

Commodities Focus
S&P Global Commodity Insights
S&P Global Commodity Insights analysis of key news and pricing issues from across the global shipping, natural gas, power, petrochemicals, agriculture, and coal markets.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 5, 2019 • 10min
US wind generation growth and the threat of steel tariffs, expiring tax credits
US wind generation is expected to continue booming over the coming years, but many see the steel tariffs and end of the tax credit in 2020 as threatening that growth. Mike Fitzgerald, with the Platts North American steel team, and Kassia Micek, with the Platts North American power pricing team,...

Feb 28, 2019 • 14min
Aluminum scrap market in transformation
Scrap aluminum has gone wild. There are new taxes and financial obligations in China and Vietnam; licenses, regulations and restrictions in Vietnam, Taiwan, Brazil, and other countries, resulting in unpredictable price trends. When the year started, prices were generally expected to fall from...

Feb 28, 2019 • 16min
The rundown on the shipping markets in the run-up to IMO 2020
The tremors of IMO 2020 - The mandated shift to low sulfur marine fuel which officially kicks in January 1, 2020 - will begin to be felt months from now and have already begun to work their way into the fabric of the already complex dynamics of the shipping sector. Jason Silber chats with Pradeep...

Feb 22, 2019 • 7min
What happened to China's steel output cuts and will government incentives stimulate steel demand?
China's winter steel production cut agenda seems to have gone quiet. Will this result in even stronger steel output? Meanwhile, Beijing has unleashed some incentives to rekindle buying in the consumer-segments, but will it translate into stronger steel demand? And does the Chinese steel market care...

Feb 21, 2019 • 26min
PJM CEO Andy Ott goes in depth on energy and capacity market design changes
The PJM Interconnection has several market design changes underway, including adjustments to energy reserve price formation and the way its capacity market is structured that will significantly impact market participants going forward. Andy Ott, president and CEO of PJM Interconnection, talks with...

Feb 20, 2019 • 8min
Why BAF is failing the container industry, the next step in bunker costs recovery
With the looming shadow of IMO 2020 on the horizon, there is a growing confusion and discord in the container market when it comes to recovery of bunker costs in freight contracts. The Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) system is failing and the industry is looking out for new solutions. Jason Silber,...

Feb 18, 2019 • 13min
Global methanol markets: growing capacities and shifting trade flows
Increasing trade tensions and expectations of new capacities in Iran, the US and Latin America this year are set to change the complexion of the global methanol market. S&P Global Platts editors Lara Berton, Esther Ng, Luke Milner and Ellie Valencia discuss these developments and more, as they...

Feb 15, 2019 • 16min
Winter storms batter US power markets, driving up demand and prices
Winter storms have battered the US in January and February and caused consumers to crank up their heaters, driving up power demand and prices as temperatures have lingered below freezing for days. S&P Global Platts senior pricing specialists Kelli Ainsworth, Kassia Micek and Jeff Zhou look at...

Feb 15, 2019 • 12min
What should commodities markets look for in European automotive data?
S&P Global Platts specialists take a look at what developments in the European automobile industry might mean for metals, plastics and fuels.

Feb 6, 2019 • 14min
Major factors to influence Brazil's sugar and ethanol markets in 2019
Brazilian sugar and ethanol price specialists Nicolle Monteiro de Castro and Phillip Herring discuss the primary drivers of supply and demand that will affect Brazilian sugar and ethanol markets in 2019. Topics include the sugar/ethanol mix of the 2018-19 Center-South crop, the price parity between...


