducted combing operations both in the cities and nearby mountains. Alawite activist say that their community is being attacked and violently attacked, especially in rural Homs, and Latakia since Assad's overthrow in December, after decades of repressive rule by his family and civil war. Unlike other minorities, Sharaa, who has promised to govern Syria in a way that is inclusive, has not announced any meetings with senior Alawite leaders. RISK OF ESCALATION The chaos and paroxysm of violence will undermine both foreign countries and Syrians' confidence in the government, and its ability for it to lead Syria out of this challenging phase," said Joshua Landis. He is the head of the Center for Middle East Studies of the University of Oklahoma. The Alawite Islamic Council is a group of Alawite clerics who blamed the violence in Syria on the government. They claimed that fighters were sent to the coast under the pretext to "fight against'regime remains'" to terrorise Syrians and kill them. The group called for the area to be placed under U.N. security. Saudi Arabia condemned the "crimes" committed by terrorist groups in Syria, including their attacks on security forces. The Turkish government, which is a close ally to the new Syrian government, has also expressed its support for Damascus. It said, "The tensions in and around Latakia as well as the targeting security forces could undermine efforts to lead Syria forward in unity and solidarity." Reporting by the Damascus Bureau; Additional reporting by Hatem Mahar in Cairo, Tala RAMADAN in Dubai, Suleiman Al-Khalidi, in Amman, Timour AZHARI and Tom Perry in Beirut, and Tuvan GUMRUKCU and Huseyin HAYATSEVE in Ankara. Writing by Tom Perry. Editing by Timothy Heritage. Aidan Lewis. Angus MacSwan. Mark Porter.
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In Guayaquil, 22 people are killed in gang violence
Authorities said that Friday, nearly 20 people were killed in a fight between two factions of the same gang fighting for territory in Ecuador's biggest city Guayaquil. Local police chief Pablo Davila said that gun battles erupted in Nueva Prosperina's northern neighborhood on Thursday afternoon, between members of the criminal group Los Tiguerones. Davila stated that "criminals killed each other yesterday in certain parts of the town." The problem is they all know each other and where they live. They're fighting to control that territory. In response, the police launched a massive offensive. They conducted around 200 searches while seizing weapons and ammunition. In the area, 14 people were arrested, including 2 minors. According to the authorities, several of those arrested and killed had criminal records. Charges ranged from robbery, to drug trafficking. In recent weeks, the government has intensified its response to drug trafficking gangs in Ecuador's most volatile regions as part of President Daniel Noboa’s war against them. The government considers the Tiguerones gang and other gangs to be terrorist organizations. Noboa has stated that military and police officers can respond to violence in Guayaquil without fear of punishment for using a heavy-handed approach. He wrote: "Defend your country, and I will defend you." (Reporting and writing by Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Hugh Lawson).
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EU wants to end the wolf's "strictly protected" status in Europe
The European Commission announced on Friday that it would make it easier to hunt the wolves in Europe. They cited their increasing numbers and the danger they pose to livestock, as reasons to downgrade the animals' status of protection. The proposal would codify a change that came into effect on the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, which covers Europe and certain African countries. It would lower the status of wolves from "strictly" protected to "protected". In some European regions wolf packs are a real threat, especially to livestock, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a press release. She said that the change will help local authorities manage wolf population while protecting agriculture and biodiversity. Some EU legislators and campaigners have accused von der Leyen of targeting wolves because he has personal motives. In 2022, his pony was killed in a wolf attack. "EU conservation policy is now being shaped based on Ursula von der Leyen’s personal pony drama. Lowering wolf protection, however, is merely symbolic politics. "Farmers need real solutions", said German Green Lawmaker JuttaPaulus. She warned that fewer wolves would lead to an increase in wild game damaging forests. A spokesperson for the Commission said that the EU's decision was not based solely on von der Leyen’s personal experience, but also included the fact that the wolf population is increasing in the EU with approximately 20,300 animals expected to be present by 2023. The European Parliament and all EU member states must approve the proposal. Since 1979, Bern Convention has prohibited wolves being intentionally hunted or trapped unless they are a threat to livestock and health. Wolves can now be hunted under their new status. However, countries still need to take action to prevent the animals from becoming endangered. For example, they should limit hunting seasons. The EU was opposed to a proposal made by Switzerland 2022 that would have lowered the protection status of wolves under the Bern Convention. The European Commission found that wolves kill 65,500 animals a year in the EU. Wolves can help to control large mammal populations, such as deer. This will limit their ability to cause damage to agriculture and spread disease to livestock. Three of nine wolf populations in Europe are classified as "vulnerable". (Reporting and Editing by Louise Heavens, Kate Abnett)
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Mexico wants to increase exports that comply with U.S. regulations to 90% following the reprieve from tariffs.
