Middle East

The South African automotive industry and government have not yet found “that sweet spot” that would shore up the local manufacturing sector as it faces declining local parts content and increasing... 

The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) hosted its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 May 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from across the PVC value chain to reflect on the past... 

Investment demand for platinum remains extremely strong, with market fundamentals continuing to support platinum as a compelling investment. Market tightness suggests that there is insufficient... 

Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity... 

Diversified chemicals group Omnia is using Nampo Harvest Day 2026 to highlight its response to global fertiliser market uncertainty, with the company having made significant supply chain... 

Global oil supply will not meet total demand this year as the Iran war wreaks havoc on Middle East oil production, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly oil market report on... 

Aluminium prices are expected to be above $4 000 per metric ton between the third quarter of 2026 and the second quarter of 2027 due to a market deficit caused mainly by the Iran war, an analyst... 

Growth is not an entitlement and capital investment is not a given. These were two key points that Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane emphasised during a Mining Equipment... 

South Africa’s declining water management competency is revealing a critical fault line in the mining sector, which is developing an inability to sufficiently act on early warning signals. While... 

US-based industry body The Silver Institute expects total demand to decrease modestly by 2% year-on-year this year to 1.11-billion ounces, given sustained high prices that impact jewellery and... 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the war in the Middle East, which has precipitated an energy crisis similar in scale to the 1970s oil crisis, should spur countries to accelerate their... 

Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity... 

Research firm BMI – a Fitch Solutions Company – is revising up its average lithium price forecast for this year to $17 000/t for Mainland Chinese lithium carbonate 99.5% and $16 700/t for Mainland... 

The Middle East conflict could result in the loss of around 120-billion cubic metres (bcm) of cumulative liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply between 2026 and 2030, or 15% of expected global supply,... 

In an effort to support African and Caribbean economies affected by the ongoing Middle East conflict, multilateral trade finance institution African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) reports that it... 

South Africa’s new-vehicle market delivered its strongest March since 2007, with domestic sales reaching 58 060 units. According to naamsa | the Automotive Business Council, this represents a 17.3%... 

The global refined copper market is expected to shift to a surplus of 96 000 metric tons in 2026, reversing a previously forecast deficit of 150 000 tons, due to slower demand growth and increased... 

Electrolytic hydrogen enables long-term energy storage way beyond what batteries can provide, which is exemplified by a 200 MW hydrogen plant in the United States having larger storage capacity... 

Diversified miner South32 lowered its full‑year forecast on April 22 for its Australia Manganese unit after wet-season rainfall and Tropical Cyclone Narelle disrupted operations. The company also...