TCT Monthly | July 2026 - Commercial Freezer & Refrigerator
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
Editor's Note
Issue Summary Dear readers, welcome to this issue of TCT Monthly: Commercial Freezer & Refrigerator. In July, Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026 was held in Jakarta for its 20th edition, highlighting food retail, hospitality, foodservice and related equipment as important channels and application settings for commercial refrigerated cabinets. AUCMA showcased a frozen-food smart retail cabinet and a gravity-sensing AI smart cabinet, while Hiron Cold Chain received grants for two utility-model patents related to refrigerated cabinets. NBS data showed mid-July electrolytic copper up approximately 1.55% from late June, while A00 aluminum ingot was broadly flat. Named market sources are used for stainless steel, galvanized steel and PVC. GB 26920-2024 is now in force, while the U.S. forced-labor-related Section 301 action and the proposed downstream expansion of the EU CBAM continue to require product-specific tariff and classification review. |
SECTION 1: Key Raw Material Prices and Exchange-Rate Tracker
1. Core Raw Materials for Commercial Freezers and Refrigerators
Month-on-Month Trend Summary (vs. June)
· Electrolytic copper: The mid-July value was CNY 104,355.0/metric ton, up approximately 1.55% from CNY 102,762.9 in late June; it rose 1.4% from early to mid-July.
· A00 aluminum ingot: The mid-July value was CNY 23,171.7/metric ton, broadly flat versus CNY 23,187.1 in late June (approximately -0.07%). It rebounded 1.8% from early to mid-July.
· 304 stainless steel: This month’s source is Mysteel rather than the NBS-based series used previously; the month-on-month comparison is therefore presented as a market observation rather than a strictly comparable calculation.
· Galvanized steel coil: The 1.0 mm national average was CNY 3,915/metric ton on 10 July, below the late-June reference level. The July figure uses Mysteel’s national sample and is presented as a directional market observation.
· PVC: East China calcium-carbide-process Type 5 resin was quoted at CNY 4,400–4,550/metric ton on 28 July, slightly above the late-June low range while remaining in a generally weak, range-bound market.
· Tempered glass: No single nationwide price is used this month. Procurement should be based on project specifications and current supplier quotations.
2. USD/CNY Central Parity Rate
From 16 to 31 July 2026, the USD/CNY central parity rate fluctuated within a narrow range of 6.7894–6.7948. It stood at 6.7894 on 31 July, down 0.0015 from 16 July, indicating a modest appreciation of the renminbi.
Trend summary: Among the five selected trading days, 20 July recorded the highest value at 6.7948 and 31 July the lowest at 6.7894; the overall range was narrow.
SECTION 2: Global Exhibition Focus
Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026
SECTION 3: Company Updates and Product Technology
China-Based Company Updates
AUCMA Co., Ltd. (“AUCMA”): On 17 July, AUCMA showcased a frozen-food smart retail cabinet and a gravity-sensing AI smart cabinet at Qingdao Brand Day, integrating computer vision, weight sensing, intelligent temperature control and cloud-based SaaS management into commercial refrigeration equipment. Source: Guanhai News (republished by Sina Finance)
Hiron Commercial Cold Chain Co., Ltd.: On 7 July, two utility-model patents related to refrigerated cabinets were granted: “Frameless front-and-rear sliding-door assembly and a horizontal refrigerated cabinet incorporating the same” (Publication No. CN224470557U) and “Flow-guiding protective device for an evaporator and refrigerated cabinet incorporating the same” (Publication No. CN224470556U). Source: CNIPA Patent Business Processing System
Product and Technology Highlights
· AI and digital retail: AUCMA’s use of computer vision, weight sensing, intelligent temperature control and cloud-based SaaS illustrates the shift from stand-alone refrigeration equipment toward integrated hardware, recognition and operating-platform solutions.
· Structure and operational safety: Hiron Cold Chain’s sliding-door and evaporator-protection patents reflect continued development in door structures, airflow management and component protection.
