Against the backdrop of ongoing automotive lightweighting, aluminum alloys are rapidly expanding into more application scenarios such as structural body parts, battery packs, and chassis systems. Among them, 6-series aluminum alloys, which combine strength, formability, corrosion resistance, and lightweighting advantages, have become one of the key directions for automotive aluminum development. As NEVs raise higher requirements for vehicle safety, driving range, and manufacturing efficiency, the market is posing new challenges to the overall performance of 6-series aluminum alloys. How can the balance between material strength and toughness be further improved? How can formability, joining performance, and service reliability be balanced? How can the new demands brought by the continuous upgrading of automotive manufacturing processes be met? These questions are becoming a key focus for the automotive materials industry... Against the backdrop of the continuous upgrading and iteration of automotive aluminum alloy materials, we are honored to have invited Dr. Zhu Xiao, R&D Director of Liaoning Xiangyu Aluminum Co., Ltd., to attend the SMM (8th) Automotive Supply Chain Conference and deliver a keynote speech titled —— " Performance Iteration Direction of 6-Series Aluminum Alloys in the Automotive Sector ," combining industrialization implementation experience to share solutions for the R&D, process optimization, and mass production of next-generation 6-series aluminum materials tailored for NEV complete vehicles. Dr. Zhu Xiao is a senior engineer, a high-end manufacturing talent recognized by the MIIT, and a high-end industrial talent under Liaoning Province's "Xing Liao Ying Cai" program. He is primarily responsible for the development of new products, new technologies, and new processes at Xiangyu Aluminum, the application of engineering technologies, science and technology projects, and intellectual property-related work . Over the past five years, he has led five national and provincial-level scientific research projects, including those under the National Key R&D Program and Provincial Science and Technology Major Projects, won the Liaoning Province Science and Technology Progress First Prize twice, obtained over 50 nationally authorized patents, and published more than 30 papers, achieving multiple technological breakthroughs in the forming and product processing of high-end aluminum alloy materials . Focusing on automotive lightweight material upgrades, secure this practical knowledge-sharing session, and explore with top aluminum material R&D experts the opportunities for the iterative development of 6-series aluminum alloys. Conference Agenda Overview The conference spans two days, featuring one main forum + three sub-forums + an automaker end-user procurement networking session + an automaker cost and new technology exchange meeting , each session packed with highlights. September 10, Full Day – Main Forum ▶ Main Forum & Automotive Globalization Session ▶ Lightweight Materials Session: Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel ▶ Commercial Vehicle Session: Battery, Intelligence, Lightweighting September 11, Morning ▶ Sub-forum 1: Automotive & Robotics Collaborative Forum ▶ Sub-forum 2: Automotive Chassis Development Forum ▶ Sub-forum 3: Automotive Lightweighting & High-End Steel Innovation Forum September 11, Afternoon ▶ Automaker Procurement Supply-Demand Networking Session (Scroll down for details) ▶ Automaker Cost Communication & New Technology Seminar Full Agenda September 10 – Main Forum & Automotive Globalization Session 9:00-9:15 Opening Remarks 09:15-09:40 Development Trends of China's Automotive Industry During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period Guest Speaker: Xu Haidong, Deputy Secretary-General, CAAM 9:40-10:30 Roundtable Dialogue: The Next Five Years of the Automotive Supply Chain – Going Global, Low Carbon, and Intelligence · Opportunities and risks of Chinese