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Iron & steelEast Asia & Pacific

Asian stocks rise on Tuesday, July 21, as Nikkei gains 2.2% and chipmakers rebound

Asia-Pacific stock markets rose on Tuesday, July 21, gaining for the first time in four days. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 1.7 percent, benchmark equity gauges in South Korea and Taiwan each rose more than 2.5 percent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 added 2.2 percent as trading resumed after a Monday holiday. The advance was led mainly by chipmakers, with Samsung Electronics and TSMC among the biggest contributors, while a pullback in oil prices helped improve risk appetite. The gains followed last week's slump, when the Nikkei fell about 6.4 percent on Friday. Investors are now awaiting earnings from technology megacaps this week for signs of whether the AI-driven rally can continue. The direction of Asian markets follows global risk sentiment and oil prices, and also feeds into expectations in Iran's market.

Investing.com · Jul 21, 2026

China iron ore and rebar prices fall on Monday as seasonal lull cuts steel demand

Iron ore and steel prices on China's exchanges fell on Monday, 20 July 2026. Iron ore futures slipped 0.33% to 759.5 yuan per tonne and, despite the daily drop, are up about 2.7% over the past month and remain near a one month high. Steel rebar futures fell 1.03% to 3,070 yuan per tonne, retreating from a one month high. Rain in southern China and intense heat in the north have slowed construction and steel consumption, and blast furnace utilization has dropped below 90%. These prices matter for Iran's steel exporters and the steel tickers on the Tehran bourse.

Trading Economics · Jul 20, 2026

Chinese stocks rise on signs of state support; Shanghai Composite up 0.85%

The Shanghai Composite index closed 0.85% higher at 3,796 points on Monday, July 20, 2026, while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.71% to 13,610 points. The gains followed statements by two state-owned firms that they had recently spent about 60 billion yuan (nearly 8.9 billion dollars) buying stocks, helping to support the market even as tech shares extended their slide. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so the direction of its equity and currency markets matters for Iran's economy.

Business Recorder · Jul 20, 2026

China's central bank holds benchmark loan prime rates steady for a 14th month; one-year at 3.00%, five-year at 3.50%

China's central bank (the PBOC) left its benchmark loan prime rates unchanged on Monday, July 20, 2026: the one-year rate, the reference for most household and corporate loans, stayed at 3.00%, and the five-year rate, which guides mortgage pricing, at 3.50%. It was the 14th consecutive month of steady rates and matched market expectations. The decision came as China's economic growth in the second quarter of 2026 slowed to its weakest pace since the fourth quarter of 2022, with policymakers cautious about the fallout from the West Asia war. For Iran, whose largest oil buyer is China, the state of Chinese energy demand and the yuan's path carry direct significance. The PBOC set Monday's dollar-yuan reference rate at 6.7948.

FXStreet · Jul 20, 2026

China's Crude Oil Imports Plunged 41% in June to Lowest Monthly Volume Since October 2016

China's crude oil imports fell about 41% in June to nearly 29.27 million tonnes, the lowest monthly volume since October 2016, according to Chinese customs data released in mid-July. The drop was a direct result of the near-total disruption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid the intensifying US-Iran conflict, weak domestic refinery utilisation, and Beijing's strategy of drawing down pre-accumulated stockpiles rather than buying at elevated spot prices. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and the region's most important energy export market, so its reduced purchases affect both Iran's oil revenue and the global supply-demand balance. Analysts say China's cut in imports, from about 11.7 million barrels a day in February to just under 9 million a day by late May, has partly cushioned the Strait of Hormuz supply shock on the global market.

Energy Connects · Jul 20, 2026

Asian Stocks Cautious on Monday as Oil Tops $90; Tokyo Closed for Holiday

Asian stock markets were cautious and subdued on Monday, July 20 (29 Tir), as oil prices jumped above $90 a barrel and fanned inflation fears. Tokyo's market was closed for a public holiday, having shed 6.4 percent last week amid a selloff in chip stocks. The broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased about 0.3 percent. Chip-heavy South Korean shares fell again, extending a steep near-9 percent slide from the prior week, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose about 1.7 percent. Alongside the war and oil prices, investors are looking ahead to the corporate earnings season.

