Daily Update — August 15, 2025
US Renewables Supply Chains; US Beef Imports Likely to Drop; Evolving Trends on Index Usage
Today is Friday, August 15, 2025, and here’s your curated selection of Essential Intelligence on global markets from S&P Global. Subscribe to be notified of each new Daily Update.
Energy Transition & Sustainability
Listen: One Big Beautiful Bill: Another ride on the solar coaster?
In this episode of the “Energy Evolution” podcast, S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts Tiffany Wang and Cinthya Pena explain the implications of the Trump administration’s recently passed budget bill, referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for US renewables supply chains and project development.
The act, signed into law July 4, is a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that cuts the tax credit regime introduced by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, effectively curbing 45Y and 48E clean electricity production and investment tax credits. Yet, some US companies remain optimistic about the long-term success of their renewables portfolios, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights senior reporter Garrett Hering.
Global Trade
USDA drops beef import projections amid rising tariff concerns
Amid tariff concerns, the US Agriculture Department revised its outlook on Aug. 12 for 2026 beef imports to 4.95 billion lb, down 6.1% year over year and 7.5% from its July estimate. The US Agriculture Department’s estimate for marketing year 2025 was 5.274 billion lb, down 103 million lb, or 1.9%, from the July estimate, but up 639 million lb, or 13.8%, from marketing year 2024.
The current tariffs for the top five suppliers of imported beef into the US are 10% for Australia, 35% for Canada, 76.4% for Brazil, 25% for Mexico and 15% for New Zealand. However, the tariffs on beef from Canada and Mexico are waived under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Market Dynamics
Watch: Evolving Trends Redefining Index Usage
What’s the role of index providers in today’s markets? S&P Dow Jones Indices’ Brandon Hass joined Cerulli Associates’ Brendan Powers, Delta Wealth Advisors’ Niko Finnigan and Sunpointe Investments’ Rob Mooney for a deep dive into how advisers are using an expanding range of index tools to build model portfolios, increase efficiencies and tailor strategies to meet client objectives.
In case you missed it
- OPEC revised its oil demand growth estimate for 2026 upward due to "supportive economic activities," it said in its monthly oil market report on Aug. 12.
- The market is undervaluing the potential growth in lithium demand driven by the electric vehicle and battery storage sectors, especially as prices show signs of recovery, according to Australian executives at a major industry conference.
- The global butadiene outlook is pessimistic for the second half of 2025, with sources saying that oversupply, driven by rising production after the refinery turnaround season and new plant startups, is dragging down the market.
Upcoming events
- After IEEPA-August: The road ahead for tariffs, the economy and corporate decision-making | August 19 (Webinar)
- Banking Infrastructure Modernization: Building for Instant Payments | August 20 (Webinar)
- Unlocking Trusted Data in Gen AI: Building Agentic Workflows with Kensho | August 27 (Webinar)