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Analysts say that China could be a net exporter of refined zinc in 2026.
Analysts said that China would export more refined zinc in 2026 than it imports, for the first time since four years. This is due to a growing supply of the metal and a weak domestic demand. China, which produced about half of the world's Zinc last year, is also a major zinc importer. The metal is mainly used for galvanising steel. Alice Fox, commodities analyst at Macquarie Group says that net refined zinc imports will be 209,767 tonnes this year compared to 428,890 tones in 2024. According to Fox, at home, new capacity is expected to be added this year, while the property sector is still struggling to meet demand. In the meantime, in 'the rest of the world', production has been suspended or reduced at smelters?in Peru and Kazakhstan due to accidents, and a tightening of supply of zinc concentrat. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has also led to a rise in energy costs, which have increased production costs. Olga Hepting is the principal zinc analyst for CRU Group. She said that China was very close to achieving self-sufficiency by the end of 2025. "It is likely to remain in surplus in 2026 while the rest of the world will be in deficit, leading to possible exports in the third or fourth quarter." Prices outside China are also increasing faster than the benchmark. As of Friday, the most traded zinc?contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen 3% in the past year. The global benchmark on the London Metal Exchange has risen 11%. According to calculations based on Chinese import data, despite the fact that?China remained a net consumer in the four-month period?towards April, net imports dropped 62% compared to a year ago. Analysts predict that 'the switch to exports will occur in the second half of this year. Hepting did note that if the Iran War drags on, the global demand hit from higher energy costs could affect China's export market.
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After the disruption of Hormuz, India looks to Latin American and African oil
Data from trade sources shows that Indian refiners have turned to imports of?lubricants from Latin America and Africa, after Middle East supplies were disrupted by the Israeli-U.S. War on Iran. The world's third largest oil importer and user bought the majority of its crude oil from the Middle East before the war began at the end February. Kpler's preliminary data shows that Indian refiners increased their imports of Venezuelan oil in April and may to cover the shortfall. They also continued to purchase Russian oil. India stopped buying oil from Iraq last month as the exports had been halted. It received Iranian oil, however, after a seven-year pause, following a temporary waiver by Washington in order to stabilize global oil prices. Nayara Energy closed its 400,000 barrels per day refinery for maintenance in New Delhi, causing a 29.4% drop in imports. Kpler's preliminary data showed that India will receive about 1.9m bpd from Russia in May and around 41,000 bpd from Iraq. The data revealed that India imported 4,57 million barrels per day of oil in April. This was the same as March but 15.5% less than a year ago. The data revealed that imports of oil from Saudi Arabia remained at 619,500 barrels per day (bpd) while those from the United Arab Emirates increased to 669.700 bpd. Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain are dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for their shipments. Data showed that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which includes the UAE as a member, increased its share of India's imports to 45.2% in April, from around 30% in March. The UAE left OPEC in May, releasing it from oil production quotas. The UAE's higher imports helped to arrest the decline in Middle East's share for?Indian imports. Meanwhile, the share of Russian oil fell from almost 50% to around 35%. Russia was India's largest oil supplier. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were the next two. Brazil was India's fourth-largest oil supplier. Venezuela was ranked fifth. Kpler data shows that Venezuela is on track to become the 4th largest supplier in May.
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Indian Finance Minister calls for focus on the '3Fs - fuel, fertilizer, and forex
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 disruptions in supply after the U.S./Israeli war against Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Sitharaman said, "High prices of crude, fertilisers, and gold create some external challenges" while speaking at an event held in Mumbai. India, which is the world's third-largest oil importer and user, increased petrol and diesel prices again on Monday. This was the fourth price increase since May. Sitharaman stated that India's revenue is expected to suffer a?hit of 1 trillion rupees (US$1 billion) in FY27 as a result of reducing excise duty on fuel. Reporting by Khushi malhotra. Writing by Tanvi mehta. Editing by YPrajesh.
