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VEGOILS-Palm rises on strong Dalian palm olein, crude oil prices
Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Monday for the fourth consecutive session, following the strength of crude?oil and Dalian palm olein. By midday, the benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the 'Bursa Malaysia derivatives exchange had gained 85 ringgit or 1.86% to 4,657 Ringgit ($1,184.99), a metric tonne. A Kuala Lumpur based trader reported that Dalian palm oil futures had seen strong gains during the morning Asian sessions, when it traded at its highest price since June 2022. The trader said that "the market was also supported" by "firmer crude oil price." Dalian's soyoil contract with the highest volume increased by 0.34% while palm oil contracts grew by 2.52%. Prices of soyoil on the Chicago Board of Trade fell by 0.95%. As palm oil competes to gain a share of the global vegetable oil?market, it tracks the price movements of its rival edible oils. The price of crude oil rose, as investors focused on threats to Middle East oil installations, despite U.S. president Donald Trump's request for nations to assist in safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz - a vital artery used for energy shipments around the world. Palm oil is a better option as a feedstock for biodiesel due to the stronger crude oil futures. Intertek Testing Services, a cargo surveyor, estimated that exports for Malaysian palm oils products from March 1-15 were up 43.5% compared to a month earlier. AmSpec Agri Malaysia will release its estimates later that day. The ringgit (the currency used to trade palms) strengthened by 0.15% against dollars, increasing the price of the commodity for buyers who hold foreign currencies. Indonesia's senior economic minister has said that if needed, the government may have to impose additional taxes on certain commodities such as palm oil in order to lessen the impact of rising oil prices on the budget. Technical analyst Wang Tao stated that palm oil could test support at 4,494 ringgit a metric tonne after twice failing to break through resistance at 4,612 ringsgit.
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Indian shares are up, but Middle East conflict limits gains
India's benchmark indexes rose on Monday morning, rebounding from their worst week for years. However, investors remain?wary that crude oil will continue to rise above $100 per barrel amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. As of 10:08 a.m. IST, the Nifty 50 index rose by 0.2%, to 23,189. The BSE Sensex increased by 0.18%, to 74697.2. Nine out of 16 major sectors were higher. Mid-cap and small cap fell by 0.2% and 0.7% respectively. The U.S. and Israeli war against?Iran has led to the closure of Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery of global oil?and?gas shipments. Brent crude was hovering around $104 per barrel as U.S. president Donald Trump called on other countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices rising are bad for India, the third largest crude importer in the world, because they can increase the fiscal deficit and inflation, which will negatively impact the growth. V.K. Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments. Vijayakumar stated that foreign portfolio investors will likely continue to sell Indian equities even if the markets rise. Since the start of the war, foreign portfolio investors sold Indian shares totaling more than $5 billion in March. This is a record monthly outflow. Citi, the broker, has lowered the year-end target for the benchmark Nifty 50 index from 28,500 to 27,000 points. The reason given was the impact that higher crude oil prices have had on the economy and earnings. The gains on Monday in Indian markets were similar to those of their Asian counterparts, who rose by 0.4%. Consumer stocks rose 0.7%, while heavyweight financials gained 0.6% to lead the gains in India. IDBI Bank's share price fell 13.3% following?media reports that the Indian government would?shelve bids received for the sale of a majority stake in the lender.
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JSW Steel unit eyes debut $1 billion shorter-duration debt issue, bankers say
Two merchant bankers on Monday said that India's JSW Kalinga Steel is set to issue its first shorter-duration bonds before the end of this month, as it aims to raise up to 95 billion rupees (about $1.03 billion). Bankers said that the company will likely sell two tranches with a five-year term each. The aim is to raise 60 billion rupees or 35 billion rupees through these bond sales. The notes would have zero-coupon paper and put and call options. Crisil rated the bonds of JKSL as AA. The ratings took into account the credit support that was expected from JKSL’s joint venture partners JSW Steel, and Japan-based JFE Steel Corporation. One of the bankers cited above said that "most of the top mutual fund companies have signed up as anchor investors and the bidding will take place at the end of this week, or early next," The bankers asked for anonymity as they were 'not authorized to speak to the media.' JKSL, however, did not respond to an email asking for comment. JSW Kalinga Steel, a 100% subsidiary of Piombino Steel Ltd., also holds a 100% shareholding in JSW Sambalpur Steel Ltd. These?entities were formed to own and operate Bhushan Power Steel Ltd.
