Daily Update — September 15, 2025
Confronting Climate Challenges; AI in Commodities; and Asian Aromatics Trade Flows
Today is Monday, September 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: Confronting Climate Challenges | Look Forward
In this episode of the “Look Forward” podcast, S&P Global Sustainable1’s Lindsay Hall, global head of thought leadership, and Terence Thompson, chief science officer, joined host Andy Critchlow to discuss the urgent challenges posed by climate change, exploring its immediate impacts on global weather systems and the financial risks associated with inaction.
Artificial Intelligence
Energy, shipping experts urge usage of AI as a tool, not as captain
The adoption of AI among energy and shipping companies is growing steadily, contributing to lower operational costs, increased productivity and reduced emissions. However, a shortage of skills, data integration complexity and trust issues are posing challenges, industry leaders said at S&P Global Commodity Insights’ Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC).
The use of AI in sectors such as upstream is expected to grow due to uncertainties linked to exploration and prospecting. The technology is also rapidly becoming a powerful enabler for the maritime sector, where it can analyze safety and compliance data, optimize voyage planning and port logistics, and assess weather and maintenance risks, the attendees added.
Global Trade
US tariffs, EV adoption may reshape Asian aromatics trade flows
Ongoing trade tensions amid US tariffs and a global shift toward electric vehicles will affect Asian aromatics trade flows in the near term, S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts said at APPEC 2025. With global gasoline demand expected to peak in the next two to three years, long-term disruptions to the use of popular blendstocks such as toluene and mixed xylenes are expected in Asia, said Eshwar Yenigalla, senior analyst of petrochemicals at S&P Global Commodity Insights.
The main cause of this disruption is the increasing global adoption of electric vehicles, Yenigalla said, adding that near-term demand disruptions are expected due to the rapid adoption of ethanol mandates in China and India.
In case you missed it
- As of 2025, France remains the largest market for investor-placed benchmark covered bond issuance, despite political and economic uncertainty.
- As the US transitions to higher-volatility gasoline grades, refiners are adjusting their strategies to balance supply and demand amid seasonal maintenance and export pressures, which have implications for butane demand.
- European lawmakers passed simplification measures to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, exempting 90% of importers from compliance and administrative requirements to improve the bloc's industrial competitiveness.
Upcoming events
- Unlocking S&P Global ESG Scores: Raw Data on Screener | September 18 (Webinar)
- Unlocked Insights: Assessing Strategic Growth Amid Copper Mining Market Shifts | September 18 (Webinar)
- CERAWeek 2026 | March 23–27, 2026 (Houston)