National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported: From January to July, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all regions and departments thoroughly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, effectively responded to various external shocks and internal difficulties, focused on implementing more proactive and effective macro policies, and solidly advanced high-quality development. Production and supply grew steadily, employment and prices remained generally stable, resilience in foreign trade continued to stand out, new growth drivers expanded and strengthened, and overall economic performance remained stable, sustaining a development trend featuring renewed momentum and an improved structure. From January to July, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size nationwide increased by 5.3% YoY. By the three major sectors, value added in mining increased by 2.5% YoY, manufacturing by 5.6%, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas and water by 5.4%. Value added in equipment manufacturing increased by 9.7% YoY, and value added in high-tech manufacturing increased by 13.8%, respectively 4.4 and 8.5 percentage points faster than the overall value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size. In July 2026, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 4.5% In July, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 4.5% YoY in real terms (all value-added growth rates are real growth rates after deducting price factors). On a MoM basis, in July, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 0.11% from the previous month. From January to July, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 5.3% YoY. By the three major sectors, in July, value added in mining decreased by 4.2% YoY, manufacturing increased by 5.5%, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas and water increased by 5.0%. By ownership type, in July, value added of state-controlled enterprises increased by 1.6% YoY; joint-stock enterprises increased by 5.0%, and foreign-funded enterprises as well as enterprises with investment from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan increased by 2.8%; private enterprises increased by 3.7%. By industry, in July, among the 41 major industry categories, 25 industries maintained YoY growth in value added. Specifically, coal mining and washing declined by 10.8%, oil and natural gas extraction increased by 6.1%, processing of agricultural and sideline food products increased by 3.8%, manufacturing of liquor, beverages and refined tea increased by 2.6%, textiles increased by 2.3%, manufacturing of chemical raw materials and chemical products declined by 1.2%, manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products declined by 3.3%, smelting and pressing of ferrous metals increased by 0.3%, smelting and pressing of non-ferrous metals declined by 2.5%, manufacturing of general-purpose equipment increased by 9.5%, manufacturing of special-purpose equipment increased by 12.6%, automobile manufacturing increased by 8.7%, manufacturing of railway, ship, aerospace and other transport equipment increased by 13.6%, manufacturing of electrical machinery and equipment increased by 8.8%, manufacturing of computers, communications and other electronic equipment increased by 19.1%, and the production and supply of electricity and heat increased by 5.3%. By product, in July, output increased YoY for 279 of the 626 products produced by industrial enterprises above designated size. Specifically, steel products totaled 116.46 million mt, down 4.1%; cement 126.71 million mt, down 11.6%; ten nonferrous metals 6.97 million mt, up 2.5%; ethylene 3.48 million mt, up 0.1%; automobiles 2.529 million units, down 0.1%, including NEVs at 1.55 million units, up 29.9%; power generation 943.9 billion kWh, down 0.1%; and crude oil processing volume 53.11 million mt, down 15.8%. In July, the sales-to-production ratio of industrial enterprises above designated size was 96.9%, down 0.6 percentage points YoY; the export delivery value realized by industrial enterprises above designated size was 1,413.3 billion yuan, up 10.4% YoY in nominal terms. From January to July, the national economy remained generally stable and maintained a development momentum toward new and better growth. From January to July, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all regions and departments earnestly implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while maintaining stability, effectively responded to various external shocks and internal difficulties, focused on implementing more proactive and effective macro policies, and solidly advanced high-quality development. Production and supply grew steadily, employment and prices were generally stable, foreign trade resilience continued to stand out, new growth drivers expanded and strengthened, and overall economic performance remained generally stable, sustaining a development momentum toward new drivers and a better structure. I. Industrial production grew rapidly, with strong growth in the equipment manufacturing sector and high-tech manufacturing sector From January to July, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 5.3% YoY. By three major sectors, value added increased by 2.5% YoY in mining, 5.6% in manufacturing, and 5.4% in the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water. Value added increased by 9.7% YoY in the equipment manufacturing sector and by 13.8% in the high-tech manufacturing sector, exceeding the overall growth of industrial enterprises above designated size by 4.4 and 8.5 percentage points, respectively. By ownership type, value added increased by 3.9% YoY for state-controlled enterprises; 5.8% for joint-stock enterprises; 3.1% for enterprises with investment from foreign countries and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan; and 4.5% for private enterprises. By product, the production of 3D printing equipment, lithium-ion batteries, and industrial robots increased YoY by 52.3%, 40.2%, and 28.5%, respectively. In July, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 4.5% YoY and by 0.11% MoM. In July, the manufacturing PMI was 49.2%, and the expectations index for enterprise production and business activities was 54.1%. From January to June, industrial enterprises above the designated size nationwide recorded total profits of 3,948 billion yuan, up 18.7% YoY. II. The Service Sector Maintained Steady Growth, With Modern Services Showing Positive Momentum From January to July, the national service sector production index rose 4.7% YoY. By industry, the production indices for information transmission, software and information technology services; leasing and business services; financial services; and transportation, warehousing and postal services increased 10.6%, 9.5%, 6.3%, and 5.1% YoY, respectively. In July, the national service sector production index rose 4.3% YoY. In July, the business activity index for the service sector was 49.3%, and the business activity expectations index for the service sector was 56.0%. Among them, the business activity indices for industries such as postal services, telecommunications, radio and television and satellite transmission services, and culture, sports and entertainment were in the relatively high prosperity range of 55.0% or above. From January to June, operating revenue of service enterprises above the designated size rose 5.9% YoY. III. Market Sales Expanded, With Faster Growth in Service Retail Sales From January to July, total retail sales of consumer goods and services rose 2.6% YoY, of which service retail sales increased 5.0% and goods retail sales increased 1.1%. Within service retail sales, retail sales in categories such as communications and information services, tourism consulting and leasing services, and cultural, sports and leisure services grew relatively quickly. From January to July, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 28,774.4 billion yuan, up 1.2% YoY. By location of business unit, urban retail sales of consumer goods were 24,928.5 billion yuan, up 1.1% YoY; rural retail sales of consumer goods were 3,845.9 billion yuan, up 2.4%. By type of consumption, goods retail sales were 25,492.2 billion yuan, up 1.1% YoY; catering revenue was 3,282.2 billion yuan, up 2.6%. Sales of basic necessities and some upgraded goods grew relatively quickly, with retail sales of grain, oil and food; communications equipment; and cosmetics by units above the designated size rising 7.2%, 15.1%, and 6.3% YoY, respectively. In July, total retail sales of consumer goods were 3,902.2 billion yuan, up 0.6% YoY and up 0.06% MoM. From January to July, nationwide online retail sales of goods and services were 11,721.4 billion yuan, up 4.8% YoY. Of this total, online goods retail sales were 7,396.5 billion yuan, up 4.6%; online services retail sales were 4,324.9 billion yuan, up 5.2%. IV. Fixed-Asset Investment Declined, While Investment in Intellectual Property Products Grew Rapidly From January to July, nationwide fixed-asset investment (excluding rural households) was 26,032.8 billion yuan, down 6.7% YoY; fixed-asset investment excluding real estate development fell 3.7%. Among them, investment in intellectual property products rose 9.1% YoY. By sector, infrastructure investment fell 3.6% YoY, manufacturing investment fell 1.7%, and real estate development investment fell 19.2%. Nationwide, the floor space of commercial buildings sold (newly built) totaled 450.21 million m², down 11.8% YoY; sales of newly built commercial buildings totaled 4,271.8 billion yuan, down 13.1%. By industry, primary industry investment fell 0.5% YoY, secondary industry investment fell 2.1%, and tertiary industry investment fell 9.5%. Private investment fell 9.4% YoY; excluding real estate development, private investment fell 5.7%. Investment in high-technology industries rose 5.0% YoY, with investment in information services, aircraft and spacecraft and equipment manufacturing, and electronic and communications equipment manufacturing rising 19.2%, 12.3%, and 7.1%, respectively. In July, fixed asset investment (excluding rural households) fell 1.42% MoM. V. Goods Imports and Exports Grew Rapidly, and the Trade Structure Continued to Improve From January to July, total goods imports and exports reached 30,126.4 billion yuan, up 17.3% YoY. Of this total, exports were 17,440 billion yuan, up 14.0%; imports were 12,686.4 billion yuan, up 22.0%. From January to July, imports and exports under Ordinary Trade rose 10.2% YoY. Imports and exports with Belt and Road partner countries rose 15.5%. Imports and exports by private enterprises rose 17.2%, accounting for 56.9% of the total. Exports of mechanical and electrical products rose 21.2%, accounting for 63.8% of total exports. In July, total goods imports and exports reached 4,658 billion yuan, up 19.2% YoY. Of this total, exports were 2,712.5 billion yuan, up 17.8%; imports were 1,945.4 billion yuan, up 21.2%. VI. The Employment Situation Remained Generally Stable, and the Urban Surveyed Unemployment Rate Rose Seasonally From January to July, the national average urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.2%, unchanged from January to June and the same period last year. In July, the national urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.2%, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. The surveyed unemployment rate for the local registered labor force was 5.2%; that for the migrant registered labor force was 5.2%, including 4.9% for the migrant agricultural registered labor force. The urban surveyed unemployment rate in 31 major cities was 5.2%, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. The national average weekly working hours for enterprise employees were 48.2 hours. VII. Market Prices Rose Mildly, and the Increase Moderated Somewhat in July From January to July, the national consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.9% YoY. By category, prices of food, tobacco and alcohol, and dining out fell 0.2% YoY; clothing prices rose 1.6%; housing prices fell 0.2%; prices of household goods and services rose 1.7%; transport and communications prices rose 1.6%; education, culture and entertainment prices rose 1.2%; healthcare prices rose 2.1%; and prices of other goods and services rose 10.8%. Among food, tobacco and alcohol, and dining-out prices, pork prices fell 13.4%, grain prices fell 0.3%, fresh fruit prices rose 1.1%, and fresh vegetable prices rose 3.5%. In July, the national CPI rose 0.5% YoY and fell 0.1% MoM. From January to July, the core CPI excluding food and energy prices rose 1.1% YoY. Of this, the core CPI rose 0.9% YoY in July. From January to July, national industrial producer EXW prices rose 1.8% YoY. Of this, they rose 3.5% YoY and fell 0.7% MoM in July. From January to July, national industrial producer purchase prices rose 2.8% YoY. Of this, they rose 5.5% YoY and fell 1.0% MoM in July. Overall, from January to July, the national economy operated generally steadily, maintaining a development momentum toward new, better, and improved. However, it should also be noted that the external environment is complex and volatile; in China, the contradiction of strong supply and weak demand is prominent; some enterprises face operational difficulties; and the foundation for the economy’s steady improvement still needs to be consolidated. In the next stage, we should adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guidance, uphold the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, remain committed to deepening reform and opening up, accelerate efforts to replace old growth drivers with new ones, step up counter-cyclical adjustments, intensify efforts to expand domestic demand and optimize supply, effectively safeguard and improve people’s wellbeing, strengthen development momentum and invigorate social vitality, and promote sustained economic development toward new, better, and improved.

[SMM Flash] Iridium and ruthenium markets are facing increased price risks as elevated prices, constrained supply and evolving technologies reshape the outlook for these minor PGMs. A five-year market assessment through 2030 highlights the importance of monitoring supply, demand, stocks and technological developments. While higher prices could provide some scope to increase mine supply in the near term, longer-term production remains more complex, with primary supply exposed to developments in key producing regions including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Russia. On the demand side, record-high prices are expected to encourage greater material efficiency, substitution and technological innovation. Iridium demand remains linked to high-purity crystal growth, electrochemical applications, catalysis and the hydrogen economy, although slower development of hydrogen projects has reduced some longer-term growth expectations. Ruthenium continues to benefit from data-storage applications, particularly as AI drives demand for data infrastructure, while chemical catalysis and emerging hydrogen and ammonia applications offer additional opportunities. The market outlook to 2030 will ultimately depend on the balance between constrained mine supply and changing end-use demand. Substitution and new technologies could create downside risks for prices, while limited liquidity and the growing recognition of iridium and ruthenium as critical materials could amplify supply risks. Monitoring mine economics, technological shifts and price sensitivity across major end-use sectors will therefore remain important for producers, fabricators and consumers.

India's Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) has officially begun scouting land in the state of Maharashtra to construct a new $4.2 billion greenfield steel mill. The proposed multi-phase facility targets an ultimate production capacity of 4 million metric tons of specialized stainless steel per year. Management expects to secure the necessary land within the next two quarters, aiming to operationalize the first phase within four years to supply emerging infrastructure and defense sectors.

According to the China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2026) released by the National Energy Administration on August 11, as of June 2026, the nationwide scale of built and under-construction renewable energy-based hydrogen production capacity had climbed to 1.4 million mt/year, of which more than 250,000 mt/year had been built and commissioned (as of year-end 2025), doubling from year-end 2024. Total hydrogen capacity nationwide exceeded 51 million mt/year, and production exceeded 39 million mt. Commissioned capacity of green ammonia was 700,000 mt/year, and green methanol 380,000 mt/year. Nationwide, about 620 hydrogen refueling stations had been built cumulatively, and the length of commissioned pure-hydrogen pipelines exceeded 350 km. The average price on the hydrogen production side was 26.2 yuan/kg, and the average price on the consumption side was 44.5 yuan/kg. Fuel cell automobile ownership was about 32,000 units. The unit cost of electrolyzers fell from 15,000 yuan/kW two years ago to 7,000 yuan/kW, a cumulative decline of more than 63%. This week, there was temporarily no offline public delivery information. Project Updates Sinopec Xinjiang Kuqa 10kt-Class Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project : Sinopec announced that all 52 alkaline electrolyzers in the project achieved 100% continuous operation at full load, reaching designed capacity. A 300 MW PV direct power supply was used for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen, with green hydrogen purity reaching 99.999% and annual green hydrogen production of 20,000 mt, which was delivered directly via pipeline to Tahe Refining & Chemical to replace the original natural gas-based hydrogen production unit, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 500,000 mt per year. All large circular alkaline electrolyzers used in the project were supplied by China enterprises, with a localisation rate of 100%. Combined with local solar irradiation conditions, the PV-side levelized electricity cost had fallen to 0.15 yuan/kWh, translating into a full green hydrogen production cost of about 18 yuan/kg. From “the world’s largest” to “stable reach full production,” it validated that 10kt-class green hydrogen facilities can operate reliably over long cycles. Shenzhen Energy Etoq Banner Wind and Solar Power Hydrogen Production Integrated Green Ammonia Synthesis Project : The hydrogen production station was fully commissioned. The project was among the first batch of hydrogen energy pilots of the National Energy Administration and a wind and solar power-based hydrogen-to-green-ammonia demonstration project in Inner Mongolia, with a total investment of 3.5 billion yuan. The project was equipped with a 505 MW wind and solar power supply (including 500MW wind power and 5MW off-grid PV), configured with 48 electrolyzers, with a designed annual output of 20,000 mt of green hydrogen. Downstream, it was paired with a 150,000 mt green ammonia synthesis unit, building a full-chain industrial model of “green electricity–green hydrogen–green ammonia.” Hebei Zhangjiakou Kangbao County Renewable Energy Hydrogen Production and Liquefaction Plant Project : It entered the final sprint toward commissioning. Phase I investment was 1 billion yuan, with a designed annual output of 12,000 mt of green hydrogen, and it will soon be formally commissioned and reach full production. The project was built by Hebei Hongmeng New Energy; at present, a single production line has completed the full hydrogen production test process, with all indicators meeting the designed standards. As the core gas source end of the Kangbao–Caofeidian long-distance green hydrogen pipeline (total length of about 1,037.82 km), once commissioned it will fill the low-carbon fuel gap in core industrial scenarios in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Huadian Yushu Hydrogen-Based Energy Integration Demonstration Project : First public announcement for EIA public participation. The project is located in the Chemical Industry Park of Wukeshu Economic and Technological Development Zone, Yushu, Changchun, and plans to build a 240,000 mt/year green methanol production line, deploy 800 MW of wind power and supporting power transmission lines, and a 32,000 mt/year green hydrogen production project, with 44 sets of 2,000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzers and 22 sets of 2,000 m³ hydrogen spherical tanks, as well as a 250,000 mt/year methanol unit. Phase I will implement 300 MW of wind power and a 10,000 mt/year green hydrogen project, with a total investment of about 3.121 billion yuan, and plans to start construction in November 2025 and complete in June 2027. Gansu 100,000 mt/year Green Methanol Production Project : Approved. The project will couple water electrolysis hydrogen production with biomass gasification, and build units including gasification, purification, methanol synthesis, and rectification, supported by 48 sets of water electrolysis hydrogen production systems, with a total investment of 1.05 billion yuan. Shaanxi Dingbian County Green Hydrogen Base Project : Dingbian County, Shaanxi, and Shaanxi Hydrogen Energy Company signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement for a green hydrogen base with a total investment of 30 billion yuan. The first phase will build new energy and hydrogen production plants with 12,000 mt/year capacity of green hydrogen, and also plans an entire industry chain layout including hydrogen refueling stations, green ammonia, natural gas hydrogen blending, and hydrogen pipeline transmission. China’s First High-Pressure, Long-Distance Green Hydrogen Pipeline (Damaoqi–Baotou) : The main part of the project is basically completed, entering the final sprint toward commissioning. The pipeline has a total length of 195 km, connecting the Baiyun’ebo wind and solar power hydrogen production base with Baotou’s industrial core area. The project overcame the challenge of hydrogen embrittlement in high-pressure hydrogen transmission; relying on rare-earth-modified L360MH steel-grade dedicated pipes, it established a safety evaluation system centered on the hydrogen embrittlement sensitivity index, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth rate, breaking through the technical bottleneck of long-distance pure hydrogen transmission. Construction in mountainous areas is currently in the final stage, and pigging and pressure testing are being carried out on the plain section. DianTou Green Energy Yancheng Jidian Green Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transportation, and