US Energy Insights with our American Experts

Markets in Motion: Dry Freight Gains, Middle East Tensions, and Iron Ore UpdatesHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. We're your hosts, Jess, and Davide, and in this episode of Freight Up we'll dissect the latest geopolitical events impacting our sectors, from the Middle Eastern tensions and their muted effect on crude oil, to the unexpected surge in cocoa prices due to West African crop shortfalls.In this episode, Ben Klang decodes the dry freight market's roller coaster ride, while Hao Pei predicts the iron ore market's resistance to a short-term correction. Our people's broker and resident fuel oil expert Archie Smith reports to us remotely from Dubai, shining a light on the rising cracks in fuel oil prices this month.Brace yourselves for another 'deep dive' into the seas of freight and commodities. Remember, follow "Freight Up" in your favourite podcast app, and find us on LinkedIn! And check out our app FIS Live for the latest insights. Thanks in advance for listening to this Freight and Commodity podcast by FIS!Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 Middle East tensions ease, commodities fluctuate. Fed adjusts.04:21 TC index down 7% then rebounded. Market sentiment improved.08:16 High market, steel margin drop, iron ore strategy.09:36 Steel demand may gradually increase over months.13:09 OPEC cuts impacting high sulphur crude market.

Iron Ore's Resurgence and Oil's Rally: Navigating the Current Commodity Climbs!Hello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda, and in this episode of Freight Up it's a mix of emotions as I'll be saying my final goodbye to you. But before you and I dock for the last time, let's chart the course for today's adventure through the world of Freight and Commodities. We'll welcome aboard Jessica Free, our very own new marketing executive, who'll share some tantalizing tidbits about the much-anticipated overhaul of our FIS Live app.As we navigate through today's choppy waters, we'll examine the downturn in freight indices and investigate the iron ore market's surprising resurgence. Plus, we'll dissect the impact of geopolitical turbulence on soaring oil prices. Our crew of Freight Uppers for this episode includes: Ben Klang, who'll talk us through bulk carrier ratesHao Pei, whose market insights keep us ahead of the curveAnd Archie Smith, the people's broker, who'll unpack the reasons behind crude oil's climb above $90... So, grab your life vest as we set sail one last time together. It's an honor to have been your captain here on Freight Up, and I'm thrilled to have you with me for one final voyage.Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 Freight market down, indices show negative trends.04:36 Capes rates decreased, but recovered slightly.09:23 China decreases mortgage rate, boosts housing market.10:58 Iron market indicators improving, sustainable rebound expected.14:33 OPEC continues production cuts, Middle East tensions boost prices.

Dramatic Movements in Dry Freight Markets and Significant Rally in Crude OilHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Davide, and in this episode of Freight Up, we're back with our usual format after the special episode on US energy last week. If you missed that, you can catch up here.We'll be discussing the latest movements in the dry freight markets, the iron ore market, and fuel oil. I'll start with a roundup of the latest commodity news, including the US durable goods orders, Russian oil shipments to North Korea, and the potential trade implications of the Baltimore bridge collapse. Then, we'll hear from our experts as Ben Klang shares insights on the dry freight market, Hao Pei discusses the iron ore market, and Archie Smith provides analysis on the significant rally in crude oil. Click play and join me for this insightful voyage through the current trends and developments in the freight and commodities industry.Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 Freight up with Davide: Latest commodity news.04:45 Shipping rates fluctuated, ending the week lower.08:36 Iron ore market volatility rises, directionless sentiment.12:21 Brent future hits recent highs, supply tightness.14:49 Front cracks softened and April May spread narrowed.

Oil, oil, Everywhere! US energy predictions and trendsHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Davide, and in this episode of Freight Up, I'm thrilled to bring you a special episode delving into the energy market with my US colleagues. Joining me today are Daniel and Miguel, as we explore the US energy sector. Together, we'll be discussing the impact of various factors such as EV cars, oil production, OPEC cuts, monetary policy, and geopolitical tensions on the energy market. We'll also talk about the nuances of these elements and their implications for the future of the oil market in the year ahead. Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps01:00 China's industrial production rises, Bank of Japan raises interest rates, Brent crude prices surge, EU tariffs on grain imports, volatile FFA market movements.02:00 The Dry Freight FFA market update, Panamaxes and iron ore.03:54 US market experts Daniel and Miguel on OPEC and inflation.12:32 Federal Reserve's tightening policy impacts global economy.16:26 Bunker industry resilient, adapting to new routes.17:42 Oil prices likely to rise, reaching $80-90.

