China has unveiled an ambitious agenda to extend its carbon trading system to encompass the steel, cement, and aluminium smelting sectors. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has announced that this expansion will incorporate an additional 1,500 enterprises, enabling them to procure credits to offset their CO₂-equivalent emissions.
This extension will elevate the total volume of carbon dioxide regulated under the trading system to 8 billion tonnes—encompassing over 60 per cent of China’s total emissions. Ministry spokesperson Pei Xiaofei revealed these developments during a briefing on Wednesday.
As one of the world’s foremost exporters of goods subject to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), China is projected to export approximately 868.94 million tonnes of such commodities between 2026 and 2040, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights. The iron and steel industries will account for 42 per cent of these exports, cement 8 per cent, and aluminium 6 per cent.
At present, the scheme governs approximately 5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions generated by 2,200 power enterprises.
Developments till date
Last week, China reactivated its voluntary carbon credit market after an eight-year suspension, prompting significant price fluctuations. A Bloomberg report highlighted that China Certified Emission Reduction (CCER) credits initially surged to RMB 107.36 (USD 14.82) per tonne—21 per cent higher than mandatory carbon allowances—before plummeting to RMB 72.81, reflecting a 17 per cent discount.
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