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Chinese coking coal prices jump as a deadly mine accident tightens the supply outlook
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 belongs to Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group. All?four mines of this group have been shut down and executives arrested. The People's Daily, a state-run newspaper, published an editorial about the accident on Sunday's front page. It called for more attention to safety and production. The price of the most traded coking coal contract at the Dalian Commodity Exchange jumped?by 7.97%, to $126.77 per metric tonne, its highest since May 12. The DCE coke contract, the most active one, soared 7.99% to reach 1,879 Yuan per ton. This is its highest level since May 6. According to a survey conducted by Mysteel, several other coal mining operations in Shanxi had halted their production for three or five days due to?safety inspections'. This would have reduced the raw coking coal supplies by 288,000 tonnes per day. Analysts at Wuchan Zhongda Futures stated that "Coking coal supplies are set to contract, while demand remains resilient. This will support prices in the near term." Mysteel data shows that iron?ore price gains have been pared as weekly shipments from Australia and Brazil increased by 22% in the past week. The DCE contract that was the most active closed the daytime trade at?793 Yuan per ton, while the benchmark June Iron Ore at the Singapore Exchange had risen 0.49% to $106.7 per ton by 0809 GMT. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's steel benchmarks gained ground mostly due to higher raw material costs. Rebar gained 1.48 %, hot-rolled coil rose 1.39 %, wire rod grew 2.36%, while stainless steel remained unchanged. ($1 = 6.7811 Chinese Yuan) (Reporting and editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Janane Venkatraman and Lewis Jackson)
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Myanmar military intensifies fight for rare Earth area and border routes
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 the Indian border, and a major trade corridor in Karen State next to Thailand. Global New Light of Myanmar reported that Ye Win Oo, at a meeting held last week, told soldiers the military had secured Falam Town in Chin State as well as an arterial route connecting Mandalay to Myitkyina, in Kachin State. The military's strategy is to gain control of the main communication and trade routes in Myanmar, said Myanmar analyst Sai Kyi Zin Soe. We can clearly see the military's desperate attempts to recapture border towns. A phone call to an official in the Myanmar presidential office revealed that he declined to comment. Media access to Myanmar is still restricted, so it was impossible to independently verify details about the military offensives or their initial successes in certain parts. The offensives come after former junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing last month asked rebel ?groups opposed to the military to enter into peace talks within 100 days - a proposal that many ethnic armies immediately rejected. The conflict in Myanmar began when, in?2021, the military staged an attempted coup to overthrow a democratically-elected civilian government headed by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The military was forced out of many regions by multiple ethnic armies, rebel groups and other forces. BORDER GATEWAYS The Kachin Independence Army, who took control of the area in October 2024, has prepared their defences. Naw Bu, the spokesperson for the Kachin Independence Army, which took control of this area in October 2024 said that the armed group had prepared their defences. This is especially true around the Chipwi township and Pangwa areas. He said, "We will welcome the opposition groups with our guns." The military launched a simultaneous offensive on the western frontier in Chin State bordering India. This could disrupt an important cross-border logistic route supporting opposition groups inside Myanmar. Salai Van, the spokesperson for the Chin National Front, stated that resistance fighters had made strategic retreats out of the towns of Tonzong and Falam in the state as the military used heavy aerial bombings on the territory to recover. The Myanmar military used jet fuel smuggled from Iran to power a massive bombing campaign that targeted more than 1,000 civilian targets in 15 months. Fuel shortages caused by the conflict in Iran have not yet slowed the war machine down, even though the energy crisis has been devastating to the farmers and civilians of Myanmar. The military also launched an offensive near Thailand to take control of the Myawaddy-Kawkareik Highway, a major trade route that has been a source of conflict since 2024 when the ethnic 'Karen National Union army' pushed into Myawaddy. Min Aung Hlaing specifically mentioned the KNU as part of his effort to bring opposition groups together by July 31. The military has violated agreements and pledges repeatedly, and continues to do so. It is obvious that trust is absent. "Whatever they try, it will fail."
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Will they or will they not?