Utilization Integrated (Phase I) Demonstration Project : Tendering for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment has been launched. The project is located in Dafeng District, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, and adopts alkaline water electrolysis technology. The total planned hydrogen production scale is 8,000 Nm³/h. This tender will procure 4 sets of alkaline electrolyzers with a rated hydrogen production capacity of 1,000 Nm³/h, 2 sets of 2,000 Nm³/h gas-liquid separation skids, 4 sets of IGBT rectifier power supply skids, and 2 sets of dual-split rectifier transformers with a capacity of no less than 11.5 MVA. Qianjiang Qingbei Hydrogen Energy Project : Construction has entered the final stage, and equipment commissioning is being rolled out in full. The installation of hydrogen production equipment has been fully completed, with an annual output of 23 million Nm³ of high-purity green hydrogen. After Phase II is completed, the total capacity will reach 20,000 Nm³/h, making it the largest green electricity-based hydrogen production base in Central China. Zhejiang Jinjuhua Chemical Co., Ltd. : A 5,000 Nm³/h comprehensive utilization project for hydrogen resources has been filed. The project will be implemented in the High-tech Area of Zhizao New City, Quzhou City, and is a “zero land” technical renovation project for industrial enterprises in Zhejiang Province, with a total investment of 16.62 million yuan. Relying on the existing hydrogen transmission pipeline and current site, the project will install 5,000 Nm³/h hydrogen pressurization equipment to recover vented hydrogen from the electrolysis plant for supply to the methanol unit, and will be equipped with a high-speed magnetic-levitation turbo generator set to tap into power generation from the pressure differential of carbon dioxide. Baotou Haoyu New Energy Co., Ltd. : The Airport Road integrated oil-gas-electric-hydrogen energy supply station project has completed an extension filing. The project is located in Donghe District, Baotou City, with a total investment of 40 million yuan and a total site area of approximately 3,000 m², to be implemented in two phases. One integrated oil-gas-electric-hydrogen energy supply station will be newly built, equipped with CNG refueling, gasoline fueling, eight fast charging piles, and hydrogen refueling facilities. Saudi NEOM Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia Project : All engineering construction has been completed and the project has entered the commissioning stage, with plans to achieve commercial operation in 2027. The project has a total investment of $8.4 billion (approximately 57 billion yuan) and is equally held by ACWAPower, AirProducts, and NEOM. It is supported by a 4 GW wind and solar power complementary renewable energy power station and 2.2 GW of electrolyzer capacity. After commissioning, it will produce 600 mt of zero-carbon green hydrogen per day, all of which will be converted into green ammonia for export, with annual conversion of up to 1.2 million mt of green ammonia. The hydrogen production segment adopts Thyssenkrupp Nucera alkaline water electrolysis technology, and Thyssenkrupp has delivered more than 1 GW of electrolyzer capacity. Netherlands PosHYdon Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Demonstration Project : It has been successfully commissioned on the in-service PL-Q13a-A offshore natural gas jacket platform and has produced green hydrogen. The platform is approximately 13 km from the Scheveningen coast and is the first fully electrified production platform in the Dutch North Sea. Led by TNO and jointly implemented by 15 organizations including DEME, Eni, Gasunie, and NelHydrogen, the project focuses on testing electrolyzer operating efficiency under conditions of fluctuating wind power output, and plans to release core test results to the public in autumn 2026. Sasol and Envision Energy : Sasol has commissioned Envision Energy to conduct a design study for the green hydrogen system at its Sasolburg operating base in South Africa. The collaboration was showcased during the South Africa–China Energy Investment Conference, and the design study will assess integrated solutions for renewable power generation, energy storage, and electrolyzer technologies. Green hydrogen produced in Sasolburg may be used in the future to produce eMethanol and potential sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF). The design phase is expected to be completed by year-end. Policy Review 1. Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration on Issuing the “15th Five-Year” Plan for Coal Industry Development (issued on August 10, Fa Gai Neng Yuan [2026] No. 979). For the first time, the plan includes hydrogen-powered mining trucks in its core deployment, proposing to “orderly carry out large-scale replacement of fuel-powered heavy-duty trucks with electric heavy-duty trucks and hydrogen-powered mining trucks” in open-pit mine transportation, and to “reasonably plan and build charging and battery swapping stations and hydrogen refueling stations in eligible mining areas.” It also encourages coal-to-oil and gas and coal chemical projects to carry out large-scale substitution with green hydrogen, promoting the implementation and application of hydrogen energy in production and transportation in the coal industry and in industrial integration scenarios. 2. The National Energy Administration released the China Hydrogen Energy Development Report (2026) (August 11). The report showed that in 2025, China’s full hydrogen value chain of “production, storage, transportation, and use” achieved rapid growth; capacity of renewable energy-based hydrogen production that was completed and put into operation exceeded 250,000 mt/year, up more than 1x YoY. Large-scale pilot projects for hydrogen-ammonia-methanol were carried out in the Three-North region, with diversified application scenarios for wind and solar power–hydrogen coupling implemented in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Hebei, and other areas. The report assessed that China’s hydrogen energy industry is moving from “pilot demonstration” to “large-scale application,” and during the “15th Five-Year” period will gradually shift from a “policy-driven” to a new “market-driven” stage. It proposed formulating an implementation plan for hydrogen energy industry development to clarify development approaches and key tasks. 3. Notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Emergency Management on Issuing the “15th Five-Year” Plan for the Development of the Safety and Emergency Equipment Industry (August 13). The plan includes hydrogen safety storage, transportation, and measurement-and-control technologies—together with lithium battery thermal runaway prevention and control and energy storage safety monitoring—into the safety production technology directions for key industry sectors. It clearly lists hydrogen safety-related technologies as key research priorities in the safety and emergency equipment field during the “15th Five-Year” period, providing national-level policy guidance for building a safety system for the hydrogen energy industry. 