June 2025
Iron Ore & Steel
New joint venture between Rio Tinto and Baowu Steel taps iron ore mine in Western Australia
Source: China Daily
A new iron ore mine that draws investments from both China and Australia has officially opened on Friday in Western Australia. It has an annual production capacity of 25 million tons of iron ore and could sustain the existing mining hub for up to 20 years. FULL STORY
Iron ore prices fall on weak Chinese demand
Source: Energy News
Iron ore futures fell on Tuesday as disappointing factory data, and the persistent problems in China’s property sector dampened sentiment. FULL STORY
India’s April to May finished steel imports fell 27.6% on an annual basis as China and Japan shipments declined
Source: Energy News
The provisional data from the government, reviewed on Tuesday, showed that India’s imports of finished steel fell by 27.6% during the first two-month period of the new financial year, which began in April. This was due to a decline in shipments coming from China and Japan. FULL STORY
Officials say that the Indonesian-Chinese lithium battery plant will be operational by 2026.
Source: Energy News
An Indonesian official stated on Sunday that a lithium-ion plant to be built by an Indonesian firm and China’s CATL will have a capacity of 6,9 gigawatts by the end 2026. FULL STORY
Sources say that Antofagasta’s copper smelters have won a better than expected $0 TC/RC contract from China.
Source: Mysteel
In the spot market, China’s imported iron ore prices showed mixed trends over June 23-27, while metallurgical coke prices declined after a new round of coke price cuts initiated by steelmakers took effect. In the derivatives market, however, futures prices of both iron ore and coke gained ground last week. FULL STORY
WEEKLY: China mills’ imported iron ore stocks rise for 3rd week
Source: Mysteel
The inventories of imported iron ore sintering fines held by the 64 Chinese steel mills under Mysteel’s weekly tracking increased for the third straight week, with the volume rising by 135,400 tonnes or 1.1% on week to reach 12.3 million tonnes by June 25, according to Mysteel’s latest survey results. FULL STORY
Iron ore shipments to China via Port Hedland rise 11% MoM in May
Source: Mysteel
The volume of iron ore shipped to China in May from Port Hedland, the top iron ore terminal in Western Australia, reached 45.4 million tonnes, rising by 10.5% from April and slightly higher by 0.2% compared to the same month last year, new data released by the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) show. FULL STORY
NBS: China’s Jan-May ROM iron ore output slumps 10% YoY
Source: Mysteel
China’s run-of-mine (ROM) iron ore production during January-May this year totalled some 414.3 million tonnes, lower by a significant 10.1% compared with the same period last year, according to the latest statistics from the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). FULL STORY
GACC: China’s iron ore imports drop 5% in Jan-May
Source: Mysteel
China’s total imports of iron ore during January-May reached 486.4 million tonnes, falling by 5.2% compared with the same period last year, according to the latest statistics released by the country’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) on June 9. FULL STORY
WEEKLY SUMMARY: China’s major steel prices remain weak overall
Source: Mysteel
China’s prices of major steel products, including rebar, square billet and hot-rolled coil (HRC), remained weak in the past week with thin demand from end-users, though the prices recovered slightly on Friday, driven by the strengthening prices of steelmaking raw materials. FULL STORY
GACC: China’s stainless steel exports dip 4.7% YoY in May
Source: Mysteel
China exported 436,300 tonnes of stainless steel in May, down 4.7% year-on-year and made for the first on-year decline so far this year, data released by the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on June 20 show. The volume also fell by 2.6% from April, marking the second consecutive monthly drop since the peak in March. FULL STORY
NBS: Jan-May steel output at key Chinese steel hubs declines YoY
Source: Mysteel
Crude steel production among China’s top ten steelmaking provinces and autonomous regions over January-May totalled 312.82 million tonnes, lower by 1.8% from the same period last year, with nine of the ten centres presenting on-year decreases in output, according to the latest data released by the country’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). FULL STORY
China’s imports major commodities suffered a hiccup in the month of May: Russel
Source: World Energy News
China’s imports have slowed in May. Crude oil, coal and iron ore all saw declines, amid worries about the growth of the world’s largest economy. FULL STORY
Coal
China Cuts Coal Imports on Oversupply
Source: Oil Price
China has reduced its coal imports and increased exports on ample supply of the commodity, Bloomberg has reported, citing a 13% increase in outbound coal shipments from the country in the first five months of the year. FULL STORY
Industry group claims that China’s coal imports may drop up to 100,000,000 tons by 2025.
Source: Energy News
An official from a major industry association said that China’s coal exports could fall by as much as 100 million metric tonnes in 2025. This could put global benchmark prices, which are already at multi-year-lows, under even more pressure. FULL STORY
Output of China’s top 10 coal firms climbs 5.3% YoY during Jan-May
Source: Mysteel
China’s top 10 coal mining companies saw their combined production reach 982.2 million tonnes over the first five months of this year, up by 5.3% from the same period of 2024, according to the recent data released by the China National Coal Association (CNCA). Their total raw coal production accounted for 49.2% of total domestic output over the January-May period. FULL STORY
China’s approvals of coal power plants grow after 2024 decline
Source: World Ports
China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants in the first three months of 2025, already exceeding the 10.34 GW approved in the first half of 2024, a new Greenpeace report showed on Thursday. FULL STORY
DAILY: Supply volatility dominates China’s met coal market
Source: Mysteel
The volatility on the supply side continued to steer China’s metallurgical coal market on June 30, with the prices for certain undersupplied blending coal varieties specially underpinned, Mysteel learned. FULL STORY
GACC: China’s coking coal imports fall 23% YoY in May
Source: Mysteel
China’s coking coal imports in May registered a sharp decline of 23% from the same month last year to reach 7.39 million tonnes, extending the on-year downtrend for the third consecutive month, the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) show. The May result was also 17% lower than April. FULL STORY
GACC: China’s thermal coal imports slump 17% YoY in May
Source: Mysteel
China’s imports of thermal coal tumbled 16.7% on year to 27.34 million tonnes in May, according to the General Administration of Customs (GACC). The figure represented the fourth straight month of year-on-year declines, primarily led by a substantial fall from China’s top supplier, Indonesia. FULL STORY
Soybean
US soybean exports to China at risk amid lingering trade tensions
Source: S&P Global
US-China trade tensions could impact agricultural trade between the two countries, particularly soybeans, and this growing dispute could strengthen trade ties between Russia and China, according to Edwini Kessie, director of the Agriculture and Commodities division at the World Trade Organization. FULL STORY
China, India growing grain storage
Source: World Grain
India and China are rapidly expanding grain storage capacity as the nations seek to increase food security and continue down the road toward self-sufficiency. FULL STORY
Ukraine taking steps to export flour to China
Source: World Grain
Ukraine plans to sign an agreement for the export of its flour to China this year, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection said during the Agro Ukraine Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine. FULL STORY
China’s soybean meal market continues to weaken in June
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
According to the SunSirs analytical system, the Chinese soybean meal market continued to fall in June. Despite a short-term price increase by the middle of the month, price trends reversed by the end of June. By the end of June, the cost of soybean meal had fallen by 1.69%. FULL STORY
Chinese demand for soybeans drops in 2025
Source: World Energy
China, the world’s largest soybean importer, has shown a reduced demand for soybeans in 2025, relying heavily on imports from the United States and Brazil to support its beef industry. In April 2025, China imported 1.38 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, a 6.8% decrease from April 2024, while Brazilian exports to China fell to 4.7 million metric tons, down 6.2% year-over-year. However, from January to April 2025, U.S. soybean imports to China rose by 35.2%, while Brazilian imports increased by 2.5% compared to the same period in 2024. FULL STORY
Chinese companies book first shipment of soybean meal from Argentina since 2019
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
Chinese companies have booked their first shipment of soybean meal from Argentina since Beijing approved imports from Argentina in 2019, as the Chinese animal feed industry seeks to expand supply options to mitigate potential disruptions from the US-China trade war. FULL STORY
China’s May soybean imports from Brazil jump
Source: Business Recorder
China’s soybean imports from Brazil surged 37.5% in May from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, as buyers scooped up South America’s bumper crop, while supplies from the United States also rose 28.3%. FULL STORY
China’s soybean imports hit record high amid U.S. trade tensions
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
