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Metal

China Approves General Export Licenses for Rare Earth-Related Items: Commerce Ministry

China's Ministry of Commerce announced on December 18, 2025, that it has received and approved applications from certain domestic exporters for general expo…

China

World’s Longest Expressway Tunnel to Open to Traffic in Xinjiang by Year-End

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, recognized as the world's longest expressway tunnel at 22.13 kilometers, is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of 2025. Th…

Germany

BASF and OQEMA Ink Distribution Deal in Central and Eastern Europe

BASF SE has established a new distribution agreement with OQEMA, a prominent chemical distributor in Europe, for supplying polymer dispersions and additives use…

Electric Vehicles

BYD Hits Production Milestone of 15 Million New Energy Vehicles

BYD announced on December 18, 2025, that it has produced its 15 millionth new energy vehicle, a significant milestone for the company. The vehicle that marked t…

Oil Shale

Japanese Company Buys U.S. Shale Assets for $1.3 Billion

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (JAPEX) has agreed to acquire U.S. shale oil and gas producer Verdad Resources Intermediate Holdings for $1.3 billion. The trans…

India

BASF-Nunhems to Acquire Noble Seeds

BASF-Nunhems, operating through its Indian subsidiary Nunhems India, signed an agreement on December 18, 2025, to acquire Noble Seeds, a prominent vegetable see…

United States

Boeing Seeks FAA Emissions Waiver to Sell 35 Additional 777F Freighters

Boeing (BA.N) submitted a request to the Federal Aviation Administration on December 19, 2025, seeking a waiver from upcoming airplane emissions standards. The …

Electricity Transmission

SSE’s Transmission Arm Secures $1.34 Billion UK-Backed Facility for Scotland Power Grid

SSEN Transmission, primarily owned by SSE Plc (SSE.L), has obtained a £1 billion($1.34 billion) 12-year bank facility to fund significant electricity grid…

South Korea

LG Chem Submits Petrochem Restructuring Plan to Government

South Korea's petrochemical sector is advancing its restructuring initiatives as several major companies submit plans to the government.On December 19, 2025…

Brazil

Soybean Exports From Brazil Are Accelerating

Brazil has recorded a substantial rise in soybean exports during the early part of December 2025, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX…

HVDC

Xizang’s First Ultra-High Voltage Power Link Begins Operations

A converter station situated at an elevation of 3,720 meters successfully completed a 168-hour trial operation on Thursday. This achievement marks the commencem…

United States

Moderna Secures up to $54.3 Million Funding for Bird Flu Vaccine From Global Coalition

Moderna has secured up to $54.3 million in funding from an international coalition to advance the late-stage development of its experimental bird flu vaccine, t…

Kenya

Bamburi Cement Signs US$250M EPC Deal for Kwale Clinker Plant

Bamburi Cement has entered into a US$250 million engineering, procurement, and construction contract with China's CBMI Construction Co., Ltd for a new clink…

China

Venergy Steps Into Boxships With Feeder Newbuild Deal in China

Venergy Maritime, a Piraeus-based shipping company led by Vyron Vasileiadis, has placed an order for up to four 1,900 TEU feeder containerships at CSSC's Hu…

Electric Vehicles

XPENG Secures L3 Road Test License in Guangzhou, Accelerates Push Toward Higher Autonomy

On December 16, XPENG announced that it has received an L3 autonomous driving road test license in Guangzhou and initiated regular on-road testing of Level 3 ca…