London futures contango fires Thai sugar sellers to tempt buyers
The inter-crop period has brought spot activity in the Thai sugar market to a near standstill, at least for prompt shipments.
U.S. nuclear outages this summer were higher than in summer 2015
(Thu, 01 Sep 2016) U.S. nuclear power plant outages have been higher this summer (June through August), averaging 4.3 gigawatts (GW), or 51% more than in 2015. Summer outages were at their highest in June, reaching 9.9 GW, or about 10% of total U.S. nuclear capacity, on June 17 and averaging 6.2 GW for the month. Outages dropped to an average of 4.4 GW in July and 2.4 GW in August.
EIA now using near-real-time export data to improve weekly petroleum consumption data
(Wed, 31 Aug 2016) Starting with today's release of the <em>Weekly Petroleum Status Report</em> (WPSR), EIA is now publishing weekly petroleum export and consumption estimates based on near-real-time export data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs). EIA previously relied on weekly export estimates based on monthly official export data published by the U.S. Census Bureau roughly six weeks following the end of each reporting month.
Weekly Petroleum Status Report Exports Notice
(Wed, 31 Aug 2016) Today's publication on August 31, 2016 of the Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) is now estimating weekly exports using near-real-time data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While EIA collects data on inventories, refinery and terminal operations, and imports, EIA does not collect any export data. To estimate weekly exports, EIA had previously relied on models using official monthly export data published by the U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) roughly six weeks following the end of each reporting month.
US precious metals complex hit by dollar surge, added longs
The precious metals complex swung lower on August 30, led by gold, as a stronger US dollar and speculative-investor trends weighed on gold prices.
Coal consumption by U.S. educational institutions has declined by 64% since 2008
(Tue, 30 Aug 2016) Coal consumption by educational institutions such as colleges and universities in the United States fell from 2 million short tons in 2008 to 700,000 short tons in 2015. Consumption declined in each of the 57 institutions that used coal in 2008, with 20 of these institutions no longer using coal at all. Many of these institutions participate in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Coal consumption has decreased as institutions switch from coal to natural gas or other fuels.
Compliance costs undermining the goal of the US Renewable Fuel Standard: Fuel for Thought
The system devised to force compliance with the US Renewable Fuel Standard appears to be backfiring, forcing refiners to spend more on buying increasingly expensive credits than actually blending renewables into the nation’s transportation fuel.
District of Columbia raises renewable portfolio standard target to 50% by 2032
(Mon, 29 Aug 2016) The District of Columbia (DC) increased and extended its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) target from 20% by 2020 to 50% by 2032. The target includes a separate solar-specific target of 5% by 2032, an increase and extension from 2.5% by 2023.
South Crofty: The tin mine that wouldn’t die?
An update from Cornwall caused barely a ripple in the global tin market, but it nevertheless represents a potential new instalment in a very old story stretching back over two millennia.
OPEC members' net oil export revenue in 2015 drops to lowest level since 2004
(Fri, 26 Aug 2016) Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) earned $404 billion in net oil export revenue in 2015, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates. These earnings represent a 46% decline from $753 billion earned in 2014. Although these net export earnings include Iran's revenues, the net export revenue is not adjusted for possible price discounts that Iran may have offered its customers between late 2011 and January 2016, when nuclear-related sanctions targeting Iran's oil sales were in place.