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

SMM June 8 News: On the metals market front: Overnight last Friday, base metals across domestic and overseas markets fell broadly. In the domestic market, SHFE tin led the decline with a drop of 5.27%, while LME tin fell 4.92%. LME copper dropped 2.78%. LME aluminum, LME zinc, and SHFE copper all fell over 1%, with LME aluminum down 1.84%, LME zinc down 1.52%, and SHFE copper down 1.84%. Declines for the remaining metals were all within 1%. The alumina main contract rose 0.65%, while the cast aluminum main contract fell 0.61%. Overnight last Friday, ferrous metals generally rose. Only stainless steel fell, with a decline of 0.14%, while the remaining metals all increased. HRC and rebar saw gains of around 0.4%, with HRC up 0.47% and rebar up 0.44%. For coking coal and coke, coking coal rose 1.73%, and coke rose 0.15%. In the precious metals market, overnight last Friday, COMEX gold fell 3.35%, recording a weekly decline of 5.21%. COMEX silver plunged 8.08%, with a weekly decline of 10.39%, marking its fourth consecutive weekly drop. Domestically, SHFE gold fell 2.93%, with a weekly decline of 0.66%. SHFE silver fell 7.43%, with a weekly decline of 3.72%. The US achieved another strong month of job growth in May, raising concerns about a potential interest rate hike later this year. As of 8:27 on June 6, the closing market data from overnight last Friday: Macro Front [Foreign Ministry Introduces Arrangements for General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea] At the invitation of Kim Jong Un, State Affairs Commission Chairman of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China, will pay a state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from June 8 to 9. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated during a regular press conference on the 5th that this visit marks General Secretary Xi Jinping’s first state visit to North Korea in seven years. During the visit, the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un, the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between China and the DPRK has maintained sustained, healthy, and stable development, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Between the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The two sides will take this visit as an opportunity to push for greater progress in China-DPRK relations that keeps pace with the times, enhance the well-being of both peoples, and make greater contributions to peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world. (Xinhua News Agency) Domestic front: On June 5, Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council executive meeting. The meeting pointed out the need to further strengthen forward-looking layout and increase promotion efforts based on the characteristics of future industries, to firmly grasp the initiative in development. It is necessary to solidify the technological foundation, continuously increase investment in basic research, and systematically deploy breakthroughs in original and disruptive technologies. Ecological construction must be emphasized, promoting the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application, encouraging close cooperation between upstream and downstream segments of the industry chain, and fostering more startups and unicorn enterprises in key tracks. [Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Seeks Public Comments on the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Fund (Revised Draft for Comments)] The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a notice to solicit public comments on the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Fund (Revised Draft for Comments). Under any of the following circumstances, an employee may withdraw the balance stored in their housing provident fund account: (1) Paying rent; (2) Purchasing, constructing, renovating, or overhauling a self-occupied dwelling; (3) Repaying the principal and interest of a housing purchase loan; (4) Decorating a self-occupied dwelling, up to a certain limit; (5) Paying property management fees for a self-occupied dwelling; (6) Retiring or leaving their post; (7) Completely losing the ability to work and terminating the labor (personnel) relationship with their employer; (8) Emigrating and settling abroad; (9) Other housing consumption circumstances approved by the State Council. (Wall Street CN) The Ministry of Transport and ten other departments issued the Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Small and Mini Passenger Vehicle Rental (2026–2028). The plan proposes accelerating the construction of electric vehicle charging facilities in expressway service areas, with 30,000 EV charging facilities (charging guns) of 60 kW power or above to be newly built or renovated in expressway service areas (including parking areas) by year-end 2028. The plan proposes accelerating the construction of electric vehicle charging facilities in expressway service areas, with 30,000 EV charging facilities (charging guns) of 60 kW power or above to be newly built or renovated in expressway service areas (including parking areas) by year-end 2028. US Dollar front: As of overnight closing last Friday, the US dollar index rose 0.62% to 100.07. Previously released data showed strong US employment data for May. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics disclosed that non-farm payrolls added 172,000 jobs in May. Employment data for the previous two months were revised upwards, and job gains over the last three months marked the best performance in more than two years. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, with labour market resilience significantly exceeding overall market forecasts. Nick Timiraos, the Fed mouthpiece, noted that the re-acceleration of spring hiring this year will provide more ammunition for Fed officials who worry about inflation and believe current interest rates are too low to contain a new round of price pressures. Some officials recently hinted that the Fed should be ready to raise interest rates later this year, at least clawing back some of the three 25-basis-point cuts implemented in H2 last year. Those cuts were implemented to stabilize the labour market, which now looks much healthier. This jobs report will not entirely settle the debate over how much the Fed should consider raising rates later this year, but it does further suggest the case for near-term cuts has largely evaporated. The stronger argument for raising rates now comes from the inflation outlook. Multiple overlapping shocks—from AI infrastructure build-out, tariffs, and energy—could keep inflation persistently above the Fed’s 2% target, even if progress is made in restoring commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. If the Fed holds steady as inflation rises, inflation-adjusted real rates would fall. Even if the labour market is not the primary driver, this mechanism could become a key factor driving rate hike discussions. (Jin10 Data APP) Fed official Hammack stated that with the labour market appearing to be roughly balanced, a rate hike may be appropriate soon. Hammack said that while she never over-emphasizes any single data point, today’s employment report confirms again that the labour market appears to be mostly in balance. She noted the unemployment rate remains at 4.3%, which is basically consistent with what I define as maximum employment. “Given the uncertainty in the economic outlook, holding rates steady is appropriate for now. But if recent trends continue, action may soon be needed.” This essentially repeats remarks she made on June 2. (Jin10 Data APP) According to foreign media reports, May non-farm payrolls data far exceeded market expectations, and the US interest rate futures market significantly increased bets on a Fed rate hike at the December meeting. Based on data from LSEG, the rate futures market now prices in a 65% probability of a Fed rate hike in December, up from 48% before the jobs report. For the June meeting, the market still broadly expects the Fed to keep rates unchanged in the 3.50% to 3.75% range. The stronger-than-expected jobs data indicates the US labour market remains resilient, further weakening market expectations for near-term rate cuts while strengthening investor assessment that the Fed may need to resume rate hikes later to counter inflationary pressures. (Jin10 Data APP) According to CME FedWatch: The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged in June is 96.6% (compared to 96.4% before the non-farm payrolls release), with a 3.4% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point cut. The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged through July is 90.6%, with a 6.2% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point hike and a 3.2% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point cut. (Jin10 Data APP) Macro front: This week, in China, data releases include the China May CPI year-over-year rate, China May PPI year-over-year rate, China May trade balance (TBD), and China May M2 money supply year-over-year rate (TBD), among others. In the US, data releases include the US May New York Fed 1-year inflation expectations, US May NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, US weekly change in ADP employment for the week ending May 23, US April trade balance, US May existing home sales annualized rate, US April wholesale sales month-over-month rate, US May unadjusted CPI year-over-year rate, US May seasonally adjusted CPI month-over-month