The Indian Ministry of Steel reaffirmed in late April 2026 its goal to reach 300 million metric tons of crude steel capacity by 2030, rising from the current 168 million tons. Approximately 64% of this planned expansion relies on the coal-based blast furnace method, creating significant demand for metallurgical coal. To support this growth, India is diversifying its coking coal imports, with the U.S. share of imports increasing to 15% by 2025, reducing reliance on Australian supply which previously commanded 72% of the market.

Anglo American announced that its iron ore production from the Minas-Rio project in Brazil totaled 6.36 million tons in Q1 2026, marking a 10.3% year-on-year decrease. Additionally, its metallurgical coal production plummeted 30.9% to 1.54 million tons, primarily due to operational impacts following an incident in March 2025 and severe weather disruptions at the Dawson open-cut operations.

SMM News, April 30: According to SMM statistics, the total primary aluminum output overseas in April 2026 fell 10.2% year-on-year, while the average daily overseas output dropped 10.0% month-on-month, mainly as the impact of production cuts at Middle Eastern aluminum smelters became more evident. During the period, despite accelerated production resumptions at overseas primary aluminum smelters amid high prices, the overall incremental volume was far lower than the scale of production cuts in the Middle East, leading to a notable year-on-year and month-on-month decline in overseas primary aluminum output in April. Per Alcoa’s Q1 earnings report, the company announced on April 8, 2026 that the restart of its San Ciprián aluminum smelter in Spain had been safely completed. According to Vedanta’s production report, its primary aluminum output in the 2026 fiscal year (Q2 2025 to Q1 2026) hit a record high of 2.456 million tons, up 1% year-on-year, mainly driven by improved operational efficiency. As per an official announcement from Century Aluminum, idle capacity at its Mt. Holly aluminum smelter in South Carolina has commenced restarting, with the first batch of primary aluminum production underway. It is expected that the resumed capacity will reach full operational status by the end of June, involving a total capacity of approximately 50,000 tons. In addition, the second production line at its primary aluminum smelter in Iceland has resumed production several months ahead of schedule. Staff are energizing the first batch of electrolytic cells for the second line and will accelerate the restart of remaining cells, targeting a near-full production level by the end of July. Looking ahead to May 2026, production resumptions at smelters in the US and Iceland, together with the ramp-up of new capacity in Indonesia, are expected to push average daily output higher month-on-month, though year-on-year output is projected to remain in sharp negative growth. Overall, given the unresolved situation in the Middle East, overseas primary aluminum output is expected to stay in sustained year-on-year negative growth in the short term. Market participants shall continue to monitor subsequent announcements from relevant aluminum smelters in the Middle East as well as global aluminum inventory trends.

Alcoa is evaluating the restart of a fourth aluminum production line at its Warrick facility in Indiana, which would require about USD 100 million and take one to two years. The plant currently operates three lines, and restarting the fourth could add around 50,000 tones of capacity. The company said the line is in poor condition and would require replacement of key electrical equipment with long lead times. Electricity availability in both the short and long term will be a key factor in the decision. The project remains under evaluation, with progress depending on cost, energy and operational feasibility.

Trade data for the first quarter of 2026 shows a 31% year-on-year decline in Russian coal exports to Turkey. This reduction is attributed to increased domestic Turkish production and a shift in trade defense policies that favor imports from other European and Australian suppliers. The decline in this critical corridor highlights the shifting trade routes for metallurgical coal as international markets react to geopolitical tensions and the ongoing war, which continues to keep commodity price volatility high.

Kazakhstan recorded a significant increase in coal transshipment volumes through Russian Baltic and Black Sea ports during the first quarter of 2026. This surge is driven by rising demand for metallurgical grades in Southeast Asian markets and the rerouting of flows following changes in regional rail logistics. While global coal prices have seen a general decline in Europe and Australia, the strengthening demand in developing Asia for Kazakh coal is providing crucial support for Central Asian mining infrastructure projects.

