China’s Oil Boom & Split Refinery Margins, OPEC’s Demand Surge, Cocoa Weather Watch, US Rare Earth Pricing Shakeup, and Russia’s Grain Export Collapse

In this episode of The Commodities Institute Podcast , Emily Costa dives into a series of critical market developments shaping global supply chains. Hear how China’s state refineries hit record throughput while independent “teapot” operators struggle with margin pressure, alongside OPEC’s forecast for strong Q3 oil demand and planned output hikes. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast cocoa farmers monitor pivotal weather, Brazil reports sharp declines in sugar and ethanol production, and China’s steel output plunges amid export challenges. Emily also explores the US’s bold move to overhaul rare earth pricing and reduce China’s dominance, Venture Global’s early LNG production success, Mozambique’s potential LNG project restart, and the steep fall in Russian grain exports caused by weaker harvests and new quotas. Stay informed on how climate, policy, and geopolitics continue to disrupt commodity flows worldwide.