On April 9, 2026, the Japanese Cabinet officially approved the latest amendment to the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act (commonly known as the "Waste Cleansing Act"). The core of the amendment is to upgrade metal recycling operations from a notification system to a permit system, and to impose a new obligation requiring confirmation from the Minister of the Environment for scrap metal exports.

Amid sustained demand growth, India plans to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earths. The stockpile will be sized to cover six months of domestic consumption, aiming to guard against risks of global supply disruptions and sharp raw material price volatility. Led by India’s Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Heavy Industries, the reserve covers key raw materials essential for new energy vehicles, energy storage and the electronics sector, fields where India currently relies heavily on imports. At present, the United States, China, South Korea and other countries have already established strategic reserve systems for critical minerals.

Hesheng Co., Ltd. disclosed its 2025 annual report on April 29. In 2025, the company achieved total operating revenue of 4.011 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20.34%; net profit attributable to the parent company was 155 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 92.47%.

Jiaozuo Wanfang announced that its operating revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was 1.757 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.49%. Net profit was 511 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 216.46%.

German renewable energy developer PNE AG has successfully completed the sale of its 25.2 MW Bokel wind farm, located in Lower Saxony, to an investment fund managed by Union Investment. The facility, which consists of seven wind turbines and was commissioned in April 2025, produces enough green electricity to power approximately 17,800 three-person households annually. While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, PNE’s subsidiary, energy consult, will retain technical and commercial management of the site until at least late 2029, ensuring operational continuity under the new ownership.

Yechiu Resources released its first-quarter earnings report. In the first quarter of 2026, the company's revenue was approximately RMB 1.875 billion, an increase of 4.51% year-on-year; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was approximately RMB 59.97 million, an increase of 179.68% year-on-year; basic earnings per share were RMB 0.0272, an increase of 180.41% year-on-year.