The global automotive industry is accelerating its low-carbon and intelligent transformation, with China's automotive industry advancing from scale advantages to dual leadership in technology and supply chain. In 2025, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China exceeded 50%, driving the upgrade of automotive materials such as aluminum, steel, and magnesium, with demand for lightweight new materials surging. Coupled with the implementation of the EU carbon border tax, low-carbon transformation of the industry chain is imminent. Coinciding with the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the deepening phase of the dual carbon goals, the industry urgently needs a professional platform to address material technology challenges. Against this backdrop,will be held on September 10-11, 2026 in Shanghai . SMM together with exclusive drinking water title sponsorship partner - Anhui Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy New Material Co., Ltd. sincerely invites industry peers to attend the conference, promoting the in-depth evolution of the automotive supply chain toward green, lightweight, intelligent, and global development. Clickto attend. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Anhui Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy New Material Co., Ltd. was established in October 2018 with a registered capital of 100 million yuan. Located at No. 12 Yanghuai Road, Economic Development Zone, Suixi County, Huaibei City, Anhui province, it is a private new-type aluminum alloy material enterprise integrating R&D, production, and sales. The company occupies a total land area of 63,603 m², approximately 95.5 mu. The planned total construction area is 32,000 m², with supporting public auxiliary engineering. The total project investment is approximately 150 million yuan, of which construction investment is 95 million yuan. The overall designed capacity is 150,000 mt per year. The main products include various grades of high-quality cast aluminum alloy ingots, aluminum alloy liquid, and secondary aluminum alloy bars, primarily used in automotive, new energy, and other fields . The main production equipment adopts China's advanced high-efficiency and energy-saving automatic melting furnaces, achieving high efficiency, energy conservation, reduced slag formation, and improved aluminum liquid purity. The production equipment, technical level, and economic indicators have reached the advanced level of similar domestic production processes. The company is dedicated to the research and manufacturing of aluminum as a substitute for steel and aluminum as an substitute for copper, promoting the lightweight development of automotive, rail transit, and aerospace components, achieving energy conservation and emission reduction, and protecting the global environment. For every mt of secondary aluminum we recycle, we can reduce ore mining by 11 mt, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 0.8 mt, reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 0.6 mt, reduce solid scrap by 20 mt, save 22 m³ of water, and save 14,000 kWh of electricity. Soaring forward with bold strides, breaking through with innovation! Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy builds its backbone with integrity and forges brilliance with service! In the future, we will fully leverage our industrial advantages, integrate resources from all parties, target market development trends, and create greater value for our clients. Contact Information Mr. Liu 181 0561 3888 Mr. Yang 151 3040 8133 SMM Conference Contact Lv Junlei 176 1601 9596 lvjunlei@smm.cn

The global automotive industry is accelerating its low-carbon and intelligent transformation, and China's automotive industry is moving from scale advantages toward dual leadership in technology and supply chain. In 2025, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China exceeded 50%, driving the upgrade of automotive materials such as aluminum, steel, and magnesium, with demand for lightweight new materials surging. Coupled with the implementation of the EU carbon border tax, low-carbon transformation across the industry chain is imminent. Coinciding with the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the deepening of the dual-carbon strategy, the industry urgently needs a professional platform to address material technology challenges. Against this backdrop, will be held on September 10-11, 2026 in Shanghai . SMM , together with Hebei Taili Zhente Technology Co., Ltd. , cordially invites industry peers to attend the conference, promoting the in-depth evolution of the automotive supply chain toward green, lightweight, intelligent, and globalized development. Click to attend. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Hebei Taili Zhente Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Taili Zhente") was established in 2017. It currently has nearly 70 employees, with various professional technical personnel accounting for 70%. It has 3,800 m² of R&D facilities and 8,000 m² of production workshops. The company is dedicated to providing clients with comprehensive solutions through specialized welding technology, with business areas covering equipment manufacturing and sales, process research and development, and technical consulting and services. Adhering to the development philosophy of "Innovation and Sustainability" and shouldering the historic responsibility of "advancing technology to promote technological development," Taili Zhente aims to build Hebei Taili Zhente Technology Co., Ltd. into an internationally oriented company with advanced technology specializing in specialized welding and equipment. The company provides equipment and processes for non-ferrous metal welding required in industries such as aviation, aerospace, shipbuilding, rail transit, electronics and power, and automotive, committing to "turnkey projects" and providing technical assurance for clients to achieve zero-defect products. Contact Information Li Yan, General Manager, 138 1119 1485 Address: No. 16 Yangguang Street, Industrial Park, Development Zone, Zhuozhou City SMM Conference Contact Sun Lingchen 151 6685 2590 sunlingchen@smm.cn

The core logic of the South American steel market is that end-user demand drives everything. Consumption demand is the starting point, filled jointly by local production and imports; imports act as a regulating valve rather than a driving force.

