Energy:
1. India's Ministry of Commerce denied granting preferential treatment to US ethanol in trade negotiations.
2. Data from maritime data tracker Kpler showed that only two ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from eight the previous day.
3. Saudi Aramco will lower the price of its Arab Light crude oil for delivery to Asian customers by 50 cents per barrel next month, at a discount of $2 per barrel to the Oman/Dubai average; it will set the official selling price for Arab Light crude oil sold to Northwest Europe in September at a discount of $2.15 per barrel to the ICE Brent settlement price; and it will set the official selling price for Arab Light crude oil sold to the US in September at a premium of $3.60 per barrel to Argus Sour crude.
4. Bank of America raised its forecast for European winter TTF natural gas prices to €65 per megawatt-hour due to low physical gas inventories in Europe. If the Strait of Hormuz cannot be reliably opened before winter, TTF natural gas prices risk surging to over €80 per megawatt-hour. 5. US crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia fell to zero in July, marking the first full-month disruption in over 40 years.
6. South Korea plans to reduce its dependence on Middle Eastern oil to 60% or below.
7. Data shows that traders shipped nearly 30,000 tons of refined petroleum products from South Korea to Russia in late July.
Agriculture/Mining:
1. According to an official decree, the Democratic Republic of Congo has banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrates.
2. Trump implemented tariffs and minimum import prices related to polysilicon, setting a 120-day transition period.
3. World Gold Council: Gold prices were flat in July; future trends depend on real interest rates, the US dollar, and central bank responses.
4. World Gold Council: Global gold ETFs attracted $3 billion in inflows in July, reversing two consecutive months of outflows.
5. US Department of Commerce: Will ban the export of tungsten scrap and battery waste.
Iran Situation:
1. US media: Iran and Oman reached a framework agreement without charges to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Saudi official: Iran is planning an attack on Saudi Arabia.
3. Trump: A deal with Iran may be reached soon, and the Strait is somewhat open.
4. Industry sources: The proposed Iran-Oman Straits agreement faces dual obstacles: US sanctions and insurance.
5. Iran plans to tighten transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
6. Sources revealed that the northern and southern channels of the Strait of Hormuz will be closed. All passage will then be diverted to the central corridor, with Iran managing the entrance and Iran and Oman jointly managing the exit.
Other:
1. Shipping giant Maersk: Will implement temporary adjustments to energy/fuel prices to reflect costs in land transport.
2. Maersk: From August 12th, heavy cargo surcharges will no longer apply to freight from Far East Asia to the Mediterranean.
3. According to TASS: Russian President Putin ordered the establishment of a diamond cutting industry cluster in Russia.