Reuters · Jul 20, 2026

Japan's Nikkei ends the week down 6.4 percent as chip selloff and war weigh on Asian stocks

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 5.8 percent to 62,946 on Friday, July 17, 2026, ending the week down 6.4 percent. A selloff in chipmakers and AI-related shares, alongside worries over the US-Iran war and surging oil prices, weighed on the market. Taiwanese shares also dropped more than 5 percent, and MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slid more than 2 percent. India held up better: Mumbai's Sensex traded up about 0.6 percent and the Nifty about 0.5 percent on Friday. The Hormuz-driven oil surge and inflation worries have sharpened risk aversion across Asian markets.

Business Standard · Jul 19, 2026

Naphtha's roughly 24 percent surge squeezes Asian petrochemical margins

The renewed naval blockade of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz disruption have lifted naphtha, the main feedstock for Asia's petrochemical industry. According to data from Korea National Oil Corporation's Petronet system, naphtha reached about $82 a barrel by July 13, 2026, roughly 24 percent above its June low. Asian steam crackers source more than 60 percent of their naphtha from West Asia and the Persian Gulf, and that dependence leaves producers in South Korea, Taiwan and Japan exposed to the Hormuz disruption. Before the crisis, about 20 percent of the world's oil transited the strait. The higher feedstock cost erases the relief producers gained in the first half of 2026 and prolongs the squeeze on margins.

S&P Global Commodity Insights · Jul 19, 2026

Asia's thermal coal demand climbs as LNG shortfall bites; Rystad sees 70-million-tonne rise in 2026

The disruption to global LNG supply caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis is pushing Asian power plants and industry to switch from gas to coal. According to energy consultancy Rystad Energy in a July 2026 assessment, Asian coal demand could rise by about 70 million tonnes in 2026 under a tight gas-market scenario. The switching mechanism activates when spot LNG prices exceed thresholds of roughly $10.2 per million BTU in Japan and $10.5 in South Korea, while the forward Brent-linked LNG price for Japan in July 2026 is around $12.7. Japan leads the shift, with coal-fired generation up about 11 percent as gas output falls. The move matters for the energy market and for coal-dependent metals and cement industries.

OilPrice.com · Jul 19, 2026

Japan's US LNG imports hit one of the highest levels on record in July as it replaces Qatari cargoes

With Qatari LNG exports disrupted by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Japan has sharply increased its imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States. According to Kpler data cited by news agencies, Japan's US LNG imports are expected to reach about 940,000 tonnes in July 2026, the third-highest on record and almost 15 times the 60,000 tonnes of February, the last month before the conflict began. Asian buyers, who take more than 80% of Qatar's exports, have turned to the US, the world's largest LNG exporter, to cover the shortfall.

The Star (Reuters) · Jul 19, 2026

Asian LNG (JKM) climbs to highest since late March as Asian buyers scramble for cargoes to replace Qatar's

The Japan Korea Marker (JKM), Asia's main benchmark for liquefied natural gas, reached about 19.9 dollars per million British thermal units on Thursday, 16 July, a jump of roughly 18.5% on the day and a gain of nearly 26% over the past month, its highest level since late March. The main driver is the near-total halt of Qatar's LNG exports after fresh attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on some of its shipments to Asia and Europe, forcing North Asian buyers (China, Japan and South Korea) to seek pricier spot cargoes. The Persian Gulf supplies about one fifth of the world's gas, and cutting that flow is pushing the global spot market toward a fierce contest between European and Asian buyers.

