1. Shipping giant Maersk announced that on the morning of December 19th, a Maersk vessel completed its transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and entered the Red Sea. This marks the first time a Maersk vessel has passed through the strait in nearly two years.
2. Data from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange shows that as of December 19th, the Shanghai Export Container Freight Index (Comprehensive Index) was 1552.92 points, up 46.46 points from the previous period; the China Export Container Freight Index was 1124.73 points, up 0.6% from the previous period.
3. The Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) announced that, after research and deliberation, it has decided to adjust the premium/discount for designated delivery warehouses in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, and Tianjin City for coking coal futures from 170 yuan/ton to 140 yuan/ton. This adjustment will take effect from the JM2701 contract. Starting from the fourth trading day after the final delivery date of the JM2612 contract, the DCE will process standard warehouse receipt registration according to the revised regulations. 4. According to the Tangshan Municipal Heavy Air Pollution Response Command Center, based on forecasts, diffusion conditions in Tangshan City are gradually improving, and the pollution process is basically over. The Command Center has decided to lift the Level II emergency response for heavy air pollution citywide starting at 8:00 AM on December 20, 2025.
5. On December 19, Indonesian Energy Minister Bahil Lahadalia stated that the country had begun road testing of biodiesel containing 50% palm oil (B50 biodiesel) two weeks prior. He pointed out that the testing is expected to take approximately six months and reiterated that the mandatory use policy for B50 biodiesel is highly likely to be formally implemented in the second half of 2026.
6. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data showing that private exporters reported sales of 134,000 tons of soybeans to China for delivery in the 2025/2026 marketing year. The U.S. soybean marketing year begins on September 1.
7. According to Wind data, as of the week ending December 19, the profit for self-bred and self-raised pigs was a loss of 130.88 yuan/head, compared to a loss of 163.34 yuan/head the previous week. The profit for raising piglets purchased from other sources was a loss of 189.5 yuan/head, compared to a loss of 240.69 yuan/head the previous week.
8. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange announced that, starting from the trading session on December 23, 2025, non-futures company members or clients are prohibited from opening more than 800 lots of open positions per day on lithium carbonate futures contracts LC2602, LC2603, LC2604, and LC2605 respectively, and more than 2,000 lots of open positions per day on lithium carbonate futures contracts LC2606, LC2607, LC2608, LC2609, LC2610, LC2611, and LC2612 respectively.
9. Tianqi Lithium announced that on December 18, 2025, the third phase of Talison's chemical-grade lithium concentrate expansion project was completed and officially put into trial operation. After the project is completed and put into operation, Talison's total lithium concentrate production capacity will reach 2.14 million tons/year.
10. According to Futures Daily, CATL's Yichun Jianxiawo lithium mine has made new progress in resuming production. On December 19, the Yichun Bidding Website of Jiangxi Province released the "First Environmental Impact Assessment Information Disclosure for the Jiangxi Yifeng County Zhenkouli-Fengxin County Shixiawo Lithium Mine Mining Project," conducting the first environmental impact assessment information disclosure for the Jiangxi Yifeng County Zhenkouli-Fengxin County Shixiawo lithium mine mining project of Yichun Times New Energy Mining Co., Ltd.
