#Trend

A new wave of AI tools is transforming video editing workflows, but 57% of creators still require moderate to heavy manual editing, and 85% insist on keeping final creative control. The editing tool market now comprises five major forces—Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and AI-native platforms like Runway and Pika—competing for a growing middle ground of creators seeking professional capabilities without steep learning curves or subscription costs.

A 50-person pig farming equipment company in Foshan, led by Liu Wen, used AI to rewrite its software and generate marketing content, reducing customer acquisition costs from 1,500 yuan to near zero. The company now gets 30 new clients monthly, with new media revenue reaching 200,000-300,000 yuan in March 2025. The broader adoption shows AI's potential in traditional industries despite data and organizational barriers.

China's perfume market is projected to grow to 440 billion yuan by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 14%, far exceeding the global average of 3.5%, according to Frost & Sullivan. International beauty groups are actively investing in the sector: Estee Lauder's fragrance sales hit $2.779 billion in fiscal 2026, up 12% year-on-year, while L'Oréal acquired Creed and invested in Chinese brands like 观夏 and melt season. 中国香水市场预计2028年增至440亿元，东方香趋势加速 据弗若斯特沙利文数据，中国香水市场规模预计2028年增至440亿元，复合年增长率约14%，远超全球3.5%的平均增速。雅诗兰黛2026财年香水业务销售额27.79亿美元，同比增长12%；欧莱雅收购Creed并投资观夏、melt season等本土香氛品牌。2026上半年国内香水及花露水出口额达25.02亿元，同比增长31.05%。

Chinese researchers developed a computer simulation suggesting a missile-borne lidar system could detect and track a US F-35 stealth fighter at up to 61.5km. The simulation represents one of seven science highlights from SCMP's coverage of the past two weeks.

Shenzhen Huaqiangbei merchants reported memory module prices climbing more than 300% year-over-year as of October 2026, with DDR4 (16GB) rising from over 100 yuan to over 600 yuan and DDR5 (16GB) from over 200 yuan to over 1,400 yuan. AI servers consuming 8-10x more memory than standard servers have absorbed about 70% of advanced storage capacity, prompting Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron to shift production toward higher-margin HBM, cutting consumer-grade supply.

Chinese researchers have developed a cobalt-manganese catalyst that converts woody biomass-derived synthesis gas into sustainable jet fuel. The catalyst was verified in a thousand-tonne pilot test and could yield a gross profit margin above 50 per cent, potentially boosting production toward net-zero carbon goals.

Hurricane Isaias is heading toward the US Gulf Coast, home to about 14% of American refining capacity. Shell, Chevron and BP have evacuated personnel and curtailed production, with roughly 1.3 million bpd of oil output shut in. Experts warn the storm strikes at the worst time in 25 years, with fuel inventories at seasonal lows and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at its lowest since 1982.

Starbucks has renamed its store in Urumqi, Xinjiang to "Star-Bazaar," reflecting how Western brands are adapting their image in China. The Kardashians' presence in China is also discussed as part of this trend of Western celebrities and brands navigating the Chinese market.

During August 2026, 18 China–Japan air routes canceled all scheduled flights, totaling 1,120 canceled flights—a 30% cancellation rate. Routes to Japan were already down 53% compared to the previous year, as Chinese tourists increasingly opt for domestic travel or more affordable Southeast Asian destinations like Vietnam and Malaysia due to cautious spending. The decline was evident in Tokyo, where Chinese visitors were notably absent at popular tourist spots.