enterprises establishing factories overseas (Southeast Asia, Europe, Mexico) · Impact of carbon border taxes (CBAM) on aluminum/steel exports and response strategies · How AI and digitalization can assist with metal material R&D and supply chain management Companies to be Invited (TBD): Lizhong Group Jintuo Technology NIO Volkswagen 10:30-10:50 Coffee Break & Exhibition Tour 10:50-11:10 Under the Overlay of "Involution" and "Going Global": Changes and Strategic Choices in the Automotive Industry Companies to be Invited (TBD): SAIC, Chery 11:10-11:30 Redefining Materials for the Next-Generation Vehicle Platform: The Material Selection Logic for 2030 Car Models Companies to be Invited (TBD): NIO, XPeng Motors, Xiaomi Automobile 11:30-12:00 Safety First, Materials as the Foundation – The Metal Material Logic in the Design of Power Battery Safety Systems Guest Speaker: Jia Shuyuan, Battery Assembly Design Lead Engineer, R&D Institute, Dongfeng Motor Group Corporation 12:00-13:30 Lunch Buffet September 10 – Lightweight Materials Session: Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel 13:30-13:50 Applications and Development Trends of Composite Materials in NEV Lightweighting Guest Speaker: Shen Weidong, Senior Director, Professor-Level Senior Engineer, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. 13:50-14:10 The Limited Volume of the Magnesium Alloy Industry – Can It Really Open the Automotive Market? Companies to be Invited (TBD): Shanxi Regal 14:10-14:30 New Opportunities for Magnesium Alloys in NEVs: Motor Housings, Electronic Control Cases, Instrument Panel Frames Presenting Company: Mao Mingzhi, Meridian Lightweight Technologies Co., Ltd. 14:30-14:50 Performance Iteration Direction of 6-Series Aluminum Alloys in the Automotive Sector Guest Speaker: Zhu Xiao, R&D Director, Liaoning Xiangyu Aluminum Co., Ltd. 14:50-15:10 Innovative Applications and Solutions of High-Strength and Tough Special Steel in Automotive Chassis Safety Components Companies to be Invited (TBD): Ansteel 15:10-15:30 Steel Auto Body and Integrated Solutions Companies to be Invited (TBD): Great Wall Motor, Rizhao Steel 15:30-15:45 Coffee Break September 10 – Commercial Vehicle Sustainable Development Session: Battery, Intelligence, Lightweighting 15:45-16:05 Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis and Outlook Invited: Lu Huaping, Secretary General, National NEV Commercial Vehicle Ecological Joint Committee (Commercial Vehicle Alliance) 16:05-16:25 BYD Commercial Blade Battery Fast Recharge Technology and Ecosystem Development Guest Speaker: Dr. Deng Qingming, Director, Global Commercial Vehicle Business Center Solutions, BYD Battery 16:25-16:45 Commercial Vehicle Battery Technology and Core Component Development To be Invited (TBD): REPT Battero Energy Co., Ltd. 16:45-17:05 Lightweight Material Technology and Development Trends for Commercial Vehicles To be Invited (TBD): Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. September 11 – Automotive & Robotics Collaborative Forum 9:20-9:40 Shared Supply Chain: When Automotive Parts Companies Build Robots – Downward Disruption or a World Apart? Guest Speaker: Huang Li, Senior Vice President, Huizhou Desay SV Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. 9:40-10:00 Scenario Applications of Embodied AI Robots in Automotive Manufacturing Guest Speaker: Zhang Chaopeng, Embodied AI Robot Expert 10:00-10:20 Current Status and Outlook of High-Performance Aluminum Alloys in Humanoid Robot Applications Guest Speaker: Cheng Hanming, President, Hongjin New Materials Group Research Institute 10:20-10:40 Mid-Session Break 10:40-11:00 From Automotive to Embodied AI: Supply Chain Synergy and New Paradigm Leap Driven by Common Technology Origins Guest Speaker: Lei Xiong, General Manager, Ningbo Joyson Lingxi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. 11:00-11:20 Convergent Innovation and Industrialization Implementation Pathways for Automotive and Embodied Robotics Guest Speaker: Yang Shaoping, Purchasing Director, Humanoid Robot (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. 