Opalesque Commodities Briefing » Resources http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:21:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Forget oil – There is a far more precious commodity at stake http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125763 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125763#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:01:14 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125763 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125763>Article Link</a> Forget oil for once; the new cause of rising tension in the Greater Middle East (and Africa) today is between two countries that do not even share a common border. They have no real bad history between each other, no direct links or political divergences or land or sea disputes with one another, yet the sudden appearance of tension between them could erupt in a violent conflict. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125763 Commodity slide seen boon for resource-hungry firms’ shares http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125690 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125690#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:08:41 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125690 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125690>Article Link</a> European share prices have yet to reflect fully the impact of cheaper commodities, with analysts forecasting some stocks could rise as much as 50 percent in coming months. Oil, metals and electricity - representing between 20 and 45 percent of input costs of many companies in the industrials, chemicals and construction sectors - have fallen sharply this year and, when the moves are priced in, could lift these stocks in the second half of the year, some say. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125690 India should monetize 20,000 metric tonnes of gold http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125679 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125679#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:05:28 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125679 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125679>Article Link</a> India should monetize their huge gold stockpiles of over 20,000 metric tonnes according to the World Gold Council (WGC) as reported by Bloomberg this morning. “In the long term gold could be monetized as a financial asset,” Aram Shishmanian, the CEO of the WGC said in India overnight. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125679 Crude output exceeds imports for first time in 16 years http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125663 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125663#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2013 01:12:44 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125663 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125663>Article Link</a> U.S. domestic crude-oil production exceeded imports last week for the first time in 16 years, a government report showed today. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125663 UN food, agriculture chief urges ‘nothing less than the eradication of hunger and malnutrition’ http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125625 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125625#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:49:52 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125625 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125625>Article Link</a> The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for greater efforts to combat malnutrition and hunger worldwide as the agency launched its flagship annual report, which this year focuses on improved food systems for better nutrition. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125625 Opec’s caution reflects fears of oil oversupply http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125600 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125600#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 03:14:42 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125600 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125600>Article Link</a> The headlines did not quite reflect the wider drama as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), the cartel of 12 oil-producing nations, met behind closed doors on Friday. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125600 Is Iraq capable of becoming the largest oil producer in the world http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125598 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125598#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 03:14:09 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125598 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125598>Article Link</a> There is often quite a debate in the Peak Oil community over the difference between a reserve and a resource. Simplistically a resource is the amount of, for the sake of discussion, oil that is in the ground in a certain country, while the reserve is the amount of oil that can be both technically and economically recovered from that resource. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125598 China starts stockpiling metals again http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125590 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125590#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 03:12:03 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125590 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125590>Article Link</a> A new report indicates that the Chinese State Reserves Bureau has bought about 30,000 tonnes of nickel and may be considering adding to the country’s copper stockpiles as well. The nickel bought by the government’s powerful stockpiling agency represents more than 15% of the inventories held in London Metal Exchange warehouses worldwide and is likely to move markets. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125590 World crude steel output rises by 1.2pct to 132 mln tons in April 2013 Y/Y: WorldSteel http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125485 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125485#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 01:26:33 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125485 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125485>Article Link</a> World crude steel production of the 63 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) rose to 132 mn tons in April 2013, an increase of 1.2% compared to April 2012. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125485 Rare earths, oil, gas, other commodities up for grabs http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:03:17 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125463>Article Link</a> It won’t be long before the essential raw minerals and commodities of the planet’s Far North such as rare earths, oil and gas get gobbled up by the industrialists. On Wednesday, the Arctic Council granted China, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore new Observer States status. Essentially, the six nations gained rightful entry to listen in on meetings of the council, as well as propose and finance policies. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125463 Australia’s resources investment to peak at $85bln http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125460 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125460#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 01:02:10 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125460 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125460>Article Link</a> Investment in Australia’s resources sector is expected to peak at a record $85 billion this year, led by unprecedented spending in the oil and gas sector. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125460 The world is not running out of oil – but Europe is http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125413 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125413#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 01:31:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125413 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125413>Article Link</a> If Europe thought it had a crisis on its hands in the Eurozone, it’s nothing to the crisis a lack of oil would inflict. Thanks to the EU’s disastrous energy policies, while the world is proving to be awash with black gold in one form or another, Europe is fast losing the security of its oil supply. