OCBC has lifted its end-2026 aluminium price forecast to roughly US$3,150 per tonne due to subdued recovery across Gulf smelters. GCC smelter production growth slowed to 2 percent month-on-month in August, while Chinese output rose 4.7 percent year-on-year. Chinese unwrought aluminium and product exports also increased by 17.3 percent during the month.
Brent crude prices rose over 4% to $107.95 per barrel following an attack on Iran's South Pars gas infrastructure and subsequent retaliatory threats against Gulf energy sites. Iranian media confirmed damage at the Asaluyeh refinery, while benchmark crude remained above $100 for four consecutive sessions. Meanwhile, Iraqi pipeline exports partially resumed amid ongoing regional output disruptions and Strait of Hormuz transit constraints.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak has come under the spotlight as the Manchester City financial breaches controversy impacts UK-UAE relations. Al Mubarak serves as the UAE's presidential special envoy to China, managing director and group CEO of Mubadala, and chairman of City Football Group. Reports indicate that major Emirati investments in the UK could be jeopardised by the ongoing Premier League dispute.
Chinese fuel exporters have cancelled planned October shipments of diesel and gasoline to safeguard domestic inventories. The export halts follow reduced refined product flows from the Persian Gulf caused by refinery outages and shipping constraints. Supply deficits along Asia-Gulf trade routes were further compounded by an extension of Russian diesel export restrictions.
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