SMM, June 20: Metal markets: The overnight domestic base metals market was closed. Looking back at the performance of domestic base metals on June 18: Domestic base metals showed mixed performance, with SHFE zinc up 0.39%, SHFE aluminum up 0.38%, and SHFE nickel edging up. SHFE tin fell 2.03%, SHFE copper fell 0.48%, and SHFE lead fell 0.15%. The overnight ferrous metals market was closed. Looking back at the performance of ferrous metals on June 18: Stainless steel rose 0.07%, iron ore fell 1.13%, rebar fell 0.95%, and HRC fell 0.77%. The most-traded coking coal contract fell 5.78%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 3%. In the overnight overseas metals market, LME base metals mostly fell. LME copper fell 0.5%, LME aluminum rose 0.12%, LME lead fell 1.32%, LME zinc fell 2.05%, LME tin rose 0.19%, and LME nickel fell 1.41%. Overnight precious metals: COMEX gold fell 1.72%, posting a third consecutive weekly decline with a 1.55% drop for the week; COMEX silver fell 2.12%, marking a sixth straight weekly decline with a 4.51% drop for the week. The overnight most-traded SHFE gold contract was closed, with SHFE gold posting a weekly gain of 4.11%; the most-traded SHFE silver contract was closed, with SHFE silver posting a weekly gain of 5.25%. Goldman Sachs cut its year-end gold price forecast by $500, no longer expecting the US Fed to cut interest rates in 2026. Analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Struyven said in a note: “We revise our December gold target down to $4,900/oz (from $5,400), implying gold prices are still expected to rise in H2, but by less than previously anticipated. We remain structurally constructive on gold but tactically cautious, with near-term downside risks and medium-term upside risks.” The analysts said the outlook cut was driven by Goldman Sachs economists pushing back US interest rate cut expectations to June and December next year, from previously December 2026 and March 2027, as well as lower projected gold ETF inflows. They also added that concerns over central bank independence may be limited given the “surprisingly hawkish” first Fed meeting under Warsh. (Jin10 Data) Overnight closing prices as of 7:47 AM June 20: Macro front China: [NFRA: Promote the construction of AI application infrastructure in the financial industry] The National Financial Regulatory Administration issued guidance on the safe development and application of AI in the banking and insurance industry. It proposes to promote the construction of an AI application ecosystem in the financial sector. Advance the development of AI application infrastructure in the financial industry and promote the sharing and reuse of AI application outcomes across the sector. Encourage large financial institutions to play an exemplary role and export AI technologies and management experience to small and medium-sized financial institutions. Support small and medium-sized financial institutions in strengthening collaboration to jointly drive the implementation of application scenarios. Encourage closer synergy with the AI industry, using financial applications to foster industrial innovation and development, and leveraging industrial achievements to improve the quality and efficiency of financial applications. [Box office on the first day of the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival holiday surpasses 100 million yuan, number of new releases hits a near-decade high for the same period] According to data from online platforms, as of now, the box office (including pre-sales) on the first day of the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival holiday has exceeded 100 million yuan. The film offerings during the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival are diverse and rich in genre. Over the short three-day holiday, nearly 20 films were released in concentrated fashion, setting a new high for the same period in nearly a decade. The film genres cover sci-fi, youth, animation, and more, addressing the viewing needs of audiences across almost all age groups. (CCTV News) [Guangdong: Accelerate the construction of the national integrated computing power network hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and make forward-looking plans for 6G technology and satellite internet] The General Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province issued a notice on the Implementation Plan for Promoting the Expansion and Quality Improvement of the Service Sector in Guangdong Province. It mentions that the deployment of 5G-A networks and pilot projects for 10G optical networks will be advanced in an orderly manner. 50G-PON ports will be deployed on a large scale in key scenarios such as factories and industrial parks. The upgrading and renovation of aging communication facilities will be further promoted, with FTTR whole-home optical network coverage to be achieved simultaneously in both new and older residential communities. Mobile network coverage along major transportation routes and hubs will be improved, and initiatives to increase broadband speeds and benefit the public will be implemented, driving an overall leap in broadband user download rates. The construction of the national integrated computing power network hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will be accelerated, the spatial layout of data centers optimized, edge computing vigorously developed, and a “cloud-edge-device” collaborative computing power service system created. Forward-looking plans will be made for 6G technology and satellite internet, a Guangdong 6G Industry Innovation and Development Alliance will be established, and ministerial-provincial 6G collaborative pilot projects will be promoted, with a focus on creating application benchmarks for distinctive scenarios such as embodied AI, intelligent connected vehicles, the low-altitude economy, and the marine economy. [Guangdong: Support the Guangzhou Futures Exchange in enriching its futures product system and improving the full futures industry chain] The General Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province issued a notice on the Implementation Plan for Promoting the Expansion and Quality Improvement of the Service Sector in Guangdong Province. It mentions that efforts will be made to cultivate and strengthen high-quality investment banks and investment institutions, encourage leading securities firms and fund management companies to enhance their service capabilities, compliance management capabilities, and market leadership, attract well-known domestic and international asset management institutions to establish corporate headquarters or regional headquarters in Guangdong, and encourage the development of the investment advisory business. Leverage the comprehensive service functions of the capital market, guide and support local cities in improving the databases of enterprises in the listing pipeline and M&A projects, work with stock exchanges, securities firms and other institutions to deliver thorough and detailed full-cycle advisory services for enterprises planning to go