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125413 Used gold supply heads for ’08 low as sellers balk: Commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125398 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125398#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 04:09:14 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125398 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125398>Article Link</a> Consumers will sell the least used gold in five years after prices tumbled into a bear market, curbing a source of metal that typically accounts for about one in every three ounces of global supply. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125398 As imports wane, U.S. has room to cut strategic oil reserve http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125347 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125347#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 03:22:20 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125347 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125347>Article Link</a> Is the U.S. holding too much crude oil in its rainy-day reserve? After the Arab oil embargo of 1973, the major industrialized nations agreed to build emergency stockpiles to guard against supply shocks and prolonged price spikes. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125347 Don’t count your chickens or your oil wells before they hatch http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125337 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125337#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 02:24:49 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125337 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125337>Article Link</a> If one is to believe the hype and the optimism going around Lebanon these days, one would think that every Lebanese citizen, or at least those residing in Lebanon, is going to strike the jackpot and join the ranks of the Gulf Arab millionaires once drilling in the newly discovered offshore oil and natural gas fields begins. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125337 Citi cuts thermal coal price estimates as supply zooms http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125279 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125279#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:16:02 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125279 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125279>Article Link</a> Coal prices are likely to fall this year, owing to low demand and increased supplies. Citi Research has lowered the price estimates of global thermal coal for this year and the next, citing increased supply and subdued demand in India and China, the key coal-importing nations. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125279 Global cotton production to fall 5pct in 2012-13, another 6pct in 2013-14 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125270 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125270#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 03:13:10 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125270 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125270>Article Link</a> Global cotton production is estimated to fall 5% to 26.3 mn tons while acreage is expected to to fall fall 5% to 34.1 mn ha in 2012-13 season on a year-on-year basis, according to International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). World production is forecast to fall another 6% to 24.6 mn tons in 2013-14. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125270 World crude steel production up 1pct to 135 mn tons in March Y-o-Y http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125124 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125124#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:13:02 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125124 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=125124>Article Link</a> World crude steel production for the 63 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 135 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2013, an increase of 1.0% compared to March 2012. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=125124 Saudi Arabia bullish on oil demand as IEA revises outlook http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124990 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124990#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:14:54 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124990 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124990>Article Link</a> Saudi Arabia’s petroleum ministry foresees a bigger improvement in oil demand this year than the world’s three best-known forecasting agencies, including OPEC. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124990 OPEC March crude production falls http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124948 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124948#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:07:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124948 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124948>Article Link</a> Crude-oil output from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell in March to its lowest monthly level since October 2011, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124948 Africa yet to capitalize on commodities’ potential http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124920 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124920#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:54:16 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124920 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124920>Article Link</a> With 54% of the world’s platinum production, 78% of diamond and 20% of gold output, why should Africa look elsewhere for growth? Reams upon reams of studies tend to focus on the continent’s “resource course”, and the folly of depending on a few commodities, with analysts fretting on the resource sector’s inability to raise the standards of living of the wider population. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124920 2012 U.S. copper production at highest level in 3 years—U.S.G.S http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124900 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124900#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:28:02 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124900 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124900>Article Link</a> U.S. production of refined copper in 2012 decreased by about 3% from that in 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey observed in a Mineral Industry Survey made public Thursday. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124900 Raw-material bull market fading as supply expands: Commodities http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124827 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124827#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:11:07 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124827 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124827>Article Link</a> At a time when U.S. equities are trading near a record and the dollar is having its best start in three years, commodities will finish this quarter little changed from where they were at the end of 2012. The Standard & Poor’s GSCI gauge of 24 raw materials will be at 644 at the end of June, 1.4 percent lower than now, according to the median of nine investor and analyst predictions compiled by Bloomberg. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124827 OPEC March output likely lowest since October 2011, survey says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124824 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124824#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:10:18 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124824 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124824>Article Link</a> Oil theft in Nigeria helped drive down production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in March to its lowest level in a year and a half, according to a survey conducted by Dow Jones Newswires. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124824 World water crisis could lead to big investing opportunity http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124779 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124779#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 04:07:21 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124779 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124779>Article Link</a> When you turn on the faucet of your kitchen sink or bathroom shower, it’s easy to forget that behind the water is a really big business. From finding a clean source, to purifying it, and getting it into your home, there are plenty of ways to profit from good old H2O. And the demand for safe, clean water in every corner of the world has never been higher. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124779 China’s exploitation of Latin American natural resources raises concern http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124766 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124766#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:08:42 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124766 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124766>Article Link</a> Economic benefits countered by environmental damage and fears over lopsided nature of trade relations with Beijing. Amazonian forest cleared in Ecuador, a mountain levelled in Peru, the Cerrado savannah converted to soy fields in Brazil and oil fields under development in Venezuela’s Orinoco belt. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124766 U.S. oil production is booming. Here’s the catch http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124675 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124675#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:11:46 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124675 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124675>Article Link</a> The United States is suddenly awash in fossil fuels. Oil output has risen to its highest level since 1992. Natural gas is booming, thanks to new and improved fracking techniques. Refined petroleum has become one of the country’s top exports. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124675 U.S. leads non-OPEC producers http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124596 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124596#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:40:18 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124596 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124596>Article Link</a> Demand for OPEC crude oil is declining as non-cartel producers in North America continue their growth, the cartel said in its monthly report for March. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, in its March report, said gains from non-OPEC producers were led by the United States. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124596 UAE January oil output down about 3pct from December — IEA http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124537 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124537#comments Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:18:49 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124537 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124537>Article Link</a> The UAE’s crude oil output fell close to 3 per cent to average 2.60 million barrels a day (bpd) in January from 2.68 million bpd in December 2012, latest estimates of the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) show. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124537 OPEC failing to make energy transitions http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124466 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124466#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 03:38:04 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124466 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124466>Article Link</a> A new report by countries by the World Economic Forum has criticized the OPEC-member countries of failing to adjust to the changing energy architectures and renewable energy sources. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124466 Worldwide exploration trends 2013 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124445 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124445#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:59:18 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124445 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124445>Article Link</a> SNL Metals Economics Group’s (SNL MEG) 23rd edition of Corporate Exploration Strategies (CES) calculated that the industry’s estimated total budget for nonferrous metals exploration increased to $21.5 billion in 2012. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124445 Myanmar, shining new hope for global oil giants http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124343 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124343#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:29:48 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124343 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124343>Article Link</a> While other countries may be more reliable and better equipped, Myanmar has emerged as the new promised land for global oil and gas giants unperturbed by a lack of data on its proven energy reserves. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124343 Highest Opec buffer since 2011 no brake on price rise http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124331 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124331#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:18:44 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124331 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124331>Article Link</a> Opec’s biggest cushion of unused production capacity in two years is doing little to restrain prices, as threats to supplies from Algeria to Iran undermine the confidence that surplus crude usually creates. Brent futures have advanced even as idle reserves expand in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, moving higher in tandem at the fastest rate since at least 2006, according to data compiled by the International Energy Agency and Bloomberg. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124331 Iraq crude oil production to average 4.9 mn b/d in 2017: BofAML http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124297 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124297#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:30:34 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124297 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124297>Article Link</a> BofAML (Bank of America Merrill Lynch) now forecasts Iraqi oil production to average 4.9 million b/d in 2017, compared to a government target of 9-10 million b/d. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124297 China’s foreign oil output surges http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124292 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124292#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:56:31 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124292 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124292>Article Link</a> China is on track to produce enough crude oil outside its borders to rival Opec members such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, after its state-owned oil companies spent a record $35-billion (U.S.) buying foreign rivals last year. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124292 Opec production falls to 30.4mln bpd in January http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124239 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124239#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 01:26:49 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124239 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124239>Article Link</a> Crude oil production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) fell to 30.45 million barrels per day (bpd) in January from 30.65 million bpd in December, led by a further drop in volumes from Saudi Arabia, said a just-released Platts survey of Opec and oil industry officials and analysts. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124239 OPEC to trim supply amid Saudi output cuts, Oil Movements says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124223 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124223#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:29:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124223 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124223>Article Link</a> The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut crude shipments by 0.9 percent this month amid lower production by Saudi Arabia, according to tanker tracker Oil Movements. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124223 China 2012 gold production hits record 403.05 tons http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124116 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124116#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:22:53 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124116 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124116>Article Link</a> China maintained it’s position as the world’s largest producer of gold for the sixth consecutive year. Gold output of China increased 11. 66% and reached a record high of 403.05 tons in 2012, said China Gold Association. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124116 Jim Rogers bullish on water-tech investments, Russian ruble http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124108 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124108#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2013 03:20:46 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124108 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124108>Article Link</a> Jim Rogers, who co-founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros in the 1970s, is exploring the world for investments in water technology. “There will be wars east of the Red Sea over oil and wars west of the Red Sea over water,” Rogers, 70, said in an interview yesterday before giving a speech to the CFA Society of Atlanta. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124108 World crude steel production may rise 4.7pct to 1620 mln tons in 2013 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124095 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124095#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:11:42 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124095 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124095>Article Link</a> World crude steel production is expected to rise 4.7% to 1620 mn tons, according to MEPS International. Global crude steel output in 2012 was 1,548 mn tons which represented a growth of 1.2% over previous year, according to World Steel Association data. The growth came mainly from Asia and North America while crude steel production in the EU (27) and South America decreased in 2012 compared to 2011. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124095 Platinum supply drops to 13 year low as mines close http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124074 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124074#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:27:43 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124074 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124074>Article Link</a> Platinum supplies are falling to a 13-year low as mines in South Africa, the world’s biggest producer, close and automobile sales reach new highs. Production will drop 2.7% to 5.68 million ounces, the least since 2000, according to Barclays, which raised its 2013 shortage estimate sixfold last month after Johannesburg-based Anglo American Platinum (AMS) said it plans to idle shafts. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124074 Platinum supply falls to 13-year low as mines close http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124067 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124067#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:52:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124067 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124067>Article Link</a> Platinum supplies are falling to a 13-year low as mines in South Africa, the world’s biggest producer, close and automobile sales reach new highs. Production will drop 2.7 percent to 5.68 million ounces, the least since 2000, according to Barclays Plc, which raised its 2013 shortage estimate sixfold last month after Johannesburg-based Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (AMS) said it plans to idle shafts. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124067 Global iron-ore demand expected to reach 2.6-bln tons http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124057 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124057#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:49:30 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124057 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124057>Article Link</a> Global demand for iron ore is expected to reach 2.6-billion tons in the next seven years, with China poised to remain the biggest consumer of the steel-making ingredient, Diedrik Tas, partner at commodities search firm McKinsey & Co, told attendees at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124057 A gold production cliff could be coming in 2017 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124044 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124044#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 02:31:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124044 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124044>Article Link</a> As gold companies grew, too few large deposits have been discovered to sustain current production rates. Though, in recent years, the development of a handful of large mines and the threat of others to follow provided the useful impression that the Production Cliff would be deferred, at least to the point where it was perceived to be a next-cycle problem. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124044 Water demand for energy to double by 2035 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124003 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124003#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:44:39 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124003 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=124003>Article Link</a> The amount of fresh water consumed for world energy production is on track to double within the next 25 years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects. And even though fracking—high-pressure hydraulic fracturing of underground rock formations for natural gas and oil—might grab headlines, IEA sees its future impact as relatively small. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=124003 U.S. gold, silver production down in 2012—USGS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123999 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123999#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:43:46 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123999 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123999>Article Link</a> The “2013 Mineral Commodities Summaries” released by the U.S. Geological Survey Tuesday revealed that, in 2012, the estimated total value of U.S. mineral production increased for the third consecutive year. The estimated value of mineral raw materials produced at U.S. mines was $76.5 billion, a slight increase from $74.8 billion in 2011, according to the USGS. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123999 HSBC: Oil majors at risk from ‘unburnable’ reserves http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123986 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123986#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:39:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123986 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123986>Article Link</a> Oil and gas majors, including, BP, Shell, and Statoil, could face a loss in market value of up to 60 per cent should the international community stick to its agreed emission reduction targets, analysts at HSBC have warned. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123986 Trillions of dollars worth of oil found in Australian outback http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123931 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123931#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:06:29 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123931 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123931>Article Link</a> Up to 233 billion barrels of oil has been discovered in the Australian outback that could be worth trillions of dollars, in a find that could turn the region into a new Saudi Arabia. The discovery in central Australia was reported by Linc Energy to the stock exchange and was based on two consultants reports, though it is not yet known how commercially viable it will be to access the oil. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123931 The resource boom ended in 2011 already http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123824 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123824#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:49:55 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123824 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123824>Article Link</a> History shows commodity prices tend to trend sideways for 10–20 years, and then jump upwards in response to structural changes in the global economy, before resuming their sideways trajectory. That makes clear economic sense. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123824 IEA head rules out further drop in oil output this year http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123789 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123789#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:39:37 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123789 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123789>Article Link</a> The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Maria Van der Hoeven said Monday she doesn’t see a further decline in global crude production in 2013. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123789 IEA head rules out further drop in oil output this year http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123769 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123769#comments Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:36:02 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123769 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123769>Article Link</a> The Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Maria Van der Hoeven said Monday she doesn’t see a further decline in global crude production in 2013. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123769 US oil production ‘to jump by a quarter by 2014′ http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123703 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123703#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2013 03:46:43 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123703 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123703>Article Link</a> US oil production will jump by a quarter by 2014 to its highest level in 26 years, figures suggest. This is mainly because of the discovery of vast reserves of shale oil. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123703 OPEC exports drop after winter demand peak, Oil Movements says http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123562 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123562#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 04:17:59 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123562 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123562>Article Link</a> The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut crude exports by 2.6 percent as demand during the northern hemisphere winter begins to slacken, according to tanker tracker Oil Movements. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123562 Investec’s Cheveley: China will reassert itself in 2013 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123544 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123544#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:51:35 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123544 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123544>Article Link</a> Resources managers George Cheveley and Bradley George have been increasing their net market exposure to commodities as they see positive macro signs for equities in gold, iron ore and the energy majors over the next few months. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123544 Global stainless steel crude steel production rises by 2.9pct YoY in Jan-Sept 2012 : ISSF http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123529 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123529#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:47:41 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123529 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123529>Article Link</a> World wide stainless steel crude steel production has increased in the first nine months of 2012 by 2.9% compared to the same period of 2011. Total production for the first three quarters was 26.1 mn metric tons (Mt). This is 0.7 Mt more than in the same period of 2011. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123529 OPEC’s spare capacity to rise in 2013 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123511 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123511#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2012 03:43:19 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123511 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123511>Article Link</a> OPEC’s spare capacity will rise to 4.1 percent of global oil demand in 2013, analysts of the Global Energy Studies Centre (CGES) believe. According to the CGES analysts’ report, due to the recent reduction in Saudi Arabia’s production, OPEC’s spare output capacity has risen slightly to 3.74 million barrels per day (mbpd). (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123511 Opec likely to cut supply next year http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123476 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123476#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:36:53 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123476 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123476>Article Link</a> The Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) will likely consider supply cuts next year to prevent prices from falling and to protect Brent crude at $90-110/bbl, especially that the market remains well balanced with sufficient supplies ready to counter any short-term disruptions or heightened geopolitical risks, the National Commercial Bank said in its December “Saudi Economic Review”. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123476 ‘Resource nationalism’ reshaping international commodity markets http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123413 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123413#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:35:56 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123413 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123413>Article Link</a> Resource nationalism is making commodity prices more volatile and threatens global security, warns think-tank Chatham House. Based on new data concerning commodity trade flows, a report by the think-tank highlights how international politics has come to dominate resource markets. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123413 OPEC uniting to keep quota as oil heads for best year http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123408 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123408#comments Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:34:45 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123408 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123408>Article Link</a> Most members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries are signaling they’ll keep production policy unchanged at a meeting in Vienna today as the group struggles to agree on a new secretary-general. (more…)

]]> http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?feed=rss2&p=123408 Global oil - Supply prospects brighten but risks still linger http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123305 http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123305#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:27:20 +0000 VRS http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123305 <br> <a href=http://www.opalesque.com/Commodities_Briefing/?p=123305>Article Link</a> It is less than a month to bid farewell to the chaotic 2012 and enter 2013, which is expected to be relatively calmer for the oil market, also a chief driver of the world economy. (more…)

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