Capacity side, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, and the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW. This week, Haozheng Hydrogen Energy successfully completed all tests on an alkaline hydrogen production electrolyzer, with all performance indicators meeting standards, and it was officially shipped to the client's project site. Eve Hydrogen Energy reached an important delivery period, as its 100 Nm³/h centralized hydrogen production system successfully passed all factory detection tests and was officially dispatched to Shandong. Project-related developments: Guangdong Qingneng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The fuel cell and electrolysis hydrogen production system project completed filing. The project is located at Building D3, No. 1 Xiangda Road, Dancao Logistics Center, Dancao Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, with a total investment of 200 million yuan, to be constructed by Guangdong Qingneng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. as the construction entity. On one hand, the project advances the expansion of fuel cell-related businesses at the headquarters base, deploying multiple production lines for new-type compression-molded graphite plates, supporting stacks, and air-cooled fuel cells. On the other hand, it simultaneously builds AEM electrolysis hydrogen production lines, developing core material capacity for membrane electrode assemblies, bipolar plates, and other components. State Administration for Market Regulation: A re-tender announcement was issued for the research project on safety-critical standards for hydrogen refueling station infrastructure, with a project budget and maximum price cap both set at 1.1 million yuan (China Government Procurement Network). This procurement will focus on developing two national standards: liquid hydrogen vehicle refueling protocols and rubber O-rings for high-pressure hydrogen equipment, and plans to produce draft versions for public comment or approval (China Government Procurement Network). The project performance period runs until December 31, 2026, and consortium bids are not accepted (China Government Procurement Network). This initiative will fill the gaps in relevant standards in China, strengthen the intrinsic safety assurance of hydrogen refueling stations, and facilitate the standardized and orderly development of the hydrogen energy industry. China Risun Group Limited: China's first domestically developed 5 mt/day hydrogen expansion refrigeration hydrogen liquefaction project was successfully completed and put into operation at Risun Group's Dingzhou Park. The equipment used in this project is China's first large-scale liquefaction equipment adopting the hydrogen Claude cycle process with 100% localisation of core components. It successfully overcame multiple key industry technologies, with overall performance benchmarked against international first-class standards. The unit energy consumption of the core liquefaction system was as low as 11.84 kWh/kg, representing a reduction of over 40% compared to traditional processes, effectively lowering liquid hydrogen production costs and supporting the autonomous development of China's hydrogen energy industry. Heilongjiang Coal Chemical Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. : Zhongmei Longhua held discussions with the government of Ar Horqin Banner, Chifeng City. Both parties focused on existing new energy cooperation projects, advancing computing power industry deployment and coordinating the construction of green energy transmission corridors. Previously, the two parties had signed a 12.8 billion yuan agreement for a 2GW new energy base and an annual 500,000 mt biomass pellet project, covering 1.8GW wind power and 0.2GW PV. During this round of discussions, they finalised an additional computing power synergy project, planning to build a thousand-P-level intelligent computing power centre leveraging a green electricity direct supply model to revitalise clean energy resources. In addition, the two parties will also fully align with the Chifeng-to-Jinzhou hydrogen-ammonia-methanol transmission pipeline, deploying green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol capacity to build an integrated green energy industry chain encompassing green electricity production, energy conversion, and cross-provincial transmission. Jiyuan (Siping) Green Energy Co., Ltd. : The results of SPIC's 87th batch of centralised tenders for 2025 were announced. Sungrow Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. won the bid for the alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment for the Jidian Co., Ltd. Lishu Wind and Solar Power Green Hydrogen Production Coupled with Biomass Green Methanol Project (Section II). Located in Siping, Jilin, the project has a hydrogen production capacity of 30,000 Nm³/h and plans to commence construction in August 2025, with a total construction period of 22 months, implemented in two sections. Upon completion, the project will promote the commercialisation of green hydrogen coupled with biomass for green methanol production, facilitating the integrated development of new energy and chemical industries. China Coal Ordos Energy Chemical Co., Ltd.: The 3,000 Nm³/h electrolysis hydrogen production unit for China Coal Ordos Energy Chemical's 100,000 mt "Liquid Sunshine" project, manufactured by China First Heavy Industries Nuclear Power and Petrochemical, was successfully shipped from the Dalian Mianhua Island nuclear power equipment manufacturing base, advancing the "Liquid Sunshine" project and empowering the integrated development of hydrogen energy and new energy. Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology Equipment Co., Ltd.: The completion ceremony of the green electricity hydrogen production and natural gas hydrogen blending comprehensive testing platform was held at Guofu Hydrogen Energy's Zhangjiagang base. Jointly developed by Guofu Hydrogen Energy and Towngas Group, the platform conducts green electricity hydrogen production utilising local 52,000 m² rooftop distributed PV and alkaline electrolysers. Employing a follow-up flow gas mixing process, it can achieve precise natural gas hydrogen blending at ratios from 0% to 30%, with a maximum hydrogen blending volume of 100 standard m³ per hour. The platform integrates four modules — hydrogen production, gas mixing, combustion, and data acquisition — focusing on hydrogen blending condition verification, energy efficiency assessment, and cost estimation research. With significant environmental protection benefits, it can reduce CO₂ emissions by 1,144 mt in the first year. The project is expected to consume 2.16 million kWh of green electricity over its full lifecycle, facilitating clean energy integration and low-carbon development. SPIC: The announcement of candidate winners for the 23rd batch of centralised tenders for 2026 — the EPC general contracting for the SPIC Green Energy Da'an Gaseous Hydrogen Storage Technical Renovation Project — was released. According to the announcement, the first candidate winner was China Wuhuan Engineering Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 55.2 million yuan, and the second candidate winner was China Petroleum and Natural Gas First Construction Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 71.39 million yuan. The project is located in the Jilin Western (Da'an) Clean Energy Chemical Industry Park in Liangjiazi Town, Da'an City, Baicheng City, Jilin Province. It involves the construction of 6 units of 1850m³ spherical tanks and 1 unit of 8000Nm³/h compressor, with a total hydrogen storage capacity of 177,600Nm³ and an effective hydrogen storage capacity of 144,300Nm³. The tender scope covers the design, supply, construction, commissioning, and all work within the warranty period for the gaseous hydrogen storage complete equipment and auxiliary facilities. Upon completion, it will enhance local green hydrogen storage and supply capability, facilitating the large-scale development of the hydrogen energy industry. Hainan Shenneng Materials Co., Ltd. : The announcement of successful bid candidates for the commissioning, trial operation, and demonstration operation services of the Hainan New Energy Offshore Wind Power Hydrogen Production Comprehensive Utilization Key Technology R&D and Engineering Demonstration Project was released. The bid inviter is Hainan Shenneng Materials Co., Ltd. The announcement shows that the first successful bid candidate is Sinochem Second Construction Group Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 5.83 million yuan; the second successful bid candidate is China Petrochemical Engineering Construction Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 5.875 million yuan. The project aims to implement the construction requirements of Hainan's clean energy priority development demonstration zone, focusing on offshore wind power hydrogen production and comprehensive utilization technology research. It will achieve breakthroughs in key technologies such as floating platform hydrogen production, hydrogen storage and transportation, and hydrogen-to-ammonia/methanol, develop core equipment and an offshore wind power hydrogen production comprehensive utilization floating platform, providing technical and engineering support for Hainan's clean energy island construction and large-scale offshore hydrogen production. Policy Review 1. Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration on Matters Related to the Orderly Promotion of Multi-user Green Electricity Direct Connection Development. The document states that support is given to new energy power generation projects that have not yet commenced power grid connection engineering construction, as well as new energy power generation projects that cannot be connected to grid due to reasons such as new energy consumption constraints, to carry out multi-user green electricity direct connection after completing the corresponding change procedures. Distributed PV may participate in multi-user green electricity direct connection through centralized current collection. Priority support is given to computing facilities, green hydrogen-ammonia-methanol and other emerging industries and future industries to carry out green electricity direct connection. Projects shall meet national industrial policy requirements, and enterprises are strictly prohibited from conducting illegal activities through green electricity direct connection. 2. Notice of the Hubei Provincial Department of Transportation on Implementing Toll Subsidy Policies for Hydrogen Energy Vehicles Traveling on Hubei Provincial Expressways. The document states that hydrogen energy vehicles (with hydrogen fuel cell as the sole power source) that legally transport cargo, are equipped with and normally use ETC, and travel on expressways within Hubei Province (with entry and exit records and inter-station travel routes all within Hubei Province) shall be exempted from expressway tolls. The tolls exempted by relevant expressway operation and management entities shall be fully subsidized by provincial fiscal funds. 3. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Organizing and Carrying Out Industrial Energy Conservation Supervision Work in 2026." It mentioned that energy efficiency supervision will be conducted in key industry sectors. In accordance with mandatory energy consumption quota standards for relevant industries, as well as requirements such as energy efficiency benchmark and baseline levels, energy conservation supervision will be carried out on enterprises in industries including steel, synthetic ammonia, oil refining, ethylene, caustic soda, soda ash, and methanol, with the principle of achieving full coverage of energy conservation supervision for enterprises in the above industries within the region during 2026–2027 (full coverage of calcium carbide-based PVC producers shall be achieved in 2026). Energy efficiency supervision of key industry chains will also be conducted. In accordance with mandatory energy consumption quota standards for relevant industries, mandatory energy efficiency standards for products and equipment, and other requirements, focusing on key industry chains such as PV modules, wind turbines, EV and ESS batteries, and water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, special energy conservation supervision will be carried out on key enterprises in segments including raw materials, production and manufacturing, and terminal assembly, with a focus on verifying enterprise energy consumption in production processes and energy efficiency of major products. Enterprise Updates Guohong Hydrogen Energy Technology (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd. : China's first inland 64-TEU hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship "Dongfang Hydrogen Port" set sail from Zhapu Port Area of Jiaxing Port and was officially put into operation. It is reported that Guohong Hydrogen Energy provided two sets of independently developed Honghan C240 marine hydrogen fuel cell systems. This is currently the highest-power hydrogen fuel cell system in China and the first to be applied to ships (single-unit rated power of 240 kW). Yuchai Xinlan (Jiangsu) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : Yuchai Hydrogen Energy General Manager Lu Guoquan and Zhongyuan Electric Laboratory Deputy Director Zhang Xueshen signed a strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective parties. According to the agreement, both parties will leverage their respective technological advantages and resources to establish a long-term, stable, and in-depth strategic partnership, focusing on comprehensive cooperation in four core areas: water electrolysis for hydrogen production, hydrogen fuel internal combustion engines, green energy management, and hydrogen energy demonstration projects. Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology Equipment Co., Ltd.: Joining hands with Three Gorges Zhongyi, Jiaosheng New Energy, and other shipping industry chain partners, the company held the "Zero-Carbon Yangtze, Green Shipping" industrial ecosystem strategy launch conference. At the conference, Guofu Hydrogen Energy officially released its "River-Sea Strategy Plan" and held the rollout ceremony of its first 80-cubic-meter marine LNG storage tank, marking its official entry from the land-based hydrogen energy equipment sector into the green shipping track. According to the plan, Guofu Hydrogen Energy will promote the improvement of the shipping ecosystem closed loop, attract industry partners to co-build the ecosystem, and plans to complete the leap from product finalization and demonstration applications to ecosystem formation within three years, facilitating the zero-carbon transformation of Yangtze River shipping. Haida Qingneng Ship (Dalian) Co., Ltd. : China's first inland waterway 64-TEU hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ship, the "Dongfang Hydrogen Port," successfully set sail from Jiaxing Port and was put into operation on a designated route, achieving a new breakthrough in the application of hydrogen fuel cell vessels on inland waterways. Designed by Haida Qingneng Ship with a full set of hydrogen power systems, the vessel has a cargo capacity of approximately 1,450 mt and a driving range of 380 kilometers. It is equipped with a large power hydrogen fuel cell system, achieving zero carbon emissions throughout the entire voyage, and has also completed the integrated integration of large-capacity hydrogen storage and control systems. The core technologies were jointly developed by the enterprise and Dalian Maritime University. This commissioning also fully demonstrated that hydrogen-powered vessel propulsion systems are mature and reliable, promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of inland waterway shipping. PetroChina Company Limited Shenzhen New Energy Research Institute : PetroChina's first 2,000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolysis water-to-hydrogen system successfully completed its initial test run, with all parameters meeting design requirements. The overall technical level ranks among the industry's best, and the hydrogen produced has a purity as high as 99.9995%. The system was led by PetroChina Shenzhen Institute and jointly developed by multiple enterprises, integrating large-capacity electrolyzers with high-efficiency separation and purification equipment. Actual testing showed that the high-grade hydrogen can meet the usage requirements of multiple industries. The system will subsequently be connected to the Dushanzi Petrochemical hydrogen pipeline network for production application, helping the petrochemical industry accelerate its green and low-carbon transformation. China Huadian Engineering Corporation Limited : Its top ten new technologies and new products of 2026 were unveiled in Beijing, accelerating the expansion of its technological achievement portfolio and boosting the development of new quality productive forces. Among them, the independently developed "Hua'an" U1000 skid-mounted green ammonia synthesis unit was officially launched, overcoming key technologies for distributed green ammonia production. The unit focuses on compact skid-mounted and modular design, addressing the pain points of traditional ammonia synthesis units such as high investment, long construction cycles, and difficulty in adapting to wind and solar power fluctuations. It features four major advantages: low temperature and low pressure, flexible adaptation, intelligent integration, and rapid deployment, filling the technological gap in small-scale green ammonia equipment in China. It integrates multiple innovations: equipped with a low-temperature and low-pressure catalyst jointly developed with the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, adopting a proprietary patented dual-tower reactor, and equipped with self-developed "source-grid-hydrogen-ammonia" full-chain flexible control technology, enabling wide-load regulation and adaptation to wind and solar power fluctuations. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing a Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint / Technical Specifications 1 The team led by Academician Chen Zhongwei and Associate Researcher Zhang Meng from the National Key Laboratory of Catalysis for Energy Conversion at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics developed a high specific power cathode-closed air-cooled stack technology, which passed the scientific and technological achievement evaluation by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology effectively resolves the industry contradiction between water retention and oxygen mass transfer in air-cooled fuel cells, addressing technical challenges such as low-humidity performance degradation, carbon corrosion, membrane drying and flooding, and high-power thermal management. 2 Two group standards on hydrogen production by water electrolysis were officially released and implemented, namely the "Safety Technical Specification for Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis" and the "Calculation Method for Economic Operation Indicators of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis." 3 Petronor collaborated with H2SITE to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, improving high-purity hydrogen supply and low-carbon efficiency in refining. 4 Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure that maintains the asymmetry of electron distribution. 5 A research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the National Key Laboratory of Electrical Materials and Electrical Insulation at Xi'an Jiaotong University successfully developed a Ru/Ti3C2Ox@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis.