public, streamline approval processes involving the transfer of land use rights, real estate, and equity stakes in the M&A and restructuring of publicly listed firms, and encourage enterprises to expand the issuance scale of technology bonds, green bonds, and asset-backed securities. (from Wall Street CN APP) [Weifang: Expanding the 2026 Consumer Goods Trade-in Category Subsidy Campaign] The Weifang Municipal Bureau of Commerce released an announcement regarding the expansion of the 2026 consumer goods trade-in category subsidy campaign in Weifang City. It will provide subsidies in accordance with unified provincial categories and standards to individual consumers purchasing range hoods, household gas stoves (including integrated stoves), water purifiers, dishwashers, hearing aids, robot vacuum cleaners (including floor scrubbers), mobility-assisting exoskeleton robots, smart toilets, and other products. Individual consumers purchasing the above subsidized category products in Weifang City will receive a subsidy equal to 15% of the final selling price after all applicable discounts. Each person is limited to one subsidized item per category, with a maximum subsidy of 1,500 yuan per item, and the delivery address of the subsidized product must be within the administrative area of Weifang City. (Weifang Release) [INE Releases Notice on the Launch of Market Orders and Related Trading Order Sizes] According to the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE), market orders will be launched effective July 6, 2026 (i.e., starting from the night trading session on July 3, 2026). Market orders will apply to all listed futures and options contracts. For limit orders, the minimum order quantity is 1 lot per order; the maximum order quantity is 500 lots for futures contracts and 100 lots for options contracts. For market orders, the minimum order quantity is 1 lot per order; the maximum order quantity is 60 lots for futures contracts and 30 lots for options contracts. For settlement price trading orders, the minimum order quantity is 1 lot per order, and the maximum order quantity is 500 lots. On the US dollar front: Overnight, the US dollar index fell 0.06% to 100.76, after hitting an intraday high of 101.13 and a low of 100.69. On the weekly chart, the US dollar index rose for the week, gaining 0.97%. Market pricing indicated that bets on Fed rate hikes rose, fully pricing in a 25-basis-point rate hike in September. Data showed that foreign exchange traders, including hedge funds, were heavily buying options, betting that the dollar would strengthen further after the Fed sent hawkish signals this week and reinforced expectations of US rate hikes. According to traders, leveraged funds began buying dollar call options on Wednesday. This demand extended into Thursday as investors digested the anti-inflation rhetoric from the new Fed Chairman Warsh. Tobias Jungmann, Head of Americas FX Options at Bank of America, said, "We are seeing large-scale buying of USD call options, mainly concentrated in G-10 currencies. Given that current implied volatility is at low levels, establishing USD long positions via options looks very attractive." James Swindell, Senior FX Options Trader at Barclays in London, said, "We are seeing significant and broad-based demand for USD call options, particularly in EUR/USD and GBP/USD." (Jin10 Data APP) According to the CME "Fed Watch": The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged in July is 60.4%, and the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike is 39.6%. For September, the probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged is 31.2%, the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike is 49.6%, and the probability of a cumulative 50-basis-point hike is 19.1%. (Jin10 Data APP) In other currencies: European Central Bank Chief Economist Lane said on Thursday that eurozone inflation will remain elevated despite the recent pullback in energy prices. To address the surge in energy costs since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, the ECB raised interest rates last week for the first time in nearly three years. However, following the announcement of a peace deal between Iran and the US, oil and natural gas prices subsequently fell sharply. Lane said the ECB has no doubt about the correctness of the rate hike decision and still expects inflation to stay above the 2% target for an extended period. He said, "We think food prices will rise, as will the prices of goods and services. Even in a milder scenario where oil prices pull back, the rate hike was justified." Additionally, ECB Governing Council member Wunsch said: If we see services inflation pick up, we might consider another 25-basis-point hike as insurance. If the data is unclear, I don't think there is any need to rush. (Jin10 Data) [Bank of England keeps rate unchanged in a 7-2 vote, says it will closely monitor Middle East situation] The Bank of England kept its rate at 3.75%, saying the recent drop in oil prices is "encouraging," although two policymakers voted for an immediate 25-basis-point hike over concerns about persistent inflation. External member Megan Greene joined the camp of Huw Pill, the lone dissenter in April and chief economist, voting to raise the rate to 4% immediately, citing an unstable price outlook despite the recent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. (from Wall Street News APP) On the macro front: Next week, the following data will be released: China's one-year loan prime rate as of June 22, Canada's May CPI m/m, Eurozone June consumer confidence index preliminary, France's June manufacturing PMI preliminary, Germany's June manufacturing PMI preliminary, Eurozone June manufacturing PMI preliminary, UK June manufacturing PMI preliminary, UK June services PMI preliminary, UK June CBI industrial orders balance, US ADP employment change for the week ending June 6 weekly, US June S&P Global manufacturing PMI preliminary, US June S&P Global services PMI preliminary, US June Richmond Fed manufacturing index, Australia's May unadjusted CPI y/y, Germany's June IFO business climate index, Switzerland's June ZEW investor confidence index, US Q1 current account, US May new home sales annualized, Australia's May seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, Germany's July GfK consumer confidence index, US initial jobless claims for the week ending June 20, US May core PCE price index y/y, US May personal spending m/m, US Q1 real GDP annualized q/q final, US Q1 real personal consumption expenditures q/q preliminary, US Q1 real personal consumption expenditures q/q final, US Q1 core PCE price index annualized q/q final, US May core PCE price index m/m, US May durable goods orders m/m, US June final University of Michigan consumer sentiment, US June final 1-year inflation expectations, and other data. Also next week, attention should be paid to: ECB President Christine Lagarde addressing the EU Parliament; Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem delivering remarks; the 17th Summer Davos Forum held in Dalian from