[SMM Aluminum Express News] Guinea Bauxite & Alumina Exports in January 2026. Ministry of Mines and Geology reports: Total bauxite 20.26 million tons; alumina 46,764 tons. Bauxite Highlights (top contributors): 1. SMB: 6.57 Mt (32 vessels) – leading exporter 2. Chalco: 2.64 Mt (14 vessels) 3. CBG: 1.64 Mt (28 vessels) 4. Zhicheng Guinee Mining/GBT: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) 5. CDM China: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) Other key volumes: 6. Cobad: 0.82 Mt 7. AMC: 0.79 Mt 8. BAM: 0.63 Mt 9. KBM: 0.58 Mt Alumina: 1. Friguia: 46,764 tons (2 vessels) – sole reported exporter

The champagne corks in Brussels may have popped too soon. On January 14, 2026, the European Commission released a soaring press statement celebrating the official entry of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) into its "Definitive Regime." In the official narrative, this was a triumph of digitalization: over 10,000 customs declarations verified in real-time, with the system running as smooth as silk. However, if we shift the lens from the desks of Brussels to the customs brokers in Hamburg, the steel traders in Rotterdam, and the customs officials currently drowning in paperwork across the continent, a starkly different picture emerges. What we are witnessing is a carefully whitewashed administrative "cardiac arrest." Forensic-level investigation into the first seven weeks of 2026 reveals that the landing of CBAM is far from the glitz claimed by officials. On the contrary, plagued by suspected low-level data errors, catastrophic approval backlogs, and teetering temporary patches, the mechanism is currently mired in a dual crisis of legality and operations. I. The Absurd "Default Values": When Taiwan’s Stainless Steel "Became" Indonesian Coal If one were to find a single representative footnote for this chaos, the "Default Value Controversy" would be the undisputed choice. For importers unable to obtain precise carbon emission data from upstream factories, the EU’s official "default values" are a lifeline. This was supposed to be a baseline derived from rigorous scientific calculation. Yet, in the 2,400-page document released on December 31, 2025, mere hours before the new rules took effect, industry experts witnessed a jaw-dropping scene. This is not merely a margin of error; it looks more like a metallurgical farce. Industry bodies have pointed out that when the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) established the carbon emission default values for stainless steel from the Taiwan region, the data tables contained suspected structural errors, bearing traces of a "copy-paste" job from Indonesian data structures. The consequence? In the physical world, processing a steel slab into a precision tube requires significant electricity, meaning the finished product should logically have higher emissions than the semi-finished one. Yet, in the table published by the EU, industry players have flagged phenomena where "Taiwanese semi-finished stainless steel allegedly emits more than the finished product," vehemently questioning its rationality. In metallurgy, this is impossible; in a bureaucratic Excel sheet, it became legal reference. More fatally, Taiwan’s stainless steel industry relies primarily on Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and scrap recycling, resulting in a relatively low carbon footprint. In contrast, the Indonesian stainless steel industry is highly dependent on Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) and coal-fired power, yielding extremely high emissions. This suspected "slip of the hand" by the EU is akin to forcefully assigning the calorie count of a rich braised pork belly to a light garden salad. This has directly resulted in European buyers of Taiwanese stainless steel facing artificially inflated financial costs. II. A 27% Pass Rate: The 15,000-Strong Army Blocked at the Gate If data controversies are "soft tissue damage," the backlog in administrative approval is a fatal "compound fracture." The core rule of the CBAM definitive stage is simple: without "authorized declarant" status, you cannot import. This means every company wishing to ship a screw or an aluminum sheet into Europe must first secure an "entry ticket." The reality is brutal. According to the Commission’s official press release, by January 7, over 12,000 operators across the EU had submitted applications, with just over 4,100 approved (a pass rate of roughly 34%). However, industry estimates suggest that by late February, applications swelled to approximately 15,000, causing the pass rate to slide to around 27%. Where did the massive remainder go? They are stuck in the overwhelmed approval systems of National Competent Authorities (NCAs). In Germany, due to the deluge of applications, logistics giant DSV issued a public notice stating it could not support clients with CBAM authorization and registration, bluntly forcing thousands of SMEs to crash into the complex reporting system like headless