This week (May 29, 2026 – June 4, 2026), the average operating rate of primary lead smelters in the three provinces was 66.58%, up 3.6 percentage points WoW. This week, a large smelter in Henan completed maintenance and resumed production, driving the regional operating rate to rise. In Hunan, a small-to-medium-sized smelter underwent maintenance shutdown last week, with output contracting this week. However, production at other enterprises in the region edged up slightly, with supply and demand factors offsetting each other, and the overall operating rate in Hunan edged up. In Yunnan, smelter production remained stable, with operating rates maintained at last week's level. Smelters in other regions operated normally, with operating rates flat WoW.

Capacity side, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, and the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW. This week, Peric Hydrogen, a subsidiary of CSSC 718 Research Institute, exported customized integrated hydrogen production and refueling station equipment to Indonesia. Suzhou Suqing Hydrogen Production Equipment Co., Ltd. completed the shipment of a 5 MW containerized green electricity hydrogen production system, serving the first "five-in-one" integrated energy station project combining oil, gas, hydrogen, electricity, and storage in Northwest China. Project-related updates: CGN (Wuhai Hainan District) New Energy Co., Ltd. : CGN (Wuhai Hainan District) New Energy's hydrogen-based green fuel grid-connected green electricity direct-connection project (hydrogen production section) was officially registered. The project is located in the High-tech Low-carbon Industrial Park in Hainan District, Wuhai City, with a total investment of 313.6992 million yuan. The project plans to build a 22,000 Nm³/h hydrogen production facility, equipped with 22 alkaline water electrolysis units each with a capacity of 1,000 Nm³/h, along with supporting gas-liquid separation and hydrogen purification facilities, producing hydrogen with a purity of 99.999%. The construction period is scheduled from November 2026 to November 2028. Jiyuan (Siping) Green Energy Co., Ltd. : Jiyuan (Siping) Green Energy selected its affiliated party, State Nuclear Electric Power Planning Design & Research Institute, through public tender to undertake the EPC general contracting project for the hydrogen production facility, with a fixed contract price of 204.96 million yuan. The general contracting scope covers the design of the hydrogen production facility, procurement of equipment and materials excluding Party A-supplied electrolysis water complete sets of equipment and rectifier cabinets, civil construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and full-process warranty services, with qualified hydrogen output scheduled before August 30, 2027. Wojiang Clean Energy (Xinjiang Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone) Co., Ltd.: The general contracting contract for the Zhundong 2 billion m³/year coal-to-natural gas project was signed in Urumqi. The project is located in Changji Zhundong Economic Development Zone, with a total investment of 15.486 billion yuan. It is expected to commence production by the end of October 2026, with supporting output of multiple types of by-products. The project includes supporting electrolysis hydrogen production integrated with green methanol production, and plans a 650,000 mt/year CCUS carbon capture facility to be implemented in two phases, progressively achieving full green electricity coverage while simultaneously demonstrating large-scale crushed coal pressurized gasifiers to advance the scaling-up of coal-to-gas equipment. Da'an Jidian Green Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd. : The Da'an wind and solar green hydrogen-to-ammonia integrated demonstration project issued a tender for additional equipment, planning to add one set of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production unit. The project broke ground in May 2023 and commenced production in July 2025, supported by 800 MW of wind and solar power capacity. It adopts a dual-route hydrogen production approach of 36,000 Nm³/h alkaline plus 9,600 Nm³/h PEM, with an annual output of 32,000 mt of green hydrogen and 180,000 mt of green ammonia, while simultaneously deploying two types of large-capacity hydrogen storage facilities using solid-state and organic liquid technologies. Longyuan Power Group Co., Ltd.: Longyuan Power announced the winning candidate for the procurement of 500 Nm³/h PEM electrolyzer equipment for the Zhangye Carbon Neutrality Industrial Base Wind-Solar-Hydrogen-Storage Integration Project. Dongfang Electric (Chengdu) Hydrogen Energy ranked first with a bid of 6.3 million yuan. The project is located in the Circular Economy Demonstration Park of Zhangye Economic Development Zone and is SPIC Gansu's first green electricity-to-hydrogen project. It plans to build a 22,000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production main unit with supporting hydrogen storage