Cocoa prices ended 2018 with strong gains, leading generally firmer agricultural markets, but the year marked falls for most major commodities as increasing global economic uncertainty hit metals and oil.

Themed "Delivering Value across Palm Oil & Rubber Supply Chain” the conference aims to highlight these key issues:

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country in Spain have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer.

The hardening positions by the US and China on their year-old trade war ahead of high-stakes talks in Washington, will likely have an impact on June’s petrol price in South Africa, along with the introduction of a carbon tax by the local government.

As an importer of oil products, South Africa is already sensitive to changes in the international oil price.

This week, US president Donald Trump threw trade talks between the world’s two largest economies into disarray as he threatened to raise tariffs on Chinese imports, roiling global markets.

Trump threatened not only to more than double tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese exports to the US, but also raised the possibility of imposing a 25% tariff on an additional $325 billion of goods.

Bloomberg reported that China’s top trade envoy, vice premier Liu He, is due to land in the US capital on Thursday afternoon and go immediately into discussions with Trump’s top negotiator, Robert Lighthizer.

And trade war concerns, along with a global oversupply of oil, has caused Brent crude prices down towards $70 a barrel.

Impact on South Africa

For South Africa, a drop in oil prices would point to a short-term win. According to the latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) of South Africa, the most recent drop in the price is having a net positive effect on the outlook for local petrol prices.

The resumption of U.S. soybean sales to China has helped to buoy the market in oilseeds, although traders warn that uncertainties remain. At the same time, a developing row between Canada and China threatens to divert trade flows in rapeseed. China’s demand for soybeans has been hit by a fall in demand for meal as the country’s hog herd is affected by African swine fever.

The word “climate” makes most of us look up to the sky – however, the IPCC’s new special report on climate change and land should make us all look under our feet.

In 2020, you may be seeing a lot more macadamia nuts

Coronavirus has dealt the fossil-fuel industry the biggest single blow in its history, and it is clear that 2020’s plummeting demand for oil and gas is no mere flesh wound.

Judging from recent reports and data, there is tremendous potential for increased sunflower production in South Africa.

Marijuana, weed, pot, dope, grass. They’re different names for the same drug that comes from the cannabis plant.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the supply of almost half of the world’s sunflower oil exports, forcing companies to turn to less desirable alternatives such as palm oil in products ranging from potato chips to cookies. 

Increases in the domestic price of fuel are big news in South Africa, with the price of petrol, diesel and paraffin reaching new highs.

Last week, BP published its latest Energy Outlook report. Its headline findings should have got much more attention than they did.

Despite high oil prices sending energy company profits soaring over the last year, little of those profits have been reinvested in the oil and gas business.

Castor oil is extracted from seeds of the castor oil plant.

 Fueled by blossoming demand for renewable diesel production, canola is seeing a surge in production and crush capacity across the world.

Cannabis users have significant decrease in Cognitive Decline