flies. In France, the labyrinthine digital authentication process has turned the application into a maze only a hacker could navigate. To prevent European ports from paralysis, the EU was forced to administer a "painkiller": Customs Code Y238. This is a temporary "hall pass" allowing companies that applied before March 31 but have not yet been approved to keep goods moving for now. But make no mistake, this merely lengthens the fuse on the bomb. III. The Strategy of Silence and the Risk of "Retroactive Reckoning" Faced with industry skepticism, Brussels seems to have chosen the oldest PR strategy: silence. Although industry giants like the Gerber Group issued detailed technical warnings as early as January 9, pointing out the absurdity of the Taiwan/Indonesia data, the industry notes that as of late February, no official "Corrigendum" has been issued to legally revise the default values. The updated Excel version released on February 13 merely added a disclaimer: "information only." This rigid attitude transfers all risk to the enterprises. For companies currently relying on the Y238 temporary arrangement, the real danger is not "whether goods are released," but "whether they will be retroactively penalized." Competent authorities have publicly warned that if an authorization application is ultimately rejected, member states can, under Article 26 (2)/(2a) of the CBAM Regulation, retroactively penalize goods imported during the waiting period. Such fines can, in certain cases, reach 3 to 5 times the standard penalty. In other words, this is not a procedural flaw; it is a compliance risk that could land directly on cash flows and balance sheets. Conclusion: Who Pays the Price for Hubris? CBAM was supposed to be the crown jewel of the EU’s climate ambition, a lighthouse for global green trade. But the opening scene of 2026 makes it look more like an unfinished Tower of Babel. From the "data ghosts" haunting the industry to the severely backlogged approval channels, this "hard landing" exposes a chasm between regulatory ambition and administrative capability. For European importers, every day now is an exercise in navigating through fog. They are forced to calculate not just carbon emissions, but the cost of policy uncertainty. And for the European Commission, if it cannot step out of this arrogant "silence" and clarify these glaring operational controversies, what CBAM loses will be more than just data accuracy; it will be the trust of its global trading partners.

Recently, the Hydrogen Energy (Ammonia Energy) Technology Research Center of the Low Carbon Institute published an important research paper in the renowned journal Journal of Materials Chemistry A, titled "The effect of Nafion on electrochemical nitrate reduction over CoRu alloy catalyst." This study, for the first time, reveals the synergistic mechanism by which perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers enhance the performance of cobalt-ruthenium (CoRu) alloy catalysts, proposes a solvation interface model for electrochemical ammonia synthesis, and provides key theoretical guidance for the design of high-efficiency electrodes for electrochemical ammonia synthesis. The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction can convert nitrate pollutants in water into ammonia, simultaneously achieving pollution control and resource recovery, making it a highly promising green pathway for ammonia synthesis. Perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers, as the core adhesive in the catalytic layer of membrane electrodes, have had unclear micro-level effects on the catalytic mechanism until now. This study, using a combination of explicit solvent models and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, achieved two key findings: first, perfluorosulfonic acid-based polymers can effectively reduce the dissociation energy barrier of water molecules, promoting proton supply; second, they can enhance the adsorption and activation of nitrate ions on the catalyst surface through orbital interactions with nitrate ions. The research elucidates the influence mechanism of these polymers on electron-proton transport and reaction pathways, revealing the synergistic effects at the ionomer-catalyst layer interface, and provides theoretical support for the construction of membrane electrode interfaces. This achievement is expected to promote the integrated innovation of green ammonia synthesis and wastewater treatment technologies, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable nitrogen cycle and clean energy system. The first author of the paper is Gan Wen, an engineer at the Hydrogen Energy (Ammonia Energy) Technology Research Center of the Low Carbon Institute, who has long been engaged in research on electrochemical ammonia synthesis and nitrogen cycle catalytic materials, established high-throughput computational screening strategies, has applied for a total of 10 invention patents (3 authorized), and has published 8 academic papers as first author.