Ankur Banerjee gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Investors wore their 'risk-on' hats on Monday as the prospect of an 'end to the Iran war, and opening the Strait of Hormuz was ever closer. Stocks in Tokyo and Taipei reached record highs and oil prices and U.S. dollars fell. There are also doubts, particularly after U.S. president Donald Trump downplayed hopes of an imminent breakthrough. He noted that he had instructed his representatives to not rush into any deal with Iran, even though pressure is increasing to find a resolution. Liquidity will be low as traders focus on the headlines. Investors are jittery over the will-they-won’t-they saga, but?in the end, it is a question of when and not if a settlement is reached to end this nearly three-month conflict. Shipping data revealed that two liquefied gas tankers were exiting the Strait of?Hormuz. Meanwhile, a supertanker carrying Iraqi crude bound for China had left the Gulf after being stranded in the Gulf for almost?three months. The reality is, a resolution will not 'push oil prices?back to the levels before the war. And the energy supply chain may take some time to recover. So inflation concerns are going nowhere, and neither are calls for rates that are higher, longer. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates by 25 basis points in January 2027. This would be a "stark reversal" from the two rate reductions that were anticipated this year, before the war started. Market developments on Monday that may have a significant impact U.S.-Iran talks
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Chinese coking coal prices jump as a deadly mine accident tightens the supply outlook
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 Shanxi Tongzhou Coal?Coking Group. All four mines of this group have been shut down and their?executives arrested. The People's Daily, a state-run newspaper, published an editorial about the accident in its front page Sunday morning. It called for more attention to safety and "completely reversing the tendency" to prioritize development over safety. The price of the?most traded coking coal contract at the Dalian Commodity Exchange has risen by 7.97%, to $1266.5 ($186.78 per metric tonne), its highest level since last May 12. The DCE coke contract with the highest volume surged 7.99%, to 1,879 Yuan per ton. This is its highest level since May 6. Mysteel, a consultancy, found that other coal mines have stopped production in Shanxi for a period of?three to five? days due to safety checks. This would result in reducing the raw supply of 'coking coal' by 288,000 tons / day. The iron ore price also increased, with the DCE contract at 0345 GMT up 0.5% to?796.5 per tonne. By 0335 GMT, the benchmark?June Iron Ore traded on the Singapore Exchange had risen by 0.96% to $107.2 per ton. The Shanghai Futures Exchange steel benchmarks gained on the higher raw materials costs. Rebar grew 1.45%; hot-rolled coil climbed 1.39%; wire rod jumped 1.19%; and stainless steel grew 0.3%. $1 = 6.7806 Chinese Yuan (Reporting and editing by Subhranshu S. Sahu; Amy Lv, Lewis Jakcson)
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Indian retailers increase fuel prices for the fourth time in a row to curb losses
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 95.20 rupees. India, which is the third largest oil consumer and importer in the world, has been hit by rising crude prices as well as supply disruptions following the closure of Strait of Hormuz. New Delhi also implemented austerity measures in order to curb fuel consumption and control its oil import bill, as policymakers prepare for a prolonged shock. Prices vary across states because of local taxes. State retailers have also suffered a rise in?fuel losses as customers switch to retail pumps that are cheaper, leading to shortages. IOC said in a statement on Saturday that its retail sales for the period of May 1-22 were up?by 18% compared to a year earlier and petrol sales had increased by 14%. $1 = 95.6890 Indian Rupees (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger, Sonali Paul and Nidhi Palyekar from New Delhi)
Chilean copper miner Codelco and contractors fined following deadly mine collapse
According to inspection records obtained through public record requests, Codelco, a state-owned copper miner in Chile, was fined by the labor authorities for last year's fatal collapse of its El Teniente Mine. Three contractors, whose employees were killed or injured, were also sanctioned.
Six contract workers were killed and others injured in the aftermath of the underground?seismic occurrence that occurred on July 31, triggering a rock explosion at El Teniente - the largest underground copper mine in the world.
The files were obtained by requesting open records from the Chilean labor ministry. These fines in Chile are communicated directly to the employers, and they can be contested or reduced administratively. However, they are not usually disclosed publicly.
During the accident, the then-Labor minister Giorgio Boccardo stated that his office, along with the mining regulator Sernageomin would investigate whether there had been any violations of labor safety rules.
