This week on "Freight Up!", James Robinson will be sharing valuable information that can help you understand the impact of the meeting on the markets.

By listening in, you’ll be bang up to date with the knowledge needed to stay informed and make informed trading decisions if you’re dancing around Iron Ore markets.

This week, Fernanda’s on her holidays so instead producer Neal hosts the show talking to fellow Freight Uppers Joshua Stern, Archie Smith and James Robinson!

This week:

Hidden Dynamics driving volatility

The ongoing volatility in the crude oil market is notably interesting, driven by a myriad of factors such as the lack of Russian supply and high demand in regions like the Middle East and China.

These dynamics are causing significant fluctuations in the high sulphur fuel oil market.

Given this, anyone involved in the oil industry should pay keen attention to these shifts as they can result in far-reaching implications on a global scale.

Seasonal Ebb and flow

The steel market tends to show patterns of seasonal ebb and flow, currently witnessing a summer lull. Joshua Stern mentions that while the scrap markets and LME rebar are quiet, there's noteworthy activity in the US and EUHRC curves.

Understanding these patterns can help businesses effectively navigate their operations and capitalize on market trends.

Josh mentions you should keep an eye on the FIS LinkedIn articles page for his blog post with a deep dive into how basis risk affects various different players in the steel market!

Far-reaching implications of China's Politburo meeting

The recent Politburo meeting in China has stirred the iron ore market causing a rally in prices. However, the situation is complex as China faces considerable economic challenges including high levels of debt and potential deflation. These factors complicates China's ability to engage in typical debt-driven stimulus, creating a climate of uncertainty that has broad implications for the global iron ore market's Politburo meeting.

Here's the link to the FIS live app

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:00 - Introduction and ‘housekeeping’ 00:01:03 - Oil Market Update - volatility 00:07:05 - Steel Market Update – catango? 00:09:42 - China's Iron Ore Situation – deflation coming?