On September 26, 2025, the General Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government issued the "Hunan Province Action Plan for Accelerating the Improvement of the New Energy Vehicle Penetration Rate (2025–2026)," focusing on the promotion and application of NEVs and industrial upgrading. It explicitly proposed accelerating the construction of energy replenishment facilities such as hydrogen refueling stations. The core contents are as follows: I. Core Action Targets The core objective is to narrow the gap with the national NEV penetration rate, advancing in phases: By the end of 2025, the gap between the provincial NEV penetration rate and the national average is expected to narrow to within 6%. By the end of 2026, the aim is to reach the national average NEV penetration rate. II. Four Key Action Tasks (1) Consumer Environment Optimization Action Innovating Sales Models : Automakers are encouraged to develop products suited to local scenarios, explore diversified sales models such as leasing instead of purchasing and battery-swapping, and expand ecological cooperation. Improving the Service Network : Promote the establishment of delivery centers and authorized after-sales service sites at the county level and in remote areas, carry out after-sales services in rural areas, and address shortcomings in grassroots services. Extending the Consumption Chain : Standardize the used car market, strengthen battery recycling and leasing management, and enhance the residual value of NEVs. Strengthening Financial Support : Increase credit supply, introduce low-down-payment, long-term financial solutions tailored to younger groups, and optimize NEV insurance services. (2) Commercial Vehicle Replacement Action Public Sector Replacement : Focus on promoting the application of NEVs in public sectors such as buses, taxis, sanitation, and freight delivery, and support key cities for air pollution prevention and control in taking the lead in replacing vehicles in urban construction logistics. Truck Transformation Incentives : Using the phase-out of trucks meeting National IV and lower emission standards as a breakthrough, implement provincial fiscal support and introduce preferential expressway toll policies for new energy trucks. (3) Energy Replenishment Facility Enhancement Action (Including Key Construction of Hydrogen Refueling Stations) Urban Residential Charging Convenience : Implement "unified construction and service" for charging piles in residential areas, provide one-stop services for car purchase, electricity connection, and pile installation, and simplify the application process. Public and Dedicated Facility Support : Improve supporting policies for land use, power grid, and electricity prices for dedicated energy replenishment facilities such as those for buses and trucks, and encourage private capital participation in construction. Energy Replenishment Network Construction at Transportation Hubs : Accelerate the planning and construction of a batch of large power charging (battery swap) stations and hydrogen refueling stations in key areas such as expressway service areas, logistics parks, ports, along major logistics corridors, and national and provincial highways. ; Promote the renovation and expansion of eligible gas (CNG/LNG) stations into comprehensive energy supply stations offering "fuel (gas) + charging (battery swap)" services. Full Coverage of Rural Energy Replenishment : Incorporate charging piles into the "Village Access Project" to achieve full coverage of charging stations in every township and charging piles in every village, promoting the integrated development of energy replenishment facilities with PV systems, parking lots, and others. (IV) Enhanced Support Policy Actions Leveraging Fiscal Funds : Coordinate special funds from the central and provincial levels to implement trade-in and car-to-countryside policies, carry out NEV sales promotions, explore charging consumption subsidies, and encourage municipalities and prefectures to issue car purchase subsidies. Traffic Priority and Parking Incentives : Encourage municipalities and prefectures to grant NEVs traffic priority on core urban routes, along with benefits such as extended operating hours and parking fee reductions in public areas. III. Safeguard Measures Establish a dual-led working mechanism by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission (Provincial Energy Bureau) and the Provincial Department of Commerce, coordinating multiple provincial departments for collaborative advancement; require local governments to refine measures and ensure implementation, while intensifying policy publicity to eliminate misconceptions and foster a social environment supportive of NEV development. This plan is expected to include hydrogen refueling stations as key components of energy replenishment facilities in transportation hubs, advancing them in coordination with charging (battery swap) stations. This will effectively address the energy replenishment challenges for NEVs (particularly hydrogen-powered vehicles), providing solid support for increasing the NEV penetration rate and transforming the energy structure in Hunan.