I. Policy Updates: National Standards and Local Support Work in Tandem​​ ​​ "Guidelines for Carbon Emission Accounting of Electrolyzers" Officially Implemented ​​ On May 8, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the mandatory national standard "Guidelines for Carbon Emission Accounting of Electrolyzers," explicitly requiring electrolyzer companies to account for carbon emissions throughout their entire life cycles (covering power sources, material production, etc.) and incorporate these into the approval criteria for green hydrogen projects. ​​Industry Impact​​: Alkaline electrolyzer (ALK) companies, which rely on grid electricity, face greater pressure to reduce emissions; low-carbon technology routes such as SOEC and AEM receive policy support. ​​Gansu Launches Special Subsidies for "Localized Wind and Solar Power-to-Hydrogen Equipment"​​ On May 10, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of Gansu Province announced subsidies for PV/wind power companies that purchase local electrolyzer equipment, providing a 20% subsidy based on the equipment investment (up to 8 million yuan per unit) and allowing electrolyzer companies to share green electricity revenue with wind and solar power developers. ​​Regional Competition​​: This move directly impacts traditional electrolyzer industry clusters in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, potentially triggering a new round of "local subsidy competitions." ​​EU Carbon Border Tax Accelerates Domestic Electrolyzer Export Certification On May 12, the European Commission adopted an amendment to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), requiring imported electrolyzers to provide proof of their full life cycle carbon footprint. ​​Corporate Responses​​: Top-tier enterprises such as CSSC 718 Institute and Shanghai Electric are accelerating their EU CE certification processes and planning localized overseas production (e.g., electrolyzer assembly bases in Southeast Asia). II. Corporate Updates: Concurrent Capacity Expansion and Overseas Breakthroughs​​ ​​ LONGi Hydrogen's 500 MW Electrolyzer Base in Ordos Goes Operational ​​ On May 8, LONGi Hydrogen announced the full operation of its world's largest single alkaline electrolyzer production base in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, with an annual capacity of 3 GW. Equipped with its independently developed "bipolar plate laser welding" technology, the base has increased current density to 0.7 A/cm² and reduced unit energy consumption to 4.1 kWh/Nm³. ​​Strategic Cooperation​​: Signed an agreement with China Huaneng Group to supply electrolyzers for its 10 GW wind and solar power-to-hydrogen project in Inner Mongolia and explore the "Electrolyzer as a Service (EaaS)" model. ​​ ThyssenKrupp Uhde and Guofu Hydrogen Establish a Joint Venture ​​ On May 11, Germany's ThyssenKrupp Uhde and China's Guofu Hydrogen jointly established a "hydrogen energy equipment manufacturing company" in Shandong, planning to invest 1.5 billion yuan to build a 1 GW SOEC electrolyzer production line targeting European offshore wind power-to-hydrogen projects. Technical Collaboration: Guofu Hydrogen Energy will adopt ThyssenKrupp's ceramic electrolyte membrane technology to fill the domestic gap in SOEC mass production. Cockerill Jingli Secures First European Order for AEM Electrolyzers On May 14, Suzhou Cockerill Jingli announced the signing of an agreement with French energy giant Total to supply a 20 MW AEM electrolyzer system for its offshore wind-to-hydrogen project in Dunkirk, with delivery planned for the end of 2026. Technical Highlights: The order features Cockerill Jingli's self-developed "iridium-free catalyst" AEM electrolyzer, which reduces costs by 50% compared to traditional PEM electrolyzers and achieves a lifespan exceeding 80,000 hours. III. Technological Advancements: Focus on Low-Carbonization and Longevity SOEC Electrolyzer Achieves Over 85% Steam Utilization at High Temperature On May 9, Wuhan University of Technology Hydrogen Energy announced that its third-generation SOEC electrolyzer achieved 85% steam utilization under high-temperature (750°C) conditions, a 10 percentage point improvement over the previous generation, making it suitable for flexible retrofitting of thermal power plants. Commercialization Progress: The technology has passed validation by SPIC and is planned for pilot application in thermal power plants in northeast China in 2026. Breakthrough in "Zero-Degradation" Technology for Alkaline Electrolyzers On May 13, Shandong Saikesaisi unveiled an alkaline electrolyzer featuring a "titanium-iridium composite electrode plate + solid electrolyte," which operated continuously for over 100,000 hours (approximately 11.4 years) under simulated conditions with a degradation rate ≤0.3% per 1,000 hours, setting a new industry record. Cost Controversy: The technology's use of a precious metal iridium coating increases the cost of a single electrolyzer by 20%, sparking market discussions on balancing technological advancement with economic feasibility. AEM Electrolyzer Achieves Dynamic Response Time Under 10 Seconds On May 15, Jiangsu Yuanqing New Energy launched its fourth-generation AEM electrolyzer, reducing dynamic response time from 30 seconds in the previous generation to 10 seconds, making it suitable for wind and solar power's fluctuating output. It has also passed grid connection tests with Siemens Gamesa wind turbines. IV. Industry Synergy: Cross-Sector Collaboration and Industry Chain Integration Electrolyzer and Power Grid Companies Jointly Build Virtual Power Plants On May 9, the State Grid Corporation of China and Sungrow signed an agreement to jointly develop a "electrolyzer + ESS + wind power" virtual power plant project in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, generating auxiliary service revenue through electrolyzer participation in power grid peak shaving. Model Innovation: Electrolyzer companies can earn additional income through electricity price spread arbitrage but must bear operational efficiency losses due to power grid dispatching instructions. Acceleration of Localisation in "Chokehold" Links on the Material Side On May 12, Baoti Group announced the mass production of the third-generation titanium-based composite electrode plates. These plates offer 60% better corrosion resistance than imported products and a 35% reduction in cost, and have been supplied to the 718th Research Institute of CSSC and ThyssenKrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers. International Competition: This material has successfully replaced similar products from US-based Praxair, assisting domestic electrolyser enterprises in competing for the European market. Research Institutes and Enterprises Jointly Establish "Zero-Carbon Electrolyser Laboratory" On May 15, Tsinghua University and Sinopec took the lead in establishing the "Joint Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Electrolysers", focusing on SOEC and AEM technologies, with the goal of achieving near-zero carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of electrolysers by 2030.

