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With oil prices experiencing their largest monthly drop in six years due to hopes for a U.S.-Iran peace deal, the global energy landscape is shifting. Meanwhile, the shipping industry is sounding the alarm on rising cost and capacity pressures, while specialized logistics investments in batteries and semiconductors continue to reshape industrial supply chains.
The three-month closure of the Strait of Hormuz is causing global supply chain stress to surge back to COVID-era levels, squeezing economies worldwide with intense inflation. While geopolitical uncertainty and rising oil prices weigh on industrial metals like copper, logistics giants like FedEx are doubling down on specialized transport for batteries and semiconductors to boost resilience. Meanwhile, Indian markets slipped for a second straight day as energy costs hit oil, gas, and financial stocks hard.
Copper prices are under pressure due to global growth concerns fueled by rising oil prices, while BYD faces a supply bottleneck as battery production lags behind surging demand for rapid-charging EVs. Meanwhile, the UK energy regulator Ofgem announced a 13% increase in the energy price cap starting in July to reflect rising gas costs, and China's CNOOC has commenced full-scale production at the Kenli oilfield in Bohai Bay.
The Hormuz Strait chaos continues, pushing Brent crude to $104 per barrel. Australia’s Mount Holland lithium mine has been approved for a production hike to meet rising prices, while a deadly mine explosion in China is squeezing coking coal supplies. India is now accelerating its shift toward Latin American and African crude to reduce its Middle Eastern reliance.
Donald Trump’s claim that US-Iran nuclear talks are "mostly settled," paired with a proposed 60-day Hormuz Strait truce, is easing oil and energy markets. Meanwhile, copper is rallying on AI-driven demand, though a strong dollar due to Middle East tensions acts as a short-term hurdle. Reliance Industries in India has shifted from domestic battery manufacturing to sourcing from CATL, highlighting the country's persistent reliance on China for clean energy. Additionally, the Indian government is scrambling to fix container congestion at JNPA port caused by supply chain bottlenecks linked to the West Asia crisis.
중동 분쟁이 심화되며 인도 연료 가격이 세 번째 인상되는 등 에너지 공급망이 요동치고 있습니다. 한편, DHL은 네덜란드에 배터리 물류 허브를 착공하며 인프라 구축에 나섰고, 릴라이언스는 CATL 부품 조달로 선회하며 공급망 의존도 이슈가 부각되었습니다.
Precious metals led today's market moves, with gold futures hitting $4,713/oz (+3.84%) and silver jumping 7.47%. On the supply chain front, Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen energy cooperation spanning LNG, industrial materials, and AI security. Korean semiconductor memory makers face cost pressures from hydrofluoric acid (HF) spikes due to the Hormuz blockade. Codelco fired executives after internal audits revealed its lowest production in 27 years, while Perpetua Resources secured a $2.9 billion EXIM loan for its Idaho Stibnite gold-antimony project.
Industrial metals including copper are showing sharp volatility amid inflation concerns and surging global bond yields, emerging as today's key market issue. As tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, POLITICO has issued an urgent analysis on "the rise of supply chain warfare," warning of a restructuring of global trade order. Meanwhile, according to an IEA report, global EV sales in 2026 reached 30% of the total market, marking a record high.
Industrial metals like copper are showing extreme volatility amid inflation fears and soaring bond yields, while Brent crude holds above $110 a barrel due to supply disruption threats in the Strait of Hormuz. Politico highlights the rise of "supply chain warfare," and EasyJet has warned of persistent energy cost pressures stemming from the Iran war. Additionally, an IEA report shows global EV sales have officially surpassed 30% of the total market in 2026.
Gold surged 3.84% to $4,713/oz today, with silver up 7.47%. Samsung Electronics faces a potential strike, threatening AI memory supply, while Nature Energy reports US EV battery materials will fall short of 2035 demand. Agnico Eagle approved a $2.4B investment in the Hope Bay mine, and China expressed intent to buy 200 Boeing aircraft, hinting at a potential U.S.-China trade truce.
