News line: commodities in focus

China looks to African metals and minerals for the long term -- Mineweb
Chinese investment is replacing that from the West in many key sectors, especially with regard to metals. Minerals and energy and Chinese businesses are prepared to take the long term view.

Sharp decrease in copper, moly prices result in 4Q08 loss for Southern Copper -- Mineweb
A sharp decline in metals prices and a tough economy has prompted Arizona's Southern Copper Corporation to put all capital expenditures on hold for this year

January gold jewellery sales off 70% in Abu Dhabi -- Mineweb
Sales of gold jewelery in Abu Dhabi have fallen some 70 percent in January compared with a year ago as high prices, coupled with the global economic situation, have combined to keep buyers away.

Copper falls to one-week low on signs global slump is deepening -- Bloomberg
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Copper fell to the lowest price in more than a week on signs the global economic slump is deepening, reviving concern that metal demand will decline further.

Corn, Soybeans decline as deepening recession cuts global use -- Bloomberg
Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Corn and soybeans fell to the lowest prices in more than two weeks on speculation that the deepening global recession will reduce demand for U.S. crops used in making food, animal feed and alternative fuel.

Peru mining unions call for nationwide strike -- Mining Journal Online
Peru's largest federation of mining unions said over the weekend it has agreed to call a nationwide strike starting on March 15, to protest mounting job cuts and to pressure Congress to lift caps on profit sharing.

Brazil's 8th Oil auction suspended until petroleum laws change -- Dow Jones New Wires via Rigzone
No decision will be made on restarting Brazil's suspended eighth-round oil and natural gas concession auction until likely changes are made to the country's petroleum laws, Brazil's National Energy Policy Board said Monday.

Horizon Oil, partners to deliver China oil project Development Plan in May - Dow Jones New Wires via Rigzone
Australia's Horizon Oil Ltd. said Monday that partners in an oil project in the South China Sea will submit a revised development plan to China National Offshore Oil Corp. in May.

Oilex joins ranks of international oil producers with Cambay start-up -- Oilex Ltd via Rigzone
Australian-based oil & gas group Oilex has formally marked its transition to cash flow and production by delivering a strong December Quarter performance by starting up oil production from its Cambay Oil Field in October in India with 16,800 barrels of oil produced during the December 2008 quarter from two wells.

Japan discovers new source of mineral wealth -- Reuters via Mineweb
Resource-poor Japan just discovered a new source of mineral wealth -- sewage. The country's sewage yields more gold than top mines.