PODCAST · business
Commodities Focus
by S&P Global Energy
S&P Global Energy analysis of key news and pricing issues from across the global shipping, natural gas, power, petrochemicals, agriculture and coal markets.
Episodes
-
African swine fever: Spain's pork sector faces trade and animal feed challenges
African swine fever is adding fresh uncertainty to Spain's pork market, reshaping trade flows and influencing feed buying decisions. As exporters navigate disease-related restrictions and changing global demand, feed buyers remain cautious and focused on short-term needs. In this episode,...
-
El Niño and agriculture: Shrimp markets face uncertainty over crop quality, feed prices
The ongoing El Niño is reshaping global seafood markets by warming Pacific waters and disrupting rainfall, currents, and nutrient flows. Shrimp producers face disease risks, salinity fluctuations, flooding, drought, and elevated feed costs, which pressure output and margins. In Peru, warmer seas...
-
Why food inflation is no longer just about supply and demand
The next phase of food inflation may be determined as much by energy policy and geopolitics as by crop yields. In this episode of Platts Commodities Focus podcast, the S&P Global Energy news team explores the structural forces reshaping agricultural markets, from tightening global beef supplies…
more -
El Nino and agriculture: How are Asian rice markets navigating the weather risks?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast high chances of El Nino developing in 2026, potentially disrupting weather patterns worldwide. Renewed weather volatility driven by a strong El Nino is spotlighting supply security, price trends, and export flows across Asian rice...
-
Asian LNG under pressure: what comes next for prices amid the Middle East conflict?
Asian LNG markets are facing renewed pressure as the US–Iran conflict raises concerns over supply security and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. With the initial price shock now absorbed, the focus is shifting to the next phase of the crisis: how the supply-demand balance is evolving and…
more -
From Hormuz to Gulf ports: tracing a logistics shock through the poultry trade
The Middle East imports the majority of the chicken it consumes, with Brazil the dominant origin and most cargo routed through the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf ports. When that route was effectively disrupted in early March 2026, the Platts CIF Middle East chicken breast assessment moved from $2,320…
more -
India's carbon market: from design to implementation
India's emerging compliance carbon market under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is moving into its early implementation phase, with an intensity-based design that sets operational-level obligations for emission-intensive sectors. The scheme is expected to influence industrial planning,...
-
India's corporate renewable sourcing: Are IRECs losing ground to VPPAs amid growing demand?
India's corporate renewable energy market is entering a new phase. While International Renewable Energy Certificates still lead the way for buyers seeking flexibility, simplicity, and cost-effective compliance, larger corporates are increasingly exploring Virtual Power Purchase Agreements,...
-
India's renewable hydrogen projects face cost, delay risks from global conflicts
India has established a strong foothold in the emerging clean fuels industry, leveraging its low-cost renewable energy resources to position itself as a competitively priced producer of renewable hydrogen and ammonia for both domestic industrial use and large-scale exports to buyers seeking to...
-
Global wheat markets on edge as war, weather, and fertilizer shocks drive new rally
Global wheat prices have been rising since the Middle East war began in late February. Geopolitical tensions, higher fertilizer costs, and mounting weather risks in North America, and a potential El Niño in Australia are all in focus. At the same time, Black Sea new-crop wheat is competing with...
-
Copper markets react to high sulfuric acid prices, Middle East conflict
Copper TC/RCs have plunged 89% since January, hitting record lows as concentrate supply tightens and demand stays firm. At the same time, the Middle East war has driven sulfuric acid prices – an important by-product for copper production - up 156% since mid-March, supporting copper smelters to...
-
Mounting risks for global beef prices: what's driving market uncertainty?