Natural Gas Intelligence · Jul 19, 2026

GeneralEast Asia & Pacific

China's Iranian Oil Imports Fall to About 556,000 bpd in July, Lowest Since Early 2023

China's imports of Iranian crude oil have averaged about 556,000 barrels per day so far in July 2026, the lowest level since early 2023, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. The figure is a further drop from an average of roughly 654,000 bpd in June. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so weaker Chinese purchases feed directly into Iran's export revenues. Beyond the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the halt of much tanker traffic, Kpler says subdued Chinese crude demand and narrowing sale discounts have also limited refiners' appetite to buy. Even so, Kpler expects China to remain Iran's principal oil customer. The figures reflect the month-to-date average as of the report and may change by month end.

Reuters · Jul 18, 2026

China's economy grew at its slowest pace since late 2022 in the second quarter of 2026 as the Iran war and oil prices weighed on growth

China's gross domestic product grew 4.3 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2026, its slowest quarterly pace since late 2022 and below the government's official target range of 4.5 to 5 percent. Data released in the week ending 15 July showed China's economy expanded 4.7 percent overall in the first half of 2026. According to reports, the Iran-US war and the surge in global oil prices, together with weak domestic demand, were cited as the main drivers of the slowdown. China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has cut its crude purchases in recent months in response to higher prices, a shift that bears directly on Iran's oil revenue. The figures matter for Iran's market through the channels of global oil demand and trade with Beijing.

CNN Business · Jul 18, 2026

TSMC Lifts 2026 Capex to as Much as $64 Billion, Targets Over 40% Revenue Growth

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chipmaker, raised its 2026 capital-spending plan to a range of $60 billion to $64 billion in its quarterly report on Thursday, July 16, at least $4 billion above its previous estimate. Most of the spending is earmarked for advanced technologies serving artificial-intelligence and high-performance-computing customers. The company also lifted its revenue-growth outlook for the year to more than 40%, up from a prior forecast of around 30%. Despite the strong figures, TSMC shares fell about 4.6% in premarket trading, as some investors questioned the long-run returns on such a large AI investment. The surge in spending, and doubts over AI valuations, helped fuel a wave of selling in chip stocks across Asian and US markets this week.

Taipei Times · Jul 17, 2026

China's Crude Oil Imports Fell 41% in June to Lowest Since October 2016

China's crude oil imports fell about 41% year on year in June to 29.27 million tonnes, or nearly 7.12 million barrels per day, according to customs data released on Tuesday, July 14. That was the lowest level since October 2016 and roughly 12% below May, which had itself been the weakest reading in eight years. Analysts attribute the drop to the war in the Persian Gulf and the disruption to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a slowdown in China's domestic demand. Independent refiners in Shandong province have cut run rates and shifted toward buying crude from Persian Gulf producers. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, so a sharp fall in its imports can weigh on Iran's oil revenue and the domestic currency market.

OilPrice.com · Jul 17, 2026

TSMC pledges another $100 billion for US plants, taking its total commitment to $265 billion

TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that it will add another $100 billion to its US investment, lifting its total commitment to $265 billion. The White House and the US Commerce Department confirmed the increase. According to the Commerce Department, the new sum will fund up to four more plants, bringing TSMC's US facilities to 12, focused on 2 nanometer chips. The announcement came alongside second-quarter results: net profit jumped 77% to a record 706.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (about $22 billion), and the company raised its 2026 revenue growth forecast to slightly above 40%. On Friday, July 17, TSMC shares fell 6.1% and Taiwan's overall market dropped 5.9%, as part of the market grew cautious about the heavy capital spending the plan implies.

Associated Press · Jul 17, 2026

Asian stock markets tumble Friday as Japan's Nikkei sheds 5.3% in a global chip selloff

Asian stock markets fell sharply on Friday, July 17, 2026, hit by a wave of selling in chipmakers and AI-related shares. Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 5.3% to 63,357, near its lowest in a month, with Tokyo Electron down 9.3%, Advantest off 10.5% and SoftBank down 11.4%. Taiwan's market fell 5.9% and TSMC dropped 6.1%, a day after the company announced a fresh $100 billion investment in the United States. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 2.2% to 24,451, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.6% to 3,819 and Australia's benchmark eased 0.7% to 8,776. Alongside the tech selloff, investors stayed wary of US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, worries that have kept oil near a one-month high.