tanks, and simultaneously construct a 2,000 Nm³/h hydrogen production pilot platform including a 500 Nm³/h PEM unit. Yanchang Petroleum Gas Group Transportation Energy Company: The hydrogen refueling demonstration station at the Fuping Service Area (North Zone) on the Beijing-Kunming Expressway, constructed by the company, successfully achieved mechanical completion and entered the commissioning phase. The station is a standardized Level 3 hydrogen refueling station equipped with an intelligent hydrogen refueling control system capable of automated operations and full-process monitoring and traceability. After commissioning, the station will primarily serve hydrogen-powered heavy trucks and intercity hydrogen buses, filling the gap in hydrogen refueling infrastructure along the Weinan section of the Beijing-Kunming Expressway and improving the hydrogen refueling network for the green freight loop from Hancheng to Fuping and Huangling. Guangdong Yuntao Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: Two major hydrogen energy projects of Yuntao Hydrogen Energy were launched. Its Beitai Road hydrogen refueling station was officially put into operation, becoming a new benchmark hydrogen refueling station in south China. The station is a supporting project for the Minke Park, benchmarked against the Liangtian model hydrogen refueling station. It covers an area of 3,100 m², is equipped with 4 hydrogen dispensers and 8 hydrogen refueling nozzles, with a maximum 24-hour refueling capacity of 4,000 kg, capable of serving 200 hydrogen-powered dump trucks or 400 cold chain logistics vehicles per day, further improving the vehicle hydrogen refueling network in the Greater Bay Area. Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd. : The pre-award announcement for the hydrogen refueling station equipment procurement project of Qingdao Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park was released. Shanghai Hydrogen Maple Energy and Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy were listed as the top two candidates, with bids of 14.18 million yuan and 13.67 million yuan, respectively. The project was jointly tendered by Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Energy and PetroChina Pipeline Bureau Engineering. The total project investment is 70 million yuan, with a construction cost of 14.5 million yuan. The project covers an area of 5,761 m² and plans to build a Level 3 hydrogen refueling station with a building area of 1,302 m², designed for a maximum daily 12-hour hydrogen refueling capacity of 2,500 kg, equipped with 4 units of 35 MPa hydrogen dispensers and 8 hydrogen refueling nozzles. This tender covers the full process including complete hydrogen refueling equipment, valves, automation, electrical supply, and on-site installation and commissioning. Huadian New Energy Group Co., Ltd. Fujian Branch: The Quanzhou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment approved the environmental impact assessment document for Huadian Fujian's 5 MW flexible off-grid seawater hydrogen production technology research and pilot verification project. The project is constructed by Huadian New Energy Group Co., Ltd. Fujian Branch and is located at the No. 10 wind turbine site of Quanhui Wind Farm in Quanhui Petrochemical Industrial Park. As a seawater-to-hydrogen pilot project, it relies on two on-site wind turbines for power supply to conduct off-grid electrolysis seawater hydrogen production experiments. The project covers a total area of 1,683.80 m², with a total operation duration of 1,000 hours and a total investment of 18.7 million yuan, of which 1.681 million yuan is for environmental protection. The overall system consists of six major functional modules and supporting utilities. Policy Review 1. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other departments issued a notice on the release of the Guidelines for Non-fossil Energy Electricity Consumption Accounting (Trial). The document states that coordination with energy statistics, carbon emission accounting, and other systems should be strengthened. Factors such as physical connections, electricity energy trading, and green electricity certificate and green electricity trading should be comprehensively considered to classify and clarify the rules for recognizing non-fossil energy electricity consumption and the accounting methods at the provincial (autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government, the same hereinafter) and municipal (prefecture-level) levels, as well as for electricity users. Recognition methods for non-fossil energy electricity consumption: Physical recognition. Self-generated and self-consumed electricity from non-fossil energy sources, and self-consumed electricity from new business models such as green electricity direct connection, are recognized as the non-fossil energy electricity consumption of the electricity user. Production electricity consumed by non-fossil energy power generation projects is recognized as the non-fossil energy electricity consumption of the respective power generation enterprise. Transaction recognition. This includes two recognition methods: electricity energy trading (including conventional non-fossil energy electricity trading, green electricity trading, etc., the same hereinafter) and green electricity certificate trading (including green electricity certificate transfers, etc., the same hereinafter). 