Capacity: according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity additions for the time being. This week, CPU Hydrogen Power's independently developed 100 Nm³ containerized integrated hydrogen production system completed factory detection and was officially shipped to Sichuan; Trina Green Hydrogen completed the centralized delivery of a batch of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production equipment, which had arrived at a large-scale green ammonia-methanol project site in China and was about to commence installation; Yigong completed the shipment and delivery of its independently developed and manufactured hydrogen compressor station units. Project-related updates: Jiamusi Hanya New Energy Co., Ltd. : officially signed a memorandum of cooperation in Hefei with Johnson Matthey, a global leader in sustainable technology, and East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd. The three parties will jointly advance the implementation of the 150,000 mt biomass green methanol demonstration project invested and constructed by Sunshine Green Energy in Tiandong County, Guangxi. Jiang Xi, Executive President of Sunshine Green Energy, Zhong Ling, General Manager of Johnson Matthey China, and Meng Chenzhou, General Manager of East China Engineering Science and Technology, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties. Zhongneng Kehang (Baotou) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The annual 300 million m³ green electricity-to-hydrogen project received filing approval. The project is located in Jinshan Economic Development Zone, Guyang County, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a total investment of 500 million yuan. Construction scale and content: 18 new hydrogen production lines, office buildings, workshops, shift dormitories, etc. Planned construction period: 2026/08–2028/07. Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd.: plans to build a 5,000 Nm³/h PSA purification hydrogen production unit in Dongjiakou Chemical Industrial Park, Huangdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province. The project will utilize industrial by-product hydrogen resources within the park, and the purified hydrogen will be transported via pipeline to downstream hydrogen refueling stations. The company is now publicly soliciting interested partner manufacturers nationwide, collecting relevant equipment technical proposals and organizing evaluations. Suppliers with appropriate qualifications and project experience are welcome to participate. The project is located in Dongjiakou Chemical Industrial Park, Boli Town, Huangdao District, Qingdao City, with the liaison location at the Hydrogen Energy Building, Boli Town, West Coast New Area, Qingdao City. The available construction area for the unit is approximately 720 m² (30 m × 24 m). Bidding entities are required to complete the layout of process equipment, pipe racks, and maintenance access within the premises of meeting fire protection and safety clearance requirements. Utilities including electricity, circulating water, instrument air, nitrogen, and fire water can be connected to Jinneng Chemical's existing systems. Tieling Carbon Cycle Biotechnology Co., Ltd.: China Energy Engineering Group's CEEC Heilongjiang Institute won the EPC general contracting project for Tieling Carbon Cycle's biomass-to-green-methanol green electricity direct connection project. The project is located in the Chemical Industrial Park of Diaobingshan City, Tieling, Liaoning Province. In this phase, three 220 mt/h high-temperature and high-pressure circulating fluidized bed biomass boilers will be constructed, along with one 50 MW high-temperature and high-pressure extraction-condensing turbo-generator set. Supporting facilities including a desalinated water station, fuel storage yard, and main step-down substation will be built simultaneously. The project primarily provides green electricity and green steam for the overall green ethanol production project, serving as a supporting power plant project. Gansu Runlong Hongneng Energy Management Co., Ltd.: The Guazhou County wind and solar power hydrogen production coupled with biomass-based 250,000 mt/year green methanol integration project, with a total investment of 5.5 billion yuan, officially commenced construction at the Liugou Coal Chemical Industrial Park. The project is invested and constructed by Gansu Runlong Hongneng Energy Management Co., Ltd. It is a major construction reserve project listed by Gansu Province for 2026 and a key benchmark industrial project for Jiuquan City and Guazhou County. The project plans to build 390 MW wind power, 150 MW PV, with supporting 160 MW/320 MWh grid-forming ESS, 48,000 Nm³/h water electrolysis hydrogen production facilities, and a 250,000 mt/year green methanol synthesis unit, while simultaneously achieving biomass gasification synthesis coupled production. Adopting the "green electricity to green hydrogen + biomass gas synthesis" technology route, the project can achieve over 5% self-generated and self-consumed clean electricity, produce over 20,000 mt of green hydrogen annually, consume over 200,000 mt of agricultural and forestry waste annually, and build a zero-carbon energy and resource recycling system. China Energy Engineering Bochuang Green Fuel (Shenyang) Co., Ltd.: The Phase I 100,000 mt green methanol project of the Shenyang wind and solar power hydrogen production integrated with biomass green alcohol and