Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

The ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports is redirecting oil tankers towards the Atlantic, significantly disrupting global oil shipping and leading to a decline in freight rates. Experts predict lasting shifts in tanker routes, potentially impacting the global economy.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, XTIUSD (WTI Crude USOIL) has dropped by 4% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

Gate News message, April 14, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest edition of the World Economic Outlook report, lowering its forecast for global economic growth in 2026 by 0.2 percentage points to 3.1%. The report notes that the fighting in the Middle East has significantly affected the current momentum of global economic growth. If the fighting and high oil prices continue for longer, this year global economic growth will fall to 2.5% or even lower.

Gate News update, according to Gate’s official announcement The Gate TradFi zone has launched multiple CFD trading pairs. The Forex zone has added 17 new trading pairs, including CHFSGD, EURDKK, EURPLN, USDBRL, USDCLP, USDCOP, USDILS, USDKRW, USDPLN, EURCNH, EURHKD, GBPNOK, GBPSEK, NOKSEK, NZDSEK, AUDZAR, and CHFZAR, supporting fixed leverage of 20 to 100x. The Indices zone has launched two trading pairs, ES35 and SA40, both supporting fixed leverage of 100x. The Metals zone has launched five trading pairs: XAGAUD, XAUAUD, XAUEUR, XAUJPY, and XPDUSD, supporting fixed leverage of 20 to 100x. The Commodities zone has launched a GAS gasoline trading pair, supporting fixed leverage of 20x. For all trading pairs, the minimum order quantity is 0.01.

Gate News message, April 14, a Nomura economist said that due to the continued rise in oil prices and concerns about the supply of petroleum products, Japan in the future faces "unprecedented risks," and the Bank of Japan is likely to delay interest rate hikes. In remarks on Monday, Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda said he was more concerned than at the news briefing in March about downside risks to the economy that the Middle East conflict could bring. Ueda said that if the conflict continues, it will affect the business activities of Japanese companies through disruptions to the supply chain.

U.S. Vice President Vance accuses Iran of carrying out “economic terrorism,” saying that it is closing the Strait of Hormuz and threatening the global economy, and he supports the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a reciprocal response.

Saudi Arabia is urgently asking the United States to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to avoid export disruptions from the Strait of Mandeb. Threats from the Houthis have put Saudi Arabia in an energy crunch. If both major straits are blocked at the same time, global oil prices could soar to $160 to $190, triggering a drop in demand and prompting both sides of the Iran-U.S. talks to restart.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned in his annual shareholder letter that a war with Iran could trigger persistent oil and commodity price shocks, creating inflation pressure that is stickier than the market expects, and that the Federal Reserve may need to maintain high interest rates for longer. He noted that the war’s economic impact is widespread, including a global restructuring of supply chains and rising energy prices. In addition, Dimon still holds a positive view of the U.S. economy, but warned that the economic shocks from the war could weaken that resilience.

Gate News message, a trader with address 0x18b0 incurred significant losses through two consecutive trading decisions. The trader sold 499.9 ETH for $1.1M at $2,197 before ETH price increased, resulting in a loss of $82.5K. Subsequently, the trader opened a long position on oil immediately before it

Saudi Arabia is pressuring the United States to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations to prevent possible Iranian retaliation over President Trump’s sanctions, which could affect its oil exports. Saudi Arabia’s daily exports of 7 million barrels are crucial to the Strait of Mandeb, and the situation remains uncertain.

The founder of Muddy Waters, Carson Block, after trying the AI tool Claude, shifted his view of the economic outlook from optimistic to pessimistic. He warned that AI replacing knowledge work will trigger a severe economic crisis, and has already started shorting ETFs in the credit market. He noted that 15% of knowledge work is about to disappear, and predicted it will lead to a contraction in consumption and a systemic crash. His move to restart the short-selling setup has drawn attention in the current market.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, XTIUSD (WTI Crude USOIL) has surged by 2% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

Trump said in his statement that the Strait of Hormuz blockade has begun, and that other countries will assist the U.S. He warned Iran that if it does not reach an agreement within two weeks, it will face an unfavorable situation, and he emphasized that the United States will maintain the status quo. The United States is preparing to take measures to respond to Iran.

U.S. President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and will have it take effect on April 12; oil prices promptly surged. The U.S. military will intercept ships bound for Iran, but it will not affect shipping from other Persian Gulf countries. This move intensifies the global energy crisis, with oil prices breaking above $100, which could affect inflation and central bank policy. The market is also watching how geopolitical risk could impact risk assets.

U.S. President Trump threatens to impose an additional 50% tariff on China, claiming China is preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran. This has heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. Trump’s threat is largely political pressure, and implementation would require legal procedures. China denies providing military aid and calls for restraint. The incident shakes the market, drives up oil prices, and affects the outlook for cryptocurrency.

On April 13, gold and silver prices fell to $4,732.92 per ounce and $74.209 per ounce, respectively. The BTC volatility index rose by 0.42%, and the ETH volatility index rose by 0.31%. The U.S. dollar versus the Chinese yuan and the Japanese yen edged up slightly, major European stock indexes generally fell, while WTI and Brent crude oil prices rose. The Gate platform supports trading for multiple asset types.

The peace talks between Iran and the United States have broken down. The U.S. has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz and is considering airstrikes, causing international oil prices to break above $100. Bitcoin has fallen below $71,000. Experts warn that the world is facing a severe crude-oil supply shock, and stored oil is about to run out.

Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone says that after a big surge in 2025, Bitcoin could face a sharp pullback, while similar risks exist for silver, gold, copper, natural gas, and crude oil—especially if crude oil prices spike, which could trigger even larger market ripple effects.

The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz caused oil prices to surge sharply, but global stock markets responded relatively calmly. The VIX index suggests that market panic sentiment has eased, and investors have started to factor geopolitical risks into their considerations. Analysts believe that the worst period of panic may already be over and expect oil prices to fall back.

Gate News message: On April 13, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran’s armed forces said that in the face of U.S. threats, Iran will decisively implement a “permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz.” The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and it is a major global oil shipping route.