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Chinese iron ore buyers ease buying ban
Iron ore futures fell from their two-month highs as China's state-backed buyer of iron ore eased its?ban until next week on a top-miner BHP product, while weaker steel production?and property statistics weighed on sentiment. As of 0237 GMT, the?most traded? May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was trading 0.92% higher/lower. It was 807.5 yuan (US$117.08) per metric ton. Sources said that China will ease a ban on BHP's?Jimblebar fines, an iron ore product, until next week. This comes only a day after Beijing expanded restrictions against its third-largest supplier. Sources said that China would ease the ban on BHP’s iron ore product?Jimblebar fins until next week. This comes only one day after Beijing tightened restrictions on its third largest supplier. China Mineral Resources Group (the state-run iron ore buyer) told domestic steelmills they could already take delivery of Jimblebar?fines at ports in a week. Steelmakers and traders are excluded from the exception. CMRG banned steelmakers and traders in September from buying Jimblebar Fines. It has gradually expanded these restrictions, and most recently, this week, while it negotiates the terms of BHP’s 2026 Supply Contract. Statistically, the world's largest steelmaker produced 160.34 millions tons of "crude steel" in January and February, a 3.6% decrease from last year, according to the Statistics Bureau. Beijing has promised to reduce industrial production, including steel, in an orderly fashion as it struggles with persistent overcapacity. In February, home prices in China continued to drop. This indicates that the property sector remains troubled despite some signs of improvement. Steelhome, a consultancy, reported on March 13 that iron ore inventories at major Chinese ports had increased by 2.24 percent. Coking coal and coke are also included in the list of steelmaking ingredients that harden. The Shanghai Futures Exchange steel benchmarks have mostly gained. Hot-rolled coil remained unchanged, while wire rod increased by 0.3%. Stainless steel, meanwhile, lost 1.65%.
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Coal India unit Central Mine Planning seeks $1.33 billion valuation, IPO opens Friday
A newspaper advertisement states that Coal India subsidiary Central Mine Planning & Design Institute has set a price range of 163-172 rupees per share for its 18.38 billion rupee ($198.68 millions) initial public offering. The company that provides support and consultancy services for coal and minerals exploration is looking to be valued at $1.33 billion, i.e. the top of the price range. The IPO will be available for subscription between?March 20 and March 24. Global markets are under pressure due to geopolitical tensions resulting from a conflict in the Middle East. India's primary markets have also been affected by the weak sentiment, as seven out of 11 IPOs that were launched in 2026 listed below their original issue price. Bharat Coking Coal is another subsidiary of Coal India. Its debut in January saw a nearly two-fold increase, thanks to the support?of its parent and the robust demand for coking coal from steelmakers. Central Mine Planning’s IPO is a pure offer to?sell, with Coal India aiming to?offload as many shares as possible. The company reported a?profit?of 4,25 billion rupees?for the nine-month period ending?December 2025. This is up approximately 9% from the year-ago time period.
