On May 18, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "Implementation Measures for Capacity Replacement in the Steel Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Replacement Measures"). SMM conducted a comparative review and analysis of the relevant content...

Overall, supply in China’s petroleum coke market continued to tighten, while downstream demand remained generally stable with support, and supply and demand fundamentals provided two-way support to the market. Coupled with recent fluctuations in crude oil prices and intensified cost-side bargaining, SMM expected that in the short term, the petroleum coke market would mainly remain in consolidation, with prices of different categories continuing to diverge.

On September 26, 2025, the General Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued the "Hunan Province Action Plan for Accelerating the Improvement of the New Energy Vehicle Penetration Rate (2025–2026)," focusing on the promotion and application of NEVs and industrial upgrading. It explicitly proposed accelerating the construction of energy replenishment facilities such as hydrogen refueling stations. The core contents are as follows: I. Core Action Targets The core objective is to narrow the gap with the national NEV penetration rate, advancing in phases: By the end of 2025, the gap between the provincial NEV penetration rate and the national average is expected to narrow to within 6%. By the end of 2026, the aim is to reach the national average NEV penetration rate. II. Four Key Action Tasks (1) Consumer Environment Optimization Action Innovating Sales Models : Automakers are encouraged to develop products suited to local scenarios, explore diversified sales models such as leasing instead of purchasing and battery-swapping, and expand ecological cooperation. Improving the Service Network : Promote the establishment of delivery centers and authorized after-sales service sites at the county level and in remote areas, carry out after-sales services in rural areas, and address shortcomings in grassroots services. Extending the Consumption Chain : Standardize the used car market, strengthen battery recycling and leasing management, and enhance the residual value of NEVs. Strengthening Financial Support : Increase credit supply, introduce low-down-payment, long-term financial solutions tailored to younger groups, and optimize NEV insurance services. (2) Commercial Vehicle Replacement Action Public Sector Replacement : Focus on promoting the application of NEVs in public sectors such as buses, taxis, sanitation, and freight delivery, and support key cities for air pollution prevention and control in taking the lead in replacing vehicles in urban construction logistics. Truck Transformation Incentives : Using the phase-out of trucks meeting National IV and lower emission standards as a breakthrough, implement provincial fiscal support and introduce preferential expressway toll policies for new energy trucks. (3) Energy Replenishment Facility Enhancement Action (Including Key Construction of Hydrogen Refueling Stations) Urban Residential Charging Convenience : Implement "unified construction and service" for charging piles in residential areas, provide one-stop services for car purchase, electricity connection, and pile installation, and simplify the application process. Public and Dedicated Facility Support : Improve supporting policies for land use, power grid, and electricity prices for dedicated energy replenishment facilities such as those for buses and trucks, and encourage private capital participation in construction. Energy Replenishment Network Construction at Transportation Hubs : Accelerate the planning and construction of a batch of large power charging (battery swap) stations and hydrogen refueling stations in key areas such as expressway service areas, logistics parks, ports, along major logistics corridors, and national and provincial highways. ; Promote the renovation and expansion of eligible gas (CNG/LNG) stations into comprehensive energy supply stations offering "fuel (gas) + charging (battery swap)" services. Full Coverage of Rural Energy Replenishment : Incorporate charging piles into the "Village Access Project" to achieve full coverage of charging stations in every township and charging piles in every village, promoting the integrated development of energy replenishment facilities with PV systems, parking lots, and others. (IV) Enhanced Support Policy Actions Leveraging Fiscal Funds : Coordinate special funds from the central and provincial levels to implement trade-in and car-to-countryside policies, carry out NEV sales promotions, explore charging consumption subsidies, and encourage municipalities and prefectures to issue car purchase subsidies. Traffic Priority and Parking Incentives : Encourage municipalities and prefectures to grant NEVs traffic priority on core urban routes, along with benefits such as extended operating hours and parking fee reductions in public areas. III. Safeguard Measures Establish a dual-led working mechanism by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission (Provincial Energy Bureau) and the Provincial Department of Commerce, coordinating multiple provincial departments for collaborative advancement; require local governments to refine measures and ensure implementation, while intensifying policy publicity to eliminate misconceptions and foster a social environment supportive of NEV development. This plan is expected to include hydrogen refueling stations as key components of energy replenishment facilities in transportation hubs, advancing them in coordination with charging (battery swap) stations. This will effectively address the energy replenishment challenges for NEVs (particularly hydrogen-powered vehicles), providing solid support for increasing the NEV penetration rate and transforming the energy structure in Hunan.

