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Africa Commodity News, Analysis, and Prices

For up-to-the-minute Africa news and prices

For over 100 years Platts has been at the forefront of pricing and news in the energy markets. Today, we publish the essential information that you need to navigate the rapidly evolving commodity markets that Africa plays a key part in. Here you will find a focal point for all our existing benchmark services covering this vibrant region - from explaining the unique Platts pricing methodologies to showcasing the news, analysis and prices moving markets such as oil, petrochemicals, agriculture, and metals.

News Features

OPEC crude oil output and production vs. cut allocations

June 08, 2018

Since 1988, S&P Global Platts has published a monthly survey tracking OPEC crude oil production by country. The estimates are obtained through a review of proprietary shipping data, news reportage and surveys of knowledgeable sources.

New oil price records likely soon on US sanctions policy: Rosneft CEO Sechin

May 25, 2018

The CEO of Russia's top oil producer Rosneft, Igor Sechin, Friday warned that oil prices could hit new records in the near future due to the sanctions that the US is implementing against some hydrocarbons producing countries.

Factbox: OPEC strategy reversal hits energy resources

May 25, 2018

Global oil prices fell by up to 3% Friday after Saudi Arabia said it is working on a plan with allies to boost oil supplies in H2 2018. OPEC and its partners led by Russia had been expected to maintain their strategy of 1.8 million b/d of cuts until the end of the year. However, the group has faced mounting criticism from major consuming nations over failing to dampen prices climbing above $80/b.

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Latest Africa News

Kenya eyes $2/b discount for waxy crude exports

Nairobi (Platts)--22 Jun 2018 909 am EDT/1309 GMT

Kenya expects to sell its maiden crude exports mostly to buyers in China and India, with refiners attracted by a $2/b price discount for its waxy crude relative to Brent crude, the country's principal secretary of the petroleum ministry Andrew Kamau said.

CME May thermal coal derivatives volume down 47% on year at 39.2 mil mt

London (Platts)--18 Jun 2018 933 am EDT/1333 GMT

The volume of thermal coal derivatives cleared and traded through electronic trading platform CME in May stood at 39.2 million mt, up 33% from April but down 47% year on year, CME Group said Monday.

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Podcasts

Younger generation of shipping executives reconsider scrubbers ahead of IMO 2020

June 20, 2018-Among shipowners looking at how to cope with tighter marine fuels sulfur limits in 2020, the use of scrubbers to clean their emissions on board has been seen as a niche solution for the past few years. We look at how and why scrubbers might be becoming more popular.

US casts big shadow over OPEC meeting

June 18, 2018-We talk to the last US official to attend an OPEC meeting, Kent Hance, a former US congressman; and Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program, on the role OPEC can have in propping up Venezuelan crude supply or protecting Iran from the impacts of the US exit from the nuclear deal.

World's biggest industry will be slow to change, ex-BP chief says after Pope meeting

June 15, 2018-Following a meeting of energy chiefs with Pope Francis in the Vatican, Britain's Lord Browne, former CEO of BP and current executive chairman of L1 Energy, tells S&P Global Platts that change in the world's biggest industry, oil and gas, will be a slow process.

EU war on truck emissions to boost LNG but oil demand impact limited

May 31, 2018-Tackling growing road transport emissions is one of the EU's biggest challenges in meeting its long-term climate change commitments.

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The Barrel blog

The dry bulk freight market: Just treading water?

April 20, 2018

A decade has passed since the 2008 dry bulk freight rates began a long downturn which coincided with the Financial Crisis and culminated with a historic low in January 2016.

CERAWeek: As OPEC waits for appreciation, US ramps up oil production

March 09, 2018

OPEC ministers came to Houston this week for a “thank you” that never arrived. Since OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their historic supply cut agreement in December 2016, global oil prices have stabilized above $60/b and supply and demand are nearing the ever-elusive balance.

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Commodity Pulse video

Managing bunker price exposure in the container market

May 25, 2018

The rising cost of marine fuels and the IMO 2020 global sulfur cap are likely to keep bunker fuel prices volatile. S&P Global Platts has launched new bunker charge assessments, on a $/FEU basis, to help bring transparency to the cost of transporting containers.

Platts launches battery grade lithium carbonate price assessment

May 21, 2018

S&P Global Platts explains the methodology for its newly-launched battery grade lithium carbonate assessment delivered into North Asia for a minimum purity of 99.5% lithium.

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