Doomberg returns. The US is mired in a war that it, nor its allies, can afford to escalate. Exposing the fragility of the global economic order, underpinned by delicate energy infrastructure. China, long planning for that fragility, is strengthened and Russia is looking cornered and more dangerous as Ukraine attacks its energy infrastructure. OPEC is shattering. For Doomberg, World War 3 is very much under way and we are in an era of profound change. And maybe AI, the savior of the SP500, wont choose to save us. Doomberg is the largest dedicated energy & finance Substack powered https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

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In this episode, host of the HC Commodities Podcast, Paul Chapman, shares his notes and reflections from the FT Global Commodities Summit, which he just attended in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Drawing on panel discussions, on‑stage debates and informal conversations across the event, Paul explores the themes shaping today’s commodities markets across energy, metals and agriculture. From shifting supply‑chain models to rising geopolitical risk and the growing role of data and technology, the episode reflects on how market participants are adapting to a more fragmented and uncertain global landscape.

HC Group was proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the summit, which brought together senior leaders from across the global commodities sector for debate, insight and exchange.

AI in Commodity Trading is HC Group's latest report, produced in collaboration with FT Longitude. It explores where AI is having the greatest impact today, and what will determine competitive advantage tomorrow.

Download the report here: https://www.hcgroup.global/insights/talent-trends/report-ai-in-commodity-trading-why-data-will-define-the-winners

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Register your interest for Bloomberg and HC Group's metals trading event: https://go.bloomberg.com/join/invite/metals-pricing-the-narrative-vs-pricing-the-physical/

Access HC Group’s Q1 Market Review: https://www.hcgroup.global/insights/market-reviews/access-q1-market-review-2026

Register for HC Talent Intelligence's Energy Trading Salary Report: https://www.hcgroup.global/reports

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Today, we return to the European energy markets, in particular, power. How has European power demand fared since COVID and Russia's invasion of Ukraine? What has that done to power markets themselves and the energy mix? Just as European power demand was starting to pick back up, has Israel and the US's attack on Iran upended it? And what has all this volatility meant for power traders and European energy traders more broadly? Our guest is Xavier Veillard, Partner at McKinsey & Company and global lead for power trading, to unpack how market volatility is reshaping power trading strategies and the skills traders now require.

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

Tungsten is vital to military hardware and industry, including oil drilling. Yet, prices have risen tenfold in the last year, threatening both. This is a story of China's production capture, now wielded as an economic weapon. What is Tungsten, how is it mined and made, and how did we end up here? And what does it mean for the West? Our guest is William Parry-Jones, founder of Wolfram Advisory, a consultancy supporting clients in capturing value across the Tungsten and other critical minerals supply chains.

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

In Episode 300, we take two metals - copper and gold - and compare and contrast their price journey. How does the physical supply and demand story compare to the investor narrative that drove prices to an all-time high? And how has the conflict in Iran test or confirm that narrative. In other words, to coin a term, have we seen the “goldification”of copper and other metals? Our guest is Grant Sporre, a senior commodities and equities analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. He has had a long career in commodities, both on the sell-side for banks, as well as in operational roles in mining. This is part one. Part two will be recorded live in Geneva on April 22nd for an HC Commodities podcast live event hosted by Bloomberg Intelligence.

This is our 300 episodes of the HC Commodities Podcast. Six years of weekly shows undertaking deep dives into the trends and topics with the commodities trading sector. A huge thanks to all of our guests and supporters who have helped us on the journey. Fina Charleson, our tireless editor and the HC Marketing team and, of course, all our over half a million unique listeners that have listened along the way. And we have a new logo to carry us for the next 300.

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

As the Iran War entered its fourth week, Houston hosted S&P Global's CERA Week. Where leaders from across the energy & natural resources sector mingle with policy wonks and senior government officials from around the world. This CERA Week was as noticeable for its last minute absences, doom-scrolling, braves faces and some swagger both from big oil and big clean tech. Nick Kumbleben of Greenmantle gives us his take on the vibe and key discussion points.

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global

500 years ago another group of commodities flowed through the Strait of Hormuz, making those that controlled that vital trade route fabulously wealthy. Those commodities were the spices: nutmeg and cloves. Grown only in two tiny islands in modern day Indonesia and the Philippines, they were worth their weight in gold. Then in 1512 the Portuguese upended that global trade and in so doing created the modern world and the blueprint for how commodity traders operate today (minus the cannons). Joining us is award winning historian Roger Crowley to discuss his latest book: Spice: The 16th-Century Contest that Shaped the Modern World.

For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global