Australia’s coal output rises sharply
The coal sector is facing a bleak future in the global energy market if current trends are anything to go by. However, an unexpected rise in Australia’s coal output has given the century-old fuel a boost amid an uncertain market. The world has been consumed by the inevitable transition away from the fossil fuel sector towards the polar bear-friendly renewable energy sector. As the global community fosters the new and wonderful world of solar, wind, and nuclear power, coal has seen a sharp increase in the nation down under.
The coal sector overall has seen better days lately. The rise in alternative power solutions that the renewable energy sector has presented is too much for the world’s climate-conscious consumers to ignore.
In recent years, China has led the Asian markets in coal production while also placing an increased focus on developing the renewable energy sector. As with most things, China is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the world. The South Asain demand has had a significant impact on Australia’s coal sector, as evident by the export numbers of Australian coal to both China and Japan.
USA EIA increases USA oil production forecasts
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) raised its U.S. crude oil production forecast for 2025 and 2026 in its latest short term energy outlook (STEO), which was released on October 7.
According to this STEO, the EIA now sees U.S. crude oil production, including lease condensate, averaging 13.53 million barrels per day in 2025 and 13.51 million barrels per day in 2026. In its previous STEO, which was released in September, the EIA projected that U.S. crude oil production, including lease condensate, would average 13.44 million barrels per day this year and 13.30 million barrels per day next year.
The EIA’s October STEO sees U.S. crude oil output coming in at 13.66 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2025, 13.62 million barrels per day in the first quarter of next year, 13.53 million barrels per day in the second quarter, 13.40 million barrels per day in the third quarter, and 13.48 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter.
Kazakhstan expands renewable energy
Kazakhstan has recorded a significant increase in oil and gas production in January-September 2025, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov reported at a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on Oct. 14.
According to Akkenzhenov, oil and gas condensate output for this period reached 75.7 million tons, up 113.2 percent from the same period in 2024. The annual production plan for 2025 is set at 96.2 million tons.
During the same period, oil exports reached 60.5 million tons, 114.9 percent of the volume achieved a year earlier. The target for 2025 stands at 70.5 million tons.
Akkenzhenov also reported positive results in the gas sector. In January-September 2025, natural gas production amounted to 51.6 billion cubic meters, equivalent to 116.7 percent of the same period last year. The annual plan calls for producing 62.8 billion cubic meters.
Domestic commercial gas consumption totaled 14.3 billion cubic meters, 100.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
Production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amounted to 2.3 million tons, an increase of 1.1 percent compared to the same period in 2024
The volume of gas transit through Kazakhstan reached 53 billion cubic meters, 102.9 percent of the previous year’s level.
Small steel producers in India
The sector is affected by weak demand, particularly from the construction industry, and falling prices
Small steel producers in India are forced to cut production due to weak demand, rising inventories, and falling prices, Reuters reports.
These companies are being affected by a slowdown in construction, despite the government introducing the biggest reduction in consumer taxes in eight years to stimulate growth and counter US tariffs.
In September, India sharply reduced taxes on a wide range of consumer goods, including small cars and cement, sectors that affect steel demand. However, small producers, which account for about 45 percent of India’s total steel capacity, said they had cut production by a third. They argue that construction activity remains weak and consumption by the automotive sector has not yet recovered.
Demand from the construction sector, which accounts for almost a third of steel consumption, slowed down due to heavy monsoon rains, which began to fall in July. At the same time, the industry is burdened by rising raw material and electricity costs.
In September, according to BigMint, domestic prices for hot-rolled steel fell to a six-month low of $553.5/t.
Small businesses do not expect the situation to improve until December. In addition, tariffs are affecting consumer industries linked to the US.
The situation is significantly different from last year. At that time, high consumption of metal products in the country led to a significant increase in supply from suppliers in China, Japan, and South Korea. This prompted the government to introduce a temporary tariff in April to curb cheap imports.
It should be noted that in April-August (5 months of 2025/2026), India increased its steel exports (including stainless steel) by 22 percent year-on-year to 3.2 million tons.
U.S. uranium production set to rise
The U.S. depends heavily on imported uranium to power its nuclear reactors, using about 50 million pounds each year while producing less than 1 percent at home. Boosting domestic uranium production is crucial for energy security and reducing reliance on foreign sources. In this context, Anfield Energy Inc. is making progress with its Velvet-Wood uranium project in San Juan County, Utah.
The Utah Department of Oil, Gas, and Mining recently approved the project for construction. This allows Anfield to move quickly toward production.