Energy:
1. Hungary and Slovakia announced a suspension of diesel exports to Ukraine.
2. Slovakia released 250,000 tons of oil in an emergency.
3. Russian oil drilling activity in 2025 fell to its lowest level in three years.
4. The Italian cabinet approved a decree to reduce energy costs.
5. Angola will load 28 lots of crude oil in April, compared to the planned 35 lots in March.
6. Data shows that India imported 1.1 million barrels per day of Russian oil in January, the lowest level since November 2022.
Precious Metals and Mining:
1. Rio Tinto: Still expects copper production of 800,000 to 870,000 tons in 2026.
2. Indian Minister of Mines: Negotiations are underway with the United States on cooperation on key minerals.
3. Rio Tinto CEO: Copper is a top priority in exploration, accounting for 85% of the exploration budget.
4. Indian Minister of Mines: India is expected to produce its own permanent magnets by the end of the year. 5. Glencore reaches land deal agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to increase copper mine production.
6. Market news: Congolese government documents show that the DRC has included the Rubaya tantalum mine, controlled by rebel groups, in its list of assets to be sold to the United States.
7. The National Stock Exchange of India's clearing department: Starting February 19, the 3% additional margin requirement for all gold futures contracts (all types) will be eliminated. Also starting February 19, the additional 7% margin requirement for all silver futures contracts (all types) will be eliminated.
Agriculture:
1. US-ASEAN Business Council: Indonesian companies will purchase 1 million tons of US soybeans, 1.6 million tons of corn, and 93,000 tons of cotton within an unspecified timeframe; and will purchase up to 5 million tons of US wheat by 2030.
2. US President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act, signing an executive order instructing the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Defense to ensure sufficient levels of elemental phosphorus and herbicides.
Other:
1. Hassett criticizes the New York Fed's tariff study, claiming that tariffs will benefit consumers. 2. US-ASEAN Business Council: US and Indonesian companies signed trade and investment agreements covering key minerals, semiconductor cooperation, and US agricultural and forestry product exports.
3. Indonesian Government: Indonesian and US companies signed agreements totaling $38.4 billion covering textiles, energy, agriculture, and technology.
