January 2026
Iron Ore & Steel
China-Guinea ties bear fruit as 1st Simandou ore shipment arrives
Source: China Daily
The arrival of the first shipment of high-grade iron ore from Guinea’s Simandou deposit at Rizhao Port in Shandong province on Wednesday marks a transformative shift in the global steel industry, providing the high-purity feedstock essential for China’s transition toward low-carbon production. FULL STORY
China’s Baowu acquires Simandou Iron Ore Operator
Source: Energy News
Baowu Resources in China, the largest steelmaker in the world, tightened its grip over one of the largest untapped iron ore deposits by taking control of Guinea’s Simandou blocks 1 and 2. The company raised its stake from 49% to 51% after increasing its stake with the Winning Consortium Simandou. FULL STORY
Equinox closes $1B Brazil mines sale to China’s CMOC
Source: Mining
Equinox Gold (TSX, NYSE-A: EQX) has closed the sale of its Brazilian operations to a subsidiary of China’s CMOC Group for up to $1 billion. FULL STORY
BHP’s Jimblebar cargo sets sail for Malaysia amid China’s curbs
Source: Mining
A cargo of an iron ore subject to curbs by China’s state buyer is now en route to Malaysia after failing to find a buyer in its traditional market. FULL STORY
China’s aluminum output hits record while steel sinks
Source: Mining
Chinese aluminum output rose to an all-time high last year, climbing to around the country’s capacity limit, while steel fell to a seven-year low, underscoring dramatically different prospects for the two most widely used metals. FULL STORY
China’s steel exports, iron ore imports hit record highs
Source: Mining
China’s steel exports hit a record monthly high in December, fueled by front-loading driven by Beijing’s announcement of an export licence requirement for shipments from 2026. FULL STORY
WEEKLY: China mines’ iron ore output, stocks both retreat
Source: Mysteel
After rising for three weeks straight, production of iron ore concentrates by Chinese mining companies pulled back during the past week due to increased maintenance stoppages among the mines, Mysteel’s latest survey showed. FULL STORY
WEEKLY: China’s iron ore stocks at 45 ports exceed 170 mln t
Source: Mysteel
Inventories of imported iron ore stockpiled at China’s 45 major ports under Mysteel’s regular tracking rose further to a new high of 170.2 million tonnes by January 29, up by another 2.6 million tonnes or 1.5% on week, according to the latest survey result. FULL STORY
WEEKLY: China mills’ imported iron ore stocks jump 14% WoW
Source: Mysteel
Inventories of imported iron ore sintering fines held by Chinese blast-furnace (BF) steelmakers increased faster during the past week, a reflection of the intensified efforts among steelmakers to build up their raw material inventories in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday in mid-February. FULL STORY
China Minmetals consolidates key iron ore assets via strategic reallocation
Source: Mysteel
China Minmetals Development Co., a Shanghai-listed firm focused on ferrous metal trading operations under China’s leading mineral resource conglomerate Minmetals Group, announced on Wednesday that it will incorporate high-quality iron ore mine assets through an asset swap with its controlling shareholder China Minmetals Corporation. FULL STORY
CSSC: China’s 2025 crude stainless steel output tops 40 mln t
Source: Mysteel
China’s crude stainless steel output continued climbing during 2025 and exceeded 40 million tonnes to stand at 40.87 million tonnes, rising for the third consecutive year by 1.43 million tonnes or 3.6% on year, according to the latest data released by the Stainless Steel Council of China Iron and Steel Association (CSSC). FULL STORY
Coal
China’s coal output hits record in 2025 even as it burns less
Source: Mining
China’s coal production reached a record last year, even as the country’s power plants burned less of the fossil fuel due to a flood of cleaner electricity, with Beijing continuing to prioritize energy security. FULL STORY
China’s coal imports post biggest annual drop
Source: Mining
China’s coal purchases fell the most in a decade last year, posting the steepest drop among imports of major commodities due to an abundance of cheaper alternatives and a rare contraction in thermal power generation. FULL STORY
WEEKLY: China’s coking coal production dips on mine suspensions
Source: Mysteel
China’s coking coal production showed signs of slowing down during the past week, as some coal miners took early holiday leaves ahead of the Chinese New Year (CNY) that falls in mid-February. Participants expect more mine suspensions in the run-up to the festival, which could help stabilize coking coal prices in the short run. FULL STORY
MYSTEEL: China’s met coal to see more downside risks after CNY holiday