Associated Press · Jul 17, 2026

Chip selloff turns Asian markets red; South Korea's KOSPI falls 6.3% Thursday

Asian equity markets turned red on Thursday, July 16, 2026, under a wave of selling in semiconductor shares, and even record quarterly earnings from Taiwan's TSMC could not halt the slide. South Korea's KOSPI plunged 6.3 percent, with Samsung Electronics down about 8 percent and SK Hynix down nearly 11 percent. The drop came just two days after the KOSPI's powerful rebound. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell around 3 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose, bucking the broader trend. Analysts said the selling reflected extremely high investor expectations for AI-driven growth rather than weak corporate performance.

SWI swissinfo (Bloomberg) · Jul 16, 2026

TSMC's second-quarter net profit jumps 77% to a record NT$706 billion

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, released its full second-quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, 16 July 2026. Net profit jumped about 77% year-on-year to a record NT$706.6 billion (roughly $22 billion), far exceeding analysts' NT$632.6 billion estimate (based on LSEG data). It was the company's fifth consecutive record-profit quarter. Second-quarter revenue had already been reported at a record NT$1.27 trillion (about $39.6 billion), up 36% from NT$933.79 billion a year earlier. The main driver was robust global demand for the AI chips TSMC manufactures for giants such as Nvidia, Apple and Broadcom. Management had earlier raised its 2026 revenue-growth outlook to above 30% in US dollar terms and set this year's capital budget at a record $52 billion to $56 billion. As the maker of the world's most advanced chips, TSMC's performance is treated as a barometer of technology-sector demand and AI investment.

Reuters · Jul 16, 2026

Japan's Nikkei 225 rises 1.49% on Wednesday, powered by a semiconductor rally

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's Nikkei 225 closed up 1,008.01 points, or 1.49 percent, at 68,751.51 on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, extending its sharp rally. The broader Topix index also rose 49.14 points, or 1.22 percent, to 4,088.12. The main driver was firming semiconductor demand, confirmed by US corporate earnings reports, which sparked a wave of buying in chip-related shares. Trading value for the day reached about 9,567 billion yen, close to $59 billion.

Investing.com · Jul 16, 2026

China's Q2 2026 growth slows to 4.3 percent, the weakest since late 2022 and below expectations

China's National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that the country's gross domestic product grew 4.3 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2026, below analysts' 4.5 percent forecast and slower than the 5.0 percent expansion in the first quarter. It was the weakest growth rate since the end of 2022. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the Chinese economy expanded 0.9 percent. First-half 2026 GDP reached 69.57 trillion yuan (about 10.3 trillion dollars), with growth over the six months at 4.7 percent. According to the data, weak domestic demand and the oil-price shock from the Iran war offset stronger production and exports. A slowdown in China, the largest buyer of Iranian crude, matters for the outlook for oil exports and energy demand.

Reuters · Jul 15, 2026

South Korea's Kospi surges more than 7% in a powerful rebound two days after 'Black Monday'

South Korea's Kospi surged more than 7% on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with intraday gains reaching about 8% and pushing past the 7,400 level. This time, as buying accelerated, a buy-side trading curb (sidecar) was triggered, just two days after the July 13 "Black Monday," when the index closed down 8.95% and a sell-side circuit breaker was set off. Chipmakers led the rebound. SK Hynix rose about 11% (up to nearly 13% at one point) after its US-listed ADR jumped roughly 27% overnight on Wall Street, while Samsung Electronics also gained. The move was driven by softer-than-expected US June inflation data (an annual rate of 3.5% versus a 3.8% forecast), which trimmed bets on a Federal Reserve rate hike, along with heavy foreign buying and signs of strong AI-chip demand. The Kospi's jump was part of a broader Asian rally: Japan's Nikkei 225 rose about 1.4% and the MSCI Asia Pacific equity gauge climbed around 1.6%. For Iranian traders, a return of risk appetite in global markets serves as a gauge of the overall risk mood and of behaviour in the crypto and tether market.

