The Ministry of Industry and Trade has attempted to explain why the country has imported coal despite a large inventory. SEE MORE A trade dispute with China over a 25% tariff on US agricultural products imposed by the former, especially soybean imports will not be a factor in spring fertilizer demand because farmers have already made their planting season cropping decisions, according to the president of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) president. SEE MORE Iran’s petrochemical exports may not get a major boost from the recent plunge of the rial - triggered by speculations of further sanctions from the US - as most cargoes are shipped out under term contracts, particularly to its key market - China. SEE MORE Northeast Asia may see a reshuffle in the trade flow of acrylonitrile should China go ahead with slapping an additional tariff on ACN imports from the US. SEE MORE London aluminium slipped on Friday but was on track for its biggest weekly gain on record after the United States imposed sanctions on Russia's UC Rusal, the world's second biggest producer of the metal. SEE MORE