Global beef prices are rising, with multiple record highs recorded for beef from Australia and Brazil, as well as in the US lean trimmings import market during the first quarter. Although strong US demand has supported the market, the global beef industry is facing challenges related to quotas…
more -
India's solar market faces export hurdles, pivots to domestic power
The Indian solar market has grown considerably over the past decade as the country continues to invest in its module and cell manufacturing capacities. However, the recent imposition of additional duties by the country's largest export market – the US – has restricted India's export…
more -
In the fast-growing Brazilian I-RECs market, what challenges and opportunities lie ahead?
With one of the world's largest shares of renewables in its energy generation mix, Brazil offers opportunities for companies in the country seeking to reduce their emissions. In this episode, we discuss how the country has developed a large supply of International Renewable Energy Certificates…
more -
Unpacking the global poultry price flip: Why are chicken legs now pricier than breast meat?
For the first time since Platts began tracking these markets, frozen boneless chicken legs shipped to North Asia are priced higher than skinless boneless breast meat destined for the Middle East. This shift highlights changing demand and supply dynamics in the global poultry market. The podcast...
-
Decarbonizing India's industrial, power sectors: challenges and roadmaps
India's greenhouse gas emissions in the hard-to-abate and power sectors are expected to rise in the decades to come, necessitating an examination of strategies deployed for energy transition in these crucial segments. Though steps have been initiated to help reduce emissions, a bespoke,...
-
Asian MTBE arbitrage flows wrecked by Middle East conflict
Asian flows of MTBE to arbitrage markets in Europe and Latin America have come to an abrupt halt after the start of the US-Iran war. Through early 2026, Chinese MTBE producers were able to overcome muted blending demand around Singapore by pushing their production to hungry buyers in Europe as…
more -
US aluminum market digests tariff-induced volatility at Platts Symposium
In this episode of the Commodities Focus Podcast by S&P Global Energy, host Tina Allagh, lead specialist for nonferrous metals pricing, is joined by senior nonferrous price reporter Colleen Ferguson, metals news reporter Anthony Rizkala and principal aluminum analyst Karen Norton to review the…
more -
How are global shrimp exporters navigating the US import tariffs?
The US import tariffs for shrimp are redefining cost structures and market access for major suppliers. As the American buyers restructure and rebalance their origin portfolio, major suppliers, India and Ecuador, are dealing with the domino effect. The podcast discusses how the tariff frictions...
-
India, Pakistan jostle over exclusive rights for basmati rice
The global demand for basmati rice has been rising, especially in the Middle East and the EU. As a result, the competition to sell this long-grain variety has intensified in recent years. The world's biggest Basmati suppliers -- India and Pakistan -- claim proprietary ownership over this…
more -
Asia's coal transition dilemma amid renewable energy push
The energy landscape in Asia has been evolving in recent years. With a global push towards renewable energy, the longstanding dependence of many Asian countries on coal comes into the limelight. The discussions surround critical questions about whether these nations will be able to transition…
more -
A tale of two tariff pauses
The first pause of triple-digit tariffs between the US and China prompted a container shipping surge. The second pause? Not so much. The US and China in May took a 90-day breather from triple-digit tariffs that largely halted container ship traffic between the world's two largest economies....
-
Navigating the shifting tides of Asia's gasoline market
The landscape of gasoline pricing and supply in Southeast Asia is evolving. The rising demand for low-sulfur blend stocks as Australia prepares for its transition, the effects of reduced non-oxygenated gasoline exports from India and Malaysia's upcoming subsidy increase for 95 RON gasoline--all...
-
Trade changes, policy barriers reshape Asia's traditional UCO market dynamics
Asia's used cooking oil (UCO) market is navigating an upheaval this year as the US, which once used to be the largest buyer, has removed incentives for imported biofuels. However, UCO's efficacy and commercial viability as a biofuel feedstock is keeping demand steady and prices at record highs.…
more -
Is Japan's rice supply crisis an opportunity for US and Thai farmers?
For months, Japan has been suffering from an extremely low availability of its staple food—rice. Despite Tokyo's efforts to mitigate the supply crisis, local rice prices have touched all-time high levels. Other countries are likely to step in to fill the gap but Japan's preference for quality...
