French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. CREDIT AGICOLE: French bank Credit Agricole announced on Wednesday that it had signed a long term partnership agreement with Belgium’s Crelan Group, and would be acquiring a 9.9% share in the company. ELIOR GROUP - French…
Petrobras wins in Amazon drilling but licensing is in doubt
The Brazilian environmental agency Ibama announced a decision on Monday that will allow state-run Petrobras to move closer to drilling oil in a highly sought after offshore region. However, it also came with a warning for future permits. The documents seen by us show that Ibama's Rodrigo Agostinho warned against the "disorderly multiplicity of future requests for environment licenses" near the mouth the Amazon River.
Brazil's Petrobras to simulate emergency plan for Foz do Amazonas basin
The Brazilian Environmental Agency Ibama approved on Monday the state-run Petrobras concept for an emergency plan that would assist local fauna if there was an oil spillage in the Foz do Amazonas Basin. This move allows Petrobras a simulation of their plan. It could be the final step before Ibama decides on a drilling license for the company in the northernmost part of Brazil’s Equatorial Margin.
Haddad, Brazil's Haddad, supports research on oil deposits near the mouth of Amazon
Fernando Haddad, the Finance Minister of Brazil, said that while the search for oil near the mouth the Amazon River must continue in Brazil, any discoveries made should not slow down the country's transition towards cleaner energy. The mouth of the Amazon, a vast area stretching between Rio Grande do Norte (Northern Brazil) and Amapa (Southern Brazil)…
Brazil Sugar Mills are considering switching to ethanol
Sugarcane processors are watching the gap in price between sugar and biofuels and may start producing more of it if the sugar prices fall further and the oil prices recover from their recent lows. A major discussion topic this week at the annual sugar market conference in New York was the possible change in production strategy. Sugar analyst Michael McDougall said…
Conab reports higher Brazil corn harvest and strong demand for corn ethanol
Brazilian second-corn producers are expected to increase their production by 11% during the 2024/25 growing season, according to Conab. The agency cited good weather conditions in the key growing regions as well as strong demand for corn ethanol from domestic producers. Conab's May crop report states that farmers have completed sowing second-corn. This is the corn planted after soybeans harvested on the same field.
As Q4 losses and debt rise, Raizen seeks refuge in its core business
Nelson Gomes, the CEO of Brazil's Raizen, said that the company is returning to its core business, including sugar and alcohol production. This was a day after Raizen reported a net loss for its fourth quarter of 2,5 billion reais (444.2 million dollars). Raizen's Net Debt jumped by nearly 80% in the year ending March 31 to over 34 billion reais, the company announced on Tuesday.
Consultancy says Brazil's sugar condition is favorable for building global surplus
The Datagro consultancy reported on Wednesday that Brazil's sugar-growing conditions in 2025/26 are favorable, despite the slow start of the harvest. This will contribute to a global surplus expected at 1.53 million tons by 2025/26. Plinio Natari, Datagro’s president and chief economist, stated that the cumulative rains in Brazil’s main sugar region (the center-south…
Brazil corn production forecast at 125 million metric tons by association president
Paulo Bertolini said that Brazil's corn production is expected to reach around 125 millions metric tons for the 2024/25 harvest. He added that corn consumption by the ethanol industry could soon double. Bertolini said on the sidelines Abramilho’s third Congress in Brasilia that corn ethanol has already consumed around 20 million tonnes of corn in this year.
World's First Commercial-Scale E-Methanol Plant Opens in Denmark
The world's first commercial-scale e-methanol plant began operations in Denmark on Tuesday, with shipping giant Maersk set to buy part of the production as a low-emission fuel for its fleet of container ships.The shipping sector is under pressure to find new sources of fuel after a majority of countries gave their backing to measures to…
Brokers say that the global supply of sugar will keep prices in check.
Broker StoneX stated on Tuesday that the expected increases in sugar production by key growers would keep prices under pressure over the coming months and reduce profit margins for millers. StoneX projected that the global sugar supply balance would shift from a negative 2.8 million metric tonnes in October 2024-September 2025, to a positive 3.7 million tons by 2025/26. Monday is a holiday.
Brazil's Raizen sold sugarcane plant to Brazil for $75 Million
The Brazilian sugarcane processing company Raizen has agreed to sell the Leme plant located in southern Brazil for 425,000,000 reais (74.78 Million dollars) as part its strategy to trim portfolio and reduce debt. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Raizen, world's biggest sugar producer, announced that it was selling the sugarcane plant as well as 1…
Industry leaders claim that despite volatility, US Gulf oil production could reach 2.4 millions bpd.
Leaders in the oil and gas sector said that the U.S. Gulf of Mexico could continue to grow oil production despite geopolitical instability not seen for decades. Since last month, U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff announcements contributed to a drop in oil prices, and fears of a recession, making it harder for oil producers who follow his "drill baby, drill" call.
Equinor sells 60% of Brazil's Peregrino oil field to Prio at $3.5 billion
Equinor announced on Friday that it's Brazil unit had agreed to sell to PRIO SA a 60% interest in the Peregrino Oil Field for up to $3.5 Billion. Prio will pay Equinor a base amount of $3.35billion, plus additional interest payments up to $150m. It will also take full ownership of the oilfield after the transaction closes. Last year, it…
UNICA: Brazil sugar production up 1.25 percent in the first half of April
UNICA, a group representing the industry, announced on Wednesday that sugar production in Brazil’s center-south region reached 731,000 tons during the first six months of April. This is up 1.25 percent from a year ago and beats analyst expectations. UNICA reported that sugarcane crushing increased by 3% during the period to 16,59 million tonnes.
Petrobras reports slight decline in oil and gas production for the first quarter
Petrobras, the state-owned oil company in Brazil, reported Tuesday that it produced 2.77 million barrels equivalents of oil per day (boed), down 0.2% compared to a year ago. Petrobras said that its oil production in Brazil dropped by 1% on an annual basis, reaching 2.21 million barrels of oil per day (bpd). The firm also added that the Almirante Tamandare FPSO began producing at Brazil's Buzios Field in February.
Conab: Brazil's sugar output will reach record levels in 2025/26
Conab, the state-owned agricultural agency, said that Brazil's sugar production will reach a record in 2025/26, despite a drop in sugarcane production. The agency cited favorable market conditions. The agency estimates sugar production at 45.9 millions metric tons. This is up 4% compared to the previous season. Brazil's sugarcane harvest, however, will be 663.4 tons.
CNOOC Q1 profits down 7.9% due to lower oil prices but production grows
CNOOC Ltd, the Chinese offshore oil company, saw its first-quarter profit fall 7.9% due to lower oil prices. However, higher production helped offset this decline. According to the filing made by the company on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the net income for the period January-March was 36.56 billion Yuan ($5.03billion), down from 39.7 billion Yuan during the same time last year.
Research shows that China continues to support overseas coal plants, despite its 2021 commitment
According to a Tuesday analysis of energy investment in BRICS nations, Chinese companies are still building coal-fired electricity plants in Indonesia. This is despite their pledge to stop funding coal projects abroad by 2021. Global Energy Monitor, a U.S. think-tank, said that China was involved in the construction of 7.7 gigawatts in new coal-fired electricity…
Sources say that Brazil will offer tax incentives to attract data center investment.
Four sources with knowledge of the matter said that the Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad is planning to start a trip this week to Silicon Valley with a plan designed to attract data centers into his country through the exemption of federal taxes on technology investments. Haddad's visit to California includes a breakfast on May 6 with tech executives in Palo Alto.