Between May 18 and 19, oil prices fluctuated amid Middle East tensions, while China’s halt on sulfuric acid exports sparked concerns over dual impacts on EV batteries and fertilizers. Norway’s Equinor signed a 5-year gas supply deal with Germany’s Eneco to boost energy security. Meanwhile, Stellantis revealed plans to produce an affordable $17,500 small EV at its Pomigliano plant in Italy by 2028.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is creating a $25 billion headache for global firms, while China’s halt on sulfuric acid exports is squeezing the EV battery and fertilizer sectors. Meanwhile, HSBC is stepping up with a $4 billion loan to boost Chinese clean tech expansion.
Global supply chain strain has surpassed 2022 COVID-era levels, while markets remain volatile as China signals tariff cuts following the Trump-Xi summit. BYD has officially acknowledged a severe battery production shortage due to explosive demand for its flash-charge EVs. Meanwhile, the U.S. energy storage market is seeing a surge in demand for domestic LFP batteries as regulations on Chinese-made batteries tighten. According to Reuters commodity data, global markets saw broad declines, with the S&P 500 falling 1.24% and the Nikkei 225 dropping 1.99%.
Silver futures jumped 7.47% and gold rose 3.84% today, while BYD officially acknowledged severe battery constraints from surging FlashCharge EV demand. On the supply side, U.S. restrictions on Chinese batteries are driving demand for domestic LFP batteries, and Lithium Americas warned that tariffs could add up to $120 million to Thacker Pass project costs.
구리 선물 가격이 파운드당 6.58달러를 넘어서며 역대 최고가에 근접했고, 중국의 은(銀) 수요 급증과 함께 귀금속 및 산업 금속 시장이 강세를 보이고 있어요. 공급망 측면에서는 미국의 대중(對中) 에너지 저장 배터리 제한 강화로 인해 미국산 LFP 배터리 수요가 급증하는 추세이며, GEP 글로벌 공급망 변동성 지수는 2022년 위기 이후 최고치를 기록했습니다. 기업 소식으로는 일본 Inpex가 PetroChina로부터 호주 Browse 가스전 지분을 인수했고, Caturus는 97.5억 달러 규모의 자금 조달을 마치고 미국 내 LNG 시설 건설에 착수한다는 소식입니다.
Gold futures surged past $4,713/ozt and silver jumped 7.47% as the metals market rallies. Copper is nearing $14,000/t in London amid strong Chinese demand. The GEP global supply chain volatility index hit its highest level since 2022, prompting firms to ramp up stockpiling. In corporate news, Japan's ENEOS is set to acquire Chevron’s Singapore refining assets for $2.2 billion, signaling a major shift in Asian energy infrastructure.
As copper hits $13,643 per ton, instability in the Iran ceasefire is pressuring energy and shipping costs. Global supply chain stress is back to pandemic-era levels, while Chinese battery firms expand market share against Korean competitors amidst a North American EV slowdown.
5월 11~12일, 원유 가격이 상승세를 유지하는 가운데 리튬 탄산염이 3% 이상 급등하며 배터리 금속 시장을 주도했습니다. 인도네시아의 니켈 수출 정책과 EU의 갈등, 그리고 호르무즈 해협의 불안정한 정세가 글로벌 공급망 전반에 큰 영향을 미치고 있습니다.
Oil jumped $4 today as US-Iran talks stalled, with tankers in the Strait of Hormuz disabling tracking devices. China's PPI hit a 45-month high, squeezing global supply chains, while Korea's S-Oil expects solid refining margins in Q2.
As of May 9, 2026, WTI and Brent crude prices are climbing due to supply fears and seasonal fuel demand. Philippines and Indonesia are pushing to establish a "Nickel Corridor" to strengthen EV battery supply chains, while maritime risks are rising following an attack on a bulk carrier near the Arabian Sea. Saudi Aramco reported a 25% jump in Q1 net profit, attributing the gains to full pipeline capacity driven by the Hormuz Strait risk.
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