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Sources say that ADNOC, the UAE's oil company, buys millions barrels of Iraqi crude.
Three people with knowledge of the matter said that Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), a trading firm in the face of supply disruptions caused by the Iran War, has purchased millions of barrels of discounted crude oil from Iraq's State Oil Firm. Two Iraqi energy sources reported that the state company through its trading arm was the largest lifter of Iraqi oil in August and September, helping to boost Iraqi exports, which had been severely cut in the early months of the war. One of the Iraqi sources said that ADNOC had agreed to purchase 32 million Iraqi barrels for $24.90-$27 per barrel in August, and another 40 million barrels for $27 in September. This included 10 million barrels with a $18 discount, and 30 million barrels with a $25 discount. According to the second Iraqi source, despite Iraq's state oil marketing organization SOMO having allocated ADNOC a total of 32 million barrels for August, ADNOC lifted 20 millions barrels because of export restrictions and Basra Oil Company not being able to secure enough?crude. ADNOC has so far lifted 14 millions Iraqi barrels in September, a person told me. Third source claimed that ADNOC had purchased about 20 million barrels from Iraqi?state owned SOMO? in tenders for a discount between $25 and $27 per barrel. Other companies are also buying Iraqi crude. SOMO offered August loading cargoes?at steep discount, attracting other buyers, including Chinese state-majors PetroChina and Zhenhua Oil as well as TotalEnergies and?Vitol. Trafigura Mercuria, and Cathay?Petroleum.
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Kremlin accepts Trump's idea for energy truce in Ukraine and calls for sanctions to be removed
The Kremlin welcomed on Tuesday a U.S. suggestion for a 'Russia-Ukraine moratorium against attacking each other’s energy infrastructure. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said on Monday that Ukraine had agreed with Russia not to meet each other's targets in terms of energy production. However, neither side confirmed this agreement. On Tuesday, Russia struck petrol stations in Kyiv and Ukraine claimed it had hit a Russian oil refinery. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters Trump's idea was "very good", but that it would take more to lower global fuel prices. "It's important to guarantee safe navigation and commercial shipping here, including for oil tankers." Peskov stated that the Kyiv regime had not shown any interest in ensuring such security. "The second thing to do is, of course lift the sanctions (against Russia), and these illegal restrictions on energy supply. Only then will the world be adequately supplied with petroleum products. Global markets will stabilize and prices will fall. Peskov stated that Russia will stay in contact with the Americans regarding Trump's proposal. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Kyiv would only support a ceasefire in the energy sector if Washington could guarantee that Moscow was truly ready to end its conflict with Ukraine. The Ukrainian strikes on energy plants have led to fuel shortages this summer in Russia. This has caused the country to restrict its exports. This has led to a shortage of jet fuel, gasoline and diesel on the energy markets. Ukraine, which is regularly attacked by Russia on its own energy infrastructure, claims that refineries are legitimate military targets. Trump asked Zelenskiy to stop attacking Russian diesel infrastructure on Sunday, saying that the attacks are causing a shortage of diesel which is "hurting?the world". The Kremlin stated on Monday that global market turmoil was primarily?due to conflict in the Gulf. Trump launched military attacks on Iran in Febrary and Tehran responded by closing the 'Strait of Hormuz', which had been used to transport about a fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Russia and Ukraine also hit each other's ships in the Black Sea and Azov Sea. This escalation in violence has pushed up the price for grain, which both countries are major exporters.
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Traders say that Orlen, a Polish oil company, is rushing to find alternatives to Saudi Arabia's oil supply.
Five industry sources have confirmed that the Polish integrated oil company Orlen is rushing to replace Saudi imports with crude oil shipments?from North Sea and further afield. Orlen, one of Europe's largest oil companies, is a major customer of Saudi crude. However, the conflict in the Middle East has escalated in recent weeks. Houthi attacks on Saudi installations by the Yemeni Houthi have led the Polish company to seek alternative sources of supply. Orlen bought'several cargoes' of crude oil at spot tenders between Friday and Monday. Two traders reported that Orlen purchased North Sea grades, including Grane, Johan Sverdrup, and Johan Castberg. Two sources said that the company also bid for grades from further afield, including U.S. WTI Midland as well as Kazakh CPC blend. The tender results could not be confirmed directly with the counterparties. Orlen declined comment on specific commercial transactions but stated that it manages its supply portfolio to ensure uninterrupted operation of the refining assets. Orlen's spokesperson said that "adjusting and optimizing purchase volumes is a part of the Orlen Group operations. It's driven by current production requirements and changing market conditions." The spokesperson confirmed that feedstock deliveries are currently proceeding as usual to the?Orlen refineries.