June 23 to 25; the Bank of Japan releasing a summary of opinions from its June monetary policy meeting board members; Nvidia holding its annual general meeting; the Bank of Canada releasing its monetary policy meeting minutes; the US Fed releasing its annual bank stress test results; Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo attending a central bank lecture event hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF); today saw the maturity of 300 billion yuan of one-year medium-term lending facilities (MLF) and 248 billion yuan of seven-day reverse repos; FOMC permanent voting member and New York Fed President John Williams speaking; 2027 FOMC voting member and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaking; and 2026 FOMC voting member and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari speaking. Crude oil: Overnight, both oil futures gained: WTI crude rose 0.91%, while Brent crude rose 0.47%. On a weekly basis, WTI crude futures posted a second straight weekly decline, falling 9.83% for the week; Brent crude futures also fell for a second consecutive week, down 8.53%. International crude oil futures opened lower on Friday, struggled to rebound intraday, and turned lower several times. They hit a fresh daily low after reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but as reports emerged that both sides continued to exchange fire after the ceasefire, they turned positive again late in the European session. Brent crude struggled around the $80 mark throughout the day. (Wall Street CN) Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that negotiations on a permanent agreement with the US will only begin after a permanent end to the war in Lebanon, the full lifting of the US blockade, US issuance of waivers for Iranian oil, and the release of Iran's frozen assets. (Jin10 Data APP) Iran is shipping a large amount of oil that was previously stranded due to the US blockade, potentially a positive development for Tehran after it signed a tentative peace deal with Washington on Wednesday. Shipping data compiled by Bloomberg showed that 11 tankers carrying a total of 20 million barrels of crude oil departed from Iran's Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman this week. Previously, the US military had prevented these tankers from entering the Indian Ocean, a move aimed at restricting Tehran's access to petrodollars. (Jin10 Data APP) Separately, data from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) showed that during the week ended June 16, speculative net long positions in Brent crude futures fell by 94,763 contracts to 114,128 contracts. (Jin10 Data APP) In addition, due to contract rollover, the NYMEX July crude oil futures will see their final floor trading at 2:30 AM on June 23 and final electronic trading at 5:00 AM that day. Please pay attention to the exchange's expiration and rollover notices to manage risk. In addition, the expiration dates of US oil contracts on some trading platforms are usually one day earlier than the official NYMEX expiration. Please pay extra attention.

Today, the spot zinc ingot pricing in the Guangdong region has switched to the new front-month contract, with the benchmark contract shifting from the JH2607 contract to the JH2608 contract. Under the contango structure, today's quotes in the Guangdong region are at a discount of 110 yuan/ton to the JH2608 contract. How will the spot premium/discount perform in the coming period?

According to the SMM survey, as of June 16, the operating rate of the 50 EAF steel mills nationwide that mainly produce construction steel stood at 41.7%, up 0.86% WoW; the capacity utilization rate was 43.07%, up 0.74% WoW; and daily average construction steel production was 95,900 mt, up 1,700 mt WoW.

The most-traded iron ore contract was in the doldrums today. The most-traded contract I2609 closed at 762 yuan/mt, down 0.85% from the previous trading session. Port spot prices fell 5-10 yuan/mt from the previous day. Traders sold as the market dictated; steel mills remained cautious and purchased as needed. The market atmosphere was subdued, and spot volumes have been low so far. According to SMM statistics, this week (June 13-19), the impact on hot metal production caused by blast furnace maintenance was 1.1092 million mt, up 3,400 mt WoW. Next week (June 20-26), this impact is expected to rise to 1.1718 million mt, up 62,600 mt WoW from this week. Hot metal production is expected to peak this week, and as losses at steel mills intensify, production may pull back next week. Additionally, the domestic macro and real estate data released today remained weak overall, putting market sentiment under pressure. Overall, in the short term, iron ore prices may continue a narrow fluctuating trend in the doldrums.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data shows that from January to May, national real estate development investment totaled 3,035.6 billion yuan, down 16.2% YoY; of which, residential investment was 2,342.6 billion yuan, down 15.6%. In January–May, floor space of newly built commercial buildings sold was 313.2 million m², down 10.8% YoY; of which residential floor space sold fell 12.1%. Sales value of newly built commercial buildings reached 2,936.6 billion yuan, down 13.5%; of which residential sales value fell 14.1%. I. Real Estate Development Investment Completion From January to May, national real estate development investment totaled 3,035.6 billion yuan, down 16.2% YoY (calculated on a comparable basis; see Note 5); of which, residential investment was 2,342.6 billion yuan, down 15.6%. From January to May, floor space of buildings under construction by real estate development enterprises was 5.4878 billion m², down 12.3% YoY. Of which, residential floor space under construction was 3.8083 billion m², down 12.6%. Floor space of buildings newly started was 179.29 million m², down 22.6%. Of this, residential newly started floor space was 130.84 million m², down 23.4%. Floor space of buildings completed was 140.87 million m², down 23.4%. Of which, residential completed floor space was 99.99 million m², down 25.0%. II. Sales and Pending Sales of Newly Built Commercial Buildings In January–May, floor space of newly built commercial buildings sold was 313.2 million m², down 10.8% YoY; of which residential floor space sold fell 12.1%. Sales value of newly built commercial buildings was 2,936.6 billion yuan, down 13.5%; of which residential sales value fell 14.1%. At month-end May, pending sale area of commercial buildings was 771.82 million m², down 0.4% YoY. Of which, pending sale area for less than 3 years was 571.52 million m², down 2.8%. III. Funding of Real Estate Development Enterprises From January to May, funds received by real estate development enterprises totaled 3,275.6 billion yuan, down 19.0% YoY. Of which, domestic loans were 487.5 billion yuan, down 28.7%; self-raised funds were 1,198.5 billion yuan, down 13.0%; deposits and advance receipts were 1,001.2 billion yuan, down 16.1%; and individual mortgage loans were 406.6 billion yuan, down 28.0%.

