Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

According to Barron's, the Trump administration reached an oil agreement with Venezuela last Friday, securing control of 17 oil fields containing approximately 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The deal, which will be funded through warrant payments without burdening U.S. taxpayers, is

South Korea's Ministry of Industry announced on Sept 1 its 2027 budget at 13.26 trillion won, a 40.5% increase from 2026 and the largest since the ministry's establishment in 2013. Including allocations from the Future Response Fund, the actual budget reaches 14.17 trillion won. The ministry establi

According to Guru Club, zinc prices reached their highest level in over four years on September 1, extending a months-long rally driven by tight supply conditions. The metal gained 27% year-to-date and posted its fifth consecutive monthly gain in August, significantly outpacing copper and

According to Guru Club, on September 1, methanol futures surged 7% intraday to 3,115 yuan per ton, while styrene (EB) futures rose 4% to 9,270 yuan per ton.

The Trump administration's effort to secure Venezuelan oil has failed to curb soaring US gasoline prices, with the national average reaching $4.08 per gallon as of May 31, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The renewed military confrontation between the US and Iran after a one-m

According to the American Automobile Association, U.S. regular gasoline prices hit $4.08 per gallon on August 31, marking their sustained elevation following renewed military conflict between the United States and Iran. International crude oil prices surged back above $90 per barrel, with November

According to Reuters, commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained largely unchanged on Monday, staying in single digits.

According to Guru Club, ethylene glycol futures main contract surged nearly 8% intraday on September 1, rising 400 yuan to trade at 5,594 yuan/ton.

According to Shanghai Steel Union data released today, MMLC battery-grade lithium carbonate (early session) traded at a mid-price of 159,250 yuan per ton, up 750 yuan per ton from yesterday's 4:30 PM closing price.

Japanese stock markets showed mixed performance on September 1st as Middle East tensions escalated, with the Nikkei 225 falling 605.66 points (0.91%) to 65,706.27 as of 9:10 AM, while the Topix index rose 0.06% to 4,158.95. The decline followed renewed US-Iran military exchanges on the night of the

According to Yonhapnews, Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.91% to 65,706.27 on the morning of September 1 as Middle East tensions reignited. The decline followed renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran overnight: the U.S. military conducted airstrikes on Iranian Islamic Revolutionary

According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office, a tanker was struck by three unidentified projectiles on August 31 while departing the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 17 nautical miles east of Salalah, Oman. The authority reported no casualties or environmental damage from the incident and

According to Odaily, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) launched a new WTI crude oil futures contract last Sunday, representing just 10 barrels with a trading size of approximately $860 at current prices. The new offering complements CME's existing micro WTI contract (100 barrels) and standard co

According to Jin10, as of 09:30 Beijing time on September 1, New York gold futures fell 0.19%, silver rose 0.01%, and copper gained 0.70%.

According to Jin10, as of 9:30 AM Beijing time on September 1, WTI crude oil futures rose 0.28%, while U.S. natural gas futures declined 0.17%.

According to President Trump on August 31, Exxon Mobil will re-enter Venezuela, marking its first major investment in the country since 2007. The announcement came as the U.S. and Venezuela unveiled a major oil agreement involving 17 oil fields with combined proven reserves of

According to reports, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decisions on 34 small refinery exemption applications for the 2025 compliance year. The EPA granted full exemptions (100%) to 18 applications, partial exemptions (50%) to 11 applications, and rejected 3 applications.

According to China Energy Information Service, as of September 1 (the second working day of the pricing cycle), China's benchmark crude oil average price stood at $87.74 per barrel with a change rate of 0.04%. Based on this, domestic gasoline and diesel retail prices are expected to rise by 5 yuan p

South Korea's August 2026 exports surged 68.7% year-over-year to $98.25 billion, marking the country's third-highest export record, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on September 1. The surge was driven by semiconductor exports, which skyrocketed 209% to $46.65 billio