rate, US May seasonally adjusted core CPI month-over-month rate, US May unadjusted core CPI year-over-year rate, US 10-year note auction yield for June 10, US 10-year note auction bid-to-cover ratio for June 10, US initial jobless claims for the week ending June 6, US May PPI year-over-year rate, US May PPI month-over-month rate, US June preliminary one-year inflation expectations, and US June preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, among others. In Germany, data releases include the German April seasonally adjusted industrial output month-over-month rate, German April seasonally adjusted trade balance, and German May final CPI month-over-month rate, among others. In the Eurozone, data releases include the Eurozone June Sentix Investor Confidence Index, Eurozone ECB deposit facility rate for June 11, and Eurozone ECB main refinancing rate for June 11, among others. In the UK, data releases include the UK April three-month GDP month-over-month rate, UK April manufacturing output month-over-month rate, UK April seasonally adjusted goods trade balance, and UK April industrial output month-over-month rate, among others. Data including the Bank of Canada interest rate decision for June 10, French May final CPI month-over-month rate, Japan April trade balance, and Switzerland May Consumer Confidence Index will also be released. Furthermore, the Bank of Canada will announce its interest rate decision, and BoC Governor Macklem and Senior Deputy Governor Rogers will hold a monetary policy press conference. The European Central Bank will announce its interest rate decision, and ECB President Lagarde will hold a monetary policy press conference. Crude Oil front: As of overnight closing last Friday, oil prices in both markets fell together, with WTI oil down 3% and Brent oil down 2.37%. However, both recorded weekly gains, with WTI oil up 3.31% weekly and Brent oil up 1.82% weekly. The decline in crude oil prices overnight last Friday was primarily due to reduced market perceptions of a renewed US-Iran conflict. US President Trump stated at a campaign event in Wisconsin on the 5th that the war with Iran would be ended quickly, thus removing a significant factor contributing to high prices. With the midterm elections approaching, US public opinion widely believes the US-Iran war has driven up oil prices and the cost of living, putting pressure on Republican election prospects. (CCTV) Fitch stated in a new report that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz created a logistical supply shock but did not alter the market trend. The agency expects a rapid recovery in regional production, strong supply growth from non-OPEC countries, and potentially more aggressive OPEC policies to re-trigger an oversupply situation in Q4 2026, pushing oil prices downward once the Strait reopens. Based on an assumption that the Strait of Hormuz reopens around month-end July (implying an effective closure period of five months), our baseline expectation is that Brent crude will average $87 per barrel in 2026. Significant uncertainty remains regarding the exact timing of the Strait's reopening, and the risks facing oil prices are binary. The current price increase reflects a transitory logistical supply shock rather than a permanent loss of production capacity. We expect the Strait to reopen around end-July and anticipate a significant decline in Brent prices from the highs seen between March and July. (Jin10 Data APP) According to a Bloomberg survey, OPEC crude oil production fell to its lowest level in decades in May, as the US blockade on Iran and turmoil in the Persian Gulf region continued to suppress output. OPEC oil production dropped by 1.22 million barrels per day in May (half of which came from Iran), falling to 16.33 million barrels per day, its lowest level in at least 37 years. This figure excludes the UAE, which withdrew from OPEC last month. The survey indicated Iran’s oil production plunged last month by 710,000 barrels per day to 2.34 million barrels per day, a five-year low. US Central Command continues to enforce a blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports. (Jin10 Data APP) Notably, however, the UK government has raised its domestic crude oil price forecast, believing that even if the US and Iran reach a peace deal, crude oil prices could remain around $100 per barrel through 2028, as it now anticipates energy supply recovery in the Gulf region will take longer. A new analysis warns that pressure on energy prices is higher than previously expected, amid a deteriorating global economic outlook. The UK government previously estimated Persian Gulf supply could recover about six months after the end of the war, but it now believes recovery could take as long as 14 months. (Jin10 Data APP)

