Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Commodities

Commodities
Commodity market action from around the world with a focus on the commodities that matter most to investors in Hong Kong and China.
Workers process durians for export to China in Lam Dong, Vietnam, as Southeast Asian exporters offloaded a glut of the pungent, spiky fruit, sparking a drop in prices. Photo: Xinhua
China trade

China’s durian imports from Thailand, Malaysia soar as glut stresses growers

Chinese imports of the pungent fruit have increased by 47 per cent in the first half of 2026, prompting a sharp decline in prices.

Banking & finance

What are ‘climate black swan’ events, and why are global investors so worried?

US, Israel war on Iran

Red Sea shutdown risk looms as US-Iran tensions threaten another oil surge

videocam
11
Banking & finance

China’s resources deals turn gold mines into – gold mines

Chinese gold producers, after a buying spree for mines abroad, are cashing in as the metal’s price goes sky-high.

videocam
Gold prices remain highly elevated despite a recent sell-off, boosting the earnings of Chinese gold mining firms. Photo: AFP
China trade

China’s imports from Africa surge after Beijing expands zero-tariff policy

China’s growing hunger for critical minerals partly drove the increase, but the tariff reduction is also fuelling trade in several new sectors.

videocam
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Connect scheme for gold shines light on China’s financial liberalisation

The Connect model has evolved from isolated reforms into a blueprint for China’s financial opening up, with Hong Kong as the bridgehead.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Energy

Blockbuster earnings: how China’s lithium giants are cashing in on energy race

Soaring profits at Tianqi and Ganfeng highlight how global demand for energy independence is powering China’s lithium edge.

Tianqi Lithium's processing plant for lithium in Chile. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Don’t expect the rising tide of AI to lift all boats

While economies linked to hi-tech supply chains may perform well, unequal outcomes and economic instability still loom for much of the world.

videocam
China trade

China issues temporary helium export ban as Iran war strains global supplies

The ban on shipments of the gas, a crucial raw material in semiconductors and other sectors, comes as Middle East conflict strains global supplies.

20
China’s private sector

Chinese firms look to strike gold in a volatile global metals market

Futures brokerages and exchanges aim to grow their market footprint and offer more efficient hedging tools in the global commodity market.

Traders, brokers and clerks gesture on the trading floor of the open outcry pit, also known as The Ring, at the London Metal Exchange Ltd (LME), on March 11, 2025. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Editorial | Gold, bond push boosts Hong Kong’s role in nation’s financial future

At a time of increasing global instability, Beijing needs to be a financial powerhouse to protect itself and others.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee delivers a speech at the Hong Kong FIC & Bond Connect Summit at the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, in Admiralty, on July 7. Photo: Sun Yeung
Banking & finance

China extends gold-buying binge to 20th month in Beijing’s de-dollarisation push

PBOC’s bullion holdings keep rising as forex reserves dip in June to US$3.42 trillion and the central bank seeks security from sanctions and US market volatility.

videocam
Gold in Hong Kong

Hong Kong inaugurates trial operation of gold clearing and settlement system

Chief Executive John Lee announces ‘milestone’ for city’s gold trading ecosystem at Hong Kong FIC & Bond Connect Summit.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Beijing opens lithium futures to foreign traders to cement pricing power over US

Miners, battery makers and traders outside China can now trade lithium carbonate futures and options on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange.

Sacks of lithium carbonate sit in a warehouse of US lithium producer Albemarle, in Chile, March 2, 2024. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

China unveils recycling push to bolster resource security, shore up green shift

The nation seeks to narrow the gap with regional peers such as Japan and South Korea by establishing a more comprehensive, granular recycling infrastructure.

videocam
Waste batteries are pooled for recycling at a facility in China’s Anhui province. Photo: Xinhua
Banking & finance

Exclusive | Hong Kong to launch gold clearing and settlement system next week: sources

The city plans to process its first gold settlement on Tuesday, according to those familiar with the matter.

China-Latin America relations

Aid for Venezuela, China-Colombia ties: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s move towards Beijing to Lula’s beef deal, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in June 2026.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China-Africa relations

Opinion | Beijing offers leverage for Africa. Policymakers are now applying it

Partnerships with China are no longer a debate for economies across the continent but a platform for their own development paths.

videocam
An exhibitor (right) shows her bags to visitors during the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, Hunan province, on June 13, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
HKEX

Hong Kong vows stronger exchange with reforms, bond futures and gold push

Listing changes and new product launches are set to bolster Hong Kong’s role as a global financial hub, deputy finance chief says.

United States

Outside In | US the ultimate loser as Iran war ushers in global power upheaval

Defeated by asymmetric warfare and spurned by allies, the US has ended up boosting China’s economy and standing instead.

videocam
14
China energy security

China green-energy costs seen undercutting traditional energy as capacity soars

Energy-storage chairman eyes ‘0.1-yuan era’ for equipment as solar and wind projects gradually sideline coal in the nation’s power-generation mix.

videocam
5
A boy looks at a table demonstrating photovoltaic power generation at the Green Energy Pavilion during the 10th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, Yunnan province, on June 13. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Video | Dirt-cheap ‘durian tsunami’ sweeps Malaysia

The oversupply of premium Musang King durians has caused prices to fall to as low as 9 ringgit (US$2) per kg.

The oversupply of premium Musang King durians has caused prices to fall to as low as 9 ringgit (US$2) per kg.
01:43
China food security

Global farming, Chinese food imports at stake as El Nino threatens drought

Sharpest risks to occur in the Global South, with countries facing conflict and economic stress being the worst hit: United Nations’ FAO.

videocam
Japan

Macroscope | Why Japan’s proposal for G7 critical mineral stockpiles is a bad idea

Tokyo’s overtures towards the G7 assume that China is a threat to be countered with economic or security measures.

videocam
9
Hong Kong stock market

Chinese metal producer MMG to raise US$1.6 billion selling stocks and bonds

Firm to capitalise on AI-led price spike of critical metals used to create chips, generate electricity and support computing power.

videocam
MMG copper mine in Las Bambas, Peru. The Chinese metal producing firm hopes to raise a combined US$1.6 billion selling placement shares and convertible bonds to fund its business expansion. Photo: MMG
Japan

Japan, Italy to boost tech, critical minerals cooperation

The nations seek closer ties, particularly on supply chains amid concerns about over-reliance on China for critical minerals.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) shakes hands with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at a welcoming ceremony in Rome on Monday. Photo: Kyodo
China trade

After US-Iran deal, tanking oil prices, analysts see ‘grey area’ for China firms

‘There’s still uncertainty on the longevity of this deal’, ING analyst says as traders wait to see if sanctions will be lifted while weighing potential for Israeli interference.

videocam
5
Indonesia

Asian Angle | Indonesia’s nickel rule changes are spooking Chinese investors

A leaked grievance letter reveals how Jakarta’s resource nationalism risks driving essential Chinese capital away.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement