Energy:
1. Kuwait set a premium of $1.70/barrel for its February crude oil sales to the US and a discount of $1.10/barrel for its extra-light crude oil sales to Asia.
2. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy: In 2025, Azerbaijan exported 12.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 23.1 million tons of oil to Europe. Oil production is projected to reach 27.7 million tons in 2025.
3. Uzbekistan's leader ordered that natural gas production reach at least 25.4 billion cubic meters by 2026.
4. American Petroleum Institute (API): US oil lobbying groups support repealing fundamental climate regulations targeting vehicles, not power plants and factories.
5. Trump's Cuba policy shows a "temperature difference," still allowing Mexico to supply oil to Cuba.
6. US Interior Secretary Bergham: To meet demand, natural gas power generation must be increased and connected to the grid. Low oil prices present an opportunity to replenish strategic petroleum reserves.
Precious Metals and Mining:
1. South Korea pledged support for the steel industry's shift towards higher-value sectors.
2. The US will host a G7 ministerial meeting this week to discuss rare earth elements. Officials from Australia, South Korea, India, Mexico, and the EU will also participate.
3. German Finance Minister Klingelberg: A floor for rare earth prices is an option we will discuss at the G7+ meeting.
4. Chairman of Chile's state-owned copper company, Copper: The company expects copper production to reach 1.344 million tons in 2026, compared to 1.33 million tons in 2025.
5. Citigroup: Under the baseline scenario, the 3-month target prices for gold and silver are $5,000 and $100 per ounce, respectively.
Other:
1. India's soybean oil imports in December were 505,112 tons, up from 370,661 tons in November.
2. Maersk: Will gradually resume east-west shipping through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
3. The new U.S. ambassador to India: The United States and India are close partners and will resolve differences, including long-delayed trade agreements.