-
Foot and Mouth Disease shapes the future of European pork trade
A new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease discovered in Germany earlier this year has reshaped trade flows of European pork and led to significant pricing volatility in the region. Varying government responses to the disease have raised questions about how the European market will fare going…
more -
Seafood Surge: The Fastest Growing Sector in Global Animal Protein Markets in 2025
As the demand for sustainable protein sources escalates, seafood production is poised to become the fastest-growing sector in the global animal protein markets in 2025. At the forefront of this growth is shrimp, which stands out as a leading sustainable and healthy protein option, capturing the...
-
The rise of battery recycling and black mass markets amid global EV adoption
Global electric vehicle adoption is increasing the demand for recycled battery raw materials. While the recent slowdown in EV sales growth and an oversupply of battery metals have weighed on battery recycling in some regions, the recognition of black mass as a sustainable source of critical raw...
-
Chinese jet fuel remains bright spark in latest export quota tranche
China's latest round of oil product export quotas had tightened compared to the same tranche a year ago. However, healthy margins and strong aviation recovery have pretty much cemented jet fuel's position as the king of the barrel for Chinese exporters, though turbulence remains. S&P Global...
-
Low-carbon methanol awaits regulatory backing for transportation use
The global methanol market is seeing emerging demand for low-carbon transportation fuels, with particular focus on marine fuels, driven by a need to decarbonize global shipping without disrupting supply chains. While conventional methanol has a history of being used as a transportation fuel…
more -
Alumina, aluminum markets react to tariffs, new capacity plans
Will US tariffs reshape aluminum trade flows? How will new alumina capacity out of Indonesia impact prices? In this podcast, Asia nonferrous metals team lead Jenson Ong is joined by Louissa Liau, associate price reporter for Asia nonferrous metals, and Lucy Tang, market news specialist for Asia...
-
Mexico's chicken meat importers mull options in case of trade war
Exporters of chicken meat from the US have been mulling what might happen to their trade in the event of a trade war. Mexico is their largest customer, and Brazil is their largest competitor. However, those US exporters supply fresh, brown chicken meat to Mexico, and they're quietly confident of...
-
Global copper markets navigate trade flow shifts and smelting challenges
Copper smelter margins have been facing noticeable pressure in recent months as copper concentrate TC/RCs plunged on tight supply, will this mean more production cuts upcoming? Primary copper prices, premiums, and even byproduct sulfuric acid charges, meanwhile, have been rising. Can these offer...
-
Brazil's evolving role in the global ferrous scrap market
Brazil's ferrous scrap exports have undergone a significant transformation, driven by a weakening domestic steel industry and increasing demand from India. Brazil exported a record 800,000 mt in 2023, following a decline in domestic scrap consumption. Looking ahead, the Brazilian recycling sector...
-
Understanding the cattle cycle, why US beef prices are at record highs and the role of Australia and Brazil
Beef prices in the US started 2025 at a record high. The world's largest consumer is also seeing a 63-year low in the size of its cattle herd and is expected to continue calling on supplies from Brazil and Australia, the world's two biggest exporters. That's because US farmers have been sending a...
-
India Energy Week to seek answers on demand trajectory, oil diplomacy and upstream push
India's rapidly growing energy demand, the shifting focus of oil producers towards the country, and the transition to cleaner energy sources are key themes at India Energy Week. Delegates will seek insights on how Indian energy companies and policymakers can balance the reliance on traditional...
-
Emergency or policy? Unpacking Trump's take on US energy and metals
Within hours of being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders, and declared a national emergency with the aim of ensuring reliable energy supplies and position the US as a leading minerals producer. Trump also threatened tariffs on...