2. The Jilin Provincial Energy Bureau and the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission jointly issued a notice on the Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Integrated and Converged Development of New Energy in Jilin Province. Overall objectives: By 2030, integrated and converged development will become an important approach for new energy development across the province. New scenarios featuring integration and convergence will continue to emerge. The province's new energy development models will be more flexible, consumption pathways more diversified, application scenarios more abundant, and the electricity market more dynamic. More than 50 integrated and converged projects and application scenarios will be completed, providing strong support for the comprehensive green transformation of the province's economic and social development. 3. The Guangdong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation issued a public notice soliciting opinions on the Guangdong provincial local standard Operational Specifications for Integrated Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Refueling Devices (Review Draft). The document states that this standard specifies the basic requirements, personnel management, equipment and facility management, hydrogen quality management, hydrogen refueling operation management, safety management, archive management, and data recording for the operation of integrated hydrogen production, storage, and refueling devices. Enterprise Updates Tianji Hydrogen Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. : Tianji Hydrogen Energy successively signed agreements with Jiaqing New Energy and Manst Hydrogen Energy. The three parties will conduct in-depth industry chain cooperation in green hydrogen equipment and project development. According to the agreements, the parties will cooperate in multiple dimensions including electrolyzer and post-processing system procurement, joint project bidding, and agency sales. They will also establish strict intellectual property protection and exclusive collaboration mechanisms to ensure the stability and competitiveness of cooperative projects, and jointly tackle hydrogen energy application challenges across multiple scenarios. SPIC Green Energy Co., Ltd.: Huang Qiang, Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, conducted a survey on major project construction in Changchun and Siping. He emphasized the need to fully implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding work in Jilin, focus on building a modern industrial system and modern infrastructure system, and accelerate the advancement of major project construction. Jiangsu Trina Green Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. : Trina Green Hydrogen signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Nanjing Institute of the Fifth Electronics Research Institute of MIIT. The two parties will focus on the urgent needs for high-quality development of the PV+ESS+hydrogen industry, and conduct in-depth collaboration across five major areas: joint construction of a comprehensive PV+ESS+hydrogen testing platform, joint research on cutting-edge technologies, product detection and evaluation, industry standard development, and full-chain industrial technology services. Through the strong alliance model of "industry leader + authoritative scientific research and detection institution," they aim to address the shortcomings in PV+ESS+hydrogen equipment testing and verification. Enric (Bengbu) Compressor Co., Ltd. : Two large skid-mounted hydrogen pipeline compressors independently designed and with core technologies self-developed by the company successfully completed factory acceptance testing and were officially shipped for delivery. The equipment will support China's first long-distance green hydrogen transmission pipeline project. China Southern Power Grid Power Technology Co., Ltd.: The company completed core technology breakthroughs for long-endurance hydrogen-powered drones and successfully conducted pilot applications in mountain power grid inspection scenarios at the Meizhou Power Supply Bureau of Guangdong Power Grid. Wuhu Shipyard (Wuhu Shipyard Co., Ltd. : The Tongzhouwan site at Wuhu Shipyard's Nantong base completed the semi-submersible float-off launching of the vessel "18515." The vessel is an 18,500-deadweight-tonnage methanol dual-fuel high-end chemical tanker and is the first vessel in the series. It has a total length of 149.8 meters, a design speed of 14 knots, and can use methanol as clean fuel. This launching cleared a key step in standardized construction and will