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Imports of palm and soyoil from India in August rose on the back of stocking
As refiners stockpiled ahead of the festival season in India, soyoil imports to India reached a record high in August. The world's largest importer of vegetable oil, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Argentina, could move more palm oil and soybean oil, supporting benchmark palm and soyoil prices. In a recent statement, the SEA (Solvent Extractors' Association of India) reported that India's imports of palm oil in August grew by 7% over the previous month, to reach 782,761 metric tonnes, the highest level since February. The industry group reported that imports of sunflower oil decreased by 36%, to 160 639 tons. Imports for soyoil increased 26%, to a record high of 628 736 tons. The total edible oil imports increased by 1.5%, reaching a record high of 1,57 million?tons after a surge in palm and soyoil shipments. Mumbai-based dealer of a global trading house said that refiners have increased their purchases in order to build up stocks before the festival season. India celebrates several festivals between August to November when the demand for edible oil is at its peak. A New Delhi-based dealer from a global trade house said that soyoil was available at competitive prices, compared to palm oil. This should help keep September shipments above 600,000 tonnes. The 'war' has?disrupted the sunflower oil shipments in the Black Sea Region. He said that this is also causing refiners' to increase their purchases of soyoil. Industry officials said last week that India's aggressive buying of vegetable oil has caused congestion in major ports. Ships are delayed by up to 10 days while shore tanks fill and refiners struggle with clearing incoming cargo. India imports a majority of its palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia. Soyoil, sunflower oil, and other oils are mainly imported from Argentina, Brazil and Russia.
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The House is visited by MORNING BID AMERICAS
Treasury yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes have risen to their highest level in 19 years. This is just as Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent is preparing to speak to Congress, and the Federal Reserve begins its two-day critical meeting. Government bonds sold across the globe overnight as the prospect of rising interest rates and energy prices remained a primary aggravating factor. Japanese 10-year yields rose back to above 3%. Brent crude prices rose above $107 a barrel again on Tuesday after a brief drop on Monday, following President Trump’s suggestion that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement to spare their energy infrastructure during the war. Bessent will appear before the House Financial Services Committee today to discuss a number of thorny topics: his apparent failure to cap Treasury yields, Japan's joint intervention to lift the yen and the war on Iran, as well as the president's promise to provide Americans with $5,000 checks for a $1.3 trillion total cash injection. Bessent's opinion on what the markets expect to be a quarter point Fed rate increase on Wednesday will also make headlines. U.S. Bond markets are now trying to price in up to four rate increases over the next 12 months. The doomsday AI narratives, and calls for a halt in AI development, spilled over into chip stocks, and the SOX semiconductors index fell more than 5% on Monday for the first time since July. This dragged the S&P 500 and Nasdaq down into the red. Trump refused to accept calls for additional restrictions on AI, saying that the existing guardrails were sufficient. A sweep of Chinese economic data was mixed, with retail sales falling short and house prices continuing to decline. The world stock market and Wall Street Futures are both in the red as we approach Tuesday's opening. Chart of the Day This week, the 10-year Treasury yield in the United States, which is the benchmark for long-term borrowing rates by the government and the wider economy, reached its highest level since the eve before the global financial crisis of 2007. The recent efforts of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to 'calm the markets via a number of small buybacks' have failed. Bessent will be speaking to the House Financial Services Committee of Congress on Tuesday. Watch today's events The Fed's two day policy meeting starts * U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent Appearance Before Congress (10 am EDT) * U.S. bond auction for 20 years (1 p.m. ET), New York Fed Manufacturing?survey in September (8:30 am EDT). Check out my most recent column to see why AI could be too big and slow. Listen to the Morning Bid Daily Podcast, in which we discuss all that Scott Bessent has to do as he prepares to head to the Hill later today. Subscribe to the podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance, markets, and markets. Want to receive Morning 'Bids in your email every morning? Subscribe to the newsletter by clicking here. You can find ROI's website and follow us on LinkedIn or X. The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors. These opinions do not represent the views of News. News is a non-partisan organization that adheres to the Trust Principles and values integrity, independence, freedom from bias, and impartiality.
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South Korea and Kazakhstan sign MoU to explore mineral trade, explore atomic energy
Seoul reported that South Korea and Kazakhstan signed an 'understanding' on Tuesday regarding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Their leaders also pledged to work together on a range of issues, including trade, energy, critical minerals, and AI. The South Korean Presidential Office said that President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea and President Kassym Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan discussed the potential for future cooperation in a period of economic turmoil. According to the president's office, Lee told Tokayev that Kazakhstan has a great deal of potential for future high-tech industry. On Tuesday, 13 documents were signed. These included the MoU on Atomic Energy as well as agreements on crude oil, science and technology. Details were not immediately available. Lee will host Tokayev, as well as the leaders of other Central Asian nations on Wednesday to discuss expanding their cooperation. Seoul pursued its so-called New Northern Policy, launched in 2017, to deepen economic ties with Central Asia as well as other Eurasian countries. The energy-poor nation is seeking to diversify the supply of energy and minerals and increase industrial exports. Han Seong-sook, the South Korean Prime Minister, told business leaders in a forum that it was time to expand trade beyond crude oil and uranium. He also said they should include lithium and other critical minerals. Newsis reported that she invited companies to use?South Korea?s advanced technology to explore and produce?Kazakhstan?s rich mineral resources in order to address the growing uncertainty of global supply chains.
