Latest news with #Supply
Al-Ahram Weekly
16-07-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
El-Sisi urges genetic improvement of local livestock to boost food security - Urban & Transport
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday called for improving local livestock breeds to raise productivity in meat and dairy, during a meeting focused on food security and agricultural development. The meeting brought together Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Supply Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk, and Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development initiative Bahaa El-Ghannam. Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that the meeting reviewed the strategic reserves of key commodities, including wheat, sugar, oil, meat, and poultry, with Egypt's food security described as stable and reassuring. Procurement updates included 3.4 million tonnes of wheat, 192,000 tonnes of crude vegetable oil, 4,000 tonnes of frozen poultry, and 6,000 tonnes of frozen meat. The government is also working to diversify wheat import sources to avoid supply disruptions, El-Shennawy noted. El-Sisi emphasized the importance of coordination among state bodies responsible for food security, ensuring their work aligns with national policy. Cooperation with the Future of Egypt initiative was highlighted to identify land in the New Delta suitable for cultivating strategic crops and boosting self-sufficiency. The meeting also discussed efforts to regulate bakeries, mills, and local markets, as well as progress in the 'one-day market' initiative launched in November 2024. Over 400 markets are now operational. Updates were shared on expanding private sector partnerships and attracting foreign investment in the retail sector. Projects are underway in Obour, Nasr City, and Qalyub. Preparations are also ongoing for a government-backed retail chain, Carry On, the first unified brand developed in partnership with private sector actors. Officials also reviewed efforts to digitize subsidy recipient databases, aiming to ensure benefits reach eligible groups. The development of a national commodity exchange was discussed as a means to stabilize prices and improve the availability of goods. Exporters and importers have begun registering, and draft legislation is being prepared to regulate their operations according to international standards. Other topics included strategic crop cultivation, procurement policy, agricultural digitization, fertilizer supply—especially nitrates and urea—and cost-efficiency reforms to support farmers. El-Sisi reiterated the importance of boosting red meat and dairy production through genetic improvements in livestock, as part of broader efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and mechanization. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily News Egypt
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Al-Sisi reviews Egypt's food security, strategic commodity reserves
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi held a high-level meeting on Tuesday with key government officials to review Egypt's food security strategy and assess the status of the country's strategic commodity reserves, according to a presidential statement. The meeting included Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Supply Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk, and the Executive Director of the 'Future of Egypt' Development Authority. Presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shenawy confirmed that Egypt's strategic reserves of essential goods—including wheat, sugar, vegetable oils, meat, and poultry—remain stable and sufficient. Discussions highlighted recent procurement agreements, including the purchase of 3.4 million tonnes of wheat, 192,000 tonnes of crude vegetable oils, 4,000 tonnes of frozen poultry, and 6,000 tonnes of frozen meat. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to diversifying import sources to mitigate risks from global supply disruptions. President Al-Sisi stressed the importance of full coordination among relevant agencies to ensure an integrated approach to national food security. Special emphasis was placed on collaboration with the 'Future of Egypt' authority to boost cultivation of strategic crops in the New Delta project and advance self-sufficiency goals. The meeting also covered regulatory efforts related to bakeries, mills, and local markets, alongside progress in the rollout of 'One-Day Markets.' A total of 200 such markets were launched in November 2024, with another 200 planned for May 2025. On the retail front, officials discussed plans to attract foreign investment and expand commercial infrastructure, with new retail chains slated for El-Obour, Nasr City, and Qalyoub. Preparations are also underway to launch 'Carry On,' the country's first government-backed retail brand, in partnership with the private sector. Additional topics included the digital transformation of Egypt's agricultural sector, updates to subsidy recipient databases, and the establishment of the national commodities exchange. Registration of exporters and importers on the exchange platform has begun, and a draft law to formally regulate its operations—based on international standards—is in development. The meeting also addressed the production and distribution of fertilizers, particularly nitrates and urea, with Al-Sisi calling for gradual reforms that support farmers while maintaining food security. The president underscored the need to improve local cattle breeds to boost meat and dairy production, as part of broader efforts to enhance agricultural output and reduce reliance on imports.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Platinum Was The Top Performing Commodity In H1