I. Core Content of the Hydrogen Trade Security Regulation: A Dual-Track Mechanism for Green Hydrogen Certification and Carbon Tariff Exemption​​ Recently, the EU officially adopted the Hydrogen Trade Security Regulation, aiming to establish a unified framework covering the production, transportation, and certification of green hydrogen. Its core provisions include: ​​Green Hydrogen Definition and Certification Standards​​: Imported green hydrogen must meet a full life cycle carbon emission intensity of ≤3 kg CO₂e/kg H₂ (the power source for electrolyzers must be from renewable energy, and the carbon emission coefficient of the producing country's power grid must be lower than the EU average). ​​Carbon Tariff Exemption Mechanism​​: Importers of certified green hydrogen are exempt from carbon tariffs under the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), with the exemption covering emissions from the entire production chain of green hydrogen (including the power input end). ​​Supply Chain Traceability Requirements​​: Importers must provide a complete data chain from the power source of electrolyzers to storage and transportation, ensuring no fossil energy is mixed in. This regulation forms a policy synergy with the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), requiring member states to import no less than 10 million mt of green hydrogen by 2030, prioritizing its use for decarbonization in high-emission sectors such as chemicals and steel. II. Why is the EU Promoting Green Hydrogen Trade Rules at This Time?​​ ​​1. Internal Transition Pressures Necessitate Supply Chain Restructuring​​ ​​Energy Security Concerns​​: Following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU has accelerated its efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, positioning green hydrogen as a strategic energy carrier to replace natural gas. However, domestic electrolyzer capacity can only meet 30% of the demand by 2030, forcing the EU to turn to imports. ​​Green Industrial Competition​​: The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides a subsidy of $3/kg for domestic clean hydrogen, while electrolyzer costs in China are 40% lower than in Europe. The EU needs to establish rules to compete for a say in the green hydrogen industry. ​​2. Proactive Positioning in International Climate Negotiations​​ ​​Weaponization of Carbon Tariffs​​: By exempting green hydrogen from tariffs, the EU is essentially extending its carbon pricing system into international trade rules. This move not only weakens the competitiveness of fossil fuel-based hydrogen production in developing countries but also compels other countries to accept the EU's carbon accounting standards. ​​Struggle for Standard-Setting Power​​: Currently, there are multiple sets of global green hydrogen certification standards (such as Germany's H2Global and the US DOE standards). The EU is attempting to bundle its "carbon border tax + green hydrogen certification" into a de facto standard through the CBAM linkage mechanism. ​​3. Historical Policy Continuity​​ The EU's green hydrogen policy has evolved through three stages: ​​2020-2022​​: The EU Hydrogen Strategy was released, establishing the principle of "prioritizing the development of green hydrogen". ​​2023​​: The "Hydrogen Bank" was launched, initiating the first batch of import tenders (such as a 100,000 mt/year green hydrogen agreement with Egypt). ​​2024​​: The adoption of the trade regulation marks a shift in policy focus from subsidies to the export of trade rules. III. Dual Impact on Domestic Enterprises: Coexistence of Opportunities and Challenges 1. Raised Market Access Thresholds Soaring Certification Costs: Domestic enterprises need to invest at least 2-5 million yuan to establish a full life cycle monitoring system and obtain certification from EU-designated institutions (such as TÜV and SGS). Preliminary estimates suggest that the certification costs for small and medium-sized electrolyzer enterprises may account for 8%-12% of their revenue. Supply Chain Compliance Risks: If using electricity from high-carbon-intensity regions such as Xinjiang, even green hydrogen production may be classified as "gray hydrogen," facing market exclusion. 2. Redefinition of Cost Advantages Tariff Exemption Value Calculation: Based on the current EU carbon price of 90 euros/mt, exporting 10,000 mt of green hydrogen can save approximately 900,000 euros in tariff costs (equivalent to 6.75 million yuan). However, after factoring in certification costs, the actual net benefit shrinks to 3-5 million yuan/10,000 mt. Economies of Scale Hedging Pressure: For enterprises with annual exports exceeding 50,000 mt, the unit certification cost can be reduced to 150,000 yuan/10,000 mt, and cost advantages begin to emerge. 3. Divergence in Technological Route Selection Pressure on Alkaline Electrolyzer Enterprises: The EU requires electrolyzer efficiency to be ≥70% (the current Chinese national standard is 65%), prompting some producers to upgrade electrode materials and system integration. Benefits for PEM and Solid Oxide Routes: The EU prefers to support high current density and rapid response technologies, driving the transformation of domestic technological routes. IV. Green Hydrogen International Certification: Transitioning from a Compliance Tool to a Value Symbol 1. The Essence of Certification: A New-Type Trade Infrastructure Green hydrogen certification is not merely a simple inspection report but involves the construction of: Digital Twin System: Real-time tracking of electrolyzer operational data and power grid carbon emission factors; Blockchain Evidence Storage: Ensuring data immutability; Third-Party Verification: Certificates issued by EU-recognized institutions (such as Accredia). 2. Fourfold Premiums Brought by Certification Pricing Power Premium: Certified green hydrogen commands a 15-20% higher price in the European spot market compared to non-certified products; Financial Leverage Effect: Eligible for green loans as collateral (with interest rates 1-1.5 percentage points lower than conventional loans); Supply Chain Bargaining Power: Priority access to Europe's main hydrogen pipeline networks (such as H2Mobility); Brand Reputation Accumulation: Inclusion in the EU's "Green Product Passport" system. 3. Certification Trends: From Regional Mutual Recognition to Global Competition Short-Term (2025-2030): China and the EU may engage in negotiations on mutual recognition of certification standards, but the EU may set thresholds for "equivalent producing countries"; Medium-Term (2030-2040): The scope of certification may expand to include blue hydrogen (requiring carbon sequestration certification) and ammonia-based hydrogen (requiring purity ≥99.9%); Long-Term: The competition for certification rights will evolve into a battle for digital sovereignty, with data sovereignty becoming the focal point. V. Breakthrough Paths for Chinese Enterprises: Transitioning from Cost-Driven to Rule-Embedded Strategies 1. Technological Breakthrough: Building an "Certification-Friendly" Industry Chain Customized Modification of Electrolyzers: Develop wide-power operation technologies tailored to the fluctuations of the EU power grid; Green Electricity Binding Strategy: Invest in renewable energy projects in Europe (e.g., offshore wind power in Portugal) to achieve geographical coupling of "production-consumption." 2. Certification Economy: Transforming Compliance Costs into Competitive Advantages Certification Service Export: Leveraging China's mature carbon market experience, provide certification consulting services to exporters in the Middle East and North Africa; Certification Financial Innovation: Develop green hydrogen futures contracts to hedge against price fluctuation risks during the certification cycle. 3. Rule Participation: Competing for Standard-Setting Power Regional Alliance Building: Collaborate with ASEAN and Middle Eastern countries to promote the "Global Green Hydrogen Passport" initiative; Technical Route Countermeasures: Advocate for the inclusion of China's energy efficiency standards for alkaline electrolyzers in international standards by IEC/TC197. VI. Future Outlook: Threefold Changes in Green Hydrogen Trade Rules Reconfiguration of the Geo-Economic Landscape: North Africa (Morocco) and Australia (Western Australia) may become EU green hydrogen import hubs, squeezing China's direct export space; Disintegration of the Industrial Value Chain: Electrolyzer manufacturing, green electricity investment, and certification services will form a separate layout, giving rise to specialized trade service providers; Revolution in Carbon Accounting Systems: Green hydrogen trade may force the adoption of a globally unified methodology for product carbon footprint accounting, reshaping the ESG evaluation system. Conclusion The EU's "Hydrogen Trade Security Regulation" essentially weaponizes the climate agenda as a geo-economic tool. For China, short-term pain is inevitable, but in the long run, the adversarial development of the certification system may actually accelerate the transformation of the domestic green hydrogen industry from "subsidy dependence" to "rule creation." The key to future success lies in who can more quickly convert certification costs into technological iteration momentum and occupy critical "system access layer" nodes in the new hydrogen trade rules.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) marks a big shift in worldwide climate rules. It’s set to tackle carbon leakage and push for greener ways. CBAM works as a carbon border tax—slapping fees on imports based on their hidden carbon emissions. This setup makes sure foreign goods face the same carbon costs as stuff made inside the European Union (EU). It keeps firms from dodging tough eco-laws by moving shops elsewhere. Plus, it nudges folks toward cleaner production tricks.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved the eleventh batch of 135 steel scrap processing bases. Currently, more than half of the 824 white listed companies occurred in the past three years.

The above-mentioned minerals are on the US government’s critical minerals list. U.S. is 100% import dependent for arsenic, bismuth, fluorspar, gallium, indium, manganese, niobium, scandium, tantalum, titanium, yttrium and rare earths.

The European Parliament supports the EU's agreement to launch a second carbon market in 2027, covering emissions from construction and transportation fuels.

The European Parliament approved the reform of the EU carbon market.