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China's aluminium production reaches record levels in August, with a capacity cap in sight
Data showed that China's aluminum production reached a record high in August. Strong margins encouraged smelters, despite the?long-standing national capacity cap, to maximize?output. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that production?rose by 4.7% compared to a year ago, reaching 3.98 million metric tonnes. The output of the world's largest aluminium producer increased to just under 3.9 million tonnes in July, and was near to the previous monthly record of 3.979 millions tons that was recorded in June. China produced 31,12 million tons in the first eight months of this year, an increase of?3.9% over the same period the previous year. The country's 45 million-ton maximum capacity would be exceeded if production?were to increase at that rate. Since 2017, China has tightened its controls on the aluminium smelting capacities. In 2025, China will produce 45.02 millions tons of primary aluminum. This is a 2.4% increase from the previous year. Strong margins have supported higher output despite the increase in prices due to the disruption of supply caused by the Middle East?war. Benchmark three-month aluminum has gained 8% this year and was up by?1.82% during August. In August, the production of ten?nonferrous?metals, such as copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, and nickel, increased 1.6% compared to a year ago. The production of 10 metals from January to August increased by 2.9%, reaching 55.58 millions tons.
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Syngenta files Hong Kong IPO with the aim of raising at least $5 billion.
Two people who have direct knowledge of this matter say that the Swiss company Syngenta Group, which produces seeds and agrichemicals, has filed confidentially for a Hong Kong IPO, with a goal to raise at least five billion dollars. One of the sources said that the Basel-based firm, controlled by the Chinese state-owned Sinochem hopes to launch its offering as early as this year or, if not, as early as 2027. Sources said that depending on the response of the market, the size of the offering could reach $10 billion. According to LSEG, if the offering size is that large, it will be Hong Kong's largest IPO since 2010. Hong Kong's IPO industry is booming. Initial public offerings and secondary listing have raised $45,8 billion this year compared to $24 billion during the same period in last year. Sources who refused to be identified because the information wasn't public said that the timing, size of the offer and valuation of the company had not been finalised. Syngenta responded to the question by saying "We don't comment on market speculation." Sinochem didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Bloomberg News reported the filing for the first time on Tuesday. The company was said to be considering raising $5 billion. Sinochem would be able to revive its efforts to bring?Syngenta?public after the company canceled a Shanghai listing planned for 2024. GLOBAL GIANT FARMING Syngenta is a company that sells seeds, crop protection products such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. It also provides digital and biological farming products. According to its website, it has over 50,000 employees spread across?90 different countries. Syngenta has reported a decrease in sales and profits for the second quarter following its exit from low-margin business in China. Sales fell 7% in the third quarter to $5.7 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, or EBITDA, dropped 2%, to $1 billion. EBITDA increased by 4% when currency was adjusted. Syngenta appointed?Hengde qin, its chief operating officer, as its new CEO in July. He will take over from Jeff Rowe who is due to return home to the United States at the end of August.
How a Japanese suitor misread politics with U.S. Steel bid, regardless of indication
A month in the past Nippon Steel discovered its $15 billion takeover of U.S. Steel was on the brink of being torpedoed by President Joe Biden, the Japanese business got a strong tip that things were taking a turn for the even worse.
On Aug. 1, officials from the powerful Committee on Foreign Financial investment in the United States (CFIUS) informed representatives of Japan's most significant steelmaker and its U.S. target that the committee had actually identified a potential national security danger, 2 sources knowledgeable about the settlements informed Reuters. CFIUS was worried that the deal might decrease U.S. steel production capacity, interrupting vital industries like transportation and infrastructure, the authorities informed the executives in the call, which has not previously been reported.
The caution from the U.S. committee - which has the power to block foreign acquisitions on nationwide security grounds - must have actually rung alarm bells at Nippon Steel, which was already battling criticism from a labour union and U.S. politicians ahead of Nov. 5 elections.
Yet, the Japanese steelmaker hoped it could still win approval for the deal by patiently describing its service benefits, according to Reuters' interviews with two sources with knowledge of the discussions, one business source and a top Nippon Steel executive. In an Aug. 19 follow-up conference to the Aug. 1 call held at the Treasury Department according to among the sources, the business' agents worried to CFIUS the financial significance of Nippon Steel's financial investments provided U.S. Steel's. having a hard time business. They left feeling their case had been. heard, the two sources near the talks told Reuters.