Platinum bars 1000 grams pure platinum,business investment and wealth of platinum,3d ... More rendering Every year around this time, we update our Periodic Table of Commodities Returns to reflect the performance of raw materials in the first six months of the year. I'm biased, but few tools do a better job of providing a clear, interactive snapshot of the commodities landscape than ours. Precious metals dominated in H1. As you can see in the chart below, the group—which includes gold, silver, platinum and palladium—absolutely crushed commodities as a whole, from industrial metals to energy and agricultural. Platinum soared nearly 50%, followed by gold (+26%), silver (+25%) and palladium (+21%). Meanwhile, copper had its own standout run, driven by rising industrial demand and geopolitical catalysts. Precious metals have been the star asset of 2025 Platinum Has Been the Year's Breakout Star After years of range-bound trading, platinum finally broke out in spectacular fashion. The metal surged from just over $900 an ounce in January to around $1,360 by the end of June, representing a 49.8% gain. In Q2 alone, it jumped 35.8%, closing the quarter at a price not seen since 2014. A major factor for the spike was constrained supply. Platinum supply has historically been price inelastic in the short term, according to the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC). Even as prices surged, production remained sluggish, leading to persistent market imbalances. At the same time, demand remained firm, spanning industrial applications, jewelry and its emerging role in green hydrogen technologies. Unlike its cousin palladium, which is heavily reliant on gasoline vehicle manufacturing, platinum benefits from a broader range of demand. It's used in diesel catalytic converters, fuel cells and more. And as the world moves toward decarbonization, platinum's future in hydrogen energy systems makes it increasingly strategic. Gold: Still the Ultimate Safe Haven Gold has always been a barometer of uncertainty, and in 2025, investors had plenty to be uncertain about. Geopolitical tensions flared again in the Middle East, with the Israel–Iran conflict intensifying. In April alone, gold hit five separate all-time highs. By the end of June, it had risen 25.9%, topping $3,300 per ounce. With central banks continuing to buy record amounts of bullion, especially in emerging markets, I believe the metal remains a clear beneficiary of macro concerns. Physically backed gold ETFs attracted a stunning $38 billion in inflows during the first half of the year, marking the strongest performance since the pandemic-fueled rally of H1 2020. North American investors led the charge, adding $21 billion. Trading volumes surged across the board, averaging $329 billion a day globally—a new record, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). Gold trading volumes hit a record in the first half of 2025 There's another trend at work: de-dollarization. Since the U.S. and its allies froze Russian central bank assets in 2022, many nations have grown increasingly wary of holding dollar-denominated reserves. Gold, by contrast, is seen as politically neutral, and central banks have responded by diversifying into the yellow metal at an unprecedented pace. Institutions bought more in the last four years than in the previous two decades combined. Silver's Dual Role as a Precious and Industrial Metal Silver's story is a little different, but no less compelling. It often rides gold's coattails, and in 2025, it's kept pace with the yellow metal, rising nearly 25% through June. Silver briefly surged above $37 in mid-June, levels not seen since 2011, before settling around $36. The white metal stands to benefit from its dual role as both a precious and industrial metal. Demand is rising in green energy applications, particularly solar panels and battery storage. As central bank gold demand continues to outpace silver, I believe silver is undervalued on a relative basis. A return to the historical gold-silver ratio (around 80) could send silver back toward its all-time high of $50 an ounce. Copper: The Metal of the Future Though not a precious metal, copper deserves an honorable mention. It finished the first half of the year up 16.2%, making it the best-performing base metal. What's driving copper's rally? A perfect storm of supply fears, strong demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, and political noise from Washington. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement of a 50% tariff on imported copper this month sent U.S. copper futures to record highs, adding fresh volatility to an already tight market. And with global supply struggling to keep pace with demand, copper's long-term fundamentals look incredibly strong. Data centers alone are projected to require 127,000 megawatts (MW) of power by 2029, up from 82,000 this year. Each megawatt of capacity needs about 27 metric tons of copper. And that's not even counting the metal's role in electric vehicles (EVs), grid modernization and semiconductors. Energy and Agriculture Were the Laggards Not all commodities shared in the rally. Several energy and agricultural materials ended the first half in the red. Even lithium, once the darling of the EV boom, fell nearly 19%—a reflection of softening battery demand and oversupply from key producers in China and South America. For contrarian investors, this could be an area to watch for opportunities in the second half of the year. Periodic Table of Commodities Returns Precious metals have proven their worth once again as reliable hedges against inflation and geopolitical concerns. Central banks and fiscal imbalances continue to support long-term demand, especially for gold and platinum. Industrial metals like copper are benefiting from secular shifts in technology and electrification. While energy and agriculture struggled, those sectors may offer attractive entry points for investors with a longer time horizon. As always, our interactive Periodic Table of Commodities Returns makes it easy to compare commodity performance across years and sectors.