Commodity roundup: iron ore drops, Capes take a breakHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Davide, and in this episode of Freight Up, we're covering the fuel oil arbitrage, and the latest on the Capes.We start with a roundup of the latest macroeconomic news, discussing topics such as China's consumer price rise and US employment rate. We then hear from our team of 'Freight Uppers' on the topics of iron ore, dry freight, and fuel oil. Hao Pei provides insights into the significant drop in the iron ore market and potential signs of reversal. Ben Klang shares the shifts in the dry freight market, including the impact on the FFA market. Archie Smith discusses the impact of data releases, including the OPEC monthly report, on the fuel oil market and explains the volatility in the front month high sulphur fuel oil east-west differential. What are you waiting for?Click play on the episode and listen in as we break down the complex world of freight and commodities.Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 US inflation stable, freight market movements summarised.03:51 Iron maintenance stable, but dropped on Friday.08:36 Capes experienced choppy FFA market, with increases.12:56 OPEC lowers production; CPI stays steady. API data shows crude stockpile decrease.15:19 Asian buyers support prices, European prices higher.

Iron Ore Index Dive: Can We Expect a Quick Rebound to $116-$118? Hao Pei Reveals All!Hello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda and in this episode of Freight Up, I'm joined again by Davide, the newest member of the "Freight Up" team. Cape Size Surge and Iron Ore Market:The episode highlights the significant surge in Cape Size index and its impact on the FFA market. Hao Pei provided valuable insights on the iron ore market, discussing China's recent policy updates and their implications. Dry Freight Market Movements:Ben Klang discussed the movements in the dry freight market, providing detailed insights into the Cape FFA market and its impact on the wider market. He elaborates on the increasing physical activity in the Pacific and steady rates in the Atlantic region, along with the high demand for the c five iron ore route. Ben's analysis highlighted the strong volumes and trading activities in the Cape, Panamax, and Supermax vessels, offering a comprehensive overview of the dry freight market.OPEC's Extended Cuts and Fuel Oil Market:Archie Smith provides a hot take on OPEC's extended cuts and the future of Brent crude prices. He sheds light on the impact of Russia's decision to cut a further almost 500,000 barrels a day in production and exports in Q2, which surprised the market. Archie's analysis suggests that mere cuts might not be sufficient to reach the $100 per barrel mark, emphasising the potential influence of geopolitical tensions. Additionally, he discusses the volatility in low sulphur fuel oil cracks and spreads, offering valuable insights into the fuel oil market.Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 Big conference discussing stimulus and government policies.06:25 Cape FFA market sees fluctuating rates.07:52 Week's maritime markets saw mixed performance.13:49 Monday morning saw significant swings in cracks.14:44 Oil prices fall due to lower settlements.

Cape Size Index Surge: Iron Ore Concerns and Beijing's Impact Explored on "Freight Up"Hello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda and in this episode of Freight Up, I'm joined again by Davide, the newest member of the "Freight Up" team. We're once again bringing out our big gun 'freight-uppers' to unravel the recent fluctuations in the freight and commodities market. We'll be exploring the reasons behind the substantial increase in the Cape size index, analysing the concerns surrounding the iron ore market, and discussing the impact of macroeconomic news and geopolitical tensions on market dynamics. Together with Davide, we'll be talking to Ben Klang, Archie Smith, and Hao Pei, and we'll provide you with comprehensive insights into various market movements and offer projections for the future. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities and trends within the freight and commodities industry.Useful links:FIS LiveTimestamps00:00 US sanctions Sovcomflot; Vale expects iron ore growth. Market movements: Cape +33.8%, Panamax -7.3%, Supermax +8%, Hennessy +11.8%.05:26 Oil price range-bound due to conflicting factors.09:04 OPEC cuts didn't work, US production rampant.10:44 Latest article on LinkedIn discusses global spare capacity.13:59 Cape size market rallied amid significant activities.19:48 Slow recovery on construction sites after Chinese New Year.22:43 Market participants desensitized to macro stimulus, news.24:12 China's iron ore recovery is uncertain.