On June 7, Nanjing Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. (NISCO) and Huoqiu County held a "15th Five-Year Plan" local government-enterprise cooperation exchange meeting at Jin'an Mining. Huo Shaobin, member of the Standing Committee of the Lu'an Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee, and Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, attended and delivered speeches. The meeting was chaired by Wei Nengwu, Deputy Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee and County Magistrate. Mao Lingxia, Deputy County Magistrate of the Huoqiu County People's Government, heads of departments including the Huoqiu Economic Development Zone, the Huoqiu County National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Huoqiu County Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the Huoqiu County Bureau of Natural Resources, and Fanqiao Town, Wang Haiyong, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Secretary to the Board of Directors of CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd., and Shao Renzhi, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of NISCO and President of the New Industry Investment Group, also attended the meeting. Shang Wenhu, General Manager of Huoqiu County Limin Company, and Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining, signed the transfer contract for the Fanqiao Iron Mine exploration right project. Jin'an Mining introduced the strategic development plan for the "15th Five-Year Plan." Huo Shaobin pointed out that the successful signing of the Fanqiao Iron Mine project is an important achievement of the joint efforts and shared vision for development between the local government and the enterprise. It will strongly promote the complementary advantages and resource sharing between the local government and the enterprise, inject strong momentum into further optimizing, strengthening, and expanding Jin'an Mining, and provide solid support for the high-quality economic and social development of Huoqiu County. All departments at various levels in the county should further strengthen safeguard measures, optimize service mechanisms, and strive to create a first-class business environment. It is necessary to improve the regular communication mechanism between the government and enterprises, implement a list-based management of services, efficiently and precisely promote the implementation of enterprise-benefiting policies, and provide solid guarantees for deepening the strategic cooperation between the local government and enterprises. Huang Yixin stated that Jin'an Mining achieved multiple historical operating indicators in 2024, opening up a new pattern of dual-main-business-driven development. The signing of the transfer contract for the Fanqiao Iron Mine exploration right has fulfilled NISCO's long-held aspiration for sustainable development in Huoqiu. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the successive leadership teams that have supported the development of Jin'an Mining over the years. In recent years, Huoqiu's business environment has continued to improve, and the efficiency of government services has been constantly enhanced, actively addressing the concerns and difficulties of enterprises. NISCO Group and Jin'an Mining will live up to expectations, fulfill their missions, and take the lead, committed to building a world-class technology-oriented excellent enterprise and contributing new "NISCO strength" to the high-quality economic and social development of Huoqiu County. Accompanied by Huang Yixin and others, Huo Shaobin and his delegation conducted in-depth surveys and provided guidance at the Jin'an Mining Smart Center. On the same day, Jin'an Mining held the commissioning ceremony for the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project. Huo Shaobin, member of the Standing Committee of the Lu'an Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Huoqiu County Party Committee, delivered a speech, and Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, announced the official commissioning of the project. Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining, chaired the ceremony. The 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project of Jin'an Mining is not only a vivid practice of Jin'an Mining's implementation of NISCO's "one body, three elements" large industrial ecosystem, but also an active response to the strategic deployment of the Huoqiu County Party Committee and County Government to focus on building an iron-based new material industrial cluster. This project is the first production line in China that uses ultra-pure iron powder as raw material to produce 9-series permanent magnet ferrite pre-sintered materials, filling a technological gap in this field and marking a milestone. In his speech, Huo Shaobin stated that the Jin'an Mining 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project is a brand-new starting point and a magnificent symphony. Huoqiu County will thoroughly implement the project of "consolidating the foundation and nurturing vitality," continuously