In May, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all regions and departments thoroughly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully, accurately and comprehensively implemented the new development philosophy, accelerated the creation of a new development pattern, earnestly carried out more proactive macro policies, and effectively responded to external shocks and challenges. Production and supply rose steadily, employment and prices remained generally stable, the resilience of foreign trade continued to manifest, new driving forces grew stronger, and the national economy sustained a generally stable development trajectory with improvement and upgrading. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that in May, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size grew by 4.5% YoY in real terms, 0.4 percentage point faster than the previous month. On a MoM basis, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 0.40% from April. For January-May, it grew by 5.4% YoY. Value Added of Industrial Enterprises Above Designated Size Grew by 4.5% in May 2026 In May, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size grew by 4.5% YoY in real terms (the real growth rates of value added are calculated after deducting price factors), 0.4 percentage point faster than the previous month. On a MoM basis, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 0.40% from April. From January to May, it rose by 5.4% YoY. By sector, in May, the value added of the mining industry grew by 2.3% YoY, manufacturing by 4.4%, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas and water by 7.6%. By ownership, in May, the value added of state-holding enterprises grew by 3.7% YoY; joint-stock enterprises by 5.2%, enterprises funded by foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan by 1.9%; and private enterprises by 2.7%. By industry, in May, the value added of 28 out of the 41 major industries registered YoY growth. Among them, coal mining and washing grew by 3.5%, petroleum and natural gas extraction by 1.5%, agricultural and sideline food processing by 1.5%, wine, beverages and refined tea manufacturing fell by 2.7%, the textile industry grew by 2.6%, chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing by 0.3%, non-metallic mineral products fell by 5.6%, ferrous metals smelting and rolling processing grew by 1.6%, non-ferrous metals smelting and rolling processing fell by 4.5%, general equipment manufacturing grew by 6.7%, special equipment manufacturing by 9.1%, automobile manufacturing by 8.3%, railway, shipbuilding, aerospace and other transport equipment manufacturing by 7.4%, electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing by 4.7%, computer, communication and other electronic equipment manufacturing by 17.0%, and electricity and heat production and supply by 8.7%. By product, in May, among the 626 products of industrial enterprises above designated size, 300 saw YoY output growth. Specifically, steel output was 123.03 million mt, down 2.8% YoY; cement 149.91 million mt, down 8.1%; ten non-ferrous metals 6.98 million mt, up 2.2%; ethylene 3.38 million mt, up 2.1%; automobiles 2.582 million units, down 3.2%, of which NEVs 1.489 million units, up 17.8%; power generation 784.3 billion kWh, up 4.2%; crude oil processing volume 53.72 million mt, down 9.1%. In May, the product sales ratio of industrial enterprises above designated size was 96.0%, down 0.1 percentage point YoY; the export delivery value of industrial enterprises above designated size reached 1,388.4 billion yuan, a nominal YoY increase of 10.1%. In May, National Economy Operated Generally Stable, with New and Quality Development In May, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all regions and departments earnestly implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully and faithfully applied the new development philosophy, accelerated the creation of a new development pattern, effectively implemented more proactive macro policies, and effectively responded to external shocks and challenges. Production supply was stable with an upward trend, employment and prices were generally stable, the resilience of foreign trade continued to be demonstrated, and new growth drivers grew stronger. The national economy continued its development trend of overall stability with new and quality improvements. 1. Industrial Production Accelerated, with Equipment and High-Tech Manufacturing Growing Rapidly In May, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 4.5% YoY, 0.4 percentage points faster than the previous month; it grew 0.40% MoM. By the three major categories, the value added of mining grew 2.3% YoY, manufacturing grew 4.4%, and production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water grew 7.6%. The value added of equipment manufacturing grew 9.5% YoY, and high-tech manufacturing grew 15.1%, accelerating by 1.2 and 2.3 percentage points respectively from the previous month. By type of ownership, the value added of state-controlled enterprises grew 3.7% YoY; joint-stock enterprises grew 5.2%, foreign, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan invested enterprises grew 1.9%; private enterprises grew 2.7%. By product, the output of 3D printing equipment, lithium-ion batteries, and industrial robots grew 54.4%, 40.0%, and 27.9% YoY respectively. In the January-May period, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size grew 5.4% YoY. In May, the manufacturing PMI was 50.0%, and the index of enterprise production and operation expectations was 53.9%. In the first four months, the total profits of industrial enterprises above designated size reached 2,435.8 billion yuan, up 18.2% YoY. II. Services Grew Steadily, Modern Services Developed Soundly In May, the national services production index grew 4.4% YoY, 0.1 percentage point faster than the previous month. By sector, the production indices of information transmission, software and IT services, leasing and business services, financial services, and transport, storage and postal services grew 