help promote local shipbuilding industry development. Zhangjiagang Port Group Co., Ltd. : The first round of bidding for Zhangjiagang Port's 10 hydrogen fuel cell tractor project had only two valid suppliers, failing to meet the bid opening requirements. The procurement method was changed to negotiated procurement. This procurement involves 10 units of 45 kN hydrogen fuel cell tractors, including 1 unit with intelligent assisted driving, for intra-port transfer operations and required to be compatible with existing flatbed trailers. Taiyuan Public Transport Holdings (Group) Co., Ltd. : The company selected a local gas supply service provider through merit-based evaluation to ensure daily hydrogen supply for 6 hydrogen-powered buses, with unit price settlement based on actual gas consumption. The supplied hydrogen must comply with the GB/T3634.2-2011 high-purity hydrogen standard. The service provider is required to deploy fixed hydrogen refueling stations in Taiyuan, prioritize emergency hydrogen refueling for public buses, implement one-card-per-vehicle hydrogen refueling management, with a project service period of two years. Lanzhou Lanshi Petroleum Equipment Engineering Co., Ltd.: The second-generation 45 MPa ionic liquid hydrogen compressor and 22 MPa hydraulic-driven piston hydrogen compressor, customized for a domestic energy station, successfully completed all testing procedures including boost commissioning and electrical control system joint debugging. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint/Technical Specifications 1. The team led by Professor Li Zhipeng from Northwestern Polytechnical University innovatively constructed a three-dimensional multi-physics coupling model for tubular solid oxide fuel cells, systematically revealing the quantitative effects of temperature, electrode thickness, porosity, and oxygen domain geometric parameters on battery output performance. 2. The National Hydrogen Energy Power Quality Inspection and Testing Center of China Automotive Engineering Research Institute completed and commercially opened a 0–400 kW hydrogen-involved loaded tri-axial vibration testing platform, addressing the shortcomings in large power hydrogen-involved multi-physics coupling testing in China. 3. The high specific power cathode-closed air-cooled fuel cell stack technology developed by the team of Academician Chen Zhongwei and Associate Researcher Zhang Meng from the National Key Laboratory of Energy Catalytic Conversion at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology effectively resolves the industry contradiction between water retention and oxygen mass transfer in air-cooled fuel cells, addressing technical challenges such as low-humidity performance degradation, carbon corrosion, membrane drying and flooding, and high-power thermal management. 4. Two group standards on hydrogen production by water electrolysis were officially released and implemented: Technical Specifications for Safety of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis and Accounting Methods for Economic Operation Indicators of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis. 5. Petronor and H2SITE collaborated to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, improving high-purity hydrogen and low-carbon efficiency in refining. 6. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure, maintaining the asymmetry of electron distribution.

[Molybdenum News Flash] SMM June 3: Yesterday, molybdenum concentrate mines in Henan and Jiangxi auctioned off shipments, with high transaction prices, driving the spot order market to follow the upward trend. Today, SMM 45% molybdenum concentrates closed at 5,130-5,160 yuan/mtu, up 130 yuan/mtu from yesterday. Some mines adopted a wait-and-see approach with limited selling. The ferromolybdenum market saw strong cost support, with ferro plants passively following the price increases, and some enterprises temporarily suspending quotations. Recently, the steel mill tender price center shifted up to around 313,000 yuan/mt, with steady demand. Today, SMM ferromolybdenum closed at 315,000-325,000 yuan/mt, raised 6,000 yuan/mt from yesterday.

[Geopolitical Uncertainties Persist, Domestic and Overseas Aluminum Prices Diverge and Move Sideways] Key areas to watch going forward include whether China's inventory destocking accelerates, whether the US-Iran deal is formally signed, further clarity on the US Fed's rate path, and whether China is further tightening regulations on aluminum capacity operations. In the short term, aluminum prices are expected to maintain a pattern of LME outperforming SHFE with range-bound trading.

[The purchase price of caustic soda from the mainstream alumina factory in Henan Province] SMM informed that the purchase price of 32% ion membrane liquid alkali standing order of the mainstream alumina factory in Henan Province increased by 100 yuan/ton in June compared to May. And the delivery-to-factory price was 2,170 yuan/ton (price adjusted on a 100% concentration basis).