11:20-11:40 Lightweighting Challenges and Material Selection Analysis for Automotive & Humanoid Robots Guest Speaker: Huang Jiaqi, Material Expert, lron Humanoid Robot 11:40-12:00 AI Robots – Frontier Technology and Outlook for Robotics Guest Speaker (TBD): Chen Weidong, Tenured Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, School of Automation and Perception, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Executive Vice Dean, Medical Robotics Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University September 11 – Automotive Chassis Development Forum 9:00-9:30 The Process Route Debate: From Casting to Extrusion for Aluminum Alloy Subframes Companies to be Invited (TBD): ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bosch 9:30-10:00 Exploring Integrated Die-Casting Chassis: Beyond the Rear Floor, How Far Can Chassis Structural Parts Be Integrated? Companies to be Invited (TBD): Seres Automobile, Guangdong Hongtu, ZEEKR, GAC Huadi 10:00-10:30 Application Prospects of Electromagnetic Thermal Control Technology in Large Integrated Die-Castings Guest Speaker: Renowned Industry Expert 10:30-11:00 The Way Forward for Integrated Die-Casting: From "Expansion" to a "Rational" Perspective Companies to be Invited (TBD): GAC Group, LK Group 11:00-11:30 Domestic Substitution of Aluminum Forgings for Chassis: Mass Production and Performance Validation of Steering Knuckles and Control Arms Presenting Company: Hangzhou Rima Precision Forging Co., Ltd. 11:30-12:00 The Deep Change of Skateboard Chassis on Vehicle Development Models: From "One Car, One Chassis" to "One Chassis, Multiple Cars" Companies to be Invited (TBD): Volkswagen September 11 – Automotive Lightweighting and High-End Steel Innovation Forum 09:00–09:30 Synergistic Development of Vehicle Corrosion Protection, Dual Carbon Goals, and Cost Reduction – Compliant Application of Green Coatings and Low-Carbon Automotive Steel Companies to be Invited (TBD): Institute for Carbon Neutrality in Steel, University of Science and Technology Beijing 09:30–10:00 Innovation in High-Performance Body-in-White Steel Technology and Vehicle Manufacturing Implementation Presenting Company: Zhang Honghong, Deputy General Manager, Suzhou Pressler Technology Co., Ltd. 10:00–10:30 Fatigue Performance Optimization and Long-Life Durability Technology for High-End Special Steel in New Energy Vehicles Presenting Company: Baowu Jufei Special Steel Co., Ltd. 10:30–11:00 Building a Multi-Dimensional Lightweight Material Selection System for Complete Vehicles and Multi-Material Collaborative Application Companies to be Invited (TBD): CITIC Pacific Group 11:00–11:30 Vehicle Engineering Adaptation and On-the-Ground Application of Advanced Joining Technologies for Automotive Steel and Dissimilar Metals/Heterogeneous Materials Companies to be Invited (TBD): Shougang Group Research Institute of Technology, Ansteel Iron & Steel Institute 11:30–12:00 Upgrading of High-Purity Special Steel Smelting Processes and Material Applications for Core Components of Electric Drive Systems Companies to be Invited (TBD): Dongbei Special Steel, Fushun Special Steel, Beijing Jianlong Heavy Industry Group September 11 – Automaker Procurement Supply-Demand Networking Session 13:30–16:00 Procurement Networking Session + Going Global Networking Session September 11 – Automaker Cost Communication and New Technology Seminar 15:00–16:00 Automaker Cost Communication and New Technology Seminar

JSW Steel expects production and sales to strengthen from Q2 FY27 as the expanded Blast Furnace-3 at Vijayanagar ramps up, while reaffirming an aggressive capacity expansion pipeline spanning Dolvi, Odisha, Utkal and Kadapa. Despite the planned BF-3 shutdown, the company reported record first-quarter steel sales of 6.25 million tonnes, supported by resilient domestic demand and a 46% year-on-year increase in exports.

