1. The Dalian Commodity Exchange held its 2026 Members' Meeting, which emphasized the need to innovate and expand its product system. Based on serving the development of a strong agricultural nation, a strong manufacturing nation, and green and low-carbon development, the exchange will continue to improve the product portfolio of agricultural products, chemical products, and steel raw materials, and improve its futures and derivatives tool system.
2. According to Mysteel, as of the week ending May 21, rebar production continued to increase, apparent demand shifted from increase to decrease, factory inventories shifted from decrease to increase, and social inventories declined for the tenth consecutive week. Rebar production reached 2.2114 million tons, an increase of 197,400 tons from the previous week, representing a growth of 9.80%; apparent demand for rebar was 2.4179 million tons, a decrease of 7,300 tons from the previous week, representing a decline of 0.30%.
3. Recently, false information titled "Internal Implementation Plan for the 2026 Central Reserve Cotton Rotation Release" appeared online, attracting industry attention. The China Cotton Association verified that relevant national departments and the association have never formulated such a document, and the content of the circulated document is purely fabricated. 4. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: For the week ending May 14, U.S. net export sales of soybeans for the 2025/2026 marketing year totaled 351,400 tons, compared to 102,100 tons the previous week. U.S. net export sales of corn for the 2025/2026 marketing year totaled 2,125,300 tons, compared to 684,800 tons the previous week.
5. The latest monthly report from the International Grains Council (IGC) projects that global soybean production for the 2026/27 marketing year will increase by 1 million tons year-on-year to 442 million tons, trade will decrease by 1 million tons to 190 million tons, consumption will increase by 1 million tons to 445 million tons, and ending stocks will increase by 1 million tons to 76 million tons.
6. The head of the UAE's state-owned oil company, ADNOC, stated that even if the Middle East conflict ends now, a full recovery of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will not occur until the first or second quarter of 2027. This forecast is one of the most pessimistic among senior industry executives, highlighting the long-term economic impact of the war in Iran. 7. According to Longzhong Information, as of May 21, 2026, the total inventory of soda ash manufacturers in China this week was 1.776 million tons, a decrease of 19,300 tons from Monday, a drop of 1.08%. Among them, light soda ash was 1.0044 million tons, an increase of 15,300 tons week-on-week, while dense soda ash was 771,600 tons, a decrease of 34,600 tons week-on-week. Compared to last Thursday, it decreased by 105,700 tons, a drop of 5.62%.
8. According to Mysteel statistics, as of this week (May 21), the spot inventory of lithium ore of 32 sample lithium ore traders was 125,000 tons, a decrease of 38,000 tons from last week, of which the available inventory was 77,000 tons, a decrease of 20,000 tons from last week.