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...

On May 14, the Equipment Industry Division I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Quality Development Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the Fire Supervision Department of the National Fire and Rescue Administration jointly held a video conference on strengthening NEV safety management. The meeting required vehicle and power battery manufacturers to take primary responsibility for product quality and safety, treat safety management as a top-priority initiative, strengthen risk prevention, and strictly fulfill disclosure obligations. The three departments will enhance coordination to conduct safety hazard inspections and defect investigations, implement a product consistency special action, and strictly investigate and penalize violations.

SMM News, May 15: Metals market: As of the midday close, domestic market base metals fell across the board. SHFE copper dropped 1.61%, SHFE aluminum fell 1.09%, SHFE lead declined 0.6%, SHFE zinc slipped 0.24%, SHFE tin lost 2.14%, and SHFE nickel fell 1.82%. In addition, the most-traded casting aluminum alloy futures fell 1.04%, the most-traded alumina contract dropped 0.64%, the most-traded lithium carbonate contract declined 0.54%, the most-traded silicon metal contract fell 1.84%, and the most-traded polysilicon futures slipped 0.08%. Ferrous metals all fell. Iron ore dropped 0.8%, rebar declined 0.18%, hot-rolled coil fell 0.43%, and stainless steel lost 1.27%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 1.29%, and the most-traded coke contract dropped 0.85%. Overseas market base metals: as of 11:46, LME metals declined across the board. LME copper fell 1.46%, LME aluminum dropped 0.82%, LME lead slipped 0.47%, LME zinc declined 0.91%, LME tin lost 0.19%, and LME nickel fell 1.16%. Precious metals: as of 11:46, COMEX gold fell 1.5% and COMEX silver dropped 4.6%. Domestic market precious metals: the most-traded SHFE gold contract fell 1.53%, and the most-traded SHFE silver contract dropped 7.64%. In addition, as of the midday close, the most-traded platinum futures fell 5.47%, and the most-traded palladium futures dropped 4.87%. As of the midday close, the most-traded Europe containerized freight index contract rose 1.88% to 2,519 points. As of 11:46 on May 15, midday futures quotes for selected contracts: Spot prices and fundamentals Copper: Today in Guangdong, #1 copper cathode spot prices against the front-month contract: high-quality copper was quoted at 270 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 200 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day; SX-EW copper was quoted at a premium of 130 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day. The average price of Guangdong #1 copper cathode was 105,750 yuan/mt, down 2,020 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average price of SX-EW copper was 105,645 yuan/mt, down 2,020 yuan/mt from the previous trading day... Macro front China: [Preview: The State Council Information Office will hold a press conference on May 18 to introduce measures to strengthen and optimize departure tax refund policies and expand inbound consumption] The State Council Information Office will hold a press conference at 3:00 PM on Monday, May 18, 2026. Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping, along with officials from the State Taxation Administration, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, will introduce measures to strengthen and optimize departure tax refund policies and expand inbound consumption, and answer questions from reporters. (Guoxin.com) [CAICT Launches AI Terminal Intelligence Grading Tests to Accelerate Implementation of New National Standards] Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Commerce, and other departments jointly released the national standard series "Artificial Intelligence Terminal Intelligence Grading" (GB/Z 177—2026), which clearly defines the intelligence levels of AI terminals and lays a solid foundation for building a safe, orderly, and efficient AI terminal ecosystem. CAICT is one of the primary drafting organizations of the standard series and possesses comprehensive detection qualifications and technical capabilities in product areas including smartphones, tablets, microcomputers, smart glasses, earphones, speakers, televisions, and automotive cockpits. The first round of AI terminal intelligence grading standard conformity detection has now been launched, and relevant enterprises are welcome to actively participate in testing to jointly promote the implementation of the standards and help enhance product intelligence levels. (CAICT) [PBOC Achieves Zero Injection and Zero Withdrawal for the Day, with a Net Withdrawal of 51 Billion Yuan for the Week] PBOC conducted 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today. As 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured today, zero injection and zero withdrawal were achieved for the day. This week, PBOC conducted 2.5 billion yuan of reverse repo operations. As 53.5 billion yuan of reverse repos matured this week, a net withdrawal of 51 billion yuan was achieved for the week overall. (Jin10 Data) US dollar: As of 11:46, the US dollar index rose 0.17% to 99.04. Data released by the US Department of Commerce on Thursday showed that US retail sales continued to grow in April, but against the backdrop of rapidly rising energy prices, the market believed that consumer data was partly influenced by inflation-driven price increases, and actual consumption momentum may not have been as strong as the headline data suggested. Data showed that US retail sales rose 0.5% MoM in April, the lowest since January, in line with market expectations. The previously reported