On April 21, 2026, the Japanese government adopted a comprehensive action plan to strengthen the domestic supply of recycled metals and minerals. The policy aims to reduce reliance on imported iron ore and coking coal by incentivizing the development of high-efficiency scrap processing and increasing the share of EAF-based steel production in the national mix.

2026 Year June 3–5 China · National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) No. 333 Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, Shanghai Multi-Energy Complementarity and Integrated Development of PV, Energy Storage, and Hydrogen www.snec.org.cn Approving Authority Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce Supporter Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission Lead Organizers Asia Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA) Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Renewable Energy Professional Committee of China Association of Circular Economy (CREIA) Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO) Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC) Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA) Co-Organizers Solar PV Products Sub-Council of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) PV Professional Committee of Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CPVS) Renewable Energy Professional Committee of China Energy Research Society Exhibition Organizers Shanghai Follow Me Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Follow Me New Energy Development Co., Ltd. Shanghai Solar Cloud Exhibition Services Co., Ltd. Follow Me Int'l Exhibition USA Inc. Follow me International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Conference Organizer Shanghai Follow Me Convention and Exhibition Services Co., Ltd. Preface: The “SNEC 19th (2026) International Solar PV and Smart Energy (Shanghai) Conference and Exhibition” (the “SNEC PV Conference and (Shanghai) Exhibition” for short), jointly organized by 25 international institutions and organizations including the Asia Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), the Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), the Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Association of Circular Economy (CREIA), the Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO), the Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC), and the Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA), will be grandly held in Shanghai, China, from June 3 to 5, 2026. The “SNEC PV Conference and (Shanghai) Exhibition” grew from 15,000 m² at its first edition in 2007 to 360,000+ m² in 2025, with more than 3,000 enterprises from 95 countries and regions worldwide participating, of which international exhibitors accounted for 30%, and it has become the most influential international, professional, and large-scale PV event in China, Asia, and the world. The SNEC PV Exhibition is the world's most professional PV exhibition, featuring: PV production equipment, materials, solar cells, PV application products and components, as well as PV engineering and systems, energy storage, mobile energy, etc., covering all segments of the PV industry chain. The SNEC PV Forum is also remarkably diverse, involving analysis of future PV market trends, cooperative development strategies, national policy directions, cutting-edge industry technologies, PV financing, etc., providing the best opportunity to showcase achievements to the industry. We look forward to global industry professionals gathering in Shanghai, China, to take a problem-oriented approach from an industrial perspective, jointly assessing the solar PV power generation markets in China, Asia, and the world, and collectively leading the path of industry innovation and development. We hope to see you in Shanghai in June 2026! Schedule: Setup: May 31, 2026 13:30-18:00 June 1-2 09:00-20:00 Exhibition: June 3-4, 2026 09:00-17:00 June 5 09:00-14:00 Dismantling: June 5, 2026 14:00-22:00 Exhibit Content (Product Categories): Solar PV PV Production Equipment: Silicon rod/silicon lumps/casting ingot production equipment: complete production lines, casting ingot furnaces, crucibles, growth furnaces, other related equipment Silicon wafer production equipment: complete production lines, cutting equipment, cleaning equipment, detection equipment, other related equipment Battery production equipment: complete production lines, etching equipment, cleaning equipment, diffusion furnaces, coating equipment/deposition furnaces, screen printing machines, other furnace equipment, testers and sorters, other related equipment Cell panel/module production equipment: complete production lines, testing equipment, glass cleaning equipment, wiring/welding equipment, laminating equipment, etc. Thin-film cell panel production equipment: amorphous silicon cells, copper indium gallium selenium dioxide cells CIS/CIGS, cadmium telluride thin-film cells CdTe, dye-sensitized cell DSSC production technology and research equipment Solar Cells: Solar cell producers, cell module producers, cell module installers, agents, dealers and distributors, concentrator cells, etc. PV Related Parts: Batteries, chargers, controllers, converters, recorders, inverters, monitors, mounting systems, tracking systems, solar cables, etc. PV Raw Materials: Polysilicon, silicon ingots/silicon lumps, silicon wafers, encapsulation glass, encapsulation films, other raw materials PV Application Products: Lighting products, power supply systems, mobile chargers, water pumps, solar household products and other solar products PV Engineering and Systems: PV system integration, solar air conditioning systems, rural PV power generation systems, solar detection and control systems, solar heating system engineering, solar PV engineering process control and project management and software programming systems System Engineering Construction Equipment and Safety Protection: Electrical construction equipment, construction vehicles, engineering machinery, maintenance tools, aerial work vehicles/platforms, scaffolding, electrical safety tools, personal safety protective equipment Others Solar Energy and Green Buildings: Solar Thermal Utilization: Solar central hot water systems, household solar water heaters, solar heat pump water heaters, solar collector systems, solar heating systems, integrated solar thermal-PV products, solar water heater manufacturing equipment, solar water heater raw materials and accessories Solar PV and Concentrated Solar Power: Grid-connected solar PV power generation systems, off-grid PV power generation systems, PV-wind complementary power generation systems, PV power transmission and distribution equipment, PV modules and components and equipment, trough linear focus systems, tower systems, dish systems, collector tubes, heat storage equipment and corresponding materials, heat exchange technology and products, high-temperature heat transfer technology and products, system control Solar Cooling Systems and Equipment: Solar cooling products and systems, air energy products, solar central air conditioning, ground source heat pump air conditioning Solar Lighting and Building Materials: Solar lawn lights, garden lights, solar street lights and other optoelectronic products, solar PV glass, solar rooftop modules, solar PV building integration overall solutions, etc. LED Technology and Products: LED lighting, LED application products, display products/digital signage, parts, modules, kits, etc. Solar Accessories: Solar complementary automatic control devices and instruments, solar pipes and fittings, solar