Market news and commentary
Reporting market moving events as they happen
Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well- informed decisions.
Our world-class team of market reporters and journalists specialise in the coverage of commodity markets across the globe. We are in constant contact with industry participants, revealing, reporting and analysing the events that shape the global energy and commodities landscape.
With our news and market commentary opportunities to further your strategies are uncovered and clarified. We illuminate specific aspects of the markets directly relevant to your business.
Global coverage through a local lens
143,000+ news, commentary and analysis articles published each year
As markets move, so does our coverage. Every day of every month of every year, we are tracking, analysing and commentating on every market
800+ news stories published every day
We are constantly publishing insightful new stories throughout the day, reporting events that shape the global energy and commodities markets
500+ editorial staff globally
Our specialist team of reporters and journalists are located where the action happens, reporting from every key energy and commodity hub across the globe
Latest news
Explore the latest market moving news from Argus.
Shipowners remain cautious on US-Iran deal announcement
Shipowners remain cautious on US-Iran deal announcement
Singapore, 15 June (Argus) — Freight market participants are choosing to remain cautious about the announcement that a deal between the US and Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz has been reached, preferring to seek clearer assurances on the safety of ships transiting through the strait first, they told Argus today. This comes after a series of false starts around similar developments in recent months. US president Donald Trump said on 14 June that an agreement with Iran was "now complete", as he ordered an end to the US naval blockade against Iran in conjunction with what he said would be the reopening of the strait of Hormuz. The critical waterway, where a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade travelled through before the war, remained largely shut since the war started on 28 February, as Iran tightened control by restricting vessel movements and using access as leverage. Beyond the disruption to global trade flows, security risks also escalated as commercial shipping became increasingly targeted. There have been 57 recorded incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Mideast Gulf, the strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman since 28 February, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations as of 11 June. Freight market participants so far remain doubtful that a sustained and meaningful return of ships through the strait will happen anytime soon, with most citing the fragility of earlier ceasefire announcements. The risk of repositioning a ship to the Mideast Gulf for potential cargoes still significantly outweighs any advantage from the move given that the situation can change quickly, a tanker shipowner said. Shipowners have adapted and found new trade routes in the absence of Mideast Gulf cargoes as a result of economies turning to more distant alternative oil supplies . Shipowners are also unlikely to benefit from any "first-mover advantage" by positioning their ships in the region ahead of any clear rebound in vessel demand, a freight analyst said. Shipowners can only weigh whether freight rates are sufficiently attractive to return to the Mideast Gulf if cargoes from the region appear again. Shipowners will simply remain in lower-risk regions out of the Mideast Gulf should freight rates remain unattractive, the analyst added. A sustained recovery in cargo volumes from the region could eventually raise freight rates over some time, and shipowners that have chosen to wait and observe how the market reacts may benefit from higher freight rates when they choose to re-enter the market later. The situation is likely to remain volatile given that a full and final agreement between the US and Iran has not yet been reached, a shipowner said. This is in addition to mines in the area which pose a threat to ships and will hinder vessel transits in or out of the strait, the shipowner added. A gradual return to the region is possible if security conditions stabilise and cargo flows resume, with any recovery expected to be measured instead of immediate, some market participants said. The Mideast Gulf remains the world's largest oil-producing region, and global demand will underpin the return of ships back to the region over time, a shipbroker said. Coordination between governments and maritime bodies will also be critical, another shipowner said, as the industry ultimately seeks clearer assurances on security conditions in the Mideast Gulf that would restore confidence and accelerate a broader return of vessels to the region. By Sean Lui and Jared Bateman Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Crude futures drop on US-Iran peace deal announcement
Crude futures drop on US-Iran peace deal announcement
Singapore, 15 June (Argus) — Crude futures fell by about 4pc in early trading today on announcements that a deal between the US and Iran has been reached, raising expectations of the likelihood of an imminent reopening of the strait of Hormuz. The front-month August Ice Brent contract dropped to $83.24/bl as of 11:00 Singapore time (03:00 GMT), down by 5pc from the close on 12 June. The July Nymex WTI contract dropped more sharply to $80.17/bl, down by 5.5pc from 12 June. US president Donald Trump on Sunday said that an agreement with Iran was "now complete" . "I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade," Trump wrote in a post on Truth social at 5:29pm ET (21:29 GMT). "Ships of the World, start your engines." Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the agreement will kick off a 60-day period of further negotiations, which would include the removal of all sanctions against Iran, the handling of Iran's nuclear programme, economic reconstruction and mechanisms to implement the agreement, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. Global leaders have begun issuing responses to the news of the deal. France, the UK, Germany and Italy released a joint statement saying that they are "prepared to lift relevant sanctions [on Iran] in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme", and that "Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon". The countries will also provide their support in efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz "including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations", they said. The official signing of the deal will take place on 19 June in Switzerland, said Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been facilitating negotiations between the US and Iran. Mediators will hold meetings this week laying the groundwork for technical talks and the official signing, he said. "Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Sharif wrote in a post on social media. It remains unclear if tankers and other commercial vessels that have been stuck in the Mideast Gulf for months would be able to immediately start crossing the strait of Hormuz, portions of which have been mined. Iranian officials have yet to confirm whether ships can cross the strait without adhering to requirements they have attempted to impose on maritime traffic. By Prethika Nair Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US-Iran agreement to end hostilities 'complete'
US-Iran agreement to end hostilities 'complete'
