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India's GAIL revives plans to buy US LNG after Trump lifts export ban
GAIL India Ltd. will look to purchase a stake or long-term supply of U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas after the Trump Administration lifted its ban on export permits. Gupta said ahead of India Energy Week that "their (Washington) decision to lift their ban will improve LNG supplies and we will revive plans to buy a stake in U.S. LNG or to buy U.S. LNG through long-term contracts." He said that the company will make a final decision following a long-term LNG purchase tendering process. India is currently the fourth largest LNG importer in the world. It aims to increase the gas share to 15% of the energy mix by 2030, up from the current 6.2%. GAIL is India’s largest gas distributor. GAIL was forced to stop its process for buying a stake up to 26 percent in an LNG plant located in the United States in 2023 after Joe Biden, then president of the United States, halted approvals on pending and future requests to export LNG. Gupta stated that global LNG prices may soften after 2026, as new projects in the U.S. are expected to be brought online and increase supply. Asia Spot LNG Prices Last week, the price of British thermal units (BTUs) reached a new high for two months at around $15. This was in response to a rise in European gas prices. Analysts say that the U.S. will provide ample supply to limit prices in this decade. Qatar will expand its liquefaction capability to 142 millions metric tons annually by 2027, from the current 77 million. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian oil minister, said that by 2030 India's gas consumption is expected to reach over 500 million standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd). According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell of the Oil Ministry, India's gas demand increased by approximately 12.5% in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year. Gupta stated that India's consumption would increase if the government brought gas under the goods and service tax regime instead of the current multiple taxes on gasoline, in order to make the prices cheaper and uniform throughout the country. GAIL, in its annual report 2023-24, has agreed to purchase 15.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG, including supplies from the U.S.A., Qatar and Australia, as well as traders Vitol Adnoc. The long-term agreements with American companies include the purchase by Berkshire Hathaway Energy of Cove Point and Cheniere Energy Sabine Pass in Louisiana, each receiving 5.8 million tonnes per year (tpy) of LNG. Sources said that in December, Qatar was also awarded a 5-year tender for the purchase one LNG cargo per month starting April. Sources in December said that Qatar was also awarded a five-year tender for the purchase of one LNG cargo a month starting April.
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British Business - February 10
These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. The Times British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other airlines are asking the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to examine Heathrow costs before building a new runway. They fear that passenger fees will increase. AstraZeneca continues to pay Russian doctors and healthcare organisations despite the Ukraine War, citing a need to provide medicine globally and stating medicines are not under sanctions. The Guardian Great British Energy, the state-owned energy company in Britain, faces a difficult search for a new CEO. It will begin recruiting this month. Six months after it was established with 8.3 billion pound ($10.28 billion), there are no obvious front-runners. Stuart Machin is the CEO of Marks & Spencer. He has urged the UK government not to implement the planned taxes and recycling fees, claiming that the retail industry was unfairly burdened. The Telegraph Activist Elliott, a financier who is known for his activism, has acquired a stake in BP. He hopes to influence strategic changes at BP as it struggles with its "net-zero" approach. Virgin Atlantic tripled the number of applications for its status-matching offer, after British Airways announced tighter conditions for its frequent flyer program. The new system will be based on spending from April. Sky News UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves summoned executives of Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds to a meeting on Wednesday, where they will discuss Labour's growth strategy for financial services.
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Baltic States switch to European grid and end Russia's ties
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania announced on Sunday that they successfully synchronised the electricity systems of their countries to the European continental grid. This comes one day after Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania severed decades-old energy links with Russia and Belarus. The complex switch from the grid that was used by their former Soviet Imperial overlord has been planned for many years. It is intended to bring the three Baltic countries closer to the European Union, and boost energy security in the region. In a social media post, Latvian President Edgars Rinkovics stated: "We did it!" The Baltic countries cut high-voltage cross-border transmission lines in eastern Latvia on Saturday, just 100 metres from Russia's border. They gave away pieces of wire as souvenirs to passers-by. Kaja Kallas - the Estonian EU Foreign Policy chief - called this switch, made earlier this week, "a victory of freedom and European unity". After power cable, telecommunication links, and gas pipelines between the Baltics and Sweden and Finland went down, the Baltic Sea region has been on high alert. The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after power cable, telecom links and gas pipeline outages between the Baltics and Sweden or Finland. Russia has denied involvement. After an undersea cable from Finland to Estonia, which was damaged in December 2012, Poland and the Baltics deployed elite police units, helicopters, and navy assets. Lithuanian military started drills to secure the land connection to Poland. Analysts believe that more damage to the links could drive power prices to levels seen in the Baltics since the invasion of Ukraine when energy prices spiked. The IPS/UPS Grid was the last remaining link between Russia and the three countries. These nations reemerged in the early 90s as independent nations after the fall of the Soviet Union. They joined the European Union in 2004 and NATO in 2007. After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, three of Kyiv's staunchest supporters stopped purchasing power from Russia but still rely on its grid to stabilise and control frequencies to prevent outages.