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Japan's Nikkei index falls for a third consecutive day, as the Iran crisis fuels stagflation fears
Japan's Nikkei average fell for the?third day in a row on Monday, as the Middle East Crisis threatened to cause longer-term economic damage through higher energy prices and a weaker yen. As of midday, the benchmark index?Nikkei225? fell by 1.3% to 53138.42. The Topix index, which is a broader measure of the market, fell 0.7% to 3,602.71. The Nikkei index has fallen more than 9% in the past two weeks since U.S. airstrikes on Iran began. As the conflict spread to neighbouring countries, it paralyzed the shipment of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The Nikkei briefly rose after U.S. president Donald Trump stated that he was urging other countries in order to safeguard shipping routes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan has no plans to send?naval ships to escort vessels in the Middle East. Satsuki Katayama, the Finance Minister, said that the government was prepared to act decisively on the financial markets as the yen fell close to the psychologically significant 160 per dollar line. Maki Sawada is an equity strategist at Nomura Securities. She said that the market appears to be increasingly worried about stagflation. This occurs when economies are gripped with simultaneous increases in inflation and declines in economic growth. Sawada stated that "concerns over an economic slowdown caused by a rise in oil prices" are now being taken into account. "Rather than a general selloff, we are seeing a tendency where these domestic demand segments are performing strongly and underpinning Japan's?stock market." The Nikkei had 43 advancing stocks versus 182 declining ones. Furukawa Electric, Fujikura and other key suppliers in the artificial intelligence industry were the biggest losers. Both fell 6.7%. The index's biggest gainers were NH Foods (up 2.3%) and Denka (a chemical and advanced material company), which gained 2.2%. (Reporting and editing by Sonia Cheema in Tokyo)
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Reactions to Trump’s call for assistance to secure the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. president Donald Trump asked allies to help'secure the Strait of Hormuz' as Iranian forces 'continued attacks on this vital waterway during the U.S. and Israeli war against?Iran in its third week. Trump claimed that his administration has already reached out to seven countries but refused to name them. In an earlier post on social media, Trump said he hoped China would join the effort, as well as France, Japan and South Korea. Iran effectively closed the Strait between Iran and Oman. This narrow passage of water has cut off a fifth global oil supply, the largest disruption in history. Some countries responded to Washington's request to send ships to the region: On Monday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Japan has no plans to send naval vessels to escort ship in the Middle East. "We have made no decisions about dispatching escort vessels." Takaichi, a member of parliament, said that we are "continuing to look at what Japan can do on its own and what is possible within the legal framework". AUSTRALIA A government minister announced on Monday that Australia would not send ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We will not be sending a vessel to the 'Strait of Hormuz. Catherine King, who is a cabinet member for Anthony Albanese, said in an interview with ABC that she was aware of how important this issue is. However, the government has not asked her to do so or requested that she contribute. SOUTH KOREAN The South Korean presidential office announced on Sunday that it would "communicate closely with the U.S. about this matter" and then make a "decision following a careful review." BRITAIN A Downing Street spokesperson said that Prime Minister Keir starmer and Trump discussed the necessity to reopen Strait in order to stop disruptions to global shipping. Starmer spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the two agreed to continue discussions on the Middle East conflict during a Monday meeting, said the spokeswoman. (Compiled by Himani Sarkr; edited by Michael Perry).
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China's aluminium production in January and February is up due to higher profitability
Official data released on Monday showed that China's primary aluminum output in the first two?months of 2026 increased by 3% compared to the same period last year. This was due to higher profits. According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, China was the world's largest producer of aluminum. In January and February alone, it produced 7.53 million metric tonnes of primary aluminium. Profit margins for light metal, which is widely used in construction, packaging and auto manufacturing, have improved, resulting in an increase in output. According to Chinese research firm Antaike, aluminium smelters made an average profit per ton of 7,879 Yuan ($1,142.26), up?2.2% from month to month, as input costs fell while the price for the light metal increased. The most active aluminium contract increased by nearly 11% in January. However, it fell back almost 7% in February. Antaike reported that the input costs fell 0.7% on a monthly basis and 6.4% annually as electricity prices and alumina raw materials dropped. The production of ten non-ferrous metals, including copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, and nickel, grew by a?3.9% year-on-year to 13.42 millions tons. Other non-ferrous materials include tin, mercury, magnesium, antimony and titanium. China combines the output data from January and February to reduce the impact of Lunar New Year holidays that fall in either month. $1 = 6.8977 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Reporting and editing by Sonali Paul; Lewis Jackson, Dylan Duan)
Western miners push for greater metals costs to fend off Chinese rivals
CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST, Idaho, July 22 (). T he just U.S. cobalt mine sits fallow in the northern Idaho. woods, a mothballed hunk of steel and dirt that is too expensive. for its owner to run because Chinese rivals have flooded. worldwide markets with cheap materials of the bluish metal used in. electrical lorry batteries and electronics.
Jervois Global, which dug the mine into the side of. an almost 8,000-foot (2,400-meter) mountain, watched helplessly. in 2015 as cobalt prices plunged after China's CMOC. Group opened the Kisanfu mine in the Democratic. Republic of Congo, pushing international production of the metal to an. all-time high.