11.3%, 10.9%, 7.0%, and 4.8% YoY, respectively. In January-May, the national services production index rose 4.8% YoY. In January-April, the operating revenue of service enterprises above the designated size increased 6.4% YoY. In May, the business activity index for services stood at 50.3%, and the business activity expectations index for services was 55.4%. Among them, the business activity indices for railway transport, telecommunications, radio and television, and satellite transmission services, and insurance were in the relatively high prosperity range of above 55.0%. III. Market Sales Maintained Growth, Service Retail Maintained Sound Momentum In January-May, total retail sales of consumer goods and services grew 2.8% YoY, with retail sales of services up 5.4% and retail sales of goods up 1.2%. In January-May, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 20,603.1 billion yuan, up 1.4% YoY. In January-May, nationwide online retail sales of goods and services reached 8,317.7 billion yuan, up 5.9% YoY, of which online retail sales of goods were 5,271.8 billion yuan, up 5.0%, and online retail sales of services were 3,045.9 billion yuan, up 7.6%. In May, total retail sales of consumer goods amounted to 4,109 billion yuan, down 0.6% YoY and down 0.38% MoM. By location of business establishments, retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas came in at 3,574.1 billion yuan, down 0.9% YoY; retail sales in rural areas were 534.9 billion yuan, up 1.5% YoY. By type of consumption, retail sales of goods stood at 3,648.5 billion yuan, down 0.7% YoY; catering revenue was 460.5 billion yuan, up 0.6% YoY. Sales of daily necessities and some upgraded goods maintained growth. Retail sales of beverages, clothing, footwear, hats and textiles, and cosmetics by enterprises above the designated size increased 6.1%, 3.8%, and 2.5% YoY, respectively. IV. Infrastructure Investment Maintained Growth, Investment in Intellectual Property Products Accelerated In January-May, national fixed-asset investment (excluding rural households) reached 17,851.2 billion yuan, down 4.1% YoY; excluding real estate development, fixed-asset investment fell 1.2%. Among this, investment in intellectual property products grew 9.3% YoY, 0.4 percentage points faster than in January-April. By sector, infrastructure investment rose 0.6% YoY, manufacturing investment fell 0.4%, and real estate development investment dropped 16.2%. The floor space of newly built commercial buildings sold nationwide was 313.2 million m², down 10.8% YoY; the sales value of newly built commercial buildings was 2,936.6 billion yuan, down 13.5% YoY. By industry, investment in the primary sector rose 5.9% YoY, investment in the secondary sector edged up 0.1% YoY, and investment in the tertiary sector fell 6.8% YoY. Private investment declined 7.1% YoY; excluding real estate development, private investment dropped 3.5% YoY. Investment in high-tech industries grew 4.5% YoY, with investment in computer and office equipment manufacturing, aviation and spacecraft and equipment manufacturing, and information services up 18.3%, 16.7%, and 13.8%, respectively. In May, fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) fell 1.91% MoM. V. Rapid Growth in Goods Imports and Exports with Continued Optimization of Trade Structure In May, total goods imports and exports reached 4,451.6 billion yuan, up 16.9% YoY, accelerating 2.7 percentage points from the previous month. Exports stood at 2,587.8 billion yuan, up 13.8% YoY, while imports totaled 1,863.8 billion yuan, up 21.5% YoY. From January to May, total goods imports and exports amounted to 20,682.7 billion yuan, up 15.3% YoY. Exports came to 11,913.7 billion yuan, up 11.8% YoY, and imports hit 8,769.1 billion yuan, up 20.5% YoY. From January to May, imports and exports under Ordinary Trade rose 8.3% YoY. Imports and exports with Belt and Road partner countries grew 13.6% YoY. Imports and exports by private enterprises increased 15.5% YoY. Exports of mechanical and electrical products expanded 18.4% YoY. VI. Generally Stable Employment with a Decline in the Surveyed Urban Unemployment Rate From January to May, the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2%. In May, the surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.1%, down 0.1 percentage points MoM. The surveyed unemployment rate for the local household labor force was 5.2%, and that for the non-local household labor force was 4.9%, with the rate for the non-local agricultural household labor force at 4.9%. The surveyed urban unemployment rate across 31 major cities was 5.1%, down 0.1 percentage points MoM. The average weekly working hours of employees in enterprises nationwide was 48.2 hours. VII. Mild Rise in Consumer Prices and Widening YoY Increase in Producer Prices In May, the national consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.2% YoY, the same growth as the previous month, and fell 0.1% MoM. By category, prices for food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out fell 0.9% YoY, clothing prices rose 1.4% YoY, housing prices edged down 0.2% YoY, prices for household articles and services increased 1.8% YoY, transportation and communication prices climbed 5.4% YoY, education, culture, and entertainment prices went up 1.3% YoY, healthcare prices grew 2.1% YoY, and prices for other goods and services surged 9.9% YoY. Among food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining-out prices, pork prices fell 16.1%, fresh fruit prices dropped 2.2%, grain prices edged down 0.3%, while fresh vegetable prices rose 1.6%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, posted a 1.1% YoY increase. For January–May, national consumer prices rose 1.0% YoY. In May, national industrial producer EXW prices rose 3.9% YoY, with the growth rate widening by 1.1 percentage points from the previous month, and rose 0.5% MoM. National industrial producer purchasing prices rose 5.8% YoY and 1.3% MoM. For January–May, national industrial producer EXW prices and purchasing prices rose 1.0% and 