March figure was revised down to a gain of 1.6%. US consumer confidence had already fallen to a historic low in early May, and the pace of inflation exceeded wage growth for the first time in three years, raising market concerns that consumer spending could slow down significantly going forward. US Fed's Williams: Monetary policy is slightly restrictive. I see no reason to raise or cut interest rates at this point. US Fed Governor Barr: We are not in a recession, but job growth is weak. I have not yet decided what action to take at the June FOMC meeting. According to the CME "FedWatch": The probability of the US Fed keeping rates unchanged through June was 96.8%, while the cumulative probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut was 3.2%. The probability of the US Fed keeping interest rates unchanged through July was 93.8%, with a 3.1% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point interest rate cut and a 3.1% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike. (Jin10 Data) Data: The US May New York Fed Manufacturing Index, US April industrial production MoM, and China's April total electricity consumption YoY will be released today. Also noteworthy: 2026 FOMC voter and Cleveland Fed President Hammack will deliver opening remarks at an online discussion on central bank independence; permanent FOMC voter and New York Fed President Williams will participate in a discussion; Fed Governor Barr will speak on the balance sheet; the National Energy Administration will release total electricity consumption data around the 15th of each month; Fed Chairman Powell's term will end; US President Trump will pay a state visit to China. Crude oil: As of 11:46, oil prices in both markets rose, with WTI up 1.36% and Brent up 1.29%. Middle East conflicts and uncertainty over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz supported oil prices. US President Trump stated: "We don't need to open the Strait of Hormuz," adding that efforts were being made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for regional countries. India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on the 14th that an Indian-flagged merchant vessel was attacked near the Omani coast close to the Strait of Hormuz, but all crew members were safe. The Ministry expressed regret in a statement that day over the continued targeting of merchant ships and seafarers. However, the statement did not mention the specific name of the attacked vessel or the identity of the attackers, only stating that all Indian crew members on board were safe. UK-based Windward maritime analytics company said on social media on the 14th that an Indian-flagged cargo ship sank after a suspected drone attack in Omani waters near the Strait of Hormuz, and all crew members had been successfully rescued. (Xinhua) According to retailers in Delhi on Friday, India raised gasoline and diesel prices by approximately 3 rupees per liter (about $0.03); this was the country's first fuel price increase in four years, aimed at offsetting part of the losses incurred from surging global oil prices. Affected by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and severe shipping disruptions triggered by the Iran war, global oil prices once surged to highs of over $120 per barrel before pulling back to around $100–105 per barrel. Currently, the retail price of diesel in Delhi was 90.67 rupees per liter, and the retail price of gasoline was 97.77 rupees per liter. Three state-owned enterprises — Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation — collectively controlled over 90% of more than 103,000 fuel stations across India, and these three companies typically adjusted diesel and gasoline retail prices in tandem. (Jin10 Data) In addition, Bank of Japan officials stated that prices of a wide range of commodities, including oil and chemical products, rose due to uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The YoY increase in wholesale prices in April was the largest since May 2023. (Jin10 Data) Spot Market Overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

SMM May 9 News: Metals market: Last Friday's overnight domestic market saw base metals mostly decline. SHFE copper rose 0.53%. SHFE aluminum fell 0.16%, and SHFE lead fell 0.15%. SHFE zinc fell 1.19%. SHFE tin fell 1.13%. SHFE nickel fell 0.67%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures fell 1.37%, and the most-traded casting aluminum futures fell 0.24%. Last Friday's overnight ferrous metals mostly fell. Iron ore was flat at 816.5 yuan/mt, stainless steel fell 1.05%, rebar edged up slightly, and hot-rolled coil rose 0.14%. Coking coal and coke: coking coal fell 0.39%, and coke fell 0.43%. Last Friday's overnight overseas metals showed mixed performance among LME base metals. LME copper rose 1.59%. LME aluminum rose 0.34%, and LME lead was flat at $1,977.5/mt. LME zinc fell 0.17%. LME tin fell 1.26%. LME nickel fell 0.89%. Last Friday's overnight precious metals : COMEX gold rose 0.27%, posting a weekly gain of 1.71%; COMEX silver rose 0.82%, gaining 5.76% for the week. Last Friday's overnight SHFE gold most-traded contract fell 0.21%, with a weekly gain of 3.24%; SHFE silver most-traded contract rose 0.09%, with SHFE silver gaining 11.4% for the week. As of 8:39 AM on May 9, last Friday's overnight closing prices: Macro front China: [Li Qiang Chaired State Council Executive Meeting: Advancing Local Government Debt Risk Resolution and Strengthening Full-Chain Management of Mineral Resources] State Council Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting on May 9, studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches on the current economic situation and economic work, as well as at the symposium on strengthening basic research. The meeting