4. The Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology released a public notice on proposed recipients of reward funds for the demonstration application of fuel cell vehicles (August 10). Pursuant to Zheng Gong Xin [2026] No. 61, following enterprise self-application, expert review, third-party audit, and other procedures, 43 enterprises including Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co., Ltd. and their corresponding projects were preliminarily identified as proposed recipients of reward funds for the demonstration application of fuel cell vehicles. The public notice period runs from August 10 to August 16, 2026. 5. Fujian Province Issued the “15th Five-Year Plan” for the Development of Emerging and Future Industries. The document proposed that, in the medium term, it is expected to promote scaled preparation of clean energy such as green hydrogen, accelerate the development of production and refueling systems for hydrogen-based green fuels, and expand diversified hydrogen energy application scenarios; in the long term, it is expected to develop distinctive technology pathways such as “ammonia–hydrogen” and build a green hydrogen-based fuel production site along the southeastern coast. 6. The People’s Government of Liaoning Province issued a notice to promote the standardized, scaled, and market-oriented development of new-type energy storage from three aspects—planning guidance, market mechanisms, and institutional management—carry out pilot demonstrations for molten salt ESS, hydrogen energy storage, and others, emphasize the value of long duration energy storage (LDES), and clarify the diversified development of technology pathways. 7. The Guangzhou Municipal National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released a public notice soliciting opinions on the “Guangzhou Energy Development ‘15th Five-Year Plan’.” It proposed advancing the substitution of petroleum consumption in the transportation sector with electricity, green hydrogen-based energy, sustainable aviation fuel, and others, and accelerating the promotion of new energy vehicles such as EVs and hydrogen fuel vehicles. The target is to put into operation 50,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, 30 hydrogen fuel cell vessels, and 2,000 long-range hydrogen-powered drones by 2030. 8. The General Office of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province issued the “Work Plan of Sichuan Province to Intensify Efforts to Promote the Scaled Development and Application of New Energy Trucks.” The plan proposed expanding the application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, continuously promoting the quality improvement and capacity expansion of the “Chengdu–Chongqing Hydrogen Corridor,” and building in batches green hydrogen routes such as the “Sichuan–Tibet Route,” “Chengdu–Deyang–Meishan–Ziyang Metropolitan Area,” “Panzhihua–Xichang–Ya’an–Chengdu,” “Chengdu–Deyang–Mianyang–Guangyuan,” “Chengdu–Ziyang–Zigong–Luzhou,” and “Chengdu–Suining–Nanchong–Dazhou.” 9. The People’s Government of Beijing Municipality issued the “Beautiful Beijing Development Plan for the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ Period.” It emphasized improving measures such as convenient access for new energy vehicles, promoting the application of hydrogen fuel vehicles, and continuously advancing the new energy transition of trucks and buses. Enterprise Updates Dongfang Electric (Dongfang Hydrogen Energy) : On August 11, Dongfang Electric released an announcement of a board resolution, which reviewed and approved the proposal for Dongfang Hydrogen Energy’s Series B financing. Dongfang Hydrogen Energy planned to conduct Series B financing of no more than 1.17 billion yuan, with Dongfang Electric, Dongfang Boiler, and external investors making capital increases simultaneously. After the capital increase is completed, the combined shareholding of the two will remain unchanged at 52.95%. The funds will be used for hydrogen energy industry cultivation, technology iteration, and capacity development. This financing will become one of the few single-round financings at the 1 billion level in China’s hydrogen energy industry in non-IPO and non-SPAC scenarios. Houpu Co., Ltd. : Disclosed its 2026 semi-annual report. In H1, revenue reached 425 million yuan, up 8.36% YoY; net profit attributable to shareholders was 83.05 million yuan, up 518.55% YoY, turning losses into profits. The company has established a full-chain product and service system covering production, storage, refuelling, and use: its third-generation 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment completed an iterative upgrade and continued supplying European green hydrogen projects; its solid-state hydrogen storage system achieved commercial deployment and participated in a 100-kg-class solid-state hydrogen storage and hydrogen refuelling integration demonstration project in Southwest China; 35 MPa hydrogen refuelling turnkey equipment achieved batch deliveries, and 70 MPa equipment expanded into the general aviation sector; core components such as hydrogen nozzles and high-pressure hydrogen flow meters completed localisation substitution; and the liquid hydrogen refueller completed factory testing. The company also launched multi-steady-state flexible-system green ammonia synthesis technology, with maximum unit production of up to 10,000 mt/year, operating flexibility of 30%–110%, and green ammonia purity ≥99.9%. EPC projects have already been implemented in practice, including CNNC HuiNeng’s Inner Mongolia PV hydrogen-to-ammonia coupling project and Zhangye skid-mounted wind power hydrogen production and green ammonia production project. Rongcheng New Energy Group : Multiple implementation actions took place this week. On August 6, a batch delivery ceremony for 40 hydrogen-powered cold-chain trucks was held in Haikou; they are expected to serve frontline cold-chain transportation across Hainan, supported by an integrated methanol-to-hydrogen production and refuelling station to enable on-site hydrogen production and on-site refuelling. On August 7, Rongcheng New Energy and Wenfeng Group held a commissioning ceremony for the second batch of hydrogen heavy-duty trucks; following the commercial deployment of the first batch, this further expanded zero-carbon transport capacity in Tangshan, adopting an integrated model of "vehicle leasing + energy replenishment + scenario operations". In addition, four hydrogen car models under Rongcheng New Energy (a 170 kW hydrogen heavy-duty truck and 110 kW hydrogen sprinkling truck, road sweeper, and compressed garbage truck) were included in MIIT’s 410th batch of product announcements, covering two major application scenarios: trunk logistics and urban sanitation. Guoruichen (Qingdao) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : On August 7, it held a full-chain hydrogen energy launch event, systematically showcasing for the first time an independent technology