Metals Watch Cheers for silver on hold Despite relatively strong demand from industrial applications and dwindling mine supply, the price of silver has recently fallen to the lowest level since April 2016. In this Metals Watch, we look at... 14th July 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Data Response South Africa’s Mine Production (May) PGM output continued to fall in May as years of underinvestment have started to take their toll on production. The release of the new Mining Charter, if unchanged, is only likely to worsen what is... 13th July 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Persistent strength in China’s commodity imports China’s commodity import demand has generally been strong so far in 2017. However, stocks of many industrial commodities are high suggesting that underlying demand may be somewhat weaker. Indeed, we... 13th July 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Data Response US Weekly Petroleum Status Report Crude oil stocks plunged last week by the largest amount so far this year. Another rise in refinery runs, in tandem with a decline in net imports, contributed to stocks falling below 500 million... 13th July 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update It is hard to be positive on nickel With the fading prospect of mine closures in the Philippines, the outlook for nickel supply is improving. At the same time, demand is expected to weaken this year. However, we think that the... 12th July 2017 · 1 min read
OPEC Watch OPEC output surges again Another surge in production in Nigeria and Libya boosted total OPEC production last month. Looking ahead, the group expects non-OPEC supply growth to accelerate next year. 12th July 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Weekly The focus will be on US policy This week started on a positive note with news that both the official and unofficial China manufacturing PMIs turned up in June. However, a bumper increase in US June non-farm payrolls on Friday... 7th July 2017 · 1 min read
Industrial Metals Update How tight is the cobalt market really? New supply prospects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could ease the current tightness in the cobalt market. Admittedly, the country’s mine practices are controversial and there is a risk... 6th July 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Focus What do advances in vehicle technology mean for oil demand? Advancements in fuel efficiency, an increasing number of electric vehicles and the introduction of automated vehicles should mean that demand for oil in developed countries peaks over the next decade... 6th July 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Economic Outlook Regional slowdown approaching a trough The slowdown in the Middle East and North Africa should bottom out in the second half of this year and growth is likely to strengthen in 2018-19. In the Gulf, the hit to headline GDP growth from OPEC... 5th July 2017 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Have oil prices bottomed out? Oil prices fell for most of last month as rising production in the US and in some OPEC countries weighed on investor sentiment. However, falling US stocks and a slight dip in the number of US drilling... 4th July 2017 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Industrials power ahead The prices of most industrial metals rose last month, supported by some weakness in the US dollar and more encouraging data out of China. Although activity there slowed in the second quarter, there... 4th July 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Chart Pack Industrials boosted by signs of stability in China A tentative revival in China’s economic activity late in the second quarter gave a renewed lift to the prices of the more industrial metals in June. However, it failed to translate into higher... 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
Commodities Update Some strength at end-Q2 After diverging in May, the official and unofficial June manufacturing PMIs for China told a similar story of somewhat stronger activity in the final month of the quarter. However, the bigger picture... 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
Precious Metals Update How will South Africa’s mining charter affect PGM output? South Africa’s controversial new mining charter will probably exacerbate the decline in the PGM sector. Higher costs, in tandem with lower foreign investment, could weigh on PGM production going... 3rd July 2017 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Politics rocks the Gulf Political developments have dominated the news in the MENA region this month. In Qatar, financial markets have sold off amid a diplomatic spat with regional powers. So far, though, the broader... 30th June 2017 · 1 min read