The Idaho website, which Jervois bought in 2019, was idled in. June 2023 just weeks before it was set to open. More than 250. workers lost their tasks. A skeleton team now rotates unused rock. crushing devices weekly to keep it from flattening under its. own weight.
We were simple with our staff and told them: 'This. is everything about the price of cobalt,' website manager Matthew. Lengerich told throughout a see to the center. Jervois. says cobalt rates require to reach a minimum of $20 per pound for the. website to open. However prices sat near $12.17 in July.
A similar predicament faces BHP, Albemarle and. other Western mining companies attempting to take on metals. produced by Chinese-linked companies, a few of which usage. coal-generated electrical energy, kid labor or other practices not. meeting the standards set by lots of governments and makers.
Western miners state their rivals have intrinsic cost. benefits that make it possible for rapid production expansions even as. costs for cobalt, lithium and nickel have plunged more than a. 3rd in the past 18 months. Functional expenses for a lot of these. Western business have, as a result, been surpassing what market. prices will cover.
That has sustained growing calls from some policymakers and. miners, consisting of Jervois and Albemarle, for a two-tier prices. system with a premium for sustainably produced metals, according. to interviews with more than 3 lots traders, financiers,. executives, acquiring representatives, and prices firms.
The strategy is to charge more for a metal that is produced. sustainably, whether that is through direct transactions or through. multiple rates for a metal listed through futures exchanges,. depending upon production methods. For instance, there would be one. rate for standard nickel and another for green nickel.
Western miners merely can't compete with China, and China. has revealed the willingness to drive market value way, way down,. stated Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public. Policy at the Colorado School of Mines.
Two-tier pricing could significantly move how metals required for. energy transition have actually been purchased and offered for centuries yet. also minimize market openness as miners might bypass metals. exchanges to work out directly with consumers.
It might also, two analysts told , cause several. definitions of just what constitutes green metal.
' COMMITMENTS HAVE An EXPENSE'
Market leaders have actually pushed for two rates structures for. a number of years, however the call for change began gaining more. attention from financiers, policymakers and clients last fall. as Western governments grew more concerned about Chinese. competitors.
In conferences throughout Washington and Brussels, mining. executives have been pleading with governments for some kind of. intervention till two-tiered prices is more extensively welcomed,. suggesting that tariffs, supply chain transparency requirements,. or government insurance for mines could be possible solutions,. three market sources said.
U.S. and E.U. officials have actually independently expressed sympathy. with the mining industry, according to two of the sources, but. have actually up until now been loath to inject themselves into the mechanics. of how costs are set by exchanges and others.
I do not wish to state what the markets should or shouldn't do. to guarantee strong ESG practices, said the U.S. State. Department's Jose Fernandez, who oversees a program designed to. facilitate metals supply offers. But it is true that all of. those dedications have a cost.
As a result, mining industry customers such as car manufacturers. remain in the unpleasant position of attempting to keep their expenses. low while preserving secure and varied metals supplies. Some. deals are taking shape, prodded in part by policies tied to. emissions.
The European Union by 2027 will need EV manufacturers to. show where they procure metals and the carbon footprint for. their production. Refusal to comply would suggest an EV can't be. sold in the region, an action not yet taken by the United States. however one extensively seen as the most aggressive worldwide to enhance. supply chain transparency and most likely to sustain premium metals. agreements.
In Canada last year, Northern Graphite started. effectively requiring a premium from clients desiring. guaranteed North American products of the battery metal.
Teck Resources previously this year started selling. a gently processed type of copper known as concentrate to. Aurubis, a source with direct knowledge said. The. deal does not rely on exchange prices and guarantees. Aurubis a consistent supply of ESG-compliant concentrate that it. turns into copper for sale to the automobile market.
Teck declined to comment. Aurubis said it sees the method to a. green-friendly copper industry as a joint task for the entire. worth chain, which requires to be honored from the raw material. provider to the end consumer.
Consumers in the meantime do not deal with a charge if they do not. source sustainable metals, however they increasingly face a. reputational risk.