matrix spanning the entire industry chain of "production–storage–refuelling–use". It launched a new-generation PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production device tailored to the intermittency of wind and solar power, paired with a self-developed integrated wind-and-solar-plus-storage hydrogen smart energy management system; developed a room-temperature, low-pressure solid-state hydrogen storage device based on R&D of new-type lightweight, high-capacity hydrogen storage alloys; and rolled out full-power-range hydrogen fuel cell systems covering multi-tier application scenarios, including lightweight metal-plate stacks for low-altitude scenarios and graphite-plate stacks for heavy-duty truck scenarios. It implemented a modular hydrogen two-wheeler (hydrogen swapping takes only seconds) and an industrial-grade hydrogen drone with a driving range of up to 2.5 hours, and released a three-tier hydrogen supply network solution of "wind and solar power–hydrogen production–micro-stations" as well as a comprehensive solution for a "hydrogen zero-carbon industrial park". Anhui Mingtian Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : As a national-level “Little Giant” enterprise specialising in niche sectors with cutting-edge technologies, it built China’s first 10,000-set-scale fuel cell industrialisation plant, with products covering fuel cell stacks across the full power range of 10 kW–260 kW. It has cumulatively filed more than 400 national patents; the service life of its fuel cell systems increased from 1,000 hours to over 20,000 hours, and the cost dropped from 25,000 yuan per kW to 2,000 yuan. The price of a single air compressor fell from 178,000 yuan for imported units to 14,000 yuan through localisation. Its self-developed MTSYS-120 marine fuel cell system obtained Anhui province’s first China Classification Society (CCS) type approval certificate for hydrogen fuel cells; the system power is 120 kW and can be expanded to the megawatt (MW) level through modular combinations. Shunhua New Energy : On August 11, the Shunhua Hydrogen Energy Equipment Innovation Center Science and Technology Industrial Park, with a total investment of approximately 150 million yuan, was officially put into operation in Jiading, Shanghai. The park is a Shanghai “industrial buildings upward” demonstration project, integrating hydrogen energy equipment R&D, production, and settlement. At the opening ceremony, Shunhua New Energy signed strategic cooperation agreements with Shanghai Electric Green Energy Company and Hunan Liyu Gas Power, planning to jointly develop emerging hydrogen energy application scenarios such as offshore new energy and green-fuel power generation. Zhongchuang Yonghydrogen : Its self-developed mobile integrated hydrogen production and refuelling engineering prototype officially rolled off the line. The overall equipment volume is only 0.4–1 m³, and it can produce high-purity hydrogen with a purity of over 99.99% using only deionised water as the raw material. It is equipped with 5%–120% ultra-wide load dynamic regulation technology, supports on-demand use and charging, requires no civil works construction and no supporting pipeline network, and can be widely adapted to diverse scenarios including hydrogen forklifts, sanitation vehicles, vehicles and vessels, two-wheeled hydrogen vehicles, portable hydrogen power supplies, and scientific research experiments. CIMC Enric Holdings Limited : Anhydrous ammonia transport vehicles escorted the world’s largest single-batch green ammonia export. A 3,750 mt shipment of green ammonia produced in Da’an, Jilin was loaded and departed from Lianyungang, Jiangsu for South Korea, setting a new world record for single-batch green ammonia exports. The green ammonia came from SPIC’s “Hydrogen Continent · Da’an Green Ammonia” demonstration project (annual output: 32,000 mt of green hydrogen and 180,000 mt of green ammonia). The project has operated safely and stably for more than 300 days, achieving five “world’s first” milestones, including the world’s first ISCCEU green ammonia certification. Hangzhou Fenghua Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : On August 6, it successfully won the bid for projects related to the China Energy Engineering Group Zhejiang Institute’s Marine Integrated Energy Island, validating the performance of its PEM electrolyser products and marking further technological innovation and business implementation in offshore wind power hydrogen production scenarios. Adjustment to Electricity Price Policy for Hydrogen Energy Equipment Manufacturing Enterprises in Inner Mongolia : The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region removed provisions in the original policy under which production electricity consumption by hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing enterprises referenced the electricity prices for strategic emerging industries, and production electricity consumption by enterprises in eastern Inner Mongolia participated in market transactions with a 100% new energy allocation. Hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing enterprises will no longer enjoy the above exclusive electricity price policy and will revert to the market-based trading mechanism for ordinary large-scale industrial electricity consumption. Sichuan Jinxiang Sairui Chemical Co., Ltd. : On August 14, the company stated that the world’s first kt-scale pilot plant for producing sustainable aviation fuel via CO2 hydrogenation, jointly developed with Professor Wei Fei’s team at Tsinghua University and Sichuan Aolifen Catalytic Materials Co., Ltd., successfully passed a 72-hour continuous operation assessment, opening up a new green technology pathway from CO2 to aviation propulsion fuels. Patent Applications 1. Hopewind (China) filed patent application CN122512780A, disclosing “Hydrogen Production Power Supply, Renewable Energy Hydrogen Production System, and Hydrogen Production Power Supply Control Method.” The hydrogen production power supply includes a first-stage AC/DC converter and a second-stage DC/DC converter, and can autonomously maintain AC bus stability when renewable energy power fluctuates, avoiding shutdown of the hydrogen production system due to power shortfalls, ensuring continuity of hydrogen production operations, and extending the service life of the electrolyzer. 2. Huizhou EVE Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd. (China) filed patent application CN122543087A, disclosing “Catalyst Layer, Electrode, Membrane Electrode Assembly, Electrolysis Device, and Electrolysis Process.” The catalyst layer material includes a catalyst and an adhesive containing modified groups. The modified groups include cationic hydrophilic groups and non-ionic groups, enabling the catalyst layer to firmly bind water molecules while maintaining an appropriate hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance, improving water retention and interfacial performance, thereby enhancing the performance of the catalyst layer, membrane electrode assembly, and electrolysis device. 