-
Nickel markets look ahead at battery, steel sector stimulus, Indonesian growth
Amid sustained supply growth out of Indonesia while higher-cost production shuts down, will the focal point of nickel markets continues to be shifted to the country? Markets looks ahead at China's stimulus for support to nickel demand from the steel and battery sectors, but will it be sufficient…
more -
Navigating a new era of shipping environmental regulations
As the maritime industry faces a crucial turning point, the adoption of stringent environmental regulations is reshaping fuel consumption and market dynamics. In this episode of Commodities Focus, our Platts experts discuss the implications of the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS)…
more -
How India's ethanol boom is transforming the country's corn trade flow
India is at the crossroads of transitioning from Asia's primary corn exporter to a net importer amidst growing ethanol production within the country. Is this trend of corn imports going to continue, and why is the Indian ethanol market a crucial factor? What challenges stand in the way of this...
-
After export ban removal, Indian rice enters global markets amid shipping uncertainties
The world's top rice exporter India recently lifted most of the restrictions on its rice exports, which the country placed in July 2023 to control soaring domestic food prices. Price-sensitive rice importers, such as the West African countries, are likely to look towards India as a competitive...
-
The global ripple effects of the 2024 US elections on energy
The outcome of the US presidential election in November will have ripple effects for the international energy picture. In the weeks before the election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are trying to draw contrasts with each other, including on energy and foreign policy. Kate Winston, oil news…
more -
How the 2024 elections could reshape US domestic energy policy
Political experts say Nov. 5 will likely become known as one of the most pivotal elections in US history. Whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency, and whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress, the energy sector faces major potential shifts. There will be implications…
more -
Direct-reduced iron: India carving its path to meet 'green' steel ambitions
India has maintained its position as the world's largest producer of direct-reduced iron (DRI) for several years. As the global race to accelerate energy transition efforts intensifies, DRI has gained prominence due to its potential for reducing carbon emissions in energy-intensive sectors like...
-
Of improving weather and slow demand – are wheat prices headed for a further fall?
In the global wheat markets, recent concerns over a major production cut in Russia, a key exporter, have sparked attention on the supply and demand dynamics. Neighbouring European producers are also facing similar concerns. Meanwhile, in Canada and Australia, weather developments in recent months...
-
Hot gas summer for a hot power market
With high temperatures moving through the US, multiple regions are preparing for gas and power price volatility. Gas supply constraints or cooling demand could result in power demand spikes. Data centers have been increasing power and gas requirements in some areas, power generators have been...
-
Container market surge puts different pressure on Americas markets
Global container markets have endured a year of volatility not experienced since the global pandemic in 2020-2021, anchored by the complexity for supply chains as carriers loop around the Cape of Good Hope. Now that demand is ushering back into markets in a period of restocking, rates have surged...
-
Field to fork: Unpacking feed and meat demand in Asia and the Middle East (part 2)
Meat consumption is soaring globally, driven by population growth, rising incomes, and dietary preferences. As emerging markets embrace protein-rich diets, demand for feed grains intensifies, and the weather, government policy, animal disease and other factors can have major impact on both...
-
Field to fork: US grilling season and Brazil's role in beef trade (part 1)
Grilling season is underway in the US -- the world's largest producer and consumer of beef. Even so, per capita consumption of beef in the US has halved over the last 50 years. The US can now produce more beef with fewer head of cattle, but it has become reliant on imported beef. And Brazil has a...
-
UK oil refining struggles in the age of energy transition
As election fever grips the UK, this Commodities Focus podcast looks at the country's oil refineries as they grapple with the fast-changing process of energy transition, including shifting government targets, shrinking diesel demand, the rise of sustainable aviation fuel, and unrelenting...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Commodities Focus have?
Commodities Focus currently has 655 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Commodities Focus about?
S&P Global Energy analysis of key news and pricing issues from across the global shipping, natural gas, power, petrochemicals, agriculture and coal markets.
How often does Commodities Focus release new episodes?
Commodities Focus releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 655 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Commodities Focus?
You can listen to Commodities Focus on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Commodities Focus?
Commodities Focus is created and hosted by S&P Global Energy.
URL copied to clipboard!