control systems, solar heat pipes, vacuum tube collectors, flat plate collectors, engineering manifolds, insulation materials, hot and cold water pumps, brackets, PV equipment accessories, batteries and other related production equipment and accessory materials International Energy Storage Technology and Smart Grid Energy Storage Technology, Equipment and Materials: Compressed air energy storage, pumped hydro energy storage, superconducting magnetic energy storage, flywheel energy storage, thermal/cold storage, hydrogen storage and other energy storage technologies applicable to plug-in EVs, equipment and materials; various batteries (nickel–metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, lead-acid batteries, smart batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries), energy storage power supplies, supercapacitors, renewable fuel cells, flow batteries and other technologies, equipment and materials ESS Power Stations and EPC Projects: BMS battery management systems, PCS energy storage inverters, microgrids, EV charging and battery swapping stations and related supporting facilities C. New Energy Power Generation Grid Connection and Smart Power Transmission and Distribution: Grid-tie inverters, light DC equipment, operation monitoring devices, grid connection control systems, flexible transmission equipment, ultra-high voltage transmission equipment, high-temperature superconducting equipment, high-temperature superconducting cables, distribution automation systems and protection devices, smart switchgear, transformers, instrument transformers, smart components, digital substations, substation integrated automation, distribution network automation devices, transmission and distribution online monitoring, fault diagnosis and self-healing devices, power quality monitoring, harmonic control and reactive power compensation, superconducting electrical technology, various new types of wires and cables, composite materials, safety protection D. Power Grid Dispatching and Automation Control: Smart grid dispatching systems, dispatching integrated data platform systems, grid security and control, smart inspection systems, integrated measurement and control protection and arc suppression line selection systems, security and stability control system solutions, power monitoring systems and microcomputer-based relay protection, wide-area dynamic monitoring systems, grid stability online monitoring systems, distribution network intelligent reactive power compensation devices, control software, remote control and telemetry devices, large-screen display systems, power system simulation E. Smart Metering and Power Consumption Management: Smart meters and chips, remote/centralized meter reading systems, power consumption information collection systems, power consumption management information systems, load management terminals, monitoring systems, verification devices, metering cabinets and components, measuring instruments, sensors, semiconductors F. Smart Grid Information and Communication: IoT technology, cloud computing technology, multi-network convergence technology, transmission technology and equipment, access equipment, optical fiber and cables, industrial Ethernet, data communication and network technology and related products, in-plant communication equipment, power line carrier equipment, supporting equipment and instruments, digital microwave communication equipment, testing equipment and instruments, network online monitoring equipment G. Others International NEV and Charging Piles NEVs (Passenger Vehicles / Commercial Vehicles): Electric buses and trucks, electric sedans, electric sightseeing vehicles, electric golf carts, electric cleaning vehicles, hybrid buses and sedans, solar EVs, light EVs, hybrid vehicles (micro hybrid, mild hybrid, medium hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid), pure EVs, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen and natural gas and other new energy clean fuels, hybrid vehicles and various low-emission environmental protection energy-saving vehicles; Power Drive Systems: Power batteries, battery management systems, fuel cells, hybrid systems, drive motors, electric control systems, engines, detection and repair equipment, related testing, monitoring, protection instruments, related technologies; C. Key NEV Parts: Power capacitors, supercapacitors, flywheels, inverters, electric heat pumps, electric power steering, electric air conditioning, tires, wire connections, electromagnetic technology, related materials; coatings, transmissions, filters, carburetors, exhaust systems; axles, steering, braking, suspension systems; auto body accessories; motors and electrical appliances, electronic components, electrical systems, circuits, wheel hubs, tires, etc.; D. Vehicle Design: Complete vehicle design, system control design, etc. E. Charging Facilities: Charging stations, charging piles; charging station smart network project planning and achievement display, gas station expansion to charging (battery swapping) stations, integrated gas and charging service station display, solar and wind complementary NEV charging station technology products, charging station power distribution equipment, chargers, power monitoring systems, active filter devices, transformers, distribution cabinets, cables, direct charging equipment, management auxiliary equipment, charging/swapping batteries and battery management systems, parking lot charging facilities, smart monitoring, charging station power supply solutions F. Others Participation Fees: Standard Booth (Deluxe, 3m x 3m ): Domestic enterprises: RMB 23,800/booth Foreign-funded enterprises: US$4,900/booth Basic configuration: one consultation desk, two folding chairs, one waste basket, one 220V/500W power supply socket, two spotlights, Chinese-English header board, carpet inside the booth. Indoor Bare Space (minimum 36 m² rental): Domestic enterprises: RMB 2,380/m ² Foreign-funded enterprises: US$490/m ² Exhibitor Notes: 1. Enterprises confirming participation shall complete the exhibition application form, affix the company seal, and fax or mail it to the Organizing Committee; 2. Upon receipt of booth reservation fees, the Organizing Committee will arrange booths according to the principle of "first application, first payment, first arrangement"; 3. Payment details for participation fees: (1) The above participation fees do not include "construction deposit", "construction management fee", "facility rental fee" and other fees; (2) Exhibitors who sign contracts shall remit the deposit to the Organizing Committee's account within ten working days from the date of signing the contract, and fax the remittance receipt to the Organizing Committee for verification; (3) The remaining participation fees shall be remitted to the Organizing Committee's designated account before December 31, 2025; 4. The order of conference booklet advertisements is based on the order of advertisement fee receipt, with the submission deadline being March 31, 2026; 5. The Organizing Committee will send the "Exhibitor Manual" to participating enterprises in April 2026. Inquiries Welcome: Shanghai Fulemi Exhibition Service Co., Ltd. SNEC 19th (2026) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy (Shanghai) Conference & Exhibition Contact: Manager Wei Room 905, Guangqi City, No. 425 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai Postal Code: 200235 Room 905-907, Guangqi City Office Building, No. 425 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai Tel: +86-13817218765 E-mail: weiwei@snec.org.cn Conference Website:

