1. According to Mysteel, Wuhan Iron and Steel and Kunming Iron and Steel Group will shut down their No. 2 blast furnace for 48 hours starting August 18th. Wire rod and bar mills will also be shut down for maintenance from August 18th to 22nd, which is expected to affect construction steel production by 50,000 tons.
2. According to Mysteel's research, four other coal mines in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, are about to resume production, with a total approved capacity of 4.5 million tons.
3. According to the National Grain and Material Reserves Data Center, oil mills are expected to maintain high operating rates in the second half of August, with total soybean crushing volume for the month likely to be around 10 million tons.
4. The Malaysian government issued a statement on Monday stating that due to the continued strength in the country's key commodity prices, Malaysia will maintain the export tax rate for crude palm oil at 10% in September.
5. According to AmSpec, a Malaysian independent inspection agency, Malaysia's palm oil exports from August 1st to 15th totaled 667,257 tons, an increase of 3.2% compared to the 646,438 tons exported in the same period last month.
6. Data from the Southern Peninsula Palm Oil Crushers Association (SPPOMA) shows that Malaysian palm oil production from August 1-15, 2026, decreased by 3.38% compared to the same period last month.
7. Trade sources say India's soybean oil imports in August are expected to jump to a record 620,000 tons.
8. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that U.S. soybean export inspections for the week ending August 13, 2026, totaled 270,201 tons, revised from 409,509 tons the previous week (initial figure 399,201 tons).
9. The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) reports that U.S. soybean crushings in July totaled 216.647 million bushels, compared to market expectations of 221.509 million bushels and June's 214.34 million bushels.
10. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its weekly crop progress report on Tuesday, showing that as of the week ending August 16, 2026, the U.S. soybean condition was rated 61% good to excellent, in line with market expectations. The previous week's rating was 62%, and the year-on-year rating was 68%.
11. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Oil and Gas Development." It proposes adhering to the principle of "reducing and replacing" refining capacity, optimizing existing capacity, and strictly controlling new capacity additions.
12. According to the Securities Times, the Yichun Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment plans to accept the environmental impact assessment documents for the Yichun Times New Energy Mining Co., Ltd.'s lithium mining project in Zhenkouli, Yifeng County, Jiangxi Province—Jianxiawo, Fengxin County.
13. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that in July 2026, China's pig iron production was 68.35 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.5%; crude steel production was 76.93 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 3.6%; and steel production was 116.46 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1%.