1.6% YoY, respectively. Overall, the national economy operated stably in May, with development resilience continuing to show. However, it should also be noted that the external environment has become more complex and volatile, the contradiction of strong domestic supply and weak demand remains pronounced, some enterprises face considerable operating pressure, and the foundation for sustained economic improvement still needs consolidation. In the next stage, efforts should focus on adhering to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, maintaining the principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, improving quality and efficiency, strengthening counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical adjustments, continuously expanding domestic demand and optimizing supply, enhancing increments and revitalizing existing assets, developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions, deepening the building of a unified national market, working to stabilize employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations, and promoting effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy. Recommended reading:

2026 China Central International Power Transformer Export Expo 2026 China Central International Power Transformer Export Expo Concurrently held: The 8th China (Zhengzhou) International New-type Power and Smart Energy Industry Exhibition August 15-17, 2026, Central China International Convention and Exhibition Center (Airport Area) Annual Central China Power and Electrical Industry Development Conference Estimated exhibition data: 18 countries and regions 600+ exhibiting brands 300+ media coverage 20 forum events 40,000 m² exhibition area 50,000 visitors Co-organizers: Henan Electrical Equipment Industry Association Beijing Aibo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Executing Unit: Beijing Aibo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Title Sponsor: Henan Senyuan Electric Co., Ltd. Official Website: http://byq.aiboexpo.com ※ Exhibition Overview: Currently, 'carbon neutrality' has become a global consensus. Achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is a solemn commitment China has made to the world and a broad and profound economic and social transformation. Realizing clean and zero-carbon energy is a crucial guarantee for carbon neutrality. The development and maturation of the new-type power industry are of great significance for accelerating the construction of a new power system dominated by new energy. In recent years, supported by a series of national policies, global renewable energy industries such as PV, wind power, hydropower, new-type energy storage, charging facilities, and hydrogen energy have achieved rapid development. With new breakthroughs in next-generation technologies and equipment, the future new energy market holds limitless prospects. At the 2024 Bosch Connected World conference, the world's richest man Elon Musk predicted that the rapid development of AI and EVs would lead to a severe shortage of transformers. Today, this prediction has become a reality. Amid this global 'transformer shortage', the latest data from China's General Administration of Customs shows: in 2025, China's transformer export value reached 64.6 billion yuan, a YoY surge of 36%, with the average unit price exceeding 205,000 yuan, a rise of 33%. Even more astonishing—orders for high-end ultra-high voltage and data center-dedicated transformers have been scheduled into 2027, with some stretching into 2028! The global transformer shortage is the inevitable result of multiple contemporary factors overlapping. From an infrastructure perspective, the power systems in Europe and the US are undergoing a 'major overhaul'. A Goldman Sachs report from September 2025 pointed out that most of Europe's grid infrastructure has been in operation for 40-50 years, and in the US, 31% of transmission equipment and 46% of distribution facilities are past their service life. To this end, the EU plans to invest €1.2 trillion over the next decade to upgrade its power grid, and the US also announced $1.1 trillion over five years for the power sector. As core equipment for power grid upgrades, transformers have naturally become a focal point of demand. Amid the global transition toward green and low-carbon development, the construction of green energy power plants such as PV and wind power has further lifted transformer demand. The international energy industry analysis firm “Allied Market” forecast that the global transformer market size will reach $103 billion in 2031, Henan is located in central China and has long been known as the “heartland of Kyushu and the thoroughfare of ten provinces,” serving as an important transportation hub in China that connects east and west and links north and south. Developing a hub economy is a key pillar for integrating into the new development paradigm. “In recent years, our province has leveraged its transportation and location advantages to continuously strengthen the hub economy. Seizing the opportunity presented by the development of a unified national market, we have built a comprehensive ‘rice + well + people’ transportation corridor and initially formed a broad multimodal transport landscape integrating and connecting airports, inland ports, highway ports, high-speed rail ports, and ports of entry. It has become a logistics corridor hub that connects at home and abroad and radiates across the east, central, and west. Trading globally, the hub advantage is gradually being transformed into a competitive edge for development. Leveraging Henan’s status as a major province in China in terms of population, agriculture, industry, and energy consumption, its transportation and geographic advantages are driving global power grid upgrades, with transformers playing a crucial role in building a new-type power system. To rapidly and accurately connect sellers and buyers and help enterprises expand broader markets in and outside China, the “2026 China · Central and Western China International Power Transformer Export