News has emerged that the first internal memo from the US Fed’s new chair, Warsh, has been leaked. In the memo, he pledges to uphold the “finest traditions of the US Fed” while also clearly expressing a desire for change. According to several former senior US Fed officials, Warsh is expected to gradually abolish the current forward guidance rules on interest rates and remove language from policy decision statements that hints at the direction of future interest rate hikes or cuts. Additionally, Warsh has appointed two conservative policy figures as transition advisors, one of whom previously proposed a “complete overhaul of the US Fed.”

Chile’s state-owned copper giant Codelco has appointed Jorge Gomez as its new CEO, effective July 13. The appointment follows recent controversy surrounding the company’s production reporting and broader governance reforms. Gomez is expected to focus on safety, profitability, operational control, and sustainability.

Australian mining executives are warning that Treasurer Jim Chalmers' proposed CGT overhaul — replacing the 50% discount with an inflation-linked rate that would nearly double tax on mining share gains — poses a structural threat to junior exploration funding. Junior resources companies rely heavily on retail investors, as institutional funds largely avoid the sector due to high failure risk; tighter CGT terms would reduce risk capital, leading to fewer discoveries and a thinner project pipeline. The industry is lobbying for junior explorers to be included in any start-up CGT carve-out, drawing comparisons to the 2010 resources super profits tax row that destabilised the Rudd government. Chalmers acknowledged industry concern but stopped short of a sector-specific commitment.

[General Motors Launches IT Department Overhaul, Laying Off Hundreds of White-Collar Employees] General Motors plans to cut hundreds of salaried white-collar employees in its information technology department to reduce costs and make room for talent with skills in other technology areas. People familiar with the matter revealed that the layoffs affected approximately "500 to 600" people, adding that company management began issuing notices to affected employees on the morning of May 11. In response to an inquiry from Bloomberg News, General Motors confirmed that it was carrying out layoffs in some positions. In a statement, General Motors said the layoffs stemmed from a transformation and restructuring of its information technology department, aimed at optimizing the company's overall strategic positioning for the future.

The UK government is reportedly preparing for the full nationalization of British Steel as negotiations with its owner, Jingye Group, over a £600 million support package for transitioning to Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) have stalled. The move aims to safeguard the Scunthorpe plant’s 3-million-metric-ton (mt) annual capacity and roughly 4,000 jobs. A transition to EAFs would replace the existing blast furnaces, significantly reducing carbon emissions but requiring massive capital expenditure. If nationalized, the state-led management could stabilize the domestic supply of long products for UK infrastructure, though it may lead to a temporary reduction in output during the technological overhaul, tightening regional supply in the medium term.

【SMM Steel】Ukraine's Zaporizhcoke reduced output by 3.2% m/m to 75,000t in April 2026, but up 4.1% y/y. Jan-Apr output reached 281,700t, flat y/y. Weak results early in the year were due to reduced coal concentrate supplies from shelling of port/transport infra and power outages disrupting stable ops. Output began recovering in February and continued in March-April. In 2025, output rose 2.7% y/y to 898,300t. Since 2022, the company has spent over UAH360m on coke oven battery overhauls. Zaporizhcoke is part of Metinvest Group, with Zaporizhstal as its main consumer.

Metinvest Group’s Kametstal steelworks has launched a comprehensive overhaul of its Blast Furnace No. 9, with a total investment estimated at 162 million UAH. The project is scheduled to last 55 days and involves replacing the furnace lining, cooling systems, and upgrading environmental control equipment. While the maintenance will temporarily reduce Kametstal's pig iron production capacity, the upgrade is expected to enhance long-term operational efficiency and reliability. This planned shutdown may slightly tighten the regional supply of semi-finished steel products in the Ukrainian market during the second quarter.

According to a report by Mining.com citing Bloomberg, Codelco aims to reclaim its position as the world's largest copper producer, targeting a modest increase in copper production in 2027. People familiar with the forecast said total production next year is expected to reach 1.5 million mt. The figure includes mines that Codelco does not operate but in which it holds minority stakes. The person, who asked not to be identified, said production from Codelco's own mines is expected to increase from 1.34 million mt this year to 1.37 million mt. The company is working to reverse a prolonged decline in production and get its aging mines and delayed expansion projects back on track. President Pacheco Maximo hopes to return to pre-pandemic levels of 1.7 million mt by 2030, when global market supply is expected to tighten. To address declining ore grades, cost overruns, and a heavy debt burden, Codelco has overhauled its management system and decentralized project leadership. Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) said Codelco is attempting to overtake BHP as the world's largest copper producer. BHP operates Escondida in northern Chile, the world's largest single copper mine. BI analyst Sporre Grant noted, "If Codelco can slightly increase production, and Escondida's grade declines as per the mining plan, then Codelco could become number one again."