Crude oil has surged recently as two key factors supply restraints by major producers and escalating geopolitical risks converge to tighten global supply. The renewed bullish sentiment highlights vulnerabilities in the oil market and reshuffles price expectations heading into 2026. What’s happening Producers in the OPEC+ alliance have maintained output cuts through late 2025, constraining the flow of oil into global markets. That reduction, combined with fresh reports of pote

Gold has moved firmly higher in recent sessions as shifting expectations for U.S. monetary policy pull investors back into safe-haven assets. With traders increasingly convinced that rate cuts could arrive sooner than previously expected, both the dollar and Treasury yields have lost momentum a combination that historically acts as rocket fuel for gold. At the heart of the move is a clear narrative: the U.S. economy is cooling, inflation is easing, and markets see less room f

Natural gas in 2025 is no longer a quiet, weather driven commodity. A series of disruptions at the Freeport LNG export terminal in Texas has transformed it into one of the most infrastructure sensitive trades in the energy market. Freeport LNG: the single point of failure Freeport LNG, normally able to ship around 2 Bcf/d, has spent much of 2025 operating below expectations due to recurring outages: A major winter shutdown followed a power feed failure, with the terminal stay

Why the world’s “white gold” market is under pressure What’s happening? Lithium demand is showing signs of strong rebound: Chilean producer SQM expects this year’s demand to exceed 1.5 million tones, a roughly 25 % increase from 2024. At the same time, analysts warn of supply chain stress because most lithium production remains regionally concentrated in the so called “Lithium Triangle” of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. Why markets care Input cost risk : Lithium is a key compo

What’s going on? Global cocoa producers, particularly in West Africa home to over two thirds of world output are confronting serious production shortfalls. The Côte d'Ivoire Ghana cocoa belt, already facing ageing trees, diseases, and labour issues, now faces a drought induced output drop of roughly 10 % for the 2025/26 season, according to industry sources. Meanwhile, at the same time, global consumption is showing signs of weakness especially in processing heavy regions put

Gold has quietly reasserted itself as one of the most important assets for global financial stability. According to the World Gold Council, central banks around the world expect to increase their gold reserves, with 95 % of respondents in their latest survey saying they believe global central-bank gold reserves will rise in the next 12 months. At the same time, data from Goldman Sachs shows that central bank purchases of gold remain likely to climb, even amid record high pric

Copper used to be just a cyclical industrial metal. In 2025, it’s looking more like a strategic choke point  in the energy transition and electrification story. A chain of supply hits Several major disruptions have tightened the copper market: The shutdown of the massive Cobre Panamá mine  due to political upheaval in Panama removed a significant chunk of annual global copper supply and highlighted the geopolitical risk embedded in key projects. A deadly mudslide at Indonesia

Oil markets are under pressure. Global benchmarks slipped as fresh data once again pointed to rising inventories and signs that demand is faltering. It’s a clear shift, supply is gaining the upper hand, and the market is responding. Supply Outpacing Demand Sizable builds in crude and fuel stocks in the U.S. have reinforced the narrative of abundance. Meanwhile, production shows few signs of easing, adding to the sense that the market could be dealing with a surplus. Demand Ou

This year has seen commodities step into the spotlight. With global uncertainty rising and the U.S. dollar weakening, hard assets especially precious and industrial metals are outperforming many traditional asset classes. Gold has surged past $4,000 per ounce , marking one of the strongest rallies in decades. Silver and platinum have also boomed: platinum is up nearly 80% year to date , outpacing gold and silver. These moves are being driven by central bank purchases, safe-ha

While global wheat output looked resilient earlier this year, emerging drought pressures in major producing regions and export disruptions are creating tighter exportable supplies a condition markets are increasingly aware of. Droughts Eye Major Wheat Regions Key bread-basket regions are showing signs of stress: In Rostov, Russia one of the world’s largest wheat export provinces authorities declared a state of emergency due to severe drought, compromising crop conditions. In

After two years of relentless expansion, the electric vehicle metals market  is entering a more volatile phase. With China reducing EV subsidies  and shifting focus toward industrial self sufficiency, global demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt has cooled even as Western producers warn that supply constraints remain long term Demand Cooldown in China According to the latest Reuters and Bloomberg coverage, China’s EV sales growth slowed sharply in October November 2025 follo

Global commodities markets are showing increasing signs of supply-side stress, driven in large part by strong purchasing activity from China and India and persistent infrastructure investment in emerging economies. This surge in demand for raw materials is beginning to shift market dynamics even as global growth shows signs of slowing. Growing Demand from Major Emerging Economies Analysts point to India’s expanding steel and manufacturing sectors as a key driver: according to

Gold has reclaimed its place as the global system’s silent stabilizer, with central banks quietly accumulating reserves  while investors recalibrate portfolios around inflation and currency risk. The pattern, steady and strategic, reflects growing preference for tangible assets over financial paper in an era of political and monetary uncertainty. Central Banks Accumulate at Record Pace According to the World Gold Council, official gold purchases have remained historically hig

Commodities markets are stabilizing as investors balance safe-haven positioning  with a broader return of risk appetite following progress in U.S. political negotiations and a calmer global tone. Gold, oil, and key industrial metals are each trading in narrower ranges after several volatile sessions dominated by political uncertainty and shifting interest rate expectations. Gold Supported by Steady Demand Gold continues to attract moderate safe-haven flows , supported by a so

Jefferies analysts say the U.S. is entering a new phase in its critical-minerals strategy , with policy shifts aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains and securing access to rare materials vital for energy transition and defense. The Policy Pivot The report highlights how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) , the Defense Production Act (DPA) , and the Department of Energy’s loan programs  are working together to reshape global mining and processing priorities. Under

Industrial metals slid this week as a global tech led market correction  rippled through commodities, with traders pulling back from cyclical assets amid fears of slower manufacturing demand and tightening liquidity. Market Pressure Builds Copper, aluminum, and zinc typically viewed as leading indicators of economic health all drifted lower as risk sentiment deteriorated . The move followed sharp losses in tech and semiconductor stocks, which spilled over into raw material ma

Natural gas prices slipped this week as unseasonably mild temperatures  across North America and Europe reduced heating demand, while high storage levels left little urgency among buyers. After months of supply fears, the market has shifted toward surplus management, with traders now betting on softer winter consumption. Weather and Demand Softness Forecasts for a warm start to November across major consuming regions pushed utilities to delay spot purchases. European gas hubs

Global wheat prices  crept higher this week as worsening weather in key growing regions and tightening export routes reignited supply concerns. After months of stable trade, markets are once again facing the dual shock of climate volatility and logistical strain a combination that’s beginning to ripple through global food costs. Weather Woes and Crop Damage Meteorological reports from the U.S. Midwest and parts of Eastern Europe point to excessive rainfall and early frost ,

The global copper market faced fresh tension today after Glencore announced it may close Canada’s largest copper smelter  due to surging operational costs and weak refining margins. The move adds yet another layer of supply uncertainty to a market already under pressure from constrained mining output and rising demand from the green energy sector. The story so far Glencore’s Horne smelter  in Quebec has been operating for nearly a century, processing both mined ore and recycl

Oil prices steadied after a choppy week, with traders weighing OPEC’s renewed production discipline  against persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and uneven demand signals from Asia. The mood in energy markets is cautious, but not pessimistic there’s a sense that the next move could come suddenly if supply tightens or global growth picks up. OPEC and Supply Discipline OPEC+ producers confirmed they would maintain existing production targets, signaling confidenc