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
Apr 24, 2015 • 7min
PRB coal users find flexibility key as power generators pressured
Powder River Basin coal buyers met recently outside Chicago and expressed long-term optimism that the using PRB coal would offer some stability -- including with prices -- despite changes to the US power generation landscape. Jeff McDonald, associate coal editor, talks with Andrew Moore, managing...
Apr 23, 2015 • 11min
Outlook for Russian oil against sanctions backdrop
Platts Stuart Elliott, associate editorial director, Europe and Africa oil news, and Nadia Rodova, Platts Moscow bureau chief, discuss the outlook for Russia's oil sector against the backdrop of international sanctions against Moscow, including the opening up of Russia's offshore, expected crude...
Apr 15, 2015 • 5min
Shell-BG Group deal: What does it mean for the LNG market?
The $70-billion takeover deal between Shell and BG Group will make Shell the second largest global oil producer in the world. But both companies are also active on the LNG front. In this podcast, Platts pricing analyst Max Gostelow and editor Abache Abreu look at the implications of the deal on the...
Apr 14, 2015 • 9min
Can N. American gas be saved by coal retirements, power burn?
North American natural gas production is outstripping demand, and increasing power demand due to the forced retirement of coal plants may not be enough to stabilize gas prices going forward. Senior pricing specialists Curt Mrowiec and Chris Pedersen and Bentek Energy senior analyst Bob Yu analyze...
Mar 27, 2015 • 2min
Taiwan sees increase in LNG consumption
Taiwan is starting to prepare for its peak summer season and LNG demand fundamentals are about to change. Platts editor for LNG Abache Abreu explains the seasonal increase in the country's downstream consumption and state-owned buyer CPC's demand for spot cargoes to offset an expected shortfall in...
Mar 26, 2015 • 10min
As winter demand wanes, US gas markets wait for next driver
The US natural gas markets are transitioning to spring, and now the industry is wondering where the big demand drivers will be as the weather warms. Will power burn come in and "save the market" this year? Senior pricing specialist Curt Mrowiec, associate editor Patrick Badgley, and Bentek Energy...
Mar 25, 2015 • 8min
Oil companies vie for prime acreage in US Gulf of Mexico
While winning bids at the 2015 US Central Lease Sale 235 were down from 2014, prices per acre for the ability to potentially produce oil offshore were among the highest of the last 20 years. Starr Spencer, senior editor for oil news, evaluates how the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's annual...
Mar 20, 2015 • 4min
US coal producer acquisition could boost confidence in industry
Questions abound after the US' largest privately-held coal producer, Murray Energy, acquired prominent Illinois Basin producer Foresight Energy. Platts Coal Trader managing editor Andrew Moore and associate editor Jim Levesque contemplate whether Foresight's longwall mining production will continue...
Mar 19, 2015 • 8min
Outlook for ExxonMobil's operations in Russia against backdrop of sanctions
Platts Stuart Elliott, associate editorial director, Europe and Africa oil news, and Rosemary Griffin, Platts Moscow editor, assess the outlook for ExxonMobil's continuing operations in Russia against the backdrop of international sanctions against the country. We welcome any feedback or...
Mar 16, 2015 • 7min
Import restrictions drag down coal trade in China
China has been mostly inactive in the spot market after the Lunar New Year holiday. Platts associate editors for thermal coal Arusha Das and Mia Corazon Aureus analyze the impact of China's weak demand on the Asian coal trade, Indonesia's plan to ramp up production this year, and the buying pattern...
