European biodiesel trade flows have been rocked significantly by the latest policy changes, with uncertainty rife in the marketplace surrounding the future of antidumping duties. S&P Global Platts' George Griffiths, EMEA senior biofuels specialist, and Samar Niazi, APAC biodiesel editor take a...
Mar 16, 2018•5 min
S&P Global Platts editors Sophie Byron and Wes Swift and Director of Global Biofuels Analysis Corey Lavinsky discuss the impact from the proposed settlement agreement between the US Environmental Protection Agency and Philadelphia Energy Solutions on the biofuels market.The trio review what...
Mar 14, 2018•7 min
After strong trading in the lead up to Chinese New Year in mid-February, market participants were expecting China to return to the seaborne spot market with gusto. But sellers have been left feeling disappointed as rising domestic coal production, falling Qinhuangdao prices and warmer weather in...
Mar 07, 2018•7 min
Details of US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports are expected to emerge this week.In this podcast, S&P Global Platts Regional Content Director for Metals Julien Hall and Senior Managing Editor for Steel and Steel Raw Materials Keith...
Mar 05, 2018•5 min
As London's annual International Petroleum week draws to a close, Jason Silber, Global head of Ocean Intelligence -- part of S&P Global Platts -– chatted with Peter Norfolk, S&P Global Platts editorial director, shipping and freight, for a quick yet incisive survey of the shipping...
Feb 23, 2018•10 min
Borouge chief executive Wim Roels joins S&P Global Platts Senior Editor Heng Hui in this podcast to discuss the competitiveness of Middle East producers, the company's outlook for 2018, as well as megatrends that could disrupt the polymer sector in the long run.We welcome any feedback or...
Feb 15, 2018•6 min
Ukrainian corn prices have risen to a 6-month high, rising sharply since the turn of the year, making it the most expensive origination globally. Driving the surge is demand from China, which has bolstered fundamentals. In contrast, traditional homes for Ukrainian corn are opting for US corn, the...
Feb 13, 2018•5 min
Aluminum premium swaps on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have been in contango. Spot market premiums have been surging this year.In this podcast, S&P Global Platts Regional Manager for Metals Derivatives Petter Kolderup and Senior Editor for Physical Metals Market Mayumi Watanabe discuss the...
Feb 09, 2018•6 min
With 23 months to go, it is still uncertain whether refineries will be able to meet demand for low sulfur bunker fuel. Jason Silber, global head of Ocean Intelligence -- part of S&P Global Platts -- sought out Janet McGurty, S&P Global Platts senior oil writer and resident refinery guru,...
Feb 08, 2018•11 min
With a lack of clarity over when biodiesel antidumping duties against Indonesia and Argentina will be removed, and the EU Commission launching an Argentinian biodiesel anti-subsidy investigation, George Griffiths, S&P Global Platts senior biofuels specialist, and Emma Kettley, S&P Global...
Feb 01, 2018•5 min
The surging prices of polyethylene in Asia are keeping Europe's prices flat despite abundant supplies being available in the market. With US exports widely expected to further increase supply availability in Europe in the coming months, the continents polyethylene prices look set to come under...
Jan 26, 2018•6 min
The start of 2018 has seen multiple bullish factors hit. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts metals editors Sarah Baltic Hilliard and Tina Allagh discuss causes behind the rise in US aluminum premium levels and outlook for the coming months.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics....
Jan 26, 2018•7 min
With biodiesel antidumping duties against Indonesia and Argentina to be removed, and palm oil banned as a biodiesel feedstock in Europe post-2020 following the RED II vote, Stephanie Wilson, S&P Global Platts agriculture managing editor, and George Griffiths, senior biofuels specialist look at...
Jan 23, 2018•4 min
Indonesian thermal coal prices have been on an uptrend since the latter half of 2016 and production may likely see a boost in 2018. What are the demand-supply factors to look out for this year?Platts Asia thermal coal managing editor Deepak Kannan and associate editor Arusha Das examine the key...
Jan 16, 2018•6 min
An Iranian tanker carrying condensate bound for South Korea was involved in a fiery accident in the East China Sea. In this podcast, Shipping associate editor Wanda Wang and Oil analyst Alexander Yap examine the incident's impact on tanker, condensate and naphtha markets.Related content:Iran NITC...
