Commodity markets

Global rice markets are in crisis amid ‘artificial’ shortage

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Rice is a crucial staple for over half the global population and the world is bracing for its most significant shortage in 20 years. India’s export ban on rice is reverberating through global rice markets, threatening food security if developing nations cannot afford or access rice. “The only shortage out there right now would really … Read more

Cocoa farmers face mounting challenges as El Nino rages on

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A woman spreads cocoa beans during the sun-drying process in the backyard of her house in Asikasu, Ghana on December 19, 2020. Cristina Aldehuela | Afp | Getty Images El Nino is here to stay — and that’s bad news for cocoa crops which are highly sensitive to weather changes.  Frequent extreme weather events caused … Read more

Japan signed a critical minerals deal with the U.S. — but it’s still losing the global EV race

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Sony Honda Mobility CEO Yasuhide Mizuno speaks at a news conference in Tokyo, on Oct. 13, 2022. Sony and Honda’s joint mobility venture unveiled a new EV prototype in January. Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images Japan is gearing up to be a larger player in the EV space by signing a critical minerals … Read more