Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-19 23:47Geopolitical Tensions - The geopolitical pressure between the US and Iran has significantly escalated, with the US State Department issuing a high-level security warning for citizens to evacuate Iran and threatening a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran [1][17] - Iran's response has been strong, with military readiness declared and warnings issued against US military bases and shipping targets, while also expressing willingness for negotiations [1][17] Impact on Global Commodity Markets - The tensions pose significant risks to the global commodity market, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for approximately 20% of global oil transport; any disruption could lead to a spike in oil prices [2][17] - Iran is a key exporter of methanol, LPG, and polyethylene, with methanol accounting for nearly half of China's imports, making the supply chain vulnerable to conflict [2][17] - Geopolitical risk premiums have driven prices of safe-haven assets like gold and silver to historical highs, potentially affecting the metals market as well [2][17] Greenland Dispute - The US has announced tariffs on eight European countries to pressure them into accepting the US's demands for the complete acquisition of Greenland, which has led to increased tensions with Europe [3][17] - Greenland holds about 32% of the world's rare earth reserves and significant amounts of copper, cobalt, and nickel, making the dispute impactful on key metal pricing [3][17] - The geopolitical tensions may lead to strategic reserve behaviors among countries regarding important metal raw materials [3][18] Structural Opportunities in Petrochemicals - The focus is on structural opportunities under the "reduce oil, increase chemicals" strategy, particularly concerning naphtha supply tightness due to peak gasoline demand and refinery capacity constraints [5][20] - The closure of high-cost refineries in Europe and Japan is expected to create market space for China's expanding chemical capacity, leading to discussions on potential volatility in ethylene supply [5][20] Pulp and Soybean Pricing Dynamics - The global supply of hardwood pulp is increasing, while softwood pulp supply remains limited, with a 9% year-on-year increase in shipments to China noted [7][21] - Domestic soybean prices have remained high following a significant price increase, driven by state grain reserves and cautious selling behavior from grain holders [15][29] - The potential for a release of social inventory post-Spring Festival could pressure soybean prices, alongside external factors affecting import dynamics [15][29]