Jan 10, 2018•7 min
London Metal Exchange aluminum stocks have plunged steeply this year. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts editors Vicky Bakourou and Mayumi Watanabe discuss causes behind the fall, analysis of the market fundamentals and outlook for 2018.We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact...
Dec 15, 2017•11 min
Prices of Australian alumina have ebbed after recently climbing to multi-year highs. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts editors Yuen Cheng Mok and Joanna Lim examine the factors driving alumina prices and the impact of the anticipated smelter output cuts in China. They also talk about the...
Nov 27, 2017•6 min
S&P Global Platts senior sugar analyst, Erin Burns, and biofuels editor, George Griffiths, take a look at the delicate political issues in Zimbabwe following Robert Mugabe's resignation, and investigate the potential impacts on sugar and ethanol production within the breadbasket of Africa.How...
Nov 24, 2017•4 min
A working group of the IMO met at the organisation's headquarters in London recently to discuss cutting greenhouse gas emissions, setting off a public dispute about whether the shipping industry has too much influence over the UN body. S&P Global Platts fuel oil managing editor Ned Molloy and...
Nov 01, 2017•7 min
Mexico's Energy Regulatory Commission has been working for the past couple of years on NOM-016 to update the country's gasoline regulations, including standards around blending ethanol to the fuel supply. But an injunction stopped an increased blend of 10% and moved it back to 5.8%. Editors...
Oct 24, 2017•4 min
Ahead of Platts first ever Digital Commodities Summit in London on November 14, 2017, James Rilett, Global Director of Innovation at S&P Global Platts spoke to our premier event sponsor, James Robert ("Bo") Collins, Founder of Matrix Global, on the key conference theme of how blockchain...
Oct 18, 2017•9 min
Close to 3,000 petrochemical industry representatives attended the recently concluded EPCA annual meeting in Berlin, where digitization dominated discussions.A Platts seminar organized on the sidelines discussed key aspects like the impact of crude on petrochemicals and the polymers and aromatics...
Oct 11, 2017•5 min
Russian and OPEC officials last week discussed the progress of their landmark crude oil production deal, and plans to increase bilateral cooperation, during multiple meetings and events held in Moscow.Russia's relationship with Saudi Arabia took center-stage, with the Saudi King's historic...
Oct 11, 2017•7 min
The Asian thermal coal market is at an interesting crossroads this week, as Chinese buyers make a cautious return to the Asia seaborne market after their week-long holiday. Meanwhile, buyers in Japan continue to wrestle with Australian coal suppliers over prices for term contracts starting October...
Oct 10, 2017•6 min
Recent Platts spot billet upcharges are being driven higher by strong extrusion demand and a handful of supply issues, which may continue into next year. Karen McBeth, director of metals pricing and market engagement, speaks with Sarah Baltic Hilliard, Americas aluminum products pricing specialist,...
Sep 19, 2017•7 min
Over the past two weeks, the alumina market has seen high prices, fewer spot cargoes and talks of refinery cuts, sending prices to multi-year highs. In this podcast, S&P Global Platts editors Yuen Cheng Mok and Joanna Lim examine the surge in alumina prices and look at market expectations in...
Sep 14, 2017•4 min
Russia's recent focus on diversifying its export markets in Asia dovetails with plans by many countries in the region to expand refining capacities, which is reflected in a growing number of joint projects agreed recently.S&P Global Platts managing editor in Moscow Nadia Rodova discusses how...
Sep 13, 2017•8 min
The future of antidumping duties against Argentinian biodiesel were finally confirmed this week, stipulating duties to be reduced by September 28. S&P Global Platts European biofuels editor, George Griffiths and global editorial director for agriculture, Tim Worledge discuss the potential...
Sep 08, 2017•4 min
The polyethylene terephthalate market saw prices spike at the beginning of August when Lotte declared FM at one of its two plants in Wilton, UK. S&P Global Platts editor Sarah-Jane Flaws details the current situation and the expectation over the coming months.We welcome any feedback or...
Sep 06, 2017•6 min
The advent of the new sugar crop and overhaul of the European sugar regime in October are causing a stir in the European ethanol industry, as market participants expect to see some sugar-beet-based ethanol capacity return to the market.Further down the line, concerns around the potential removal of...
Sep 04, 2017•5 min