This week, one story dominated commodity markets — and it started in a narrow stretch of water between Iran and Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 35% of global seaborne crude oil trade, became the epicenter of the biggest commodity shock of 2026. In this episode of The Commodity Brief Podcast, we connect the dots between the Strait's disruption and the cascading price moves across oil, fertilizer, natural gas, and agricultural markets that followed.

The numbers are staggering. Energy prices are projected to surge 24% in 2026. Urea fertilizer prices climbed 80% since February, hitting their highest level since 2022. And the World Bank is warning that up to 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity if disruptions persist. This isn't just a geopolitical story — it's a commodity investor's story.

We also cover Kalshi's expanding event contracts and what they mean as a new hedging tool in exactly this kind of volatile commodity environment.

What we cover:

• How the Strait of Hormuz closure triggered a cascade across oil, fertilizer, and food markets
• Why urea prices surged 80% since February and what it means for farmers and food prices
• The World Bank's warning: 45 million people at risk of food insecurity if disruptions persist
• Kalshi's event contracts as a new way to hedge commodity volatility
• What commodity investors should actually do with this information right now

The Commodity Brief Podcast — Weekly intelligence on alternative assets and commodities.

This week, commodity markets delivered a masterclass in how geopolitics, industrial policy, and energy transition forces can converge all at once — and send shockwaves across copper, oil, and lithium simultaneously.

In this episode of The Commodity Brief Podcast, we unpack the three biggest commodity stories of the week and show you how they're all connected by the same macro thread.

The Strait of Hormuz closure triggered by the US-Iran conflict didn't just spike oil prices — it disrupted copper supply chains, pushed sulfuric acid costs to record highs, and rattled the entire base metals complex. Meanwhile, lithium continued its turbulent run as CATL's Jianxiawo mine suspension and Zimbabwe's export ban kept supply tight, even as China's energy storage boom drove demand higher.

We break it all down in plain, accessible language — no jargon, just the context you need to understand what happened and what it means for your portfolio.

What we cover:

• How the Strait of Hormuz closure is impacting copper supply and prices
• Oil's volatile week and what the Iran conflict means for energy markets
• Lithium's supply squeeze — CATL, Zimbabwe, and what comes next
• The macro thread connecting all three commodities
• What this turbulent week means for commodity investors

The Commodity Brief Podcast — Weekly intelligence on alternative assets and commodities.

The electric vehicle revolution runs on lithium — but the supply chain behind it is fragile, geopolitically charged, and increasingly volatile. In this episode, we break down how China came to dominate the global EV and battery market, why lithium prices have surged dramatically in 2026, and what the growing supply deficit means for investors, automakers, and the energy transition.

We explore the structural forces driving lithium demand, the mining bottlenecks constraining supply, and how Western nations are scrambling to reduce their dependence on Chinese battery supply chains. Whether you're an investor tracking battery metals or simply trying to understand the forces reshaping global energy, this episode gives you the full picture.

What we cover:

• Why lithium prices nearly doubled in Q1 2026
• China's stranglehold on EV and battery manufacturing
• The supply chain risks threatening the EV transition
• What retail investors need to know right now

The Commodity Brief Podcast — Weekly intelligence on alternative assets and commodities.