According to an Associated Press report on the 12th, citing sources, the US has ordered the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosuke Akazawa: We confirm that progress has been made in finalizing the project.

1. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) announced on its website that it has raised the reference price for crude palm oil in March, but maintained the export tariff at 9%. 2. The China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association issued a statement regarding market speculation on urea guidance prices, stating that the urea guidance price is a guiding price recommendation proposed by the association with the aim of promoting stable domestic urea supply and prices, stabilizing urea market expectations, and comprehensively considering the situation of upstream and downstream industries. 3. Albemarle Corp., the world's largest lithium producer, announced that it will suspend operations at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide processing plant in Western Australia, immediately placing its No. 1 production line under maintenance. 4. According to Mysteel, as of the week ending February 12, rebar production decreased for the second consecutive week, mill inventories increased for the fourth consecutive week, social inventories increased for the sixth consecutive week, and apparent demand declined for the fourth consecutive week. Rebar production was 1.6916 million tons, a decrease of 225,200 tons from the previous week, a drop of 11.75%. 5. Data from the Southern Peninsula Palm Oil Pressors Association (SPPOMA) shows that from February 1st to 10th, 2026, Malaysian palm oil yield per hectare decreased by 9.16% compared to the same period last month, oil extraction rate increased by 0.3% compared to the same period last month, and production decreased by 7.58% compared to the same period last month. 6. According to CONAB, the national commodity supply company under the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil's soybean production in 2025/26 is estimated at 177.98 million tons, an increase from the previous forecast of 176.12 million tons. 7. According to Longzhong Information, as of February 12th, 2026, the total inventory of soda ash produced by domestic manufacturers this week was 1.588 million tons, an increase of 9,600 tons from Monday, a rise of 0.61%. 8. According to Mysteel statistics, as of this week (February 12th), the spot port and warehouse inventory of lithium ore of 32 sample lithium ore traders was 225,000 tons, a decrease of 41,000 tons compared to last week.