In this Market Movers Asia with Surbhi Prasad:
- Chinese economy in focus
- Rise in China’s gasoil exports to weigh on Asian diesel market
- Asian met coal demand seen steady
- Chinese steel exports in spotlight
- India soybean oil imports expected to surge
This week, market participants will be watching Chinese travel, leisure spending and retails sales indicators for clues about the country's demand outlook during the upcoming holidays.
The eight-day long holiday starting Sept. 29 is set to be a peak season for the consumption of transport fuel in China as travel activity increases.
In oil, an increase in gasoil exports from China coupled with the recent transfer of low sulfur fuel oil export quotas to clean oil products is expected to put some pressure on the Asian diesel market.
China’s oil products exports surged in August to a six-month high. Several traders have indicated that it's possible Beijing will issue additional clean oil products export quotas later in the year.
In Asian met coal, there's less talk in the market of production cuts and more focus on economic growth. That's expected to keep demand from Chinese buyers steady, as they focus on restocking ahead of the holidays.
Asian steel markets will be watching the pace of Chinese exports, which are expected to fall in September-October from August’s level.
Steel production in northern China is like to feel some impact, as the country released an action plan last week for controlling air pollution during the winter.
In agriculture, Indian soybean oil imports are expected to surge over concerns of reduced crop output in the coming months.
India’s soybean output is seen falling due to continued dryness in key monsoon months, led by the El Nino phenomenon.
I’m Surbhi Prasad, thank you for kicking off your Monday with S&P Global Commodity Insights.