Washington, 14 June (Argus) — President Donald Trump on Sunday said an agreement with Iran was "now complete", as he ordered an end to the US naval blockade against Iran in conjunction with what he said would be the opening of the strait of Hormuz. "I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade," Trump wrote in a post on Truth social at 5:29pm ET (21:29 GMT). "Ships of the World, start your engines." Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the agreement will kick off a 60-day period of further negotiations, which would include the removal of all sanctions against Iran, the handling of Iran's nuclear program, economic reconstruction and mechanisms to implement the agreement, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. Trump announced the deal despite a flare up in hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel earlier in the day and last-minute concerns from Iranian leaders about the US' ability to deliver on its commitments. The official signing of the deal will be on 19 June in Switzerland, said Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been facilitating negotiations between the US and Iran. Mediators will hold meetings this week laying the groundwork for technical talks and the official signing, he said. "Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Sharif wrote in a post on social media. Ice Brent crude futures started sliding on the news in early Asian hours. The front-month contract was trading at $83.88/bl as of 21:34 GMT, down by more than 3pc than in the end of Friday 12 June. It remains unclear if tankers and other commercial vessels that have been stuck in the Mideast Gulf for months would be able to immediately start crossing the strait of Hormuz, portions of which have been mined. Although Trump said he authorized the "toll free" opening of the strait, Iranian officials have yet to commit that ships can cross the strait without adhering to requirements they have attempted to impose on maritime traffic. Trump has a history of overstating progress in reopening the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil flows. He wrongly claimed in April the strait was "completely open". Earlier on Sunday, an Israel military strike against what Israel's Defense Forces claimed was a "Hezbollah command center" in Lebanon threatened to upend Trump's push for rapid progress on a deal to end the war, which the US and Israel started on 28 February. Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in a social media post, said the "incursion" indicated the US "either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so." Trump said in a post on social media that the attack "should not have happened", particularly because an agreement was so close. The terms of the deal released so far are similar to those imposed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal negotiated in 2015 under former president Barack Obama. Trump administration officials say despite the similarities to the prior deal, their approach was preferable. "The huge difference is we did this from a position of strength. President Trump led with military might," US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said during an interview with CBS News on Sunday. "We can snap the blockade [against Iran] back at any point and they can't do anything about that." By Chris Knight and Andrey Telegin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US PET collection falls, rPET demand weakens: NAPCOR
US PET collection falls, rPET demand weakens: NAPCOR
Houston, 12 June (Argus) — US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle collection rates fell in 2024 while demand for recycled material weakened, despite gains in recovery and processing capacity, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). The US PET bottle collection rate declined to 30.2pc in 2024 after falling from 32.5pc a year earlier, even as the total volume of bottles available for recycling rose by 3.5pc to about 6mn lb, NAPCOR said in its 2024 PET Recycling Report . At the same time, total consumption of recycled PET (rPET) across US and Canadian end markets dropped, highlighting weaker demand for recycled material. The data show a growing imbalance in the PET recycling market, where supply and recovery are improving but end-market demand is failing to keep pace. Supply expands as rPET demand falters On the supply side, PET availability continued to expand. Imports of virgin and recycled PET for bottle applications increased by 8pc in 2024, while US reclaimers processed 1.97bn lb of material, up by 1.5pc from the previous year. Thermoform recovery recorded the most significant growth. Total recovered PET thermoforms in the US and Canada jumped by 52pc to 264mn lb, driven largely by improved identification of thermoform material in bottle bales and advances in sorting and reclamation technologies. But these gains were not matched by stronger demand for recycled content. Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content use in PET thermoforms fell sharply, dropping to around 12pc from 18pc a year earlier. The decline reflects shifting end-market dynamics and economic pressures. Growth in food and foodservice packaging, which typically uses lower levels of recycled content, diluted overall PCR rates even as the mix of virgin and recycled inputs remained largely unchanged, NAPCOR said. High prices curb recycled PET demand Pricing dynamics played a central role. The premium for rPET over virgin PET widened significantly, reaching as much as 38pc on the US east coast, compared with around 11pc at the start of 2024. "There was an increasing premium for recycled PET over the course of 2024… At its highest point, there was a 38pc premium for east coast rPET pellet over virgin," NAPCOR said in an emailed response to Argus. "This means the cost pressure for recycled-content usage ramped up through most of the year, which certainly would have impacted some converters' decisions." Higher domestic rPET prices also encouraged substitution toward lower-cost alternatives. Imports of rPET rose to a record 395mn lb, accounting for 23pc of total consumption, while some manufacturers shifted back to virgin resin. Although thermoform recovery increased sharply, most of this material continues to be processed alongside bottles rather than recycled back into thermoform packaging. The largest end market for recycled PET remains food and beverage bottles, limiting closed-loop systems for thermoforms. Technical barriers are no longer the primary constraint; economics remains the key challenge. "Meeting food-contact requirements is not difficult if the right technology and machinery are used… The biggest barrier to thermoform-to-thermoform recycling for food-contact applications may be cost," NAPCOR said. Looking ahead, NAPCOR pointed to policy as a potential driver of stronger demand. While several US states have introduced recycled content mandates, most do not apply to non-bottle rigid packaging such as thermoforms. New Jersey remains an exception, with a 10pc recycled content requirement for non-food rigid plastic packaging that will expand to include food-contact applications in 2027. "Because brands and converters can back away from voluntary commitments… mandates or eco-modulation incentives through EPR programs would be promising avenues to boost PCR usage in thermoforms," NAPCOR said. Absent stronger policy support or more favorable pricing dynamics, continued gains in PET recovery may not translate into higher recycled content use, reinforcing structural imbalances across the recycling value chain. By Dona Davis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Already a subscriber?
Log into Argus Direct now to explore our extensive catalogue of news, commentary and analysis articles.
Log in now
Business intelligence reports
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more