Analysis: Commodities

Indonesia's 2019 rice output falls 8% amid extreme weather - stats agency

Indonesia produced 54.6 million tonnes of unhusked rice in 2019, down around 8% from 59.2 million tonnes a year earlier, due to extreme weather, Suhariyanto, head of the country's statistics agency ...

Ivorian farmers fret as lack of rain saps cocoa crop

No rain fell last week in most of Ivory Coast's cocoa regions, farmers told Reuters, adding to their concerns over the crop's development during a crucial growing period for the world's top producer.

Thailand's sugar output to hit 9-year low due to drought - trade

Thailand's sugar production in 2019-20 is likely to fall 28% to 10.5 million tonnes from a year earlier, the lowest in nine years, as drought curtailed cane production, head of a leading trade body...

Gold demand fell at the end of 2019, but prices set to march higher - GFMS

Global demand for gold fell in the last three months of last year as sales of gold jewellery, bars and coins declined alongside purchases by central banks and financial investors, an industry report...

Global turmoil to be good for gold - Reuters poll

Gold prices will hold above $1,500 an ounce this year and make modest gains in 2021 as low interest rates and geopolitical uncertainly bolster its appeal, while silver prices will begin to catch up, a...

BRENT CRUDE OIL SPOT: Oil: Fundamentals outweigh geopolitical tensions

Concerns rise on the oil markets, which are once again shaken by geopolitical fears.

Uptick in world growth, supply constraints to lift copper prices - Reuters poll

The price of copper is expected to climb this year, supported by a recovery in global economic growth and problems with supply, a Reuters poll showed.

Barrick to sell gold worth up to $280 mln as export ban lifted

Barrick Gold will start to ship gold worth up to $280 million from Tanzania, chief executive Mark Bristow said on Monday, after the government lifted an export ban following the resolution of a...

Bat spit coffee is a hit with Madagascar consumers

In the rich volcanic soils of central Madagascar’s Itasy province grows a rare and fragrant coffee coveted by bats and humans alike. The twist: humans want it even more after the bats have nibbled...

Armenian PM urges gold mine protesters to lift blockade

Armenia's prime minister called on Saturday for environmental protesters to end their 18-month-old blockade of a foreign-owned gold mine, saying the protest was not in the national interest.

Trump increases tariffs on derivative steel, aluminum products from some countries

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation increasing tariffs on derivative steel products by an additional 25 percent and boosting duties on derivative aluminum products by an...

Exclusive: India's rice exports fall sharply as sanctions delay payments from Iran

Reluctance among Indian traders to ship premium basmati rice to Iran as U.S. sanctions hobble its ability to pay has contributed to a sharp drop in overall exports from the world's biggest supplier of...

Barrick Gold's 'long safari' ends with Tanzania deal

Canada's Barrick Gold Corp signed a deal with Tanzania on Friday in which the government will take stakes in three gold mines, ending a long-running tax dispute and setting a template for negotiations...

Tanzania, Canada's Barrick Gold to sign agreement - Tanzania presidency

Tanzania said on Friday it was due to sign an agreement with Canadian miner Barrick Gold Corp which could end a long-running and costly tax dispute.

ERG suspends Zambia refinery on shortage of cobalt, copper concentrates

Eurasia Resources Group's Africa unit said on Thursday it will suspend operations at Chambishi Metals in Zambia due to a shortage of copper and cobalt concentrates required to produce cathode....

Asian feed mills turn to Ukrainian corn as U.S. quality suffers

Some key Asian feed makers are having to pay more for higher-quality corn from the Black Sea region as a key traditional supplier, the United States, struggles with a weather-damaged crop.

ERG to halt production, cut jobs at Zambia copper & cobalt refinery - union president

Mining company Eurasian Resources Group plans to put its Chambishi Metals copper and cobalt refinery in Zambia under care and maintenance and cut 229 jobs at the end of January, the president of the...

Indonesia 2019 nickel ore output surges, 2020 output to slow - official

Indonesia's 2019 nickel ore output stood at 52.8 million tonnes, Director of Minerals Yunus Saefulhak at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said on Thursday, more than double production of...

Ivory Coast asks World Bank for help eliminating illegal cocoa output

Ivory Coast has asked the World Bank for help in eliminating illegal cocoa output from protected forests and resettling people farming there, as it steps up efforts to both end deforestation and deter...