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The same fire that melts the butter hardens the egg. That “same fire” in Western Pennsylvania, the birthplace of American steel, was President Trump’s Section 232 tariffs. They hardened the barrier against steel imports while melting the aspirations of steelmakers who were relying on imports. Western Pennsylvania is home to US Steel, the iconic steelmaker […]

Former Vice President Joe Biden has prioritized climate policy in his platform for the upcoming US Presidential Election, but the future composition of the Senate would have a big influence on how a potential Biden administration pursues energy and emissions goals. As discussed in the recent S&P Global Platts Analytics US CO2 Pricing Monitor, Biden is […]

October marks a historic but largely forgotten moment in the history of the oil sector, and something which is unlikely to ever be repeated if forecasts for the demise of the world’s most valuable fossil fuel prove accurate. Fifty years ago, BP – then known as British Petroleum and state-owned – discovered oil off the […]

How is energy demand faring across different sectors and regions amid the evolving coronavirus pandemic? In this week’s Commodity Tracker, S&P Global Platts editors look at global aviation, Chinese fuels consumption, Brazilian power demand and European refining, as well as US LNG output. 1. Lift in air travel helps jet fuel but demand still far […]

The glut in low sulfur fuels has been a double-edged sword for the shipping industry. It muted the impact of availability and compatibility concerns at the cost of lower prices, which have mirrored the wider crude market since May. Demand for very low sulfur fuel oil is set to recover slowly in line with increasing […]

In California, greenhouse gas emissions produced by this year’s record-breaking wildfire season have climbed past the industrial, power and residential emissions categories and could even overtake transportation as the top polluter, according to estimates by S&P Global Platts Analytics. The scale and devastation of the California wildfires have also added urgency to the state government’s […]

Libyan oil flows have resumed but their stability remains uncertain, while India’s coal powered generation has dipped, granting gains to renewables. S&P Global Platts editors and analysts also discuss the latest Chinese actions on coal imports, Norwegian gas flows to Europe, and separate challenges faced by power markets in the UK and California. 1. Libya’s […]

Sentiment in China’s metals markets was buoyant in July and August on easy credit conditions and expectations of further stimulus flowing to infrastructure. But September saw a distinct change of tone as cash flows tightened, demand waned and metals prices came under pressure, leaving the market hoping for better after China’s Golden Week holiday. Paul […]

An unusually active Atlantic hurricane season has tested the resilience of US liquefaction infrastructure that is still in its infancy relative to terminals in more mature exporting nations. Utilization is starting to rise toward pre-pandemic levels, as demand and price recovery in buyer markets in Asia and Europe are incentivizing exports. While the trend could […]

The global tanker market is set for some critical capacity management in 2021-22. Weaker freight rates have sapped enthusiasm for new orders, and creaking oversupply of older ships could accelerate scrapping. With uncertainty over pandemic-related oil demand and over fueling ships ahead of key climate goals, a step backward may be the way forward for […]