noted that efforts should be made to align thinking and actions with the CPC Central Committee's scientific assessment of the situation, further bolster confidence, seize opportunities amid changes, drive development through overcoming challenges, consolidate and expand the momentum of steady and positive economic growth, and strive for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Macro policies should focus on being fully and effectively utilized, maintaining proactive implementation, and continuously improving execution efficiency. Strengthening the domestic economic circulation should seek breakthroughs in coordinated supply-demand alignment and integrated upgrading, implementing and improving measures to expand capacity and enhance quality in the service sector, and strengthening the planning and construction of water networks, new-type power grids, computing power networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipeline networks, and logistics networks . Social welfare efforts should focus more on stabilizing employment and ensuring basic needs, and doing well in education, healthcare, childcare, agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. Greater efforts and more concrete measures should be taken to strengthen basic research, placing basic research high on the agenda. In light of the country's urgent needs and long-term demands, the main directions and key areas of focus should be identified, investment should be increased through multiple measures, and efforts should be made to foster a sound research ecosystem. Risks and challenges should be addressed effectively, with continued efforts to defuse risks in areas such as real estate, local government debt, and small and medium-sized financial institutions. Safety production responsibilities of all parties should be closely monitored and enforced to resolutely prevent major and serious accidents. ( Xinhua News Agency ) [General Administration of Customs: In the first 4 months, China's goods trade imports and exports grew 14.9%, with electromechanical product exports up 17.6%] According to customs statistics, in the first 4 months of 2026, China's total goods trade imports and exports reached 16.23 trillion yuan, up 14.9% YoY (the same hereinafter). Of this, exports totaled 9.33 trillion yuan, up 11.3%; imports totaled 6.9 trillion yuan, up 20%. In April, China's total goods trade imports and exports reached 4.38 trillion yuan, up 14.2%. Of this, exports totaled 2.48 trillion yuan, up 9.8%; imports totaled 1.9 trillion yuan, up 20.6%. [Four departments: Exploring direct connection of nuclear power, hydrogen energy and other energy sources to supply computing facilities, and continuously increasing the share of green electricity in computing facilities] The Plan proposes enhancing the diversified power supply capacity of computing facilities. Based on actual conditions such as the scale of computing facility grid connections, power grid voltage levels, power grid new energy penetration rates, power quality requirements, and computing facility business types, standards for energy supply planning and construction of computing facilities are to be established and improved. The use of nuclear power, hydrogen energy, and other energy sources to supply computing facilities through direct connections is to be explored. Computing facilities are encouraged to deploy grid-forming ESS to enhance power supply stability and active support capability for the power system. [Three departments issue the Implementation Opinions on Standardized Application and Innovative Development of AI Agents] The Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Standardized Application and Innovative Development of AI Agents. The Implementation Opinions specify that the development of AI agents should adhere to the basic principles of safety and controllability, standardization and orderliness, innovation-driven development, and application-led guidance, and put forward measures in four areas: first, consolidating the development foundation by improving the technology base and establishing standards and protocols; second, safeguarding the security baseline by defining product guidelines, preventing security risks, improving the governance system, and strengthening industry self-discipline; third, strengthening application-led guidance by proposing 19 typical application scenarios in areas such as scientific research, industrial development, consumption stimulation, people's well-being, and social governance. Fourth, building an innovative ecosystem, promoting industrial cooperation, and strengthening application promotion. [ China's April Warehousing Index Remained in Expansion Territory, with the Warehousing Industry Continuing a Stable and Positive Trend ] The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing released the April China Warehousing Index today (May 9). The index continued to stay in expansion territory, with the warehousing industry maintaining a stable and positive trend. The April China Warehousing Index was 51%, remaining in expansion territory for two consecutive months. In terms of sub-indices, the new orders index, facility utilization rate index, and end-of-period inventory index remained in expansion territory, while the average inventory turnover index maintained a relatively high level, indicating steady growth in warehousing business demand, good cargo turnover efficiency, and smooth supply chain connectivity. By category, the peak production and construction season drove a rebound in warehousing demand for bulk commodities such as chemicals, coal, and machinery equipment, while Labour Day holiday stockpiling boosted notable growth in warehousing demand for consumer goods such as food, home appliances, and agricultural