A quake measuring about 4.3 on the Richter scale halted all underground operations in the vast mine complex, despite rescue efforts and safety checks.
Codelco incurred a large production cost as a result of the collapse. The company said that the slow restart of El Teniente underground operations and the shutting down of those operations resulted in a reduction of copper production by tens or thousands of tons. This caused a disruption of shipments during a period of limited global supplies.
The accident also highlighted the geotechnical hazards facing Chile's old underground mines.
Contractors fined more than CODELCO
The records reveal that the three contractors received fines totaling about $87,000, while Codelco only paid out $20,000, reflecting Chile's "split liability framework" for subcontracted works.
Chile's labor law states that while the principal company, Codelco, can be punished for safety violations, contractors are directly liable as employers, for reporting accidents, risk assessments, worker assignments, and other compliance obligations.
Labor inspectors found that Codelco did not have a written procedure showing how seismic warnings are used to determine whether or not work should be stopped.
According to a separate record of sanctions, after the accident, regulators found that Codelco had violated labor laws when workers were seen entering or preparing for entry into underground areas, while the mine suspension was still in effect.
According to Chilean labor laws, serious or fatal accidents can result in fines of up to 150 UTM (a Chilean tax unit linked to inflation) or approximately $11,000 today. A company was fined 340 UTM, or roughly $26,000 today, after a fatal accident on a construction site in 2007.
Workers' safety specialists and labor advocates have questioned if such small penalties are enough to deter major employers.
In 2011, after a mining accident, a Chilean House of Representatives investigation commission reported that it was essential to increase the fines to deter mining companies from violating safety regulations.
Since then, proposals to increase fines for workplace accidents that are serious or deadly have failed.
CODELCO DETAILS CHANGES
Codelco said that since the collapse it has tightened safety procedures to restart work at El Teniente. This includes adding safety briefings before shifts begin, improving communication underground, increasing checks on worker's locations, and reviewing protective gear.
Later, it was revealed that an independent panel headed by a former Anglo American chief executive officer was investigating what caused the accident. They were also looking at whether management problems or workplace issues played a part.
Codelco stated in a statement to that the seismic alert system had been activated on the day of accident and that they have appealed against the fine imposed by the Labor Ministry.
The company said that a "legal proceeding is ongoing related to the supervision of worker entry during work stoppage", and it was waiting for a ruling from the authorities.
Codelco announced in August that El teniente?mine director Andres Musik would be leaving his position. In February, three senior executives were sacked after an internal audit revealed inconsistencies or concealment in the aftermath of a rock explosion at the mine several years ago.
SUBCONTRACTORS WILL GET LARGER FINES
Zublin, a Strabag subsidiary, was among the three firms that were fined. This is because Zublin failed to report an injury to a worker within 24 hours.
The report stated that it is important to immediately notify the authorities to ensure safety for remaining workers.
The Austrian company refused to comment on a request.
SalfaCorp, a Chilean construction company, also sanctioned a unit after one of their workers died at the Andesita mine sector. Inspectors found that the company did not immediately notify authorities of the fatal accident, among other violations.
SalfaCorp stated in a press release that "internal protocol have been reviewed and strengthened to further strengthen safety standards and compliance in all of its operations."
The company said that the sanctions related to the reporting process and labor requirements, and had nothing to do with the cause of the accident.
The Chilean labor regulator fined Constructora Gardilcic as well, the unlisted contractor who's workers were killed and injured at the Recursos North area of the mine.
Inspectors found that the company failed to report the accident on time, filed injury reports late and had a poor safety plan.
The authorities also found that Gardilcic failed to adequately account for the risks of violent rock explosions outside designated danger areas and placed some workers into jobs they weren't cleared to perform.
Gardilcic didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.
LONG ROAD Ahead
Codelco said that the areas most affected by the accident would remain under strict restrictions as criminal, regulatory and technological investigations continue.
The company has promised a gradual restart that will be approved by the regulator, but it is unclear when normal operations can resume at the mine. (Reporting and editing by Christian Plumb, Aurora Ellis, and Kylie Madry)
(source: Reuters)