improve the work style of officials, optimize the business environment, nurture the project's healthy growth, assist Jin'an Mining in becoming bigger and stronger, and wish Nanjing Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. (NISCO) prosperous development and continuous innovation. Huang Yixin expressed gratitude to the leaders and guests who witnessed the commissioning of the Jin'an Mining 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project and paid tribute to the participating construction units. He also introduced the development of NISCO and CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd., as well as the latest developments in the mutually empowering development of Jin'an Mining's dual main businesses. He stated that Jin'an Mining will strive to become a world-class new materials company, making new contributions to Huoqiu's economic transformation and high-quality development. After the ceremony, the attendees jointly toured the production line of the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project. On June 6, the Board of Directors of Jin'an Mining held its 2025 annual meeting. Huang Yixin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of NISCO, Shao Renzhi, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of NISCO and President of New Industry Investment Group, as well as directors, supervisors, and members of the management team of Jin'an Mining attended the meeting, which was chaired by Xu Weizhuo, Chairman and General Manager of Jin'an Mining. The meeting focused on hearing reports on Jin'an Mining's "15th Five-Year Plan Strategic Planning Scheme," "2024 Annual Financial Final Accounts Report," and "2025 Annual Financial Budget Report." Huang Yixin stated that this year's Jin'an Mining Board of Directors meeting is a triple celebration: obtaining the exploration rights for the Fanqiao Iron Mine, the official commissioning of the 9-series permanent magnet ferrite ultra-pure iron powder pre-sintered material project, and Jin'an Mining achieving multiple historical milestones in 2024. Jin'an Mining's victory is a comprehensive one, which has also inspired the confidence of all officials and employees of Jin'an to dare to fight and win. Reviewing the past, Jin'an Mining has achieved six "leading the way and setting an example." First, leading the way and setting an example in innovation, breakthroughs, and creating history in production and operation; second, leading the way and setting an example in Party building and corporate culture construction; third, leading the way and setting an example in strategic guidance, planning, and implementation; fourth, leading the way and setting an example in incremental sustainable development; fifth, leading the way and setting an example in overall organizational and team building; sixth, leading the way and setting an example in the construction of a safe, happy, and green mine. For future development, Jin'an Mining must adhere to "five unwavering principles." First, it must unwaveringly achieve this year's profitability targets. Second, it must unwaveringly adhere to the strategy of developing iron-based new materials, while also firming up its determination to go public in the future. Third, it must unwaveringly promote the Fanqiao Mine to generate profits as soon as possible. Fourth, it must unwaveringly build a modern mine system. Fifth, it must unwaveringly advance the construction of the Party, corporate culture, and talent team development. Shao Renzhi expressed his congratulations to Jin'an Mining for acquiring the Fanqiao Iron Mine, which is a remarkable achievement for Jin'an. He emphasized the need to accelerate the pace of progress and achieve results as soon as possible. Since the last board meeting, Jin'an Mining's strategic positioning of "resources + new materials" has become more resolute and clearer. It must seize the development opportunities in new materials and live up to the resource endowment of "ginseng iron." The road ahead is long, and we must tread it steadily and securely. First, we must clearly plan the strategies and paths for what we want to accomplish during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Second, we must advance strategic research on new materials, build a talented team suited to development, and coordinate the synergistic development of several sectors. Third, we must accelerate the construction of digital and intelligent mines. Fourth, we must firmly grasp and implement safety work, maintaining a cautious attitude at all times. Safety must always be kept in mind, and there can be no room for slackness.

Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), held the first annual meeting between the Governors of the PBOC and the ECB. Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the People's Bank of China and the European Central Bank, which clearly establishes an annual meeting mechanism between the Governors of the PBOC and the ECB, and further improves the cooperation framework in areas such as information sharing, policy communication, and technical cooperation.