Daily Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Surplus budget enables rural upgrades: Sebatik Assemblyman
Published on: Thursday, July 10, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 10, 2025 By: Lagatah Toyos Text Size: Hassan cited an urgent need in his Sebatik constituency, namely the repair or reconstruction of the jetty at Kg Sungai Tongkang, which has deteriorated significantly after more than 30 years of use. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Government has shown effective financial management by recording a budget surplus of RM624.6 million last year, according to Sebatik Assemblyman Datuk Hassan A Gani Pg Amir. He expressed confidence that the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill would serve as an important mechanism to support the comprehensive and high-impact implementation of State Government policies. The Bill, tabled by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun during Monday's State Legislative Assembly session, reflects more than just a financial document but an important instrument to accelerate State development and ensure public welfare, Hassan said. Hassan noted that annual budget implementation is a dynamic process, with many unforeseen circumstances arising, such as rising raw material costs, urgent infrastructure maintenance needs and post-disaster recovery measures. 'This Bill allows immediate adjustments to be made so that government projects and services can continue without disruption,' he said. Hassan cited an urgent need in his Sebatik constituency, namely the repair or reconstruction of the jetty at Kg Sungai Tongkang, which has deteriorated significantly after more than 30 years of use. 'I request the Rural Development Ministry or Finance Ministry to consider providing allocation through this Supplementary Supply that will be approved,' he said. He described the Bill as a manifestation of a dynamic and responsive government that ensures development agendas are not hindered by original budget limitations. The additional allocation will be used strategically to improve rural infrastructure, such as roads and clean water supply and provide educational and healthcare facilities in remote areas. It will also support the implementation of climate change policies and forest management as outlined in the Forest and Carbon Tax Bill, with every expenditure directly benefiting Sabah's people. While pledging his full support for the Bill, Hassan urged all assemblymen to give their complete backing to show that all people's representatives are committed to prioritising public interests. This support also shows that representatives endorse inclusive government policies and ensure State administration remains responsive and progressive. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Pharmac To Improve Access To Asthma Inhalers And IUDs From 1 August 2025
Pharmac is making changes to improve access to some asthma inhalers and long-acting contraceptives from 1 August 2025. 'We're making it easier for people to get the medicines they need, when and where they need them,' says Pharmac's Acting Director Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin. 'These changes will help over 140,000 New Zealanders in the first year alone.' From 1 August 2025, people using some strengths of budesonide with eformoterol inhalers will be able to receive three-months supply all at once, reducing the need for multiple pharmacy visits. Some budesonide with eformoterol inhalers will also be available on a Practitioners Supply Order (PSO). This means doctors and nurses will be able to keep it in their clinic for emergency use, teaching and demonstrations. They will also be able to give it to people if accessing a pharmacy isn't practical. 'These changes mean people can keep inhalers where they need them most – at home, work, or school – and learn how to use them correctly with support from their health care provider. 'People have told us these changes will make a real difference,' says Martin. 'That they support better asthma management and align with updated clinical guidelines.' Pharmac is also changing how IUDs and contraceptive implants are supplied. From Friday 1 August 2025, Mirena and Jaydess IUDs will be available on a Practitioners Supply Order (PSO), allowing doctors and nurses to provide them directly during appointments. Pharmac is also increasing the number of Jadelle contraceptive implants available on PSO, reducing the number of stock orders clinics need to make, helping to save time - especially those with high patient volumes. 'These changes will improve access for over 21,000 people in the first year and align IUD access with other long-acting contraceptives,' says Martin. 'People have told us that it will remove barriers, reduce delays, and allow for timelier and efficient care.'