oil demonstration project released an EPC general contracting tender announcement. Phase I construction includes 100 MW centralised wind power, 50 MW/100 MWh electrochemical energy storage, a 100,000 mt/year green methanol unit, and supporting facilities such as 360,000 mt/year biomass pretreatment. The biomass pretreatment plant produces 360,000 mt of biomass white pellets annually. The green methanol system is equipped with 3×1,000 Nm³/h electrolyser hydrogen production equipment, 60,000 Nm³ hydrogen storage tanks, two 600 mt/day pressurised fluidised bed gasification units, and a 100,000 mt/year methanol synthesis unit. The wind farm installs ten 10 MW wind turbines with a rotor diameter of 230 m and a wheel hub height of 160 m, connected to the project's supporting 66 kV step-down substation via two 66 kV overhead lines, with corresponding public auxiliary works constructed simultaneously. Zhongke Yitan Energy Technology (Chifeng) Co., Ltd.: The Hexigten Banner wind and solar power hydrogen-to-methanol and SAF integration project received filing approval. The project is located in Bayanduhumu Gacha, Darihanwula Sumu, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The project entity is Zhongke Yitan Energy Technology (Chifeng) Co., Ltd., with a total investment of 7.5 billion yuan. Construction scale and content: 1. Construction of one water electrolysis hydrogen production line, including water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, gas-liquid separation equipment, purification equipment, etc., with an annual green hydrogen output of 62,500 mt; 2. Construction of one green methanol synthesis production line, including biomass gasification equipment, combined purification equipment, methanol synthesis equipment, etc., with an annual green methanol production of 500,000 mt; 3. Construction of one SAF synthesis production line, with an annual SAF production of 100,000 mt. Planned construction period: 2026/05–2028/12. Jiamusi Hanya New Energy Co., Ltd. : China Energy Engineering CEPDI North China Institute signed a contract for the feasibility study and survey design of the Heilongjiang Huanan County 1.2 GW off-grid wind power hydrogen production and 500 MW grid-connected wind power project. In the off-grid wind power hydrogen-to-methanol project, the total installed wind power capacity is 1.2 GW, using 48 units with a single-unit capacity of 6.25 MW and 90 units with a single-unit capacity of 10 MW. The annual power generation of the wind farm is approximately 3.7 billion kWh, with approximately 3,081 annual equivalent full-load hours. Supporting construction includes four 220 kV step-up substations and ESS. After wind power hydrogen production, the hydrogen reacts with captured biomass carbon sources to produce methanol, with an annual methanol output of approximately 300,000 mt. Policy Review 1. The General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments jointly issued the Guidelines for Green Design of Industrial Products (2026 Edition). The Guidelines mention: Developing green design solutions. Focusing on industries such as automobiles, construction machinery, machine tools, bearings, wind power equipment, hydrogen energy equipment, PV, lithium batteries, household appliances, packaging, detergents, textiles, biomanufacturing, methanol, and tyres, and targeting key directions of green design, the aim is to develop green design solutions that are technologically advanced, economically feasible, and supply-demand compatible, forming a batch of replicable and scalable exemplary green design solutions. The goal is to cultivate green design solution providers with high professional standards and strong service capabilities, and to build a virtuous ecosystem of "demand-driven — solution development — industrial application". 2. Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Achieving Higher-Level and Higher-Quality Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction. The opinions aim to use transport energy conservation and carbon reduction and green energy transition as two key drivers, coordinate low-carbon development with energy security, and accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy and transport system. Enterprise Updates Shanghai Yigong Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The independently developed hydrogen compressor station unit completed delivery and shipment. The equipment will serve as the core power equipment for a hydrogen refueling station, applied in the Sinopec Shanghai Pudong Airport hydrogen refueling station project, providing high-pressure hydrogen refueling services for fuel cell logistics vehicles and tow tractors at the airport, and supporting the construction of a green, low-carbon, and smart integrated energy system at Pudong Airport. Lineng New Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.: Hanshan County signed a contract with Lineng New Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. for a carbon paper diffusion layer substrate material R&D and manufacturing project. This project is a localisation project for key materials of hydrogen fuel cells and will be established in Hanshan, Anhui Province. Jiangsu Trina Green Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd.: A batch of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production equipment was delivered in a centralised shipment. The equipment has arrived at a large-scale domestic green ammonia-methanol project site and is