
Trade Watcher
China's rare earth magnet exports plunge 74% YoY
In May, China’s rare earth magnet exports fell 74% YoY — the largest monthly drop on record. Total exports hit 1.2M kg, the lowest since Feb 2020.
Exports to the U.S. collapsed 93% to ~46,000 kg after a 59% drop in April.
China produces ~69% of the world’s rare earth minerals and processes ~90%, making its exports a central lever in the tariff war.
In May, China’s rare earth magnet exports fell 74% YoY — the largest monthly drop on record. Total exports hit 1.2M kg, the lowest since Feb 2020.
Exports to the U.S. collapsed 93% to ~46,000 kg after a 59% drop in April.
China produces ~69% of the world’s rare earth minerals and processes ~90%, making its exports a central lever in the tariff war.

Trade Watcher
Polymarket currently gives just 30% odds that OpenAI's ChatGPT hits 1B monthly active users by Dec 31, 2025.
As of March, it had ~600M MAUs (per Google court filing). To reach 1B, it’d need 8.8% MoM growth—faster than TikTok managed at scale.
For reference, ChatGPT grew ~9% MoM from 100M to 400M WAUs in 2023–24.
As of March, it had ~600M MAUs (per Google court filing). To reach 1B, it’d need 8.8% MoM growth—faster than TikTok managed at scale.
For reference, ChatGPT grew ~9% MoM from 100M to 400M WAUs in 2023–24.

Trade Watcher
JUST IN: Trump on Iran:
“The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is going well.
I think we will have some sort of relationship with Iran.
Iran will not have a nuclear bomb.”
In response to a question about Iran’s uranium enrichment plans, Trump said:
“We will not allow it — even by military means.”
“The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is going well.
I think we will have some sort of relationship with Iran.
Iran will not have a nuclear bomb.”
In response to a question about Iran’s uranium enrichment plans, Trump said:
“We will not allow it — even by military means.”

Trade Watcher
JUST IN: The US Treasury reported a $316 billion budget deficit in May, marking the third-largest in history. Government spending increased by 3% YoY, reaching $687 billion. Despite a 270% surge in tariff revenue to $23 billion, it did little to offset the deficit. The budget gap for the first 8 months of Fiscal Year 2025 is now $1.37 trillion, the third-largest ever. The 12-month federal deficit is at $2.0 trillion, or 6.7% of GDP, up from 6.1% last year, indicating a worsening deficit crisis.