by-products. In terms of market expectations, the April business activity expectations index was 55.1%, remaining at a relatively high level, reflecting enterprises' continued optimism. Overall, the warehousing industry operated steadily in April, market vitality continued to be released, and Q2 got off to a good start. (CCTV) [ Shanghai Shipping Exchange: Geopolitical Situation Stabilizing, Freight Rates Rising on Most Routes ] The Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) weekly report stated that the current military conflict in the Middle East continued to maintain a ceasefire, with the geopolitical situation relatively stable, though the future situation still faced significant uncertainty. This week, China's export container shipping market remained stable, with freight rates on most routes edging up, driving the composite index higher. On May 8, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index stood at 1954.21 points, up 2.2% from the previous period. US dollar: Last Friday, the overnight US dollar index fell 0.43% to 97.86. On a weekly basis, the US dollar index declined for two consecutive weeks, down 0.36% for the week. Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday showed that April non-farm payrolls increased by 115,000, marking the first consecutive growth in nearly a year and the largest two-month gain since 2024, far exceeding the Bloomberg survey median economist forecast of 65,000. March data was also revised up to 185,000. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%, in line with expectations. (Wallstreetcn) "US Fed mouthpiece" Nick Timiraos: An increasing number of sell-side institutions and US Fed watchers are removing or delaying interest rate cut expectations from their outlooks, including several forecasters who made adjustments following the release of the April non-farm payrolls data. Currently, half of the respondents believe there will be no interest rate cut this year (given the inertial nature of such forecasts, this camp is likely to continue growing). In addition, Chicago Fed President Goolsbee stated that all rate options are currently on the table, not just rate cuts. At the end of April, the US Fed kept rates unchanged, with three officials opposing language in the statement that hinted the next move could be a rate cut, arguing that the possibility of a rate hike should be preserved. Goolsbee's remarks reflected a shift among US Fed policymakers — moving away from considering near-term rate cuts, primarily because the energy price shock triggered by the Iran war pushed up inflation. He reiterated that both rate cuts and rate hikes are on the table and expressed anxiety about inflation, noting that price pressures exist beyond the energy shock. (Jin10 Data) As consumers worried about the impact of inflation on personal finances and buying conditions, US consumer confidence fell to a new all-time low in recent weeks. University of Michigan data showed that the preliminary May consumer sentiment index fell from 49.8 in April to 48.2. Consumers expected prices to rise at an annual rate of 4.5% over the next year, a slight pullback MoM; longer-term inflation expectations for the next 5 to 10 years stood at 3.4%. As Americans grew anxious about overall living costs, compounded by a sharp rise in gasoline prices, consumer confidence remained subdued. American Automobile Association (AAA) data showed that the average US gasoline price this week surpassed $4.50 per gallon for the first time since July 2022, having risen more than 50% since the outbreak of the Iran war. Survey director Joanne Hsu stated: "About one-third of consumers spontaneously mentioned gasoline prices, and about 30% mentioned tariff issues. Overall, consumers still feel the impact of cost pressure, with the primary driver being surging prices at the pump." The preliminary May current conditions index fell to 47.8, a record low; the expectations index rebounded for the first time since January. Consumers' assessment of their current financial situation dropped to the lowest level since 2009, and the buying conditions indicator also fell to a five-month low. (Jin10 Data) On the macro front: Data to be released this week include China April CPI YoY, China April PPI YoY, US April existing home sales annualized, Germany April CPI MoM final, Germany May ZEW economic sentiment index, Eurozone May ZEW economic sentiment index, US April NFIB small business confidence index, US ADP employment weekly change for the week ending April 25, US April non-seasonally adjusted CPI YoY, US April seasonally adjusted CPI MoM, US April seasonally adjusted core CPI MoM, US April non-seasonally adjusted core CPI YoY, Japan March trade balance, France Q1 ILO unemployment rate, France April CPI MoM final, Eurozone Q1 GDP YoY revised, Eurozone Q1 seasonally adjusted employment QoQ final, Eurozone March industrial output MoM, US April PPI YoY, US April PPI MoM, UK Q1 GDP YoY preliminary, UK March three-month GDP MoM, UK March manufacturing output MoM, Canada March wholesale sales MoM, US initial jobless claims for the week ending May 9, US April retail sales MoM, US April import price index MoM, US May New York Fed manufacturing index, US April industrial output MoM, and China April total electricity consumption YoY (TBD), among others. In addition, other events to watch this week included: US Treasury Secretary Bessent's visit to Japan to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister, the Bank of Japan Governor, and the Finance Minister; the Bank of Japan's release of the Summary of Opinions from its April monetary policy meeting; permanent FOMC voter and New York Fed President Williams participating in a panel discussion on monetary policy; Chicago Fed President Goolsbee