Source: Mysteel
The Chinese metallurgical coal market is anticipated to face mounting downside pressures after the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday that officially spans February 15-23, as a fundamental imbalance may aggravate with the majority of miners planning to resume production within February, Mysteel’s latest survey results find. FULL STORY
GACC: China’s coking coal imports hit record high in Dec
Source: Mysteel
China’s coking coal imports from all sources in December 2025 notched a historical high of 13.77 million tonnes, surging by 28.6% on year and 28.3% on month, respectively, data from the country’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) on January 20 show. FULL STORY
GACC: China’s Dec thermal coal imports rise 9.2% YoY to record high
Source: Mysteel
China’s thermal coal imports hit a monthly record high of 43.85 million tonnes in December, up by 9.2% year on year and by a more substantial 37% from November, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). FULL STORY
China Shenhua, China Coal Energy see better MoM coal sales in December
Source: Mysteel
Two leading Chinese coal miners headquartered in Beijing, China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd. and China Coal Energy Co., Ltd., both reported higher coal sales on month in December, according to the latest monthly operation reports of the two companies. FULL STORY
China coal production 2025 hits record as cheap supply leads to stockpiling and lower imports
Source: Energy News
China’s coal output reached a record level in 2025 according to data released by the Statistics Bureau on Monday. Lower domestic prices encouraged buyers to reduce imports and build up stockpiles using cheaper local supplies. However, regulators were able to limit this growth due to their efforts to slow production growth. FULL STORY
Soybean
China’s grain output hits new high in 2025
Source: China Daily
China recorded another bumper grain harvest last year, pushing output to a new high despite bouts of drought, flooding and prolonged rainfall in parts of the country, official data showed Thursday. FULL STORY
China, US ‘complete most’ commitments
Source: China Daily
United States Ambassador to China David Perdue says Washington and Beijing have “completed most” of their Busan commitments and expects the next leaders’ meeting to “solidify the objectives and criteria of success” for this year’s negotiations, describing the bilateral contacts as increasingly regular and “multidimensional”. FULL STORY
Record grain harvest forecast for China
Source: World Grain
Grain production for China in marketing year 2025-26 is forecast to rise 8 million tonnes year on year to a record 715 million tonnes, but expanding demand is expected to spur more imports of staple grains such as corn, wheat and rice, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. FULL STORY
CHS adds to Gulf supply chain with COFCO terminal lease
Source: World Grain
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA, US — CHS Inc. will assume operations on Jan. 31 of COFCO International Ltd.’s grain terminal in Cahokia, Illinois, US, through a lease agreement. FULL STORY
Report: China buys more US soybeans
Source: World Grain
Sinograin, China’s major state-owned enterprise managing national grain reserves, purchased approximately 600,000 tonnes of soybeans from the United States this week that will be shipped between March and May, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed traders. FULL STORY
SunSirs: China’s Soybean Oil Market Extends Uptrend: Inventories Down 15%
Source: Sun Sirs
On the international front, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to increase the 2026 biodiesel quota and adjust exemption ratios has driven global oil prices higher, with the impact extending to the domestic market. This, coupled with geopolitical tensions bolstering crude oil prices, has provided further support for the oil sector. Simultaneously, palm oil price increases widened the soybean-palm spread, acting as another driver for domestic soybean oil prices. FULL STORY
China to increase grain imports this season
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
The Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FAS USDA) forecasts that China will increase grain imports this season. FULL STORY
SunSirs: China Palm Oil Market Steadily Rises in January
Source: Sun Sirs
According to the Commodity Market Analysis System of SunSirs, the palm oil market rebounded in January, oscillating upwards with an increase of over 5%. At the beginning of the month, the average market price of palm oil was 8,564 RMB/ton. On January 26th, the average market price of palm oil was 9,000 RMB/ton, an increase of 5.09%. FULL STORY