Seoul Economic Daily · Jul 15, 2026

CryptoEast Asia & Pacific

Asian markets surge Wednesday; South Korea's KOSPI jumps about 7% and reclaims the 7,000 mark

Asian equity indices rebounded sharply on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, recovering much of the previous week's steep losses. South Korea's KOSPI climbed about 6.98%, reclaimed the 7,000-point level, and traded near 7,335 intraday; SK Hynix jumped more than 9% and Samsung Electronics rose close to 5.9%. Japan's Nikkei 225 added about 1.4%, with semiconductor makers leading the advance. The main driver was softer-than-expected US June inflation data (an annual rate of 3.5%), which eased fears of aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes, while a rotation back into chip stocks after the sharp early-week selloff, which had driven Seoul's Monday 'Black Monday' plunge of nearly 9%, fueled the surge. The rebound reflects a partial easing of the global risk aversion that spiked last week amid heightened US-Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz concerns.

Economy Middle East · Jul 15, 2026

Bitcoin steadies around $62,600 as South Korea's Upbit volume jumps 1,426 percent on rotation from stocks to crypto

Bitcoin steadied around $62,600 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 after recent volatility. Meanwhile, as South Korea's KOSPI index has fallen about 10 percent since Friday, some Korean investors have rotated from stocks into crypto, and trading volume on the Upbit exchange surged about 1,426 percent. The crypto market has calmed after an early-week selloff rooted in geopolitical tensions; the Crypto Fear and Greed Index remains in "Fear" territory.

CoinDesk · Jul 14, 2026

China Calls for Early Restoration of Free and Safe Passage Through the Strait of Hormuz

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday (13 July 2026) at a Beijing briefing that an early resumption of free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz serves the interests of all sides, and that China stands ready to keep communicating with relevant countries and the international community on the matter. The remarks followed US President Donald Trump's reinstatement of a naval blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz and a 20 percent fee imposed on other cargo, as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes for a third consecutive day. China is the largest buyer of Iranian crude and a major consumer of oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade. Reduced transit and higher risk in the strait bear directly on Iran's oil export flows and on global energy prices.

Bloomberg · Jul 14, 2026

China's H1 2026 foreign trade tops 25 trillion yuan, up 16.9 percent

China's General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday, July 14, that the country's goods trade reached 25.47 trillion yuan (about 3.75 trillion dollars) in the first half of 2026, up 16.9 percent year on year and the first time the first-half figure has passed 25 trillion yuan. Exports rose 13.4 percent to 14.73 trillion yuan and imports climbed 22.1 percent to 10.74 trillion yuan over the January to June period. In June alone, combined exports and imports totaled 4.78 trillion yuan, a 24.2 percent increase from June a year earlier. China is Iran's largest trading partner and top oil buyer, so the trajectory of Chinese foreign trade feeds directly into demand for Iranian goods and export routes.

خبرگزاری شینهوا (Xinhua) · Jul 14, 2026

South Korea's KOSPI rebounds on Tuesday after 'Black Monday,' up over 2% in morning trade

South Korea's KOSPI index rebounded on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after plunging 8.95% the previous day in a session dubbed 'Black Monday.' The index opened at 6,769 (down 0.56%) but quickly recovered, trading at 6,952 by 10:01 a.m. Seoul time, a gain of 2.14%. Buying by institutional investors, which reached about 1.62 trillion won by then, drove the advance, with the semiconductor sector leading the recovery. Samsung Electronics rose 5.89% and SK Hynix gained 4.5%. The bounce after the near 9% drop was seen largely as bargain hunting, against a backdrop of worries over an escalating US-Iran conflict and fears of a peak in memory-chip prices.

