Clik here to view.
The Oil Big Five: trends, market drivers and global issues
This is our second installment of The Oil Big Five, where we ask Platts oil experts around the globe to outline five big trends or factors affecting the oil industry. We were glad to hear from you, our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Will US summer gasoline demand beat expectations?
US gasoline demand during the peak summer driving season this year is almost certain to rise for the second time in two years, buoyed by a recovering economy. But by just how much is open to question,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Oil Big Five: Your thoughts about what’s important in June
The second installation of The Oil Big Five hit a snag when we realized that comments weren’t coming through on our blog platform, so this follow-up is a week later than we wanted. But regardless of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Oil Big Five: Is anyone surprised that Iraq tops our list?
Welcome to The Oil Big Five for July 2014, where we list the big issues that are keeping our Platts oil experts busy around the globe. You can find our last posting here, which had the problem of not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Steel inventory building not likely to take place before price increases take...
Domestic flat-rolled steel momentum appears to be headed back up thanks to an increase Monday of $25/st by US Steel–effective immediately–but buyers are unlikely to rush out and load up before the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Oil Big Five: Your comments include Iraq, Africa, refining, and OPEC
You’ve read about the big topics our Platts experts think are most interesting for July, and now we want to turn our attention to our readers. In our monthly The Oil Big Five feature, we poll our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Major US trade decision in the pipeline for OCTG producers
The story is a familiar one: Cheap foreign steel products are threatening domestic manufacturers, and the US steel industry is seeking relief with a trade case. Here’s how it goes down: Following a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
India’s gas pricing dilemma: A ‘Modi’cum of liberalization?
The new Narendra Modi government in New Delhi prolonged the suspense this week over what tack it will take on the controversial domestic gas pricing issue. It had been expected to signal which way it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Infographic: Steel raw materials in numbers
Platts steel team tasked our design and production department to take a wealth of steel raw materials data and transform those freshly mined (sic) numbers into something visually engaging. In this post...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The possible implications of Russian sanctions on Europe’s polyethylene market
(Hetain Mistry is a member of Platts Petrochemical Analysis team. You can see more of their work by going here.) In recent months Russia has come under global political pressure due to its current...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Oil Big Five: Clear your calendar for November’s news
November didn’t waste any time with big news stories featuring oil issues, and some of us are still trying to catch up on the sleep lost watching the outcomes of the US elections on November 4. Looking...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Steel sheet blues: US steelmakers find prices unseasonably out of tune
US steelmakers have been singing the blues so far in 2015 as prices for sheet steel, which represents half of all American steel sales, have collapsed with no turnaround in sight. Factors that are...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Desperate times call for inventive measures in Japanese crude buying
Huge inventory losses brought on by the plunge in oil prices in the second half of last year prompted Japanese refiners, desperate to eke out margins, to switch away from some of their staple heavy...
View ArticleClik here to view.
US steel filing unfair trade cases is a dangerous proposition
Filing unfair trade cases is like chemotherapy. Both remedies are intended to protect the host from a serious threat, but there are side effects that are nearly as dangerous as the ailment itself....
View ArticleClik here to view.
At the Wellhead: Thailand’s oil, gas exploration under pressure
Thailand is in a difficult position when it comes to procuring enough oil and gas for its growing needs. Myanmar, a country that provided much of Thailand’s gas, needs to keep more of its production...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should China’s state-owned giants fear the teapot refineries?
China’s intention to relax hitherto strict crude import rules may be causing alarm within its state-owned refiners. The country’s small but resilient independent teapot refiners have long complained...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Europe: The perennial LNG sponge
This winter saw record volumes of LNG arriving on the shores of Europe, as cargoes sought value in an environment of weak LNG spot pricing. Cargoes flowed in from not only Qatar, but also from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nigerian elections 2015: Oil, militancy and subsidies
On March 28, Africa’s biggest economy and also the continent’s largest oil producer, Nigeria, will go to the polls to elect its new president. In an ideal world, these elections should have taken place...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Coal may burn bright, but which Asian market has the lights left on?
If you are a coal producer focused on the Chinese market, I am sure you will be scratching your head thinking about the future. Ever since China started imposing restrictions on imports, suppliers have...
View ArticleThe Oil Big Five: Taking stock at the end of Q1
There are a couple months of the year that seem busier than others, and April is one in the oil industry. The first quarter has ended, and many of the editors here at Platts are readying themselves for...
View Article