SECTION 4: Tariff and Compliance Developments
1. Policy and Energy Efficiency
China: GB 26920-2024, “Minimum Allowable Values of Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Grades for Commercial Refrigerating Appliances,” was issued on 29 September 2024 and took effect on 1 April 2026. The implementation rules
for energy-efficiency labeling of commercial refrigerating appliances took effect on the same date. Products manufactured or imported before 1 April 2026 may defer application of the new label until 1 April 2028. Sources: National
Public Service Platform for Standards Information; NDRC
2. Tariff and Trade Compliance
United States — Section 301 action concerning forced-labor import prohibitions: On 23 July, USTR took final action concerning 60 economies that had failed to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on imports produced with forced labor. Additional duties are 10% or 12.5%, subject to product exemptions. Applicability to complete commercial refrigerated cabinets, knock-down units and components must be verified against the 10-digit HTS classification, origin
and exemption lists. Source: USTR
European Union — CBAM: On 6 July, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee adopted its position on expanding CBAM coverage to downstream products and strengthening anti-circumvention measures. The proposal remains in the legislative process. Direct coverage of commercial refrigerated cabinets will depend on the final annexes and CN classifications; even where complete equipment is not listed, steel and aluminum input costs and carbon-data requirements may indirectly affect export pricing and supply-chain management. Source: European Parliament
India tax note: Under the current CBIC rate schedule, goods under HS 8418 generally attract GST/import IGST at 18%. HS 8418 covers both household and commercial refrigeration products. Basic customs duty, the Social Welfare Surcharge and preferential rates must still be calculated using the specific eight-digit classification, product type and origin. Note that IGST is calculated on the assessable value (CIF + BCD + SWS), so the effective total tax burden is higher than 18%. Source: India CBIC
RCEP rules of origin: When claiming preferential tariffs for complete commercial refrigerated cabinets or knock-down units in RCEP markets, companies should consult the product-specific rule for the applicable HS subheading and prepare origin documentation based on material sourcing, production processes and regional cumulation. Source: RCEP
information portal
Note: Tariff and origin treatment depends on product configuration, classification, origin and the latest legal annexes. Customs and trade-compliance
personnel should review the position before quotations, contracts and declarations.
SECTION 5: Key Events in the Next Three Months
1. Industry Exhibitions (August–October 2026)
2. Developments to Watch
· Implementation of the U.S. Section 301 action: Continue monitoring Federal Register notices, HTS classifications and
product-exemption lists. Economy-level duty summaries should not be applied directly to a specific complete cabinet or
component.
· EU CBAM legislative process: The European Parliament plenary process and negotiations with the Council will determine
final product coverage, CN classifications, calculation methods and effective dates.
Key Verification Sources (Clickable Links)
The following links are the official or named original sources used for data, company updates, regulations and exhibition
information. Verification cut-off: 5 August 2026.
01 NBS: Late-June 2026 producer-material prices
02 NBS: Early-July 2026 producer-material prices
03 NBS: Mid-July 2026 producer-material prices
04 Mysteel: Wuxi 304 cold-rolled base price, 27 July
05 Mysteel: National 1.0 mm galvanized coil average, 10 July
06 Oilchem/Mysteel: PVC market, 28 July
07 China Glass Network
08 SAFE: RMB central parity query
09 FHI 2026 official website
10 Guanhai News: AUCMA smart retail at Qingdao Brand Day
11 CNIPA Patent Business Processing System
12 Hiron Cold Chain official website
13 GB 26920-2024 national standard
14 NDRC: Energy-efficiency labeling rules
15 USTR: Final Section 301 action on forced-labor import prohibitions
16 USTR fact sheet
ustr-section-301-action-response-failure-60-economies-ban-imports-produced forced-labor
17 European Parliament: Proposed CBAM downstream expansion
18 India CBIC: GST rate for HS 8418
19 RCEP agreement and product-specific rules
https://www.mti.gov.sg/trade-international-economic-relations/agreements/free trade-agreements-fta/rcep/
20 FHT 2026 official website
21 Fine Food Australia 2026
22 Refrigeration & HVAC Indonesia 2026 — official website
23 AHR Expo México 2026 — Official website
24 Chillventa 2026 — Official website
25 140th Canton Fair International Pavilion, Phase1
26 HostMilano official website: next edition in 2027
Market quotations are provided for trend observation. Procurement, contracting, tax and compliance decisions should be based on thespecific product, transaction terms and the latest official documents. For questions, please contact the TCT Monthly editorial team.
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