On Thursday (May 22) local time, the US Senate blocked California's plan to completely ban the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 with a vote of 51 in favor and 44 against, and sent the bill to Trump for signature. Specifically, the vote overturned an exemption approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Biden administration, which allowed California to set stricter automobile exhaust emission standards than federal regulations to promote the sale of EVs and other zero-emission vehicles. The US introduced the Clean Air Act in 1970, initially to help California address severe smog issues. However, it gave California a leading role in formulating environmental protection policies, and the standards set by the state were widely adopted by multiple states willing to follow suit, such as New York and Washington. However, California's "ban on internal combustion engines" regulation has sparked strong opposition from automakers, fuel producers, and even Trump himself. Opponents include Toyota, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), and the US Chamber of Commerce, who argue that these standards are "simply unattainable." Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia stated, "Over the past two decades, California has used its exemption to impose extreme climate policies on the entire nation, which is not the original intent of the Clean Air Act." Capito pointed out, "The decision to limit consumer choices, raise car prices, and cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs was made by California and approved by a federal government that has already been rejected by US voters." Earlier this month, the bill had already passed the House of Representatives. Since his campaign last year, Trump has repeatedly criticized the EV industry, claiming that EVs are "completely useless," benefit other countries, and harm American workers. However, some analysts believe that the EPA exemption is not subject to repeal through the Congressional Review Act (CRA) procedure currently used by Republicans. Democrats argue that Republicans have adopted controversial procedural tactics that could set a dangerous precedent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, "This is the 'nuclear option.' It allows Republicans to hijack Senate rules and gradually erode the institution they claim to value." Manish Bapna, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in the US, said, "This vote is an unprecedented and extremely reckless attack on states' legal efforts to address air pollution." Bapna added, "Under the influence of multi-million-dollar lobbying efforts by 'Big Oil,' Republicans have easily abandoned their long-held stance of allowing states to independently formulate policies based on the values and interests of their residents."

The CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo, hosted by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), will be grandly held at the Suzhou International Expo Center from April 16 to 18, 2025. Concurrent with the exhibition, there will be 1 main forum and 11 sub-forums, attended by government leaders, academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, domestic and overseas scientists, foreign guests from dozens of countries, and leading entrepreneurs from various industries. Witness the gathering of industry leaders, delve into core technologies, listen to experts' insights, interpret market trends, and focus on key issues in Suzhou. This expo covers 6 major exhibition areas, with over 1,300 domestic and overseas exhibitors showcasing the entire industry chain of batteries, including power batteries, consumer batteries, ESS, raw materials, equipment, battery recycling, and new energy vehicles, power tools, electric drives, and the low-altitude economy in the power exhibition area, providing a one-stop exhibition experience. Click to fill out the registration form and register immediately to discuss the future development of the new energy industry with industry elites. We look forward to your arrival and joining SMM in this grand feast of the new energy industry. At this expo, Trinasolar will make a grand appearance, collaborating with peers in the new energy industry to share development opportunities and jointly outline a bright future for new energy. How can the non-ferrous metals industry break through? The golden window has arrived! The "High-Quality Development Implementation Plan for the Copper Industry (2025-2027)" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and ten other departments highlights the goal of promoting green and intelligent development of the industry. The document states that by the end of 2025, all copper smelting capacities in key areas for air pollution prevention and control will complete environmental performance grade A upgrades. Internationally, ongoing conflicts and tensions in the geopolitical arena show no significant easing. Under the pressure of "internal competition and external blockades," how can the non-ferrous metals industry break through? At the recently held CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Conference and Copper Industry Expo, Ouyang Huasheng, pre-sales technical manager for distribution components at Trinasolar China, delved into the deep integration of power market reform and low-carbon development in the copper industry, bringing new ideas and opportunities for the transformation and development of the copper industry under the new policy environment. Power Market Reform: A Key Driver for Low-Carbon Transformation in the Copper Industry In recent years, with the advancement of the "dual carbon" goals, power market reform has continued to deepen, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the energy-intensive copper industry. Ouyang Huasheng pointed out that power market reform has broken the traditional power supply model, building a more flexible, efficient, and clean power market system. In this system, copper enterprises can obtain more diversified energy supplies through market mechanisms, especially renewable energy, providing strong support for reducing carbon emissions and achieving green transformation in the copper industry. Under the traditional power supply model, energy costs accounted for a high proportion of copper enterprises' expenses, with a single energy structure and high dependence on fossil fuels like coal, resulting in significant carbon emission pressures. After power market reform, the market share of renewable energy generation has continued to expand, and the price advantages of clean energy such as wind and solar power have gradually emerged. Copper enterprises can directly purchase low-cost renewable energy through participation in power market transactions, not only reducing energy costs but also significantly cutting carbon emissions and enhancing their green competitiveness. Trinasolar Helps the Copper Industry Tackle Power Market Challenges Facing the complex situation brought by power market reform, copper enterprises encounter numerous challenges in energy management and technological innovation. Ouyang Huasheng stated that as a global leader in comprehensive PV ESS smart energy solutions, Trinasolar, with its profound technical expertise and rich practical experience in the PV field, can provide comprehensive support to the copper industry. In terms of technological innovation, leveraging over two decades of technical accumulation, Trinasolar has launched the Vertex N series modules based on the i-TOPCon and 210 advanced technology platforms. Thanks to their excellent low-light performance, Trinasolar's Vertex N TOPCon modules show significant advantages in power generation performance under daily low-light conditions in distributed PV, with single-watt power generation capability 5%-8.4% higher than BC. The feature of "more power generation in the morning and evening, less loss on cloudy days" perfectly meets the needs of distributed power stations under the current power market reform, further enhancing power generation revenue and gaining a first-mover advantage. Moving Forward Together, Opening a New Chapter in Low-Carbon Development for the Copper Industry Against the backdrop of increasing global low-carbon trade barriers, installing PV systems has shifted from a "cost item" to a "strategic investment" for copper enterprises, especially in the export sector, directly addressing EU carbon tariffs, carbon footprint certification, and other green barriers. By prioritizing the use of rooftops and idle factory land to build distributed power stations, copper enterprises can seize the strategic window of global copper trade restructuring in the next three years. Trinasolar can tailor distributed PV solutions for copper enterprises. By building distributed PV power stations on idle factory and industrial park sites, copper enterprises can achieve self-generation and self-consumption, increasing energy self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on the power grid. Meanwhile, Trinasolar's ESS solutions can effectively address the intermittency of renewable energy generation, ensuring stable energy supply and enhancing the energy management capabilities of enterprises. As power market reform continues to deepen and the "dual carbon" goals advance, the copper industry will embrace broader development prospects, and Trinasolar will continue to leverage its strengths to contribute more to the green transformation of the copper industry. [CLNB 2025—Hot Registration Ongoing] CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo April 16 to 18, 2025 Suzhou International Expo Center

Xi'an: Vigorously Building Charging and Battery Swapping Infrastructure! On March 27, the Xi'an Municipal Government of Shaanxi Province issued the "Xi'an City Action Plan for Promoting the Achievement of the '14th Five-Year' Air Quality Goals and Air Pollution Control in 2025." The plan proposed to build Xi'an into a demonstration benchmark city for NEV application. It emphasized vigorously constructing charging and battery swapping infrastructure, with a focus on promoting the adoption of new energy in public sector vehicles.