In this week's Market Movers Asia with Rohan Somwanshi:
- Fuel suppliers threaten to stop shipments to Bangladesh
- Chinese buyers return on falling palm oil prices
- Lithium prices in China to rise
- China met coal seen bottoming out
- SG Coking Coal Conference in spotlight
This week, the focus will be on oil product supplies to Bangladesh, which can come to a halt as the country’s primary oil importer Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation struggles to clear pending dues amid currency devaluation.
The company owes around $298 million to different fuel suppliers as of May 16, an official told S&P Global.
Over in agriculture, markets will keep an eye on Chinese palm oil purchases in the near term as the world’s second-largest palm oil buyer is expected to step up imports in June following a drop in prices on the news of increased supply.
Meanwhile, grain markets remain cautious of El-Nino's emergence, which is likely to impact Australia’s wheat harvest, already expected to be down 26% on the year.
In metals, a key data release from China is expected to show semi-finished steel exports relatively high in April, however, exports of both semi-finished and finished steel in May are likely to trend downwards on shrinking overseas orders.
China’s lithium carbonate prices are expected to remain robust in the near term amid strong buying activity from downstream battery and EV makers.
In coking coal, Chinese buyers are expected to keep a close watch on Asian prices amid a steady downtrend.
And the Singapore Coking Coal conference, part of the Singapore International Ferrous Week is happening this week.
Key trends like trade flow changes and uncertain economic landscape will be in focus during the two-day event starting May 25.
This is Rohan Somwanshi, thank you for kicking off your Monday with S&P Global Commodity Insights.