The concern is really for automobile companies: Are you okay with. something that may be priced lower or are you willing to pay. premiums understanding that this is sourced sustainably in the right. way? said Michael Scherb, CEO of Appian Capital Advisory, a. private equity firm that buys mining companies.
' WEATHER THE STORM'
BHP, the world's biggest mining business, said this month it. would suspend operations at its Australia nickel mines due to. the substantial economic challenges driven by a worldwide. oversupply of nickel.
The move was a blow to a company that had unsuccessfully bet. its customers would want to pay a premium for nickel. produced in a country that mines sustainably.
BHP alerted that almost two-thirds of Australia's nickel. market remains in threat of closing amid low market value sustained by. a 153% boost in Indonesia's nickel from 2020 through the end. of in 2015 due to Huayou Cobalt and others -. production that environmentalists say has actually partly come by tearing. up the country's huge jungles.
U.S. officials are motivating Jakarta to improve the. nation's mining requirements. Huayou Cobalt did not respond to a. ask for remark.
Australia's nickel industry is among the cleanest in the. world mainly due to how it manages carbon emissions, according. to data from ESG consultancy Skarn Associates. Nickel processed. in Indonesia gives off more than 5 times the amount of carbon as. production in Australia, the data reveal, with emissions from. China's nickel industry nearly 7 times worse than Australia.
Albemarle, the top international producer of lithium, laid off. staff in January in the middle of low costs triggered in part by increase. production from Yongxing Special Materials Technology. and others in China.
If there isn't an incentive above current costs, you're. not going to get the financial investment you need to build the domestic. ( U.S.) supply chain, stated Eric Norris, who oversees Albemarle's. lithium operations.
Fernandez, the U.S. State official, anticipates increasing minerals. demand to offset present international oversupplies, however acknowledged. that miners, in the meantime, remain in a bind.
We need to find methods to weather the storm, Fernandez stated.
TRANSPARENCY
Since January, world leaders have taken a series of steps to. offset China's market control.
President Joe Biden imposed tariffs in May on critical. minerals produced in China, stating ( metals) rates are unjustly. low since Chinese business don't require to worry about a. revenue.
Jim Chalmers, Australia's treasurer, in February said. federal governments should consider support for a distinguished. global trading market for resources produced to higher. ESG requirements.
Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy prime minister, in April. stated Ottawa would fight the discarding of crucial minerals by. China, Indonesia and others.
The Chinese mission to the United Nations did not respond to. a request for comment. China has in the in 2015 prohibited exports. of graphite and other metals.
Numerous U.S. senators from both parties have said they are. considering legislation to offer rate insurance for metals,. comparable to a government insurance coverage program for crops, according. to Senate aides. Such a relocation would guarantee miners a cost for. their metals, despite market conditions.
Car manufacturers have been moving very carefully as this pattern for. green prices premiums progresses, conscious that consumers are. hesitant to pay more for EVs.
General Motors, the biggest U.S. car manufacturer, thinks. important minerals should be produced sustainably however does not. want to pay a premium out of concern that it will be unable to. take on Chinese competitors, according to a source straight. involved in the business's minerals procurement.
GM informed it needs providers to adhere to high. requirements, a stance echoed by Volkswagen, BMW and Stellantis.
Tesla and Ford, which is developing an. Indonesian nickel processing plant with Huayou Cobalt and PT. Vale Indonesia, did not respond to ask for. remark.
EXCHANGES
The London Metal Exchange (LME) stated it has actually gotten. positive market feedback regarding its move to price. sustainable nickel. Its partner Metalshub, a German online. metals auction platform, sold 144 metric lots of low-carbon. nickel in May and prepares to publish a matching price when. there are more deals.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a UK-based service provider of. critical minerals pricing and data, has launched green metals. pricing contracts, with each rate derived from how a mining. business complies with 79 requirement that Criteria stated reflect high. production requirements.
You will not have the ability to ensure by any stretch of the. creativity a non-China supply of particular metals unless you're. happy to pay some degree of a premium for that product, stated. Criteria's Daniel Fletcher-Manuel.
That's the message that Jervois has actually been pressing,. unsuccessfully.
Eventually, ESG has an expense, said Bryce Crocker, the. business's CEO. It's a beneficial cost..
(source: Reuters)