about to commence installation. All electrolysers delivered in this batch were shipped after passing detection at the hydrogen production testing platform at the Yangzhou base. The platform covers approximately 2,000 m², is compatible with full-range hydrogen production system testing from 500 to 2,000 Nm³/h, has cumulatively completed testing of equipment exceeding 50 MW in scale, and possesses full-process performance verification and three-tier safety management capabilities. Suzhou CPU Hydrogen Power Technology Co., Ltd. : The independently developed 100 Nm³ containerised integrated hydrogen production system completed factory detection and was officially shipped to Sichuan, where it will support a local central state-owned enterprise hydrogen production project. The equipment adopts a modular integrated design, integrating electrolysis hydrogen production, purification, and intelligent management processes into a standard container, offering the advantages of convenient transport and rapid installation, enabling "installation upon arrival, commissioning upon installation." The equipment is customised to operate 8,000 hours annually, producing 72 mt of high-purity hydrogen per year. All performance parameters meet the stringent requirements of central state-owned enterprises, ensuring stable and continuous industrial hydrogen supply. Huadian (Ningxia) Energy Co., Ltd.: The tender for the preparation of the planning report for the Ningdong and surrounding areas green hydrogen coupled coal chemical integration project was officially released. The project covers the Ningxia Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base and surrounding areas of Lingwu and Wuzhong, as well as the Ordos region of Inner Mongolia, planning to build a 10kt-level green hydrogen coupled coal chemical and cross-regional pipeline hydrogen transport system. The core project scale includes approximately 1.5 GW of new energy installed capacity, with supporting annual green hydrogen production of approximately 40,000 mt, for deep coupling with traditional coal chemical industries. According to the announcement, the winning bidder is required to complete the full set of planning reports within 180 days after the contract takes effect. The tender scope covers entire industry chain research, including regional industrial foundations, green hydrogen supply-demand and economic analysis, hydrogen storage and transport systems, key project planning, feasibility of green electricity-to-hydrogen layout, and energy and electricity policy consultation for both Ningxia and Inner Mongolia. China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co., Ltd.: Windey Energy Technology Group and China Marine Bunker officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Qin Ling, General Manager of China Marine Bunker, and Cheng Chenguang, General Manager of Windey Energy Technology Group, attended the ceremony and witnessed the signing. Under the agreement, both parties will focus on the core business of green fuel consumption and sales, deepening collaboration and synergising efforts in key areas such as specification and standard formulation, pricing mechanism development, and logistics and transport systems. By integrating resources and leveraging complementary strengths, they aim to jointly enhance the core competitiveness of the green shipping industry chain and inject new momentum into promoting high-quality transformation and green, low-carbon development of the shipping industry. Beijing Mingyang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: Officially signed a series of hydrogen production equipment sales contracts with Spanish company KT. Under the agreement, Mingyang Hydrogen Energy will serve as the core hydrogen energy equipment and solution provider, supplying Spanish company KT with 1 MW AEM and 25 MW ALK complete hydrogen production systems and related supporting services, jointly opening a new chapter in in-depth Sino-Spanish green hydrogen industry cooperation. Hangyang Group Co., Ltd.: The company recently announced plans to invest in establishing Ordos Hangyang Gas Co., Ltd. (tentative name), constructing a new 70,000 Nm³/h air separation unit at the Dalu Industrial Park in Jungar Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, to provide critical gas supply for the Phase II expansion project of Inner Mongolia Tianrun Green Energy Chemical's 300,000 mt synthetic ammonia and 520,000 mt urea project. The park is a national-level modern coal chemical industry base in Inner Mongolia. 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. Petronor and H2SITE collaborated to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, enhancing high-purity hydrogen and low-carbon efficiency in refining. 2. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure, maintaining asymmetry in electron distribution. 3. The research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment at Xi'an Jiaotong University successfully developed the Ru/Ti₃C₂Oₓ@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. 4. The team led by Professor Yu Ying at Central China Normal University developed a three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructured catalytic electrode as a core component for seawater hydrogen production. 5. Johnson Matthey and Syensqo achieved efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals and ionomers from PEM fuel cells and electrolysers, significantly reducing the carbon footprint.