And in an interview on Aug. 28 with Reuters, Nippon Steel's. primary arbitrator Takahiro Mori expressed confidence the offer was. on track. He stated he wanted to construct a constructive long-term. relationship with the unions and that he had actually fulfilled around 1,000. people, consisting of numerous workers, during five U.S. check outs considering that. the deal was announced in December to describe its financial. advantages.
The political power of the union will deteriorate. That's true. now and obviously after the election, he informed Reuters, including. that talks with CFIUS and other U.S. regulators were. advancing. A day later on, Nippon Steel openly pledged to. invest $1.3 billion to recondition U.S. Steel's aging facilities. But on Aug. 31, CFIUS sent the two merging partners a 17-page. letter detailing its issues and giving them simply one organization. day to react. Reuters and other media reported recently that. President Joe Biden was poised to kill the deal.
U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel and CFIUS did not talk about the. details of procedure as laid out .
We do not think this transaction creates any nationwide. security issues, Nippon Steel stated in a declaration, without. elaborating on the settlements.
U.S. Steel stated in a separate declaration that there was no. scenario in which it might make needed investments without. the Japanese company: A deal with Nippon Steel is the. best opportunity to ensure that U.S. Steel will have the ability to flourish. well into the future.
POLITICAL HOT POTATO
Nippon Steel had tried to approach the. politically-connected United Steelworkers union (USW) before it. announced it had accepted purchase U.S. Steel, a company based. in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania during an election. year. On Nov. 20, the Japanese steelmaker requested a conference with. USW, according to U.S. Steel filings in January. However attorneys for. the American company rejected the request, stating the union had. aligned with another suitor and talks would run the risk of breaking the. confidentiality of a competitive bidding procedure, the filings. stated.
The method backfired. When Nippon Steel's deal was revealed on Dec. 18, USW head. David McCall knocked the companies for keeping unions in the. dark. In a statement the exact same day, the union leader implicated U.S. Steel of neglecting workers' issues while selling out to a. foreign business.
He prompted the U.S. federal government to scrutinise the offer to see. if it served workers and national security interests.
Just three days after McCall's appeal, Biden's nationwide. economic consultant Lael Brainard said the takeover appeared to. should have severe analysis.
USW declined to discuss the merger process.
In hindsight it was apparent (Nippon Steel) needed to get. the union on board but I do not think they expected the union,. and in specific the leader of the union, to get as upset as he. did, said Nick Wall, an M&A partner at Allen & & Overy, who was. not associated with the negotiations.
In the weeks after the offer announcement, both Biden and his. Republican rival Donald Trump voiced opposition to the merger.
When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida headed to. Washington DC in April - the first state check out by a Japanese. leader in 9 years - Nippon Steel's acquisition was the. elephant in the space. McCall and his other half signed up with VIP guests such as Amazon creator. Jeff Bezos and actor Robert De Niro at a luxurious dinner Biden. scheduled Kishida, listening to live music by vocalist Paul. Simon. U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel magnates were not on. the list of more than 200 visitors released by the White House.
' LISTEN ONLY MODE'
As the political sound around the offer grew louder, Nippon. Steel still believed there was a path forward which the union. was merely attempting to draw out much better terms, two sources close to. the business told Reuters, asking for privacy due to the. sensitivity of the discussions. In May, chief negotiator Mori told Reuters he thought that,. once the election was over, the president would examine the. financial merits of the offer. Obstructing it might disturb among. America's closest allies and it appeared not likely any. administration would want to do that, he included.
But that logic headed out of the window on August 31, when the. CFIUS letter landed.
The letter argued the deal postured a danger without. using any discussion of ways to mitigate officials' issues. and gave the celebrations until Sept. 4 to respond, according to the. two sources acquainted with the discussions.
In a call on Sept. 1, attorneys dealing with the offer pushed. CFIUS authorities about why they had been provided so little time,. the sources said. We have actually been instructed to be in listen just mode, a CFIUS. official replied, an ominous sign as sources inside the Biden. administration were telling the two business the White Home. will block the takeover, the people stated.
The business began desperately preparing a response,. correcting what they viewed as factual errors,. proposing mitigation and arguing to conserve the handle a 100-page. letter delivered on Sept. 3.
The letter, reviewed , stated they anticipated USW to. be more forward-leaning in talks with the companies. The next day, nevertheless, news broke that the White Home was close. to revealing Biden was preparing to block the offer.
In the future, this offer will most likely be considered as a. textbook case of how a business stopped working to understand politics,. stated David Boling, a previous U.S. trade official now at Eurasia. Group.
(source: Reuters)