China to favor Brazilian soy imports in first half despite resumption of US shipments
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
China is expected to increase imports of Brazilian soybeans in the first half of 2026 as record production and competitive prices boost shipments, reinforcing South America’s dominance as the world’s largest oilseed supplier, even as flows from the United States resume. FULL STORY
China’s 2025 Soybean Imports Hit Record, Fueled by S. American Purchases
Source: Agriculture
China imported a record volume of soybeans in 2025, as buyers sharply increased purchases from South America amid fears of supply shortfalls if a trade war with Washington persisted. FULL STORY
China increases wheat imports from Australia and Argentina amid falling prices
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
In December, Australia and Argentina exported approximately 620,000 tonnes of wheat to China, and analysts and traders expect supplies to continue as Chinese buyers take advantage of low global prices, according to The Edge Malaysia. FULL STORY
Energy
China’s Chambroad buys Canadian crude for May delivery, traders say
Source: Agriculture
Four trade sources reported on Tuesday that the independent Chinese refiner Chambroad Petrochemical had purchased one Canadian crude cargo for May delivery. This follows a decrease in Venezuelan crude supply to China. According to sources, the refiner is one of the biggest buyers of Venezuelan crude oil. It also imports Canadian oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline for its bitumen manufacturing. Chambroad bought Canadian Cold Lake Crude exported?from TMX for a discount of close to $5 per barril compared to the July ICE Brent contract, according to two people. The crude was to be delivered to the eastern Shandong Province in ‘May. FULL STORY
Chromite find, shale gas expansion to boost resources
Source: China Daily
China has announced major breakthroughs in two strategic resources, reporting the discovery of a significant chromite deposit in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and a successful expansion of shale gas production in Hubei province. FULL STORY
Where China Gets Its Oil: Crude Imports in 2025 Reveal Stockpiling and Changing Fortunes of Certain Suppliers, Including Those Sanctioned
Source: Energy Policy
The Trump administration’s imposition of sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil in October, intervention in Venezuela in January, and threats to take military action against Iran have focused attention on China, the top crude customer of all three countries. China relied on sanctioned crudes from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela for a significant share of its crude imports in 2025. How much crude China buys from these countries has implications for other oil exporters that supply China. FULL STORY
Global LNG demand to increase in 2026, while supply increases
Source: World Energy News
Analysts say that global liquefied gas (LNG), which is a form of natural gas, will increase this year. This will ease the constraints since the Ukraine War in 2022 and lower prices, which may spur demand, including from China and India, who are major importers.FULL STORY
China’s oil and gas production hits all-time high
Source: China Daily
China’s oil and gas production climbed to a record high in 2025, bolstered by aggressive exploration in unconventional reserves and a surge in offshore output, according to a report released by a think tank on Tuesday. FULL STORY
Sources say that China’s teapots are buying Iranian oil to replace Venezuelan supplies
Source: Energy News
Chinese independent refiners have purchased discounted Iranian heavy oil to replace Venezuelan shipments which were halted after the U.S. Two people familiar with the matter said that last month, the U.S. claimed control over the OPEC producer. FULL STORY
Data shows that Russia will ship its first cargo of Arctic LNG 2 this year to China
Source: World Energy News
LSEG data revealed that the first liquefied ‘natural gas’ cargo of this year from Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 facility was discharged to China’s Beihai LNG Terminal. FULL STORY
China’s oil imports in 2025 and December inflows are both at record levels
Source: Energy News
China’s crude imports increased 17% in December compared to a year earlier, and total imports for 2025 will rise 4.4%.FULL STORY
China issues crude oil import quotas to ex-sinochem refineries, sources say
Source: World Ports
Two trading sources familiar with the matter confirmed on Friday that China has granted crude oil import quotas to three’refineries’ in Shandong Province, which were sold last year to independent operators by’state-run Sinochem Group.FULL STORY