Energy:
1. Iran will use ports other than its southern ports to bypass the US blockade.
2. Data shows that oil stocks in Fujairah, UAE, have fallen below 10 million barrels for the first time in at least nine years.
3. Japanese officials: Japan plans to release approximately 36 million barrels of national oil reserves starting in early May.
4. Norway's crude oil exports reached a record high in March.
5. India's Ministry of Trade: India's oil imports in March totaled $12.18 billion.
6. According to Interfax: Kazakhstan is considering the possibility of exporting oil to South Korea in 2026.
7. Kazakhstan's state-owned oil transporter, KazTransOil: Kazakhstan exported 346,000 tons of oil in the first quarter through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
8. Indian trade officials: Recent imports of energy and liquefied petroleum gas from the US have increased. The sanctions waiver for Russian oil is unlikely to be extended.
9. US Energy Secretary Wright: There is no need to release further oil reserves.
10. Trump issues permit to facilitate US-Canada oil shipments.
11. The US introduces new sanctions targeting Iranian oil shipping networks.
12. The Iran war pushes the US closer to becoming a net exporter of crude oil for the first time since World War II.
13. Thailand accelerates its purchases of oil and fertilizers as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Precious Metals and Mining:
1. According to Reuters, India's gold imports in March amounted to $2.98 billion.
2. Citigroup: Adjusts its copper price forecast for the next 0-3 months to $13,000 per ton.
3. World Silver Institute: The global silver market will be in short supply for the sixth consecutive year, with the supply gap expected to widen by 15% to 46.3 million troy ounces by 2026.
4. Malaysian Prime Minister: Malaysia needs minerals, especially phosphates from Australia.
5. The Democratic Republic of Congo will establish strategic reserves of three minerals, including cobalt, tantalum, and germanium.
Situation in the Strait of Hormuz:
1. Foreign media: Iran proposes allowing free passage for ships on the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz.
2. A senior White House official stated that the US could "indefinitely" blockade Iranian ports.