The Asia Business Daily · Jul 14, 2026

TSMC posts record second-quarter revenue, up 36%; June sales surge 68%

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, reported on Monday, July 13, 2026, that second-quarter revenue (April to June) rose 36% year-on-year to a record NT$1.27 trillion (about $39.63 billion). The figure came in slightly above analysts' NT$1.264 trillion estimate and near the top of the company's own guidance of $39 billion to $40.2 billion. Demand for AI chips drove the growth. June revenue alone jumped 67.9% to NT$442.68 billion, and first-half 2026 sales reached NT$2.40 trillion, up 35.6% from a year earlier. TSMC will release its full second-quarter results, including net profit and margins, at its earnings conference on Thursday, July 16. As the main manufacturer of Nvidia's and Apple's chips, its performance is treated as a barometer of global technology demand.

Euronews · Jul 14, 2026

South Korea's Kospi crashes 8.95% in a 'Black Monday'; Seoul trading halted

South Korea's Kospi closed down 8.95% at 6,806.93 on Monday, July 13, 2026, a plunge local media dubbed a "Black Monday." After the index's loss widened past 8% at 1:28 p.m. local time, the Korea Exchange triggered a circuit breaker that halted trading for 20 minutes, the seventh such halt on the Kospi this year. Chipmakers led the rout. SK Hynix tumbled 15.37% to about 1.85 million won, its biggest one-day drop on record, surpassing the 14.93% fall during the 2008 financial crisis. Samsung Electronics fell 10.70% to close at 254,500 won. Analysts cited three drivers: fears that the semiconductor upcycle has peaked, profit-taking after SK Hynix's U.S. ADR listing on July 10, and the escalating U.S. and Iran conflict in West Asia, which lifted oil and stoked global risk-off sentiment. The chip selloff spread to Wall Street, where Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron each fell roughly 3% to 4%.

Korea JoongAng Daily · Jul 14, 2026

China stocks hit one-month low; Shanghai index closes below 4,000

China's stock market fell on Monday, July 13, 2026, to a one-month low. The Shanghai Composite dropped about 0.7% to around 3,968 points, slipping below the psychological 4,000 mark. The Shenzhen Component fell about 1.6% to around 14,808 points. Traders reacted to renewed tensions between the United States and Iran and worries about the Persian Gulf region, with a fresh round of US strikes on Iran over the weekend raising investor caution. As the largest buyer of Iranian crude, China influences Iran's markets through the channels of energy prices and the yuan.

Trading Economics · Jul 13, 2026

Bank of Japan's rate stays at a three-decade high as business sentiment improves

The Bank of Japan's policy rate stands at 1 percent following a hike in June 2026, the highest since 1995. According to the quarterly "tankan" survey released on 1 July, the business-conditions index for large manufacturers improved for a fifth straight quarter, rising to 22 from 17. Even so, the yen remains under selling pressure, near a multi-decade low against the dollar.

The Washington Post · Jul 13, 2026

Samsung guides to a record quarterly operating profit of about 89.4 trillion won on AI memory demand

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday, 7 July guided to about 89.4 trillion won in operating profit and roughly 171 trillion won in sales for the second quarter of 2026 in its preliminary release. That would be the company's largest quarterly profit ever, nearly 19 times the 4.68 trillion won it earned a year earlier. Strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and DRAM used in AI was the main driver. Even so, Samsung shares fell as much as 6.9 percent in Seoul. Full results are due on 30 July.

CNBC · Jul 13, 2026

China's crude oil imports fell in June to their lowest since October 2016, at about 6.4 million b/d

Based on preliminary estimates from tanker-tracking firms Kpler and Vortexa, China's seaborne crude oil imports averaged about 6.4 million barrels per day in June 2026, the lowest level since October 2016 and roughly 8% below May. May imports had been reported at about 7.8 million b/d (nearly 33 million tons), the lowest since October 2017. The world's largest oil importer has cut purchases by about 4 million b/d below usual levels since the Iran war began in late February. China has managed the shortfall by reducing refined-product exports, cutting refinery run rates, and drawing down its commercial crude stockpiles. The drop in Chinese import demand has been one of the factors helping keep global supply and demand balanced and oil prices below $100. Chinese customs data has confirmed the May figures, while the June figure remains preliminary.