Expo,” jointly organized by the Henan Electrical Industry Association and Beijing Aibo International Exhibition Co., Ltd., is scheduled to be held on August 15-17, 2026 at Zhongyuan International Convention and Exhibition Center, Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, concurrently with the “8th China (Zhengzhou) International New-Type Power and Smart Energy Industry Exhibition.” This exhibition is expected to cover 40,000㎡, attracting more than 600 brand exhibitors from around the world to make a concentrated appearance in central China, with over 50,000 visits expected from professional visitors and buyers. We sincerely invite transformer producers, manufacturers, and related supporting suppliers from in and outside China to gather in central China and share this grand industry event! As one of China’s 12 highest-level international comprehensive transportation hubs and one of the country’s six airport-type national logistics hubs, Zhengzhou is a comprehensive hub city integrating highways, railways, aviation, power, and communications. It enjoys uniquely advantageous geographic conditions. With Zhengzhou as the center, a two-hour aviation circle covers 92% of China’s population, 94% of its total economic output, and 98% of its foreign trade share. Against the backdrop of the current dual-circulation development model and domestic demand boost, Zhengzhou’s market radiation advantage nationwide will become even more prominent. Henan has a solid industrial foundation and a complete industrial supporting system, highly aligned with the development needs of the new energy industry. It can better promote deep integrated development across the upstream and downstream industry chain of new energy enterprises, achieve resource sharing and complementary advantages, and jointly drive coordinated development of the industry. Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone Comprehensive Experimental Zone, known as the “Central China Special Zone,” is currently the only national-level aviation economy development pilot zone approved by the State Council. The Airport Economy Zone closely focuses on five major strategic positioning goals: the “Air Silk Road” pilot zone, the “National Airport Economy Experimental Zone,” the “core growth pole of the Central Plains Economic Zone and the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area,” a “modernized, internationalized, world-class logistics hub,” and the “Central China Special Zone”; and deepens the development of five major centers: an international advanced manufacturing center, international trade center, international transportation and logistics center, international creative fashion center, and international innovation talent center. The Airport Economy Zone has become a growth pole of great strategic value for Zhengzhou’s development and a high ground for opening up across the province. ※Key Invitations Target Audience: Power, petroleum, chemicals, metallurgy, steel, cement, coal, textiles, transportation, electronics, communications, environmental protection, transport, machinery, turnkey equipment suppliers, traders, etc. Real estate developers, construction contractors, decoration and renovation companies, architects, designers, engineers, importers and exporters, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers, buildings, property management institutions, and industry end-users (such as hospitals, schools, government agencies, hotels, shopping malls, etc.). Relevant government departments, power companies, power grid companies, power supply departments, planning departments, municipal engineering entities, design and research institutions, competent authorities, associations, societies, media organizations, etc. ※ Media Spotlight and Synchronized Promotion : Helping exhibitors deeply explore clients, find professional buyers, promote brands, and close deals has always been the mission and responsibility of the organizers of the Central China Transformer Expo! We will join forces with Xinhua Net, People’s Daily Online, Economic Net, Sina, ifeng.com, CNR.cn, Guangming Online, CCTV.com, China News Service, Dayu Net, Dahe Net, Yingxiang Net, Zhongyuan Net, Jinbao Net, Sunan Net, Dahe Daily, Sohu, iQIYI, Baidu, Toutiao, Henan TV, Dazhong.com, Haibao News, Douyin, Kuaishou, Xiaohongshu, Zhihu, Huaxia Energy Network, International New Energy Network, Polaris Electric Power Network, Power Supply Network, China Transformer Network, Transformer Market Network, Electronic Transformer Information Network, Sobi PV Energy Storage Network, PV Industry Network, Energy World, Household PV Network, EV Network, First EV Network, Charging Piles Network, NEV Industry Network, and more than 100 other media outlets to provide comprehensive coverage of the exhibition, helping enterprises promote new products and technologies, enhance brand image, and strengthen corporate influence. ※ If you are a supplier of the following products, please book a booth: 1 、Transformers: Dry-type transformers, oil-immersed transformers; PV transformers, wind power transformers, box-type substations, electric furnace transformers, mining transformers, marine transformers, movable vehicle-mounted transformers, customized transformers and solutions, etc. 2 、Transformer Design and Manufacturing: Transformer R&D and design software, virtual simulation software; fully automatic winding machines, core laser cutting equipment, robotic insulation coating systems; partial discharge detection instruments, automatic withstand-voltage test benches, AI visual defect recognition systems; overall solutions for digital factories, etc. 3 、Key Transformer Materials: Conductive materials (e.g., copper semis, aluminum semis, copper-aluminum composite materials), magnetic materials (silicon steel and amorphous alloys, ferrite materials), insulating materials (insulating paper, paperboard, insulating varnish, insulating oil, epoxy resin, electrical insulating wood, varnished cloth, varnished cloth tape), etc. 4 、Key Transformer Components: Core, windings, oil tank/oil