SMM June 2: Dealers in Zhejiang reported that end-use consumption in the e-bike lead-acid battery market was sluggish, with slow battery absorption. Currently, battery inventories exceeded one month. In addition, the recent battery wholesale market had a strong promotional atmosphere. For example, the wholesale price of the main model 48V12Ah was 275 yuan/set, and some brands began "buy * get * free" campaigns. Manufacturers in Jiangxi reported that replacement demand in the e-bike lead-acid battery market was weak, and dealers showed low purchasing enthusiasm. Coupled with high finished product inventories, factory production lines were maintained at around 70% in recent days and plan to stay at this level for 1-2 days. Manufacturers in Henan reported that the off-season trend in the e-bike lead-acid battery market remained unchanged, with OEM battery orders for complete vehicles also being mediocre. Currently, factories produced based on sales, with production line operating rates at around 80%, and raw material lead was purchased as needed.

[June Refined Zinc Production to Decline, Smelter Profitability in Focus] According to SMM data, China's refined zinc production in May 2026 was down 0.41% MoM but up over 5.8% YoY. Cumulative smelter production from January to May was up nearly 5.8% YoY, exceeding expectations.

[Molybdenum News Flash] SMM reported on June 2: A mine in Henan issued a tender to sell 132 mt of molybdenum concentrates with a grade of 45%-50%, with a minimum bid price of 5,050 yuan/mtu.

During the survey period (May 26–June 1), the rebar rolling line operating rate in the Central China region remained stable, while the capacity utilization rate edged up.

SMM June 2 News: Metals market: Overnight, metals generally rose across both domestic and overseas markets, with SHFE lead being the only decliner, down about 0.09%. LME tin and SHFE tin both rose over 2%, with LME tin up 2.63% and SHFE tin up 2.46%. LME copper, LME aluminum, LME zinc, LME nickel, SHFE copper, and SHFE nickel all rose over 1% (LME copper +1.97%, LME aluminum +1.59%, LME zinc +1.09%, LME nickel +1.42%, SHFE copper +1.12%, SHFE nickel +1.26%). The remaining metals gained less than 1%, with the alumina front-month contract down 0.69% and the foundry aluminum front-month contract up 0.41%. Overnight, ferrous metals collectively rose, with stainless steel leading the gains at +1.52%, and iron ore up 0.51%. Hot-rolled coil and rebar saw minor fluctuations. In coking coal and coke, coking coal rose 2.19% and coke rose 0.84%. Precious metals: Overnight, COMEX gold fell 1.7% and COMEX silver dropped 0.96%. In China, SHFE gold fell 1.28% and SHFE silver declined 0.73%. As of 6:43 AM on June 2, overnight closing prices: Macro front China: [NDRC, National Energy Administration and other departments issued the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Guidelines for Accounting of Non-Fossil Energy Power Consumption (Trial)] On June 1, the NDRC, National Energy Administration and other departments issued the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Guidelines for Accounting of Non-Fossil Energy Power Consumption (Trial). It mentioned that the development and reform commissions, energy bureaus, ecological environment departments, statistics bureaus, and data management departments of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Power (Group) Co., Ltd., relevant power generation enterprises, Beijing and Guangzhou Power Exchange Centers, China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute, and China Electricity Council: To implement the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and to promote the improvement of the carbon emission statistical accounting system, we have formulated the Guidelines for Accounting of Non-Fossil Energy Power Consumption (Trial), which are hereby issued to you. Please carry out relevant work accordingly. These guidelines shall be implemented on a trial basis from the date of issuance and shall be used for accounting of non-fossil energy power consumption for 2026 and subsequent years. If there are any issues or suggestions during the trial period, please provide timely feedback to the NDRC and the National Energy Administration. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng chaired a standing meeting of the municipal government on June 1. The meeting approved in principle the Shanghai Plan for Accelerating New-Type Industrialisation and Building a Modern Industrial System under the 15th Five-Year Plan, and noted the need to develop and strengthen a number of emerging pillar industries and make forward-looking arrangements for future industries. The meeting emphasized the need to adhere to innovation-driven development and forge competitive advantages in industry, accelerate breakthroughs in new technologies, R&D and application of new products, and cultivation and opening of new scenarios, support the efficient transformation and industrialisation of scientific and technological achievements, and turn more "flowers of technology" into "fruits of industry." The CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee and the Chengdu Municipal People's Government issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Building of a National Advanced Manufacturing Base. The opinions proposed forward-looking deployment of future industries, accelerating the layout of new tracks including nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, quantum technology, intelligent sensing, embodied AI, sixth-generation mobile communications, biomanufacturing, cell and gene therapy, flying cars, and frontier new materials. US dollar: As of the overnight close, the US dollar index rose 0.26% to 99.19. Data from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed that, driven by growth in new orders and production, the US May ISM Manufacturing Index rose to 54, hitting a four-year high. US manufacturing has sent expansion signals for five consecutive months, indicating that manufacturing is regaining vitality amid a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investment, more favourable tax policy, and reduced trade policy uncertainty. Persistent cost pressure may mean US consumers will face higher prices, as the US Fed's preferred inflation gauge rose 3.8% YoY in April. (Wallstreetcn) According to CME "FedWatch": The probability of the US Fed keeping rates unchanged through June was 98.4%, with a 1.6% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point interest rate cut. The probability of the US Fed keeping rates unchanged through July was 90.2%, with an 8.4% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike and a 1.4% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point interest rate cut. (Jin10 Data APP) Ozan Tarman, Vice Chairman of Global Macro at Deutsche Bank, said the US Fed's next move will not be a rate hike. Tarman said the newly appointed Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh will try to "convince his colleagues to stay put." "Everyone is excitedly talking about how he might completely change his stance and even convince Trump that a significant rate hike is possible this year — that seems a bit excessive to me." "The best approach is to wait and see, and let the political dynamics in the US, the Strait of Hormuz, and even the UK play out on their own," Tarman said. Tarman noted that a European Central Bank rate hike in June appears to be a foregone conclusion, but whether Lagarde will raise rates in September will depend on the progress of Middle East peace negotiations. (Bloomberg) Torsten Slok, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management Inc., said that AI infrastructure construction will push up inflation in the early stages, which will prevent new Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh from cutting interest rates as quickly as he had previously hinted. "We may have to wait a while longer, because in the early stages, the AI boom will certainly push up inflation," he said. From the perspective of semiconductor prices, energy prices, and labour costs, the risk of price pressure is "very clear." (Bloomberg TV) Macro: Today, the US April JOLTs job openings, Switzerland April trade balance, UK April central bank mortgage approvals, Eurozone May CPI annual rate preliminary reading, and Eurozone May CPI monthly rate preliminary reading will be released. In addition, 2026 FOMC voter and Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari will deliver a speech, 2026 FOMC voter and Cleveland Fed President Hammack will speak on monetary policy, and Bank of England Governor Bailey will attend a House of Lords hearing. Crude oil: As of the overnight close, oil prices on both markets rose, with WTI up 5.85% and Brent up 4.53%, driven by the breakdown of US-Iran negotiations and blockade risks. Earlier, Iranian media reported that Iran would suspend communication with the US through intermediaries and planned to completely block the Strait of Hormuz, sending crude oil prices sharply higher. This morning, US President Trump said he expected to reach an agreement with Iran "within the next week," extending the current ceasefire arrangement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the negotiations were progressing well and expressed optimism about reaching a deal. (CCTV) (Wallstreetcn APP) According to US sources, the Trump administration continued to release large volumes from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to ease the energy supply crisis triggered by the US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Data released by the US Department of Energy (DOE) showed that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve decreased by 8 million barrels of crude oil last week, following declines of 9.1 million barrels and a record 9.9 million barrels in the two preceding weeks. As of now, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve inventory has fallen to 357.1 million barrels, the lowest level since January 2024. (Wallstreetcn) Three sources said OPEC+ producers will most likely agree at their meeting on Sunday to further increase crude oil production quotas in July. However, the Iran war has so far caused some countries to fall short of their previous production increase targets. A further increase in production quotas would indicate that the organisation is gradually resuming normal operations, despite disruptions caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the unexpected withdrawal of the UAE in May. According to sources, OPEC+ is expected to increase production by approximately 188,000 barrels per day in July, the same as the increase agreed for June, which had been reduced from 206,000 barrels per day after taking into account the UAE's withdrawal. (Jin10 Data APP)