1.
Data from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange showed that as of October 17, the Shanghai Export Containerized Freight Index (Comprehensive Index) was at 1310.32 points, up 149.9 points from the previous period; the China Export Containerized Freight Index was at 973.11 points, down 4.1% from the previous period.
2.
According to Mysteel, coke prices in the Xingtai market are scheduled to increase by 50 yuan/ton for wet-quenched coke and 55 yuan/ton for dry-quenched coke. In the Yuncheng market, some coke producers plan to adjust their coke prices, with the dry-quenched coke price increasing by 55 yuan/ton, effective at 00:00 on October 20. 3.
Mysteel's survey of 247 steel mills found blast furnace operating rates of 84.27%, unchanged from the previous week and up 2.59 percentage points year-on-year. Blast furnace ironmaking capacity utilization was 90.33%, down 0.22 percentage points from the previous week and up 2.34 percentage points year-on-year. Average daily molten iron output was 2.4095 million tons, down 5,900 tons from the previous week and up 65,900 tons year-on-year.
4. The monthly report released by Argentina's Secretariat of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries shows that Argentina's soybean planting area is expected to reach 17.5 million hectares in the 2025/26 fiscal year, down 2.8% from 18 million hectares in the previous fiscal year.
5.
After research, the Shanghai Futures Exchange has decided to adjust the price limits for gold and silver futures contracts to 14% starting at the close of trading on October 21, 2025 (Tuesday). The margin requirement for hedged positions will be adjusted to 15%, and the margin requirement for general positions will be adjusted to 16%. 6.
According to CCTV Finance, silver prices have continued to rise this year, with a cumulative increase of nearly 70%. Yongxing County, Chenzhou, Hunan Province, is a major silver-producing area in my country, accounting for approximately a quarter of national silver production and earning it the nickname "China's Silver Capital." The area is home to the country's largest silver product wholesale center. Due to the continued rise in silver prices, most stores in Yongxing County are currently out of stock.