Leading EU coking coal producer JSW finalized a restructuring agreement in mid-April 2026, aiming to adapt to the European transition toward green steel. On April 16, JSW secured a long-term coking coal supply agreement with ArcelorMittal Poland, ensuring a stable feedstock for the site's blast furnaces. Despite lowering its production guidance due to recent longwall delays, JSW is positioning itself as a strategic partner for European steelmakers who still rely on high-quality metallurgical coal while preparing for hydrogen-based reduction technologies.

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on the *Key Work Arrangements for Carbon Peaking, Carbon Neutrality, Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in Shanghai for 2026*. The document stated that Shanghai would promote the diversified development of local renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, with the city adding 600,000 kW of new PV installations. Two batches of standalone ESS power station projects would be advanced. The results of competitive bidding on mechanism-based electricity prices for new energy incremental projects would be publicly announced. Huangpu District would be organized to carry out the national carbon peaking pilot program. Chongming District would be supported in steadily advancing the national pilot program for ecological product value realization mechanisms. The *Shanghai Action Plan for Accelerating Green and Low-Carbon Transformation (2024–2027)* would be implemented, promoting the deployment of 15 key application scenarios for green and low-carbon transformation. The construction of national-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be supported, and a number of municipal-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be developed.

Recently, Haiwang (Ningdong) New Materials Co., Ltd. successfully completed the commissioning trial production of its annual 5,000 mt carbazole project, continuously producing high-quality products and achieving batch delivery to clients across multiple sectors, marking a new stage of industrialisation for the world's leading single-unit-scale organic liquid hydrogen storage carrier material production site. It is understood that the site was jointly established by Beijing Haiwang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Ningxia Ningdong Science and Technology Venture Capital Co., Ltd., located in the New Materials Park of the Ningxia Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base. Covering 65 mu, the project features an annual 5,000 mt-class continuous carbazole production line, equipped with full-process facilities including raw material pretreatment, synthesis and preparation, and finished product refining, along with comprehensive utility systems, making it the world's leading specialised organic liquid hydrogen storage carrier production site in terms of process route and the largest in single-unit scale . The project's core relies on Haiwang Hydrogen Energy's independently developed original synthesis process , completely abandoning the traditional coal tar extraction route, fundamentally overcoming constraints on raw material supply and capacity expansion bottlenecks, and possessing industrialisation advantages of scalable expansion and continuously declining costs. The base purity of products consistently exceeds 99% , and through parameter adjustment, the line can also produce electronic-grade and pharmaceutical-grade high-end products with purity above 99.5%, with the overall production process being green, low-carbon, and environmentally controllable. This proprietary process represents the first industrial-scale application worldwide , having passed the chemical process safety and reliability assessment by the Ningxia Department of Science and Technology, and was evaluated by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation as reaching an internationally leading technology level . In terms of industrial value, carbazole and its alkyl derivatives have broad application scenarios. Beyond serving as a core organic liquid hydrogen storage (LOHC) carrier , they are also widely applicable to high-end fine chemical fields such as high-performance dyes, optoelectronic displays, perovskite batteries, and pharmaceutical chemicals, with significant room for industry chain extension and ample market demand potential. The successful trial production of this project will fill the gap in key materials for hydrogen energy storage and transportation, resolve current industry pain points in long-distance and large-scale hydrogen storage and transportation, lay a solid material foundation for the commercialisation and popularization of organic liquid hydrogen storage technology, and facilitate the large-scale, high-quality development of China's entire hydrogen energy industry chain. Haiwang Hydrogen Energy stated that it will take this commissioning trial production as a starting point to steadily advance capacity ramp-up and stable mass production, continuously optimise production processes, reduce energy consumption and costs, further improve the hydrogen storage material industry chain layout, and empower the hydrogen energy industry through independent innovation in core technologies.