3. Shanghai Qingshang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (China) filed patent application CN122558479A, disclosing “A Nano Aluminum-Based Reversible Hydrogen Storage Composite Material and Its Preparation Method.” Using aluminum powder (50-60 parts), composite catalyst (5-6 parts), copper powder (2-3 parts), titanium powder (2-3 parts), cobalt powder (1-2 parts), and grinding aid (6-7 parts) as raw material, and through processes such as pressing, sintering, and ball-milling hydrogenation, aluminum trihydride (with relatively high hydrogen storage density) is generated within the aluminum-based alloy material. By compounding the composite catalyst and a nanostructure, reversible hydrogen absorption and desorption of the nano aluminum-based reversible hydrogen storage composite material is achieved. 4. China Three Gorges Renewables (Group) Co., Ltd. (China) obtained patent CN224582854U, disclosing “An Integrated Power Generation System for Subsea Hydrogen Energy Storage”. The system includes a power conversion module, a power aggregation module, a water electrolysis hydrogen production module, and a hydrogen energy storage module. It uses electricity generated by offshore power generation facilities to electrolyse seawater to produce hydrogen and store it, maximising the rational use of resources and improving the stable operation of the power grid. Technology Footprint/Technical Specifications 1. Sinopec’s Xinjiang Kuqa 10kt-class green hydrogen demonstration project achieved 100% full-load continuous operation of all 52 alkaline electrolyser units, reaching the designed capacity. All large circular alkaline electrolysers used in the project were supplied by enterprises in China, with a localisation rate of 100%. The unit cost of electrolysers decreased from 15,000 yuan/kW two years ago to 7,000 yuan/kW. Combined with local solar irradiation conditions, the PV-side levelised cost of electricity decreased to 0.15 yuan/kWh, translating into a total green hydrogen production cost of approximately 18 yuan/kg, preliminarily demonstrating economic competitiveness with fossil-fuel-based hydrogen production. This achievement verified that 10kt-class green hydrogen facilities can operate reliably over long cycles, providing the most solid data support for subsequent large-scale commercialisation. 2. Shandong Saikesaisi Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd. took the lead in China in achieving a breakthrough in megawatt-class PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production core technology, becoming the first enterprise in China to realise the development, assembly, and industrialisation deployment of megawatt-class PEM electrolysers, breaking the monopoly of overseas core technologies. Without sacrificing performance, the enterprise significantly reduced the use of precious metals in catalysts within hydrogen production electrolysers, substantially lowering system costs, and established a step-by-step validation pathway from laboratory prototypes to 100-watt-class small-scale testing, 10-kW pilot-scale testing, and then megawatt-class engineering prototypes. 3. The main part of the project for the nation’s first high-pressure, long-distance green hydrogen pipeline (the Damaoqi–Baotou long-distance hydrogen transmission pipeline) was basically completed. The pipeline has a total length of 195 km. The project overcame the challenge of hydrogen embrittlement in high-pressure hydrogen transmission, and, in collaboration with research institutes, developed dedicated L360MH steel-grade pipes with added rare-earth elements. It innovatively established a safety evaluation system centred on the hydrogen embrittlement sensitivity index, fracture toughness, and fatigue crack growth rate, providing a replicable and scalable high-pressure pure hydrogen pipeline engineering model for the large-scale construction of China’s hydrogen energy storage and transportation infrastructure. 4. The draft standard GB/T34593 Safety Requirements for Fuel Cell Engines, led by FAW Jiefang as the principal drafter, was reviewed and discussed at the 42nd (second in 2026) meeting of the Electric Vehicles Sub-Technical Committee of the National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee and the Fuel Cell EV Standards Working Group. The revised national standard is about to be implemented. The industry will accelerate the phase-out of low-reliability and non-compliant products, driving market competition to shift from simple parameter comparisons to a comprehensive contest of safety, durability, and life cycle cost, and shifting the industrial development model from “promotion first, regulation later” to standards-first and regulation-led. 5. The world’s first kt-scale pilot plant for producing sustainable aviation fuel via CO₂ hydrogenation (jointly developed by Sichuan Jinxiang Sairui Chemical, Professor Wei Fei’s team at Tsinghua University, and Sichuan Aolifen Catalytic Materials Co., Ltd.) successfully passed a 72-hour continuous operation assessment, opening up a new green technology pathway from CO₂ to aviation propulsion fuel and laying a critical foundation for the industrial-scale deployment of sustainable aviation fuel produced from green hydrogen coupled with CO₂. 6. The main structure of the plant building for CSSC Peric Hydrogen Energy’s Shuangyashan Jixian electrolyzer manufacturing base was topped out. This project is Heilongjiang Province’s first equipment manufacturing project for hydrogen production via water electrolysis, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan. It is expected to achieve an annual output of 30 large electrolyzers in the 1,000–2,000 Nm³/h class. Leveraging the mature technology of CSSC (Handan) Peric Hydrogen Energy, it is committed to realizing independent and controllable capabilities across the entire industry chain from key equipment to end-use products, and to providing key supporting equipment for Jixian County’s green methanol industry.

Delhi-based stainless steel maker Avtar Steel filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) on August 14, 2026, seeking an IPO comprising a fresh issue of up to INR 585 crore and an offer for sale of up to 50 million shares by promoter Sumit Jindal, who currently holds a 78% stake. IPO proceeds will be allocated to: INR 200 crore for a new Specialty Steel Melting Division and wire capacity expansion; INR 200 crore for debt repayment; and the remainder for general corporate purposes. Established in 1996, Avtar Steel operates three integrated facilities in Sonipat, Haryana, with 72,000 MTPA steel melting capacity and 120,000 MTPA wire rod and bar capacity, producing over 150 stainless steel grades for automotive, defense, aerospace, oil and gas, and food processing sectors. The company posted FY26 revenue of INR 1,263.3 crore and net profit of INR 59.1 crore — nearly tripling from FY24 — with EBITDA margins expanding from 4.65% to 8.94%. India's stainless steel market is projected to grow at an 8.2% CAGR through FY30, driven by infrastructure spending, green hydrogen, and renewable energy build-outs.