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Lithuania cuts Russian grid connections as Baltics prepares to link up with EU
Lithuania announced on Saturday that it had disconnected its power system from the Russian grid. This is part of a larger plan, which the Baltic states claim will help them integrate more closely with Europe and improve security. After operating independently, Latvia and Estonia will be expected to follow suit at 0700 GMT Saturday. Subject to any last-minute testing, they should synchronise their grids with the EU on Sunday. A spokesperson for Lithuanian grid operators Litgrid stated, "We have disconnected." After the annexation by Russia of Crimea, plans to decouple the Baltics from their former Soviet imperial master gained momentum. The grid was the last remaining link between the three countries and Russia, who reemerged after the fall the Soviet Union as independent nations and joined the European Union in 2004. In order to prevent outages, the Baltic countries depend on the Russian grid for frequency control and network stabilisation. After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, three of Kyiv's staunchest supporters stopped buying power from Russia. Lithuania's Energy Ministry has said that it has prepared contingency plans for heavy energy consumers, such as factories. These plans could temporarily disconnect some heavy energy users from the grid if there is a power shortage, in order to maintain essential supply. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Andrius Sytas)
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Trump delays meeting with Panamanian president as tensions over canals simmer
The U.S. president Donald Trump postponed his phone call with Panamanian leader Jose Raul Mulino because of last-minute changes to the agenda. This was announced by the Panamanian government on Friday amid tensions surrounding U.S. threats that it would take over the Panama Canal. The government of Panama said that the foreign office would share the details about the new date after it had been coordinated. Mulino accused the U.S. government of spreading "lies" and falsehoods after it claimed that its vessels could pass through the Panama Canal for free. He also denied claims that China controls and has troops in the Canal, which is a vital shipping waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Panama Canal Authority is an autonomous agency under the supervision of the Panamanian Government that controls and operates the canal. Both leaders were scheduled to address the media at 3:30 pm local time, on Friday afternoon. Mulino announced that following a visit by U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio to his country, it would not be renewing a broad agreement in order to contribute to China’s signature. Belt and Road Initiative , a global infrastructure development plan. (Reporting and writing by Elida Morland, editing by Kyry Madry).
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Brazil soy sales are lagging due to high freight costs, traders warn
Analysts said that the sale of Brazil's soy crop was lagging, due to high freight costs, an increased local currency, and the extra caution taken by trading companies to complete purchases. According to the consultancy Safras & Mercado, Brazil's soybean crop for 2024/25 has already sold 39.4% more than total production expected. This is higher than the 31,9% recorded in the same time period of 2024. It is still below the average for five years of 43.2%. Guilherme Palahares, Santander Research's head of food and beverage research, said that "Freight was the biggest factor in limiting business." To reduce risk, traders only buy freight services if the soy that they are purchasing has a client who is committed. Brazil heavily relies upon trucks to transport grains to ports. Diesel prices are rising and farmers in the area will need to transport a record crop of soy north of 170 millions tons. The excessive rains in Mato Grosso have also caused problems, as they have hampered harvesting. Truckers are faced with muddy roads and shipping in unusually large volumes when heavy showers occur. According to Mato Grosso's farmer-backed group IMEA, road freight from Mato Grosso's Sorriso port to the riverport of Miritituba has risen by around 40% since January began, reaching 270 reais (46.64 dollars)/ton. The strengthening of the Brazilian currency to 5,8 reais to the dollar has hampered farmers' interest in selling their soy. Santander's analyst stated that Brazilian farmers still expect better prices because of possible problems with Argentinean soy harvest affected by drought. He said that by April they would be more likely sell, as the input bills will be due. According to data from Esalq/USP, Cepea's data, premiums for soybean shipments at the Port of Paranagua in March remained negative. The high freight rates put a lot pressure on the premium, said Francisco Queiroz. He is a soybean analyst with the Itau BBA agro-consulting firm.
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Dozens of passengers fall sick on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 passengers and crew members on a Royal Caribbean Cruise in the Gulf of Mexico fell ill with a gastrointestinal disease causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cruisemapper.com reports that "Radiance of the Seas", a ship from Tampa, Florida, departed on Saturday to embark on a seven-day western Caribbean cruise. The ship will visit Mexico, Honduras, and Belize. The CDC's vessel hygiene program received a report of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on Tuesday. Royal Caribbean, based in Miami, did not respond to a comment request immediately. About 89 passengers, or 4%, of the 2,164 cruise passengers on board have reported feeling sick. The CDC also reported that two members of the 910 person crew were sick. The CDC reported that Royal Caribbean had increased cleaning aboard the ship, taken stool samples for testing, and isolated sick individuals. Cruisemapper.com reports that the ship will return to Tampa Saturday, February 8. According to the CDC, stomach bugs are usually caused by norovirus. Norovirus is a highly contagious, diarrhea-causing virus. Radiance of the Seas is still not known to have been the source of the illness.
