On March 27, the 2026 SMM (21st) Lead & Zinc Conference and Industry Expo, organized by SMM, wrapped up successfully at Howard Johnson Agile Plaza in Chengdu, Sichuan!

【SMM Steel】On Mar 11, 2026, the USDOC finalized AD and CVD duties on temporary steel fencing from China, concluding a Feb 2025 probe. China exporters face a 129.70% AD margin; nationwide rate 184.27%. CVD: Hebei Minmetals 49.19%, others 178.97%. Products mostly under HTSUS 7308.90.9590. Cash deposit rates after offsets: 129.68% to 184.25%.

[SMM Magnesium News] Gansu lists magnesium-based new materials as a strategic emerging industry. Its government work report proposes building a processing base for strategic mineral resources like magnesium, accelerating full-chain development of Pingliang’s 700-million-ton magnesite dolomite and boosting industry with new energy advantages. Pingliang actively responds, planning a 10-billion-yuan magnesium-based new materials cluster. In 2026, it will speed up transfer of magnesite dolomite exploration rights and pilot project construction. Kongtong District, with rich resources, closely cooperates with China Minmetals to promote magnesium smelting and alloy projects. Currently, its explored magnesite dolomite resources exceed 700 million tons.

On the afternoon of February 6th Beijing time, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Komakao Copper Mine expansion project in Botswana was grandly held in Maun, Botswana. This project is the first major investment initiative launched by China Minmetals in the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, as well as the first significant resource expansion project. SMM anticipates that the first production of concentrate will occur in 2028. The copper output target for 2029 has been revised from the previous 40,000 metal tons to 100,000 metal tons, while the target for 2030 has been adjusted from 40,000 metal tons to 130,000 metal tons.

At 2 p.m. on February 6, Beijing time, the launch ceremony of the Komakao copper mine expansion project in Botswana was held in Maun, Botswana. The project is the first major investment project launched by China Minmetals Corporation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and also the first major resource expansion project.

On May 28, the intelligent production line for ultra-fine tungsten carbide powder, invested and constructed by Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group") and undertaken by Minmetals 23rd Construction Co., Ltd., achieved full-line operation. This project is one of the 102 major projects under China's "14th Five-Year Plan" and a "Top 100 Projects" in strategic emerging industries. Approved in June 2023, it took two years to build an intelligent production line with an annual capacity of 3,000 mt of high-quality ultra-fine tungsten carbide powder. The project selected a batch of domestically pioneered, efficient, and low-consumption fully automatic powder production equipment, significantly improving production efficiency and product quality. Production efficiency increased nearly fourfold, and processing costs decreased by over 30% YoY. The project pioneered a special docking control technology, effectively solving the challenge of automatic discharging of materials with extremely poor liquidity. It innovatively established a three-dimensional logistics system, enabling cross-floor material turnover with the help of the MES system, AGV intelligent handling equipment, and an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). It vigorously promoted the application of energy-saving and low-carbon technologies such as waste heat recovery and reactive power compensation, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1,750 mt annually. This sets a benchmark for "green intelligent manufacturing" in the industry and contributes to the realization of the "dual carbon" goals. The successful operation of this project not only addresses the "chokepoint" issue of high-end cemented carbide materials, achieving localisation substitution of high-performance ultra-fine tungsten carbide powder and ensuring the autonomy and controllability of the entire industry chain of cemented carbide, but also further promotes the transformation and upgrading of China's cemented carbide industry towards high-end, intelligent, and green directions. It supports the high-quality development of China's new materials sector and injects strong momentum into China Tungsten and High Technology Materials Co., Ltd.'s efforts to build a world-class tungsten industry group with global competitiveness.