Mexico is expecting to see a significant increase in the number of companies that are compliant exporting to the U.S., under a regional trading pact, said Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Friday after Washington suspended tariffs on Mexican shipments under the agreement. Ebrard said, in a press conference with President Claudia Sheinbaum that currently, over half of the goods coming from Mexico into the U.S. are compliant to the U.S.MexicoCanada (USMCA), and therefore eligible for the tariff exemption. Announced on Thursday The minister estimated that this figure could rise to between 85% to 90% as companies shift their export practices from shipping under the so-called "most favored nation" clause, to the USMCA. Ebrard did admit that some parts of the automotive sector would be more difficult to comply with, but he acknowledged that 10% to 12% exports were a large group. He said that Mexico would meet with auto companies in the next few weeks to discuss the issue. Detroit Three automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis Exemption of USMCA-compliant products is being pushed. Some competitors who do not comply with the tariff could end up paying the full 25% tariff. The USMCA's complex rules of origin are at issue. These require that a certain percentage, along with the steel and aluminium used to build the vehicle, must be sourced from the region. According to Goldman Sachs, the U.S. will import $181.4 billion worth of autos and parts from Mexico by 2024. This represents nearly 10% of Mexico’s economy. As parts are shipped across the border at various stages of production, the North American auto supply is highly integrated. This could expose automobile companies to multiple tariffs. Tariffs for Steel and Aluminium on the Table Next week, Mexican officials will also meet with U.S. Trade authorities regarding Ebrard reported that the U.S. would be imposing new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Ebrard stated that Mexico imports more than the U.S. does from Mexico. "We are having these discussions because there is no justification for tariffs on steel and aluminum." Donald Trump said that the U.S. needed to reduce its trade deficits with other countries, and used this argument to justify tariffs. (Reporting and editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, David Gregorio, Raul Cortes Additional reporting by Kylie Madry)
High-flying zinc shrugs off European smelter restarts: Andy Home
Belgium's Nyrstar is reactivating the Budel zinc smelter in the Netherlands after a. fourmonth period of care and maintenance.
The company, managed by worldwide trade home Trafigura,. stated enhanced market conditions and the reinstatement of a Dutch. energy cost support scheme will allow the plant to reboot. later on this month, albeit not at complete annual capability of 315,000. metric loads.
It is the 2nd European smelter to come out of care and. upkeep this year after Glencore re-fired its. 165,000-ton-per year Nordenham smelter in Germany in February.
The zinc market seems to have taken the news in its stride. London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month metal struck a. 13-month high of $2,974 per lot on Tuesday. It is presently. trading simply shy of that level at $2,880.
Zinc is being buoyed by the wider circulation of financial investment money. into the base metals sector. But the zinc narrative has likewise. altered with focus moving from smelter restraints to mine. supply issues.
TIGHTER THAN ANTICIPATED MARKET
Smelter treatment charges have actually collapsed this year,. signalling a squeeze on the schedule of mined focuses.
This year's benchmark terms were set at $165 per load, down. from $274 in 2023. That is currently looking generous to smelters. Spot terms for Chinese import delivery have plunged to $30-50,. the lowest considering that 2018, according to price reporting firm. Fastmarkets.
This is the culmination of two years of falling mine. production. Worldwide mine output diminished by 2.3% in 2022 and by. another 1.2% in 2023, according to the International Lead and. Zinc Study Group (ILZSG).
The Group's latest forecast is for mine supply to enhance. this year but only by a minimal 0.7% and mainly thanks to the. ramp-up of the 250,000-ton-per year Kipushi mine in the. Democratic Republic of Congo.
Constrained raw materials supply will act as a brake on. refined production growth this year, according to ILZSG, which. now expects metal supply to grow by simply 0.6% this year,. compared with projection development of 3.3% when the Group last met in. October.
The sharp downgrade to worldwide output discusses why ILZSG has. cut its expected supply surplus for 2024 from an excess of 367,000. lots to a lot more minimal 56,000 loads.
ILZSG's rethink about mine supply and the sharp cut in. forecast surplus mirror the latest projections from sibling. organization the International Copper Study Hall.
There is, however, a key difference in between the two metals.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Copper's mine supply woes have mostly been because of. functional restrictions or, in the case of the closed Cobre. Panama mine, a supreme court mandate.
The majority of the zinc mines that have actually closed down over the last. year or so have done so in big part due to price.
The LME zinc cost plunged from a record high of $4,896 per. lot in March 2022 to a low of $2,215 in May 2023, leaving a. trail of rate casualties in its wake.
Nevertheless, the recent rally suggests that prices are now trading. around $400 per lot above the 90th percentile cost of. production, according to experts at Citi.
Every mine has its unique cost setup and for some. price alone may not suffice, but the higher the cost travels,. the greater the capacity for restarts.
Swedish manufacturer Boliden, for instance, has actually been. working out with unions at its Tara mine in Ireland on a brand-new. agreement that would pave the way for resuming operations after a. year of lack of exercise.
The results of a tally of union members are due on Friday,. according to regional news sources.
The rate has already voted.
FLUID LANDSCAPE
ILZSG approximates European zinc mine production fell by 6.2%. in 2023 and is forecasting another 7.9% slide this year due to. the closure of Tara and the Aljustrel mine in Portugal.
If Boliden gets its union contract at Tara, that will. alter simply as the reboot of the Budel and Nordenham smelters. changes refined metal dynamics, especially in Europe.
Zinc fundamentals are currently extremely fluid.
So is fund positioning on the London market.
Investment funds were collectively net short of zinc as. recently as February, when the LME cost was still listed below $2,500. per load.
They were net long to the tune of 27,036 contracts at the. close of last week. Straight-out long positions of 59,391 agreements. are the highest they've been because June 2022.
Investor bull positioning is still modest by comparison with. some of other base metals such as copper, which has stronger. energy transition qualifications.
It is likewise likely to be more unstable simply since zinc's. essential landscape is shifting so quick.
The opinions revealed here are those of the author, a. columnist .
(source: Reuters)