conservator, bushings, oil level gauges, oil purifiers, conductive rod, sealing gaskets, breathers, insulating materials, tap changers, gas relays, explosion-proof pipes, temperature measuring devices, fire extinguishing devices, clamps, surge arresters, pressure release devices, other transformer accessories/consumables, etc. 5 、Green Electricity Technologies and Applications: Distributed PV/wind power energy systems; energy routers, renewable energy grid connection controllers, cloud-edge collaborative microgrid control systems, virtual power plant (VPP) access terminals; green electricity traceability platforms, full life cycle carbon footprint monitoring instruments, enterprise ESG compliance management software, etc. 6 、Smart Power Supply and Distribution Systems: High-voltage direct current (HVDC) power supply, liquid-cooled power distribution systems, flexible DC converters (medium and high voltage), solid-state transformers (SST)/high-efficiency transformers, high-voltage/medium-voltage switchgear; smart low-voltage distribution cabinets, busway systems, smart header boards, cabinet PDUs; active power filters (APF), dynamic voltage restorers (DVR); DC circuit breakers, DC fuses, smart arc detection systems, lightning surge protectors, etc. 7 、Digital Energy Efficiency Management: AI monitoring platforms for power supply and distribution, digital twin O&M systems, predictive maintenance tools, CFD simulation and energy efficiency optimization software, etc. 8 、Collaborative Innovation in Energy Storage: Lithium battery/flow/sodium-ion energy storage systems, integrated PV+ESS+hydrogen solutions, containerized integrated energy storage units, etc. 9 、Related Services: Planning consulting and design, engineering construction, completion acceptance, rating and certification, infrastructure O&M, IT services and O&M. ※Fee-Based Items: ● Booth Fees: Booth Category Standard Booth (Single Open Side) Standard Booth (Double Open Sides) Deluxe Standard Booth (Single Open Side) Deluxe Standard Booth (Double Open Sides) Special Booth Bare Space China Enterprises ¥8,800 yuan/booth ¥9,800 yuan/booth ¥11,800 yuan/booth ¥12,800 yuan/booth ¥900/㎡ Foreign-Funded Enterprises $1,980/booth $2,980/booth $3,980/booth $4,980/booth $300/㎡ 1、Standard Booth: Minimum rental 3m×3m=9㎡; equipped with: white partition panels (2.5 meters high), one table and two chairs, Chinese-English header board, two fluorescent lights, carpet, and one power socket. 2、Deluxe Standard Booth: Minimum rental 3m×3m=9㎡; equipped with: white partition panels (2.5 meters high), one table and two chairs, Chinese-English header board, two fluorescent lights, carpet, one power socket, and raised booth fascia. 3、Special Booth Bare Space: Minimum rental 36㎡; provided: exhibition space and cleaning services; excluding booth construction and production costs. The bare space does not include any display racks or facilities. To ensure booth construction quality, all exhibitors are requested to use the contractor designated by the organizer to build their booths; no other contractors are allowed to enter the venue. (The organizing committee collects a special booth management fee on behalf of the venue: designated contractor ¥50 yuan/㎡, non-designated contractor ¥70 yuan/㎡). ● Conference Booklet Advertising: It will help you find clients after the exhibition! In addition to being widely distributed during the exhibition, it will also be distributed through various channels to professionals in different regions who were unable to visit the exhibition, enabling them to quickly find contact information and service details via the conference booklet. (The conference booklet is printed in full color on imported copper paper; size: 210mm×135mm). Front Cover ¥20,000 yuan Inside Front Cover/Inside Back Cover ¥7,000 yuan Frontispiece ¥6,000 yuan Black-and-White Page ¥4,000 yuan Back Cover ¥15,000 yuan Double-Page Color Spread ¥8,000 yuan Color Page ¥5,000 yuan 500-Word Company Profile ¥3,000 yuan ● Other Advertising: Advertising fees must be prepaid in full as a one-time payment; exhibitors who are unable to participate on time for any reason may also choose the following advertising promotions. Outdoor Plaza Arch ¥10,000 yuan/set (2 units) Carpet Floor Sticker Ad ¥500 yuan/unit Visitor Tickets ¥10,000 yuan/1,000 tickets Visitor Badge Lanyards ¥10,000 yuan/1,000 pcs Back-of-Visitor-Badge Ad ¥10,000 yuan/1,000 pcs Official Website Ad ¥10,000 yuan/banner/year Outdoor Road Flags ¥1,000 yuan/pair (2 units) Official Account Ad ¥10,000 yuan/unit/year Outdoor Billboard ¥10,000 yuan/unit Exhibitor Badge Lanyards ¥10,000 yuan/1,000 pcs Back-of-Exhibitor-Badge Ad ¥10,000 yuan/1,000 pcs Document Bags ¥20,000 yuan/1,000 pcs ● Product Promotion Session/Technical Seminar: A conference room accommodating 100-600 people, ¥30,000 yuan for 60 minutes per session, used for venue setup and related equipment rental (including venue, audio and projection equipment, lighting, tables and chairs, tea and other supporting facilities and services, and assistance in organizing the audience for the presenting enterprise). ※Exhibition Participation Procedures: 1. Fill out the exhibition application form and fax or scan it to the organizing unit. Booth allocation principle: “first apply, first pay, first arranged.” 2. After the contract is confirmed and stamped by both parties, the exhibiting unit shall remit the exhibition fees by telegraphic transfer to the organizing unit’s collection account within 2 working days. 3. After remitting all fees, exhibitors are requested to fax the bank remittance slip to the organizing unit. 4. After receiving the exhibition fees, the organizing unit will issue the Exhibitor Manual to exhibitors within one month before the exhibition opens to confirm participation notes. ※ Organizing Committee Secretariat: Beijing Aibo International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Contact: Zhang Lei 17729729055 Fax: +86 010-86487300 E-mail: 2662486664@qq.com Website: http://byq.aiboexpo.com Scan to Book a Booth

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