attending a Q&A session hosted by a local chamber of commerce; 2028 FOMC voter and Boston Fed President Collins delivering a speech at the Boston Economic Club; 2026 FOMC voter and Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari participating in a discussion hosted by a local chamber of commerce; the Bank of Canada releasing its monetary policy meeting minutes; 2026 FOMC voter and Dallas Fed President Logan participating in a dialogue on the energy sector; 2026 FOMC voter and Cleveland Fed President Hammack delivering opening remarks at an online discussion on central bank independence; US Fed Governor Barr delivering a speech; permanent FOMC voter and New York Fed President Williams participating in a discussion; and the National Energy Administration releasing national electricity consumption data around the 15th of the month. Crude oil: Last Friday overnight, both oil futures moved sideways, with WTI down 0.14% and Brent up 0.19%. On a weekly basis, WTI futures declined 7.12% for the week, while Brent fell 7.32%. Middle East conflicts resurfaced, and market concerns over the fragility of ceasefire agreements persisted. According to CMG reporters on May 8, ship-tracking data showed that as of the morning of May 8 local time, no large vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. This reportedly marked the second consecutive day since May 7 with no large commercial ships passing through the strait. (CCTV) US energy services company Baker Hughes stated in its closely watched report that US energy enterprises increased oil and natural gas rig counts for the third consecutive week, marking the first three-week streak of increases since early February. Data showed that for the week ending May 8, the total US oil and natural gas rig count—a leading indicator of future production—increased by 1 to 548, the highest since early April. (Webstock Inc.) According to foreign media reports, sources said that since shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, enterprises such as Saudi Aramco's trading arm (Aramco Trading) and UAE national oil company Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) had continued to transport crude oil cargoes through the strait. Although current shipment volumes represented only a fraction of what flowed before Iran closed this oil route nearly 10 weeks ago, the actions of both companies served as a reminder to the market that some supply could still reach global markets. According to sources, Adnoc was among the first companies to attempt shipping crude oil, fuel, and natural gas cargoes out through the strait. The company supplied Upper Zakum crude to clients, a grade typically loaded at Zirku Island, but in this case delivered in Fujairah waters outside the Persian Gulf. According to Vortexa data, at the end of April, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) loaded with Abu Dhabi crude turned off its transponder and sailed out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data showed that as of Thursday, another VLCC, Fujairah Energy, remained anchored in waters near Abu Dhabi, carrying half a cargo of crude obtained from Zirku Island via ship-to-ship transfer. A charter agreement indicated that the vessel had been temporarily chartered by Adnoc, with plans to load crude between May 15 and 17 for delivery to Asia. (Jin10 Data) Citi stated that the current base case scenario projects Brent crude oil prices to average $110 in Q2 2026, then decline to $95 in Q3 and $80 in Q4. Fitch expects Brent crude prices to remain at $100–110 per barrel during the Strait of Hormuz blockade from May to July, before pulling back to $70 per barrel by September. Additionally, JPMorgan analysts said US gasoline prices "could very well" rise to $5 per gallon, as refineries are prioritizing jet fuel production at the expense of other products. The analyst team noted in a Friday report that in Asia, the region currently hardest hit by the energy crisis, the price shock triggered by the Iran war is transmitting significantly faster through refined product markets such as jet fuel and diesel than through the crude oil market. If refinery operations continue to be constrained by limited crude supply, fuel prices could become "the primary transmission channel for demand destruction." "In this scenario, even if refined product crack spreads widen significantly, crude prices could still stabilize around $100 per barrel. At that point, the next phase of the shock would look less like a traditional crude oil price spike and more like a refining and end-user fuel supply crisis." The product most visibly impacted currently is jet fuel, which is prompting refineries to maximize jet fuel output as much as possible, typically at the cost of reduced diesel production. The knock-on effects have also spread to gasoline production. Analysts said: "This perhaps explains why US gasoline prices have already risen to $4.55 per gallon, and why the risk of gasoline prices reaching $5 can no longer be ignored." (Jin10 Data) Recommended Reading:

On May 9, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued a notice officially launching the Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Ethics Review and Service Pilot Plan. Leveraging provinces hosting National Artificial Intelligence Industry Innovation and Application Pilot Zones, the initiative will take the lead in exploring implementation pathways for AI science and technology ethics review and services, improve multi-party participation and collaborative and efficient governance mechanisms, and support responsible AI innovation and high-quality industrial development. Recently, the Shandong-Jiangsu Back-to-Back Interconnection Project was officially approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).