Freight Market Analysis: Uranium, Spreads, Dry Freight and Battery MetalsHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda and in this episode of Freight Up, I'm joined by Davide, the newest member of the "Freight Up" team. We're going to explore the intricate world of freight and commodities. From the dry freight market to battery metals, we cover a wide range of topics. We'll discuss China's economy, iron ore demand, mining developments, and uranium, shedding light on the market movements in various freight indexes. Davide offers valuable insights on the battery metals market, including recent price movements, policy impacts, and future growth prospects. We also have our senior technical analyst Ed Hutton on with us sharing his expertise on the dry freight market, delving into market volatility, spreads, and potential bullish signals. It's a content-packed episode that you don't want to miss on "Freight Up".Timestamps00:00 China's economy experiences deflation, PBOC takes action.03:54 Indexes show gains and some decreases.08:36 Physical market importance grows, derivatives on debt launch.09:56 European Commission forecasts significant rise in demand.14:21 Historical spreads and futures indicate bullish outlook.17:59 Shipping market spreads overexposed, potential imbalance.19:43 Market needs rebalance, spreads signal overexposure.

OPEC Production Cuts and Iron Ore Market ImpactHello and welcome back to Freight Up, the number 1 commodities and freight markets podcast from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda and in this episode of Freight Up, we delve deep into the world of commodities and freight, exploring the latest developments and insights that are shaping the markets. Our guest speakers, Hao and Archie, provide valuable analysis and updates on the iron ore and crude oil markets.Archie shares his expert insights on just what's been going down in the crude oil market throughout Q1 so far, discussing the impacts of geopolitical tensions, production levels, and economic data on oil prices. He also sheds light on the high sulphur East-West contract and its significant movements in the current market.Meanwhile, Hao provides a detailed overview of the iron ore market, highlighting the factors contributing to a bearish sentiment and the potential impact of upcoming events such as the Platts iron ore index and the US Womack conference on market dynamics.Listen to this episode for a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of commodities and freight, as we 'navigate' through the complexities that are shaping the industry.Timestamps00:00 Crude stockpile slump spurs oil price rise.06:36 High sulphur fuel prices driven by market factors.10:46 Market outlook predicts drop due to oversupply.13:35 Exciting year ahead with currency fluctuations. Potential chaos though!

Market Volatility and Season's Greetings! Hello and welcome to a special edition of Freight Up, the go-to podcast for the latest buzz in the commodities and freight markets from FIS. I'm your host, Fernanda, and boy, do we have a jam-packed episode lined up for you this week. And it's just as well because this is our last episode of 2023!We've got Joshua Stern, Archie Smith, Hao Pei, George Huston, and of course, John Banaszkiewicz, centre stage to dissect the fluctuations that are setting the tone for both 2023 and the predictions that 2024 holds. We're also linking here to the website John B mentions in his conversation with us, in case you're feeling festively charitable and want to help us to help Ukraine!We'll explore the ripples of the nickel price surge on battery costs and the consequent allure for financial players in the green battery production space. Josh will take us through the steel markets, from USHRC to scrap, and we'll delve into the ever-fluctuating landscape of oil with Archie's expert insights on those OPEC decisions and their far-reaching impacts. Oh and an update on Al Zour!But it's not all charts and numbers; we'll touch upon the more personal side of our guests as they share their humanitarian efforts, their holiday cheer, and, yes, their plans for their four-legged friends during the festive season. Love going straight out to the Smith family doggos!With the masterful breakdowns from our commodity connoisseurs, we're looking at market drivers like freight, iron ore, and the growth of the battery metals market with us lot at FIS setting the pace. We're also zooming into the futures of Supermax, Cape, and more with eye-opening contract period interests that have surged before we all turn our calendars.George Houston's ground-breaking venture into the fertiliser options market and Hao Pei's prediction on iron ore prices serve as testaments to the innovation and foresight pulsing through the veins of this industry.Timestamps05:05 Poor demand outlook, shipping route concerns impact prices.09:32 Volatility in markets, challenging year for traders.11:00 Market sentiment leans positive, despite volatility.16:32 Complexity and volatility in the environmental market.20:01 Steel market experiencing volatility, momentum slowing down.23:39 Curve flattens, backwardation returns, interest in 2024.27:42 North China weather disrupts port, Pacific rates rise.29:02 Highly volatile week in shipping and trading.32:12 Panamax, Cape, Supermax saw high trading volumes.36:28 Specialised in grain risk management; advocating accessibility.40:32 Iron ore demand and supply dynamics suggest bearish outlook.42:37 Iron ore prediction for 2024: higher average.Remember to review and follow us on whichever app you enjoy listening to us in!