On July 22, 2026, a delegation from SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) visited Dong A Aluminum Company Limited and was warmly received by Deputy General Manager Cao Jiawang and Procurement Manager Chen Jiejun. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on topics including the development of Vietnam's aluminum price system, corporate procurement status and pricing models, trends in the aluminum processing industry, and cooperation for the SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia (Vietnam) Aluminum Conference. The SMM delegation included: Logan Lu , CEO of SMM Cason Lou , Director of Aluminium Processing, Marketing Department Lexi Chen , Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales Chin Khai Yuen , Senior Overseas Aluminium Analyst They were welcomed by key representatives from Dong A Aluminum, including: Cao Jiawang , Deputy General Manager Chen Jiejun , Procurement Manager Focusing on Procurement Practices: Coexistence of Multiple Pricing Models During the meeting, Dong A Aluminum elaborated on its current procurement status and price usage model. As one of the largest aluminum semis exporters in Vietnam, Dong A Aluminum's procurement system has both international and local characteristics, forming a flexible but complex pricing mechanism. Dong A Aluminum stated that the Vietnamese market currently lacks a locally recognized price reference system with international credibility, and enterprises face challenges such as inconsistent pricing benchmarks and scattered price information in actual operations, hoping that SMM can promote the standardization of Vietnam's aluminum price system. SMM introduced that since July 3, 2026, SMM has officially launched the Vietnam 6063 (non-homogenized) aluminum billet processing fee and SMM Vietnam 6063 (non-homogenized) aluminum billet price point, updated on a daily basis on each trading day. Meanwhile, SMM plans to officially release the SMM Vietnam aluminum price and elaborate on the methodology at the SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia (Vietnam) Aluminum Conference to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from November 19 to 20. Dong A Aluminum expressed high attention to this, believing that the launch of SMM Vietnam aluminum price is expected to provide enterprises with a more transparent and authoritative pricing reference, reduce transaction costs, and improve market efficiency. Discussing Industry Trends: Opportunities and Challenges in the Aluminum Processing Industry The two sides also exchanged views on the current status of Vietnam's aluminum processing industry. As a member of a Singapore-based holding group system, Dong A Aluminum has a total investment of over $200 million and an annual comprehensive capacity of 150,000 mt. In 2025, the company's Phase III expansion project was officially completed and put into operation, with six new aluminum extrusion lines installed, bringing the total number of extrusion lines to 25. The company has now established a wide sales network across the country, and its products are popular in multiple international markets such as the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Dong A Aluminum noted that with the commissioning of Vietnam's first aluminum project (Phase I with an annual capacity of 150,000 mt), the Vietnamese aluminum industry chain is accelerating to complete the last link. The increase in local primary aluminum supply will bring new procurement options and cost optimization opportunities for aluminum processing enterprises. At the same time, the imminent implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the adjustments to tariff policies in key export markets such as the US have also imposed higher requirements on enterprises' market layout and pricing strategies. The two sides also reached a consensus on cooperation for the SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia (Vietnam) Aluminum Industry Conference. Dong A Aluminum indicated that it would actively consider participating in the conference to jointly promote the internationalization of the aluminum market in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. This visit further deepened the communication and mutual trust between SMM and Vietnam's leading aluminum processing enterprises. It provided important first-hand information for market research and data collection on the Vietnamese aluminum pricing system and injected new momentum into the standardization of aluminum pricing in Vietnam. About Dong A Aluminum Dong A Aluminum Co., Ltd. is located in Tan Dan Industrial Park, Le Dai Hanh Ward, Haiphong City, Vietnam. It is an aluminum products producer with high industry reputation and relatively large production scale in Vietnam. The company is a member of a Singapore-based holding group, with a total investment exceeding $200 million and an annual comprehensive capacity of 150,000 mt. It is also one of the largest exporters