Grupo José de Mello has scrapped plans to invest €492 million ($566 million) in building a lithium hydroxide refinery in Estarreja, Portugal, dealing a fresh setback to the country's ambition of building a fully integrated domestic lithium mining and processing industry. The project, led by Lifthium Energy a subsidiary jointly held by the José de Mello Group and its chemical arm Bondalti had been designated a "Strategic Project" under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act only months before its cancellation, and had already secured €180 million in public support that was never drawn down. Group CEO Salvador de Mello confirmed the decision in an interview with Portuguese weekly Expresso, stating that despite "all the effort made to secure long-term contracts to allow investment in a factory, this was not possible," and that the company "will not proceed at this stage with an industrial investment in lithium." De Mello cited weak conditions across the European automotive and battery-lithium supply chain, noting the market "is not responding positively" to reindustrialization investments of this scale. Smelting background: Lifthium Energy was established in 2023 within Bondalti before ownership was restructured to 75% direct José de Mello Group control, with Bondalti retaining 15%. The Estarreja site was chosen because it already hosts existing Bondalti chemical processing infrastructure, theoretically reducing greenfield buildout risk. As designed, the refinery would have had capacity to produce 28,000 t/y of battery grade lithium hydroxide sufficient to supply roughly half a million EV battery packs annually and would have created 150 direct jobs. Critically, the plant was engineered around an electrolysis-based "green lithium" refining process using water and clean energy rather than conventional acid-roasting, and was explicitly designed to be feedstock-agnostic not dependent on ore from domestic Portuguese mines, meaning it could have processed imported spodumene concentrate from any origin. Production was originally targeted to start in 2030, later pulled forward toward 2027 in some interim guidance, before the project stalled entirely. Bondalti had already committed around €35 million to development work and had begun environmental licensing procedures for the plant as recently as June 2026. A parallel Lifthium refinery had also been under consideration in Torrelavega, Spain, which secured over €21 million in Spanish government support in September 2024; the Estarreja cancellation casts uncertainty over that project's fate as well. The Estarreja decision follows the November 2024 abandonment of Galp's Aurora lithium conversion project in Setúbal, after battery partner Northvolt's collapse left the project without an anchor customer. With both of Portugal's flagship downstream conversion projects now shelved, the country's refining ambitions have effectively stalled twice in under two years both times citing the identical root cause: an inability to lock in bankable, long-term offtake contracts with European automakers or battery cell producers, even with substantial public co-financing on offer. Mining background: Portugal's only advancing hard-rock lithium asset sits upstream of this collapsed conversion chain the Barroso Lithium Project, developed by London-listed Savannah Resources near the town of Boticas in northern Portugal. Savannah first took a 75% stake in the project in May 2017, when no resource estimate existed, and moved to 100% ownership by 2019. The company holds C-100 Mining Lease 5.42km², valid to 2036 plus the adjacent Aldeia Mining Lease of 2.74km², valid to 2049, and has since completed more than 50,000 metres of resource drilling. Barroso is now classified as Europe's largest known spodumene deposit, with a JORC-compliant resource of 39 Mt containing 411,900 tonnes of Li2O at an average grade of 1.05% Li2O across five orebodies, plus a notably low iron content (0.8% Fe2O3) that favours concentrate quality. Potential extension zones of a further 35-62 Mt are still being evaluated and could materially expand mine life if confirmed. The processing plant is designed to produce roughly 191,000-200,000 t/y of spodumene concentrate at 5.5% Li2O modestly below the 6% Li2O SC6 industry reference grade over a project life generating 2.6 Mt of concentrate in total, alongside by product sales of low-grade pegmatite material and ceramic quartz tailings for the local ceramics sector Portugal has a long standing history of lithium mining for the ceramics and glass industries, though never previously at battery-grade scale. Barroso has been designated a CRMA "Strategic Project" and received a non-reimbursable €110 million grant from the Portuguese state toward construction capex, with Savannah currently targeting production from 2028. Notably, most of the project's future concentrate output remains commercially unallocated, leaving room for a future offtake partner or open market sales. Development has not proceeded without friction. A court injunction triggered a three-week suspension of construction-related work in June 2026 before the Portuguese government stepped in, declaring the project of national and European significance and lifting the halt. Local opposition has centred on the Barroso region's UN FAO "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System" designation the agricultural equivalent of UNESCO World Heritage status, recognizing the area's traditional polyculture farming and land management systems with community concerns focused on water use, biodiversity, and land access. Savannah has since signed benefit-sharing agreements with two of the three local "baldios" communally managed lands covering the mining concessions, and hundreds of protesters gathered at a camp in Covas do Barroso in early August 2026 to continue opposing the mine, with organisers explicitly linking their campaign to the Estarreja refinery's collapse as evidence the broader domestic lithium value-chain promise is unravelling. SMM View : The collapse of both Portuguese refinery projects leaves Barroso without a natural domestic home for its future spodumene concentrate, exposing the project to a structural offtake gap at the very market it was designed to serve. In the absence of a European buyer, output is more likely to flow into the broader seaborne market, with Asian converters standing out as the most probable destination a pattern consistent with the raw-concentrate export dynamic typically seen in early-stage African supply before local beneficiation capacity comes online. That two separate Portuguese conversion projects have now failed for the same stated reason an inability to secure bankable long-term offtake commitments points to persistently thin confirmed demand from Europe's battery and automotive supply chain, even where state co-financing is on the table. Barroso's progress toward its 2028 construction target, further resource-extension drilling results, and any offtake developments will be key signals for how EU-origin spodumene ultimately positions itself against African and Australian supply in the global concentrate market.