1. According to data from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, as of August 21, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) was 3409.63 points, up 54.39 points from the previous period. The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) was 1821.65 points, down 1.4% from the previous period.
2. According to Mysteel, on August 21, Jinding Coal & Coking Co. decided to implement a 30% production restriction on its tamping coke ovens starting from the 21st. The specific resumption time has not yet been determined.
3. Some steel mills in Xingtai and major steel mills in Tangshan have raised prices by 50 yuan/ton for wet-quenched coke and 55 yuan/ton for dry-quenched coke, effective at midnight on August 24, 2026. 4. Data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday showed that U.S. ethanol (D6) credits generated in July totaled $1.29 billion, a slight increase from $1.28 billion in June, while biomass-based diesel (D4) credits decreased to $796 million from $841 million.
5. Pro Farmer, a subsidiary of Farm Futures magazine, released its U.S. soybean and corn production and yield forecasts: The company projects a 2026 U.S. soybean yield of 53.3 bushels per acre, compared to the USDA's August forecast of 52.7 bushels per acre, and Pro Farmer's 2025 forecast of 53.0 bushels per acre. The company projects 2026 U.S. soybean production of 4.572 billion bushels, compared to the USDA's August forecast of 4.519 billion bushels, and Pro Farmer's 2025 forecast of 4.246 billion bushels.
6. According to Mongolian news reports, on August 21, the Mongolian Emergency Command Center for Improving Fuel Supply and Ensuring Security held a routine working meeting to report on the latest situation of fuel supply nationwide. In response to fuel shortages and congestion in some provinces, Mongolia has officially issued special supply guarantee tasks to all provinces, cities, and counties, simultaneously addressing irregularities in fuel sales, implementing a new intelligent appointment-based fuel supply model, and making every effort to ensure fuel needs for people's livelihoods and autumn harvest production.
7. According to SMM, the photovoltaic glass production reduction plan has been further confirmed. With leading companies taking the lead in reducing production, glass guidance prices are expected to be raised across the board, with companies aiming to raise prices to 10.5 yuan/square meter by early September.
8. Given the recent complex and volatile international situation, energy and chemical commodities have experienced significant fluctuations. The Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) and the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) have issued notices on strengthening market risk control.
9. SHFE: Last week, copper inventory increased by 19,817 tons, aluminum inventory decreased by 18,300 tons, zinc inventory increased by 1,181 tons, lead inventory decreased by 209 tons, nickel inventory decreased by 771 tons, and tin inventory increased by 56 tons.