[SMM Steel] Japan has approved a circular economy strategy aimed at strengthening domestic supply of recycled metals and reducing reliance on imported raw materials. In the steel sector, the plan targets an increase of around 2 million mt/year in processing capacity for high-quality scrap used in low-emission “green steel” production. The move comes amid tightening global scrap supply and rising competition among major economies to secure both primary and secondary raw materials.

【SMM Steel】Japan's METI announced a ¥1tr investment plan by 2030 to expand resource recycling infrastructure, targeting metals, rare earths, plastics, and critical materials to cut import reliance. In steel, Japan aims to add 2 Mt/y of high-quality scrap processing capacity and raise e-waste processing to 500,000 t/y. Recycled materials will account for 40% of Al output, 30% of domestic electrolytic Cu, and 30% of rare earth magnet materials. Japan also targets securing Li, Ni, Co supplies and shares in green steel/low-carbon Al markets.

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.

[SMM Tungsten Express] Ceratizit reported that its tungsten supply chain is predominantly based on recycled feedstock, achieving a 91% recycling rate in fiscal 2024/25. Through closed-loop recycling, long-term offtake agreements and a strategic investment in Almonty, the company has built a tungsten raw material system independent of Chinese supply. Its GTP unit operates advanced recycling facilities in the US and Finland, processing tungsten scrap into carbide powder. The circular economy model aims to secure supply for customers while reducing carbon footprint.

The 2026 SMM (21st) Lead & Zinc Conference and Industry Expo opened grandly at Howard Johnson Agile Plaza in Chengdu, Sichuan during March 25–27 2026. Organized by SMM, the event brought together global enterprises, professional experts and industry peers from across the entire lead and zinc supply chain. Participants focused on industry hot topics, analyzed market trends and explored development strategies, establishing a highly efficient platform for communication and collaboration to support high-quality growth of the sector. To further strengthen the overseas delegation’s comprehensive understanding of China’s lead and zinc industrial chain and build closer connections between international industry peers and key producers in China, SMM led a high-level overseas delegation on a multi-day industrial tour starting on the afternoon of March 27. The delegation included representatives from global giants, such as Nyrstar, a top European lead and zinc smelting firm, Nexa Resources, a South American giant in lead-zinc mining and smelting, and Befesa, a pioneer in zinc recycling. During the tour, the delegation visited 8 Chinese enterprises. including: COSCO Shipping Sichuan Chengtun Zinc & Germanium Technology Sichuan Kunshun Zinc Industry Yunnan Luoping Zinc & Electricity Hongzhou Hongqian Nonferrous Chemical Yunnan Zhenxing Industrial Group Mengzi Mining & Metallurgy Danxia Smelter of Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet The delegation members went deep into production sites, held in-depth discussions and exchanges, and gained a full picture of China’s lead and zinc industry in terms of production operations, technological innovation, capacity scale and market layout, greatly enhancing their insight into and understanding of the entire industrial chain. SMM has systematically