1. [US-Iran Conflict] In light of Israel's ongoing military operations in Lebanon, Iran has suspended communications with the United States and plans to completely blockade the Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously initiating operations on other fronts, such as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Iran has stated that it will not engage in any negotiations until Israel ceases its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and executes a full withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon. Following a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, U.S. President Trump announced that all hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah would cease immediately, and that troops en route to Beirut had been ordered to withdraw.

2. [US PMI] The U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI for May rose by 1.3 percentage points to 54, marking the fifth consecutive month of expansion and reaching a four-year high. The growth rate for new orders accelerated to a four-month high; the Prices Paid Index retreated slightly but remained near its highest level since 2022; and the Employment Index showed improvement.

3. [South Korea Exports] South Korea's export value reached a record-breaking $87.75 billion in May, a year-on-year increase of 53.2%—the largest single-month surge recorded since 1984. Notably, semiconductor exports skyrocketed by 169.4% year-on-year, reaching an all-time high of $37.16 billion.

Plastics and Rubber

1. [HDPE] During the current cycle (May 22–28), polyethylene production totaled 638,100 tons, an increase of 0.63% compared to the previous week.

2. [BR] On June 1, market prices for butadiene rubber in the East China region rose sharply; spot traders raised their offers by approximately 200–300 RMB/ton. Currently, prices for Daqing, Yangzi, and Qilu butadiene rubber brands are quoted at 14,850–15,100 RMB/ton, while some private-label brands are quoted in the range of 14,700–14,850 RMB/ton.

3. [Natural Rubber] On June 1, natural rubber market prices in the Qingdao region trended upward as traders raised their offers. Mainstream quotes for 2024-vintage Yunbao, Guangkeng, and Haibao brands were 17,850–18,000 RMB/ton; mainstream quotes for 2025-vintage Yunbao, Guangkeng, and Haibao brands were 18,150–18,300 RMB/ton; and mainstream quotes for Vietnam 3L grade were 18,150–18,450 RMB/ton.

4. [Natural Rubber] According to the latest report released by the ANRPC (dated April 2026), global natural rubber production in April is projected to decrease by 2.6% year-on-year to 772,000 tons—a decline of 0.8% compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, natural rubber consumption is projected to increase by 2.5% year-on-year to 1.235 million tons—a decline of 5.9% compared to the previous month. For the first four months of the year, cumulative global natural rubber production is projected to decrease by 1.7% to 3.853 million tons, while cumulative consumption is projected to decrease by 4% to 4.923 million tons.

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