Energy:
1. Indian refineries are reportedly buying crude oil from the Middle East and West Africa.
2. Sources say India is considering levying a tax on natural gas consumers to fund a $42 billion strategic fuel reserve expansion plan. The proposed tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) could raise $1.5 billion annually for reserve construction.
3. Sources say loading operations on the Caspian Pipeline Alliance (CPC) have been suspended again after a brief resumption due to security concerns and a shortage of tankers following drone attacks.
4. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that U.S. weekly diesel exports surged to a record high; U.S. strategic petroleum reserve inventories fell to their lowest level since the week of February 18, 1983.
5. Trump: We may have to raise oil prices again.
6. Boosted by rising oil prices, Occidental Petroleum's quarterly profits soared to their highest level since 2022.
7. Australian officials say newly built data centers must primarily use renewable energy.
8. The Australian government stated it will accelerate the transition to renewable energy, reducing the cost for businesses installing rooftop solar panels by about one-fifth.
9. Shipping data shows that crude oil and condensate exports from Gulf states remained largely stable in July, but are still about 40% lower than pre-war levels.
Agriculture/Mining:
1. The Central Bank of Ghana's gold purchasing program is projected to incur a $1.9 billion loss in 2025.
2. China Gold Association: In the first half of 2026, domestic gold ETF holdings decreased by 66.17% year-on-year.
3. China Gold Association: In the first half of 2026, my country's gold production decreased by 14.62% year-on-year, while consumption increased by 1.23%.
4. UN Food and Agriculture Organization: The world may face a new round of food price increases.
5. Weda Bay Nickel received approval for an additional 25 million tons of RKAB nickel ore quota.
Iran Situation:
1. US Vice President Vance stated that negotiations with Iran will take some time.
2. Iran says it has reached an agreement with Oman on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, with the agreement entering its final stage.
3. According to Iranian media Fars News, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has had its bank accounts frozen by a state-owned bank due to its ever-increasing debt, highlighting the immense pressure facing the country's most important source of revenue.