OilPrice.com · Jul 13, 2026

Asian shares slip on Monday as oil jumps; Japan's Nikkei falls 1% and the dollar firms

Asian equity markets fell on Monday, July 13, as tensions in the Persian Gulf intensified and oil prices jumped. Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 1%, after shedding 1.7% last week, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.2%. The US dollar and Treasury yields rose at the same time, with investors nudging up the odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike on fears that higher energy costs will revive inflation. The dollar added 0.1% against the yen to 161.96. Brent crude climbed 3.3% in early trade to $78.50 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate rose 3.4% to $73.83. Both costlier oil and a stronger dollar press directly on Iran's currency and gold markets.

Reuters · Jul 13, 2026

Japan's producer inflation rose at fastest pace since early 2023 in June on energy costs and a weaker yen

Japan's producer price index rose about 7% year on year in June 2026, the fastest pace since early 2023. The reading came in above the roughly 6.8% the market had expected and above the roughly 6.6% gain recorded in May. The Bank of Japan released the data on Friday, 10 July. The main driver was higher energy costs stemming from the Strait of Hormuz tensions, alongside a weaker yen, a combination that analysts say strengthens the case for further Bank of Japan rate increases. Asian equity markets also slipped on Monday, 13 July, as oil prices stayed elevated.

The Japan Times · Jul 13, 2026

China's Factory Gate Prices Hit 4 Year High in June, Rising 4.1% Amid West Asia Tensions

China's producer price index (PPI) rose 4.1 percent year on year in June 2026, its highest reading since July 2022, according to South China Morning Post, reporting July 9, 2026 on official National Bureau of Statistics data. It marked the fourth straight monthly rise, up from 3.9 percent in May. Higher coal, metals and energy prices, linked to ongoing West Asia tensions and the Iran war, were cited as the main drivers. On a monthly basis, however, PPI fell 0.3 percent in June following a brief drop in global oil prices after an earlier US Iran ceasefire.

South China Morning Post · Jul 11, 2026

China's Iranian Oil Imports Plunge to 556,000 Barrels a Day in July, Lowest Since January 2023

Kpler data published this week (Tir 1405 / July 2026) show China's imports of Iranian crude have fallen to just 556,000 barrels per day this month, the lowest level since January 2023. Independent Chinese "teapot" refiners in Shandong province have pivoted to discounted Iraqi and Gulf crude instead: Chambroad Petrochemical bought 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah Heavy via Zhenhua Oil at roughly $5 a barrel below Brent, while Shenghong Petrochemical bought 12 million barrels of Iraqi, UAE, and Saudi crude. The drop follows the reimposition of US oil sanctions on Iran after Iran's recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a growing share of Iranian cargoes without buyers.

MarineLink (citing Kpler) · Jul 11, 2026

Yen Strengthens 0.6% After Japan's Finance Minister Signals Pension Fund Push Into Domestic Assets

The Japanese yen strengthened 0.6% against the dollar to 161.44 per dollar on Friday, July 10, 2026, after Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaled a policy shift. Speaking at a routine post cabinet meeting press conference, Katayama said the government wants to find ways to encourage the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), which holds 293.6 trillion yen (1.81 trillion dollars) in assets, to substantially increase its investment in domestic assets. Alongside the yen's gain, the yield on Japan's benchmark 10 year government bond fell 10 basis points to 2.775%, its steepest monthly drop. The move came just days after the yen had traded near a four decade low against the dollar amid renewed U.S. strikes on Iran earlier this week.