China’s soybean imports hit a record high last month, as the world’s largest buyer ramped up purchases—mainly from Brazil—amid concerns that trade tensions with the U.S. could drive up global prices. FULL STORY
May Soybean Imports Hit A Historic High
Source: China Grain Machine
On June 9th, the General Administration of Customs released the latest data: the cumulative import of grain in China from January to May 2025 was 48.368 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 29.7%; The import amount was 146.47 billion yuan, a decrease of 30.1% compared to last year. FULL STORY
Pakistan’s rice exports to China surge by 121% in first five months of 2025
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
Pakistan’s rice exports to China have seen a remarkable surge, increasing by 121% in the first five months of 2025. This significant growth underscores deepening trade ties and stronger agricultural cooperation between the two nations, particularly under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). FULL STORY
China and India to actively purchase palm oil in the short term
Source: Ukr Agro Consult
Demand for palm oil from India and China is expected to pick up significantly in the coming months as oil price adjustments create attractive conditions for large buyers. FULL STORY
Energy
Petronas ramps up global LNG push to support China’s energy transition
Source: China Daily
Petronas, Malaysia’s State-owned energy group, will accelerate the expansion of its global liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to support China’s growing energy needs, as the world’s second-largest economy deepens efforts to shift toward cleaner fuels and strengthen energy security, said a senior executive. FULL STORY
China’s Iran Oil Imports Surge in June due to a rise in shipments and teapot demand
Source: Energy News
Analysts said that China’s imports of Iranian oil surged in June, as shipments increased before the recent conflict and the demand from independent refineries improved. FULL STORY
Second phase of China’s largest offshore gas field goes operational
Source: China Daily
China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced Wednesday the full operation of the second phase of its flagship gas field in the South China Sea, marking the completion of the country’s largest offshore natural gas development to date. FULL STORY
CNOOC Limited subsidiary signed EPC on the Zhylyoi Subsoil Area
Source: China Daily
CNOOC Limited announced on Tuesday that its wholly owned subsidiary, CNOOC Hong Kong Holding Limited, has entered into the Contract for Exploration and Production of Hydrocarbons (EPC) on the Zhylyoi Subsoil Area with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Joint Stock Company National Company KazMunayGas (KMG). FULL STORY
IEA: World oil demand will continue to grow this decade despite China’s peak in 2027
Source: Energy News
The International Energy Agency announced on Tuesday that global oil demand would continue to grow until the end of the decade, despite a peak in China’s top importer in 2027. Cheaper gasoline and a slower adoption of electric vehicles in the United States will support oil consumption. The IEA which advises industrialised nations did not alter its prediction that oil demand would peak in this decade. This is a stark contrast to the view of the producer group, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, who say consumption will continue to grow and have not predicted a peak. FULL STORY
World’s first oil tanker adopting wind sail propulsion named by Chinese shipbuilder
Source: China Daily
The world’s first Aframax oil tanker adopting wind sail propulsion was named on Wednesday at China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd, according to the Shanghai-based shipyard. FULL STORY
The government reports that Guyana’s oil production rose to 667, 000 bpd during May.
Source: World Energy News
In a government bulletin, published on Tuesday, Guyana’s oil production rose from 611,000 barrels per day to 667,000 bpd by May, thanks to increases at Exxon Mobil’s two facilities. Exxon, U.S. Hess, and China’s CNOOC, which control all oil and natural gas output in South America, are expected to increase production beyond 900,000.bpd when a fourth floating plant begins operating later this year. FULL STORY
China doubles 2025 naphtha import quotas, sources say
Source: World Energy News
Six trade sources reported that China issued a second set of import quotas for 2025, which nearly doubled the allocations last year, due to a rise in demand caused by disruptions of U.S. propane and ethane supplies, as well as new cracker startup companies. FULL STORY
BYD takes delivery of 6th vehicle carrier to support export growth
Source: China Daily
BYD took delivery of its sixth roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier on Tuesday as the Chinese NEV maker expands its shipping capacity to support rising global exports. FULL STORY