of aluminum semis in Vietnam. The company owns a modern factory covering an area of nearly 120,000 m², equipped with intelligent and advanced production lines. It has established a fully automated, closed-loop production process covering aluminum ingot storage, melting and casting, extrusion, spraying, anodizing, wood grain treatment, deep processing, and finished product assembly. The company fully applies an intelligent ERP management system to achieve automated management of the entire production and operation process. Currently, the company has 25 extrusion lines with tonnages ranging from 600 mt to 4,500 mt. In 2025, the Phase III expansion project was officially completed and put into operation, successfully entering the list of Vietnam's Top 500 enterprises. With a development direction of becoming a comprehensive aluminum application solution provider, Dong A Aluminum's products are widely used in construction, home furnishings, electronics and power, solar energy, and other fields, and it continues to expand the application of aluminum semis in machinery equipment, precision parts, and the automotive industry. As of now, Dong A Aluminum has established an extensive sales network nationwide, with over 800 dealers, and actively exports to multiple international markets including the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Facing the future, Dong A Aluminum always adheres to the development philosophy of "innovation as the core, quality as the foundation, and service as the commitment," continuously optimizes its production system, upgrades its technological strength, and actively promotes Vietnam's aluminum industry onto the global industrial landscape. Join the Conversation at SMM AICE 2026 Connect with aluminum producers, processors, traders, industry associations, analysts, and decision-makers from across Southeast Asia. Explore the latest market developments, pricing trends, processing technologies, recycling opportunities, and new possibilities for regional cooperation. ? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ? November 19–20, 2026 Register now: bit.ly/AICE26 and secure your Super Early Bird Pass and save up to USD 200. Register before August 31, 2026.

The European Commission has opened a consultation — closing August 6 — on the purchase and repurchase of CBAM certificates through a new central platform. The draft proposes a fee of EUR 0.05 per CBAM certificate purchased, approximately 16 times the transaction fee charged by the EEX for EU emissions allowances, with no cost breakdown or justification provided. Based on approximately 440 million tonnes of CO2 embedded in CBAM-covered imports, the fee would generate around EUR 22 million annually — effectively charging companies for the act of paying a legally mandated tax. The certificate buyback process is equally restrictive: only one application per year is permitted, corrections or withdrawals are not allowed once submitted, and the administration retains up to 42 days for processing. Critics note that the administration reserves correction rights for itself while denying them to declarants, and that SMEs will effectively pay twice — once for the carbon tax and again for the bureaucracy that collects it.

A delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) paid a visit to Xingfa Aluminium's Vietnan factory — Xingfa Vietnam, on July 20, 2026, and both sides engaged in-depth discussions covering the aluminum pricing mechanism in Vietnam, building international credibility, and coordinated industrial development. The delegation includes Logan Lu, SMM CEO, Kexin Lou, Director of Aluminum Fabrication, Lexi Chen, Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales, and CHIN KHAI YUEN, Senior Overseas Aluminum Analyst. Pushing for the Establishment of Globally Recognized Aluminum Price Benchmark in Vietnam During the visit, both sides analysed the current pricing landscape in Vietnam’s aluminum market. At present, Vietnam lacks internationally recognized aluminum price benchmark of its own. Foreign trades are mostly settled in US dollars based on LME plus MJP premiums, while domestic deals convert USD prices into Vietnamese Dong. Local players, including Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and Vietnamese enterprises, typically conclude contracts via LME + premium/discount pricing or fixed-price agreements before currency conversion. This fragmented pricing structure raises transaction costs and hinders the internationalisation of Vietnam’s aluminum sector. SMM noted that developing a widely accepted Vietnam aluminum pricing benchmark is critical to boosting pricing transparency and facilitating cross-border trade, and ranks high on SMM’s work agenda. To this end, SMM will conduct extensive surveys on major aluminum manufacturers in Vietnam, including Xingfa. SMM will officially launch the SMM Vietnam Aluminum Prices alongside a detailed methodology briefing at the SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia (Vietnam) Aluminum Conference in Ho Chi Minh City on 19–20 November . The two parties also exchanged views on primary aluminum supply and demand across Southeast Asia and the impacts of CBAM on the aluminum industry. In particular, CBAM and international carbon certification have emerged as core concerns for global aluminum participants. SMM will host a dedicated session at the AICE 2026 Southeast Asia (Vietnam) Aluminum Conference and invite international experts to share their insights. Deepening Southeast Asian Footprint: SMM Accelerates Market Rollout in Vietnam Since the beginning of this year, SMM has accelerated the establishment of its price service system in the Southeast Asian market. As of July 3, 2026, SMM has added a series of Southeast Asian 6063 aluminum billet processing fee price points and CIF Southeast Asia premium price points, with the Vietnam 6063 (non-homogenized) aluminum billet processing fees and price points already officially launched. In addition, the Vietnam Metal Recycling Forum (VMRF) visited SMM's headquarters in Shanghai on July 10, where the two parties reached multiple cooperation agreements on recycled metals industry chain services. Through localized collaboration and international resource integration, SMM is providing more accurate and authoritative data support for the aluminum industry chain in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. During this visit to Xingfa, the two parties reached multiple consensuses on aluminum price data collection, marketing promotion, and industry event organization. SMM stated that it will invite more international participants—including representatives from the Middle East, Indonesia, Malaysia, RUSAL, and Australian aluminum smelters—to jointly participate in the development of Vietnam aluminum pricing, promoting regional market integration. This survey has further deepened the strategic cooperation between SMM and Xingfa Aluminium and has also injected new momentum into the standardization and internationalization of Vietnam's aluminum pricing system. About Xingfa Aluminium Founded in 1984, Guangdong Xingfa Aluminium Co., Ltd. is a leading large-scale enterprise specialising in aluminum extrusion products in China. In 2011, Guangxin Holdings Group acquired a stake in Xingfa Aluminium, pioneering mixed ownership between state-owned and private capital within China’s aluminum extrusion sector and ushering in a new phase of steady expansion. Xingfa now operates nine production bases. In China, seven modern facilities are located in Sanshui and Nanhai (Foshan), Foshan Precision Manufacturing, Yichun (Jiangxi), Chengdu (Sichuan), Qinyang (Henan) and Huzhou (Zhejiang). Its global production network covers Australia and Vietnam, with growing scale advantages. Xingfa focuses on R&D, production and sales of aluminum extrusions across building and industrial segments. Its construction aluminum extrusions are widely used in high-end architectural curtain walls and system windows. While consolidating its core business, the company has expanded vigorously into industrial aluminum products, developing high-performance items such as new energy vehicle battery trays, crash beams and bus body components. Its products serve diverse sectors including rail transit, new energy vehicles, photovoltaics and electronics. Xingfa is further extending advanced aluminum processing technology into emerging areas such as energy storage and computing infrastructure. In recent years, Xingfa Aluminum has adhered to the principle that manufacturing is the foundation, fully leveraging its leading and driving role as the “chain leader” enterprise in Guangdong’s 100-billion-level high-end aluminum extrusion industry chain. Focusing on breakthroughs in key core technologies, it has promoted the industry chain and value chain towards the mid-to-high end. The company has successively received numerous honors, including the National Manufacturing Single Champion Enterprise, National Intellectual Property Demonstration Enterprise, National Technological Innovation Demonstration Enterprise, National Enterprise Technology Center, and National Green Factory. In 2025, Xingfa Aluminium ranked 475th in the Top 500 Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises, 147th in the Top 500 Guangdong Enterprises, and 32nd in the Top 500 Guangdong Manufacturing Enterprises. Join the Conversation at SMM AICE 2026

The European Commission has proposed raising the EU's electrification rate to 46% by 2040 alongside reforms to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The proposal includes an Industrial Decarbonization Bank backed by over EUR 100 billion and plans to slow the phase-out of free emissions allowances for CBAM-covered sectors until 2038. The Commission also plans to allocate an additional EUR 6 billion in free allowances between 2026 and 2030, aiming to strengthen industrial competitiveness while accelerating decarbonization.