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Azeri BTC daily loads to decrease 6% in March
The differentials between Urals and Azeri BTC crude oil were unchanged on the Friday while daily Azeri BTC oil loadings at Ceyhan are set to drop 6% in march. Azeri BTC crude exports to Turkey's Ceyhan Port are set at 16,99 million barrels for March, up from 16,33 million barrels during February, according to a schedule seen on Friday. Calculations showed that daily oil loadings from Ceyhan would decline by 6% from February's plan in March, due to the fact that the following month will be three days longer. Two sources with knowledge of the plans said that Chevron was speeding up expansion at Kazakhstan's Tengiz Oilfield. This would increase its production to around 1%. PLATTS WINDOW On Friday, no bids or offers for Urals BTC, Azeri BTC Blend and CPC blend were displayed in the Platts Window. The Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service could impose a one-month-long ban on the export of gasoline by large producers to stabilize wholesale prices before the planting season. This was reported Friday by state news agency TASS. The oil ministry reported on Friday that India's fuel consumption in January was at its lowest level since October but up 3.2% compared to last year, with 20.49 millions metric tons. Reporting by
Why a Canadian freight rail stop would roil North American supply chains
Canada's 2 primary freight rail companies are set to lock out around 10,000 of their Canadian unionized workers on Thursday at 12:01 a.m. ET (4:01. GMT), starting an extraordinary synchronised work interruption that. would grind practically all train freight movement in the country. to a halt.
HOW INTEGRATED ARE THE RAIL NETWORKS THROUGHOUT THE United States AND CANADA?
Canadian National Train Co and Canadian Pacific. Kansas City have said their rail networks south of the. border will continue to run, but industry groups fear that a. work interruption would have significant impacts on the movement of. items and products across North America.
CN and CPKC's coast-to-coast rail networks in Canada link. south of the border and act as crucial supply chain links to. trade corridors and ports throughout North America.
The networks intersect with those of U.S. rail operators. such as BNSF Train, Union Pacific, Norfolk. Southern and CSX, facilitating the motion of. billions of dollars' worth of items and products through. ports and storage facilities across the continent.
CN's network extends south to New Orleans. CPKC's network. links to the U.S. ports of Corpus Christi, New Orleans and. Gulfport, and it extends further south to the ports of Tampico. and Lázaro Cárdenas on the east and west coasts of Mexico.
HOW WOULD A CANADIAN RAIL BLOCKAGE AFFECT THE UNITED STATES?
Around a third of the traffic moved by the 2 Canadian rail. business crosses the border with the United States.
Numerous U.S. business and manufacturers, especially those in the. Midwest, utilize Canadian ports for imports and exports, as Montreal. can be quicker for shipments to and from Europe, while Vancouver. can be quicker for ocean service to and from Asia.
Union Pacific, the No. 2 U.S. railroad operator, has actually warned. that a synchronised interruption would have devastating consequences. for the U.S. and Canadian economies.
Dozens of groups representing miners, farmers, exporters,. and fertilizer producers, to name a few, have actually alerted that their. sectors face debilitating supply-chain hold-ups, increased costs,. cash-flow constraints and prospective shutdowns in a lengthy. stoppage.
HOW WOULD THE U.S. AND CANADIAN FARM SECTORS BE AFFECTED?
A blockage would strike the movement of whatever from wheat. to ethanol, potash fertilizer and meat.
In specific, it would crimp shipments of U.S. spring wheat. from Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to the Pacific. Northwest for export. A blockage would likewise hit Canadian potash. and grain exports.
The U.S. exported $28.3 billion of agricultural items to. Canada in 2023, making it the third-largest location for U.S. farming exports behind China and Mexico. The U.S. imported. $ 40.1 billion of Canadian farming items in 2015,. making Canada the second-largest pioneer of U.S. farming. imports.
Ethanol, potash, corn, cereals, food grains, cooking oils,. and meat are among the farming items traded in between the. 2 countries.
WILL TRADE WITH MEXICO BE AFFECTED TOO?
Mexico is Canada's third-largest single-country product. trading partner behind the U.S. and China, while Canada was. Mexico's fourth-largest merchandise trading partner in 2023.
Mexico exports trucks, cars and trucks and lorry parts to Canada,. together with mangoes and avocados. Canada exports wheat, meat,. aluminum, cars and parts to Mexico.
Two-way trade between the 2 countries, much of which moves. by means of the rails, was almost C$ 55 billion ($ 40.48 billion) in 2023.
CAN THE TRUCKING MARKET STEP INTO THE BREACH?
Truckers state they are dealing with a rise in need and that roadway. freight rates are increasing for carriers in Canada. Nevertheless,. industry experts state that while the trucking sector can manage. some of the need, it can not change rail circulation. In some. cases, the market does not have the equipment, nor the. capability, to handle bulk commodity freights such as potash, food. grains, or coal.
(source: Reuters)