The winter weather is the likely culprit for the drop in overall consumption. Only time will tell.
The overall inventories are still in good shape.
Now on to politics and MY OPINION.
GREENLAND...
I think we all understand the earth is not flat, but when discussing Greenland, somehow the average mind forgets that fact, and focus on the flat map. Get a globe to understand. With the potential opening of trade routes in the Arctic, who is to control those routes?
Those trade routes would cut the distance between the Asia Pacific Countries in half and more depending on Suez or Panama route. That has HUGE implications on volume of goods, container ships, cargo rates, etc. I would remind everyone of the Houthis's disruption of trade moving through the Suez Canal and the battle with China over the control of the Panama Canal.
This is huge and could become a big geo-political nightmare in the coming decades.
STARMER...
The UK Prime Minister has messed up. If you are not familiar, then step aside. The excuse being run up the flag pole... is the Mandelson appointment was made to placate or negotiate with you know who, in the White House. How weak has the U.K. become... to protrate themselves to a leader of another country. How can Starmer now attempt to play the moral outrage card, after all that.
This is quite laughable, although extremely serious if you are a Brit, which I am not. However, I do feel sorry for them.