اینوستینگ‌لایو (InvestingLive) · Jul 10, 2026

Asian Stocks Rise Despite Strait of Hormuz Risk, Led by Chip Shares

Asian stock markets rose on Friday, July 10, 2026, led by chip and AI-related shares, brushing aside concerns over energy supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz. The MSCI Asia Pacific equities index rose 1.7%, trimming its weekly decline to less than 1%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 1.9%, putting it on track for its strongest week in more than a year. South Korea's Kospi jumped 5%, helped by SK Hynix's 26.5 billion dollar American depositary share offering. The rally coincided with Micron Technology's announcement of plans to invest more than 250 billion dollars in the U.S. through 2035, which lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index by 3%.

اینوستینگ‌لایو (InvestingLive) · Jul 10, 2026

China Lifts Refined Fuel Export Restrictions for Rest of July

According to a Reuters report published on July 8, 2026 (17 Tir 1405), China lifted restrictions on refined fuel exports, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, for the rest of July. Zhejiang Petrochemical Co, majority owned by Rongsheng Petrochemical, was permitted to resume exports after halting shipments for more than three months; previously only state owned companies had been allowed to export these fuels. Trade sources briefed on the matter said Chinese refiners plan to export roughly three million metric tons of the three fuels in July, including volumes bound for Hong Kong and Macau, in line with last year's average export volume. The move comes as the world's biggest refiner returns toward normal operations following disruptions from the Iran war, though it remains unclear whether the lifted curbs will continue into August.

Business Recorder (Reuters) · Jul 10, 2026

China's Crude Oil Imports From Iran More Than Halved in June

China's crude oil imports from Iran more than halved in June, falling to about 654,000 barrels a day from the prior month, CNBC reported on July 6, 2026 (15 Tir 1405). China, normally Iran's largest oil customer and the destination for around 90 percent of its crude exports, has cut purchases since the war with Iran resumed in late February. Overall Chinese crude imports also fell 29 percent year on year in May to 7.82 million barrels a day, the lowest level since February 2018. The US Treasury had earlier sanctioned an independent Chinese teapot refinery for buying Iranian oil.

CNBC · Jul 10, 2026

China's central bank sets yuan reference rate below 6.8 per dollar for first time since 2023

China's central bank, the PBOC, set its daily yuan reference rate at 6.7989 per US dollar on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), the first time the fixing has fallen below the 6.8 threshold since 2023. According to Bloomberg, the move signals the central bank's comfort with the yuan's strengthening trend. Following the decision, the offshore yuan rose as much as 0.3% to 6.7785 per dollar, its biggest daily jump in nearly a month. The move comes even as the US dollar is simultaneously drawing safe-haven demand from the renewed escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Bloomberg · Jul 10, 2026

Yen nears four-decade low as dollar gains from renewed Iran strikes

The Japanese yen remained near a four-decade low against the US dollar on Friday, July 10 (19 Tir), with the dollar trading around 162.36 yen, on track for a weekly gain of more than 0.5% against the Japanese currency. According to Business Recorder and Trading Economics, the US dollar benefited from safe-haven demand after fresh US air strikes on Iran in response to attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while the yen failed to draw similar support despite the escalating geopolitical tensions. The Bank of Japan held its short-term policy rate at 0.75% at its June 15 to 16, 2026 meeting, and traders remain wary of possible direct government intervention to shore up the yen.

Business Recorder · Jul 10, 2026

GoldEast Asia & Pacific

China's Central Bank Extends Gold-Buying Streak to 20 Months With 15-Tonne June Purchase

According to data reported in early July 2026, China's central bank (PBOC) extended its gold-buying streak to a 20th consecutive month in June, adding roughly 15 tonnes (480,000 ounces) to its reserves, a marked acceleration from May's 320,000-ounce purchase. Per Kitco News, corroborated by Bloomberg and IndexBox reporting, China's official gold reserves reached 75.44 million ounces (about 2,346 tonnes) by the end of June, even as global gold prices fell 11.65 percent during the month. Analysts describe the purchases as part of Beijing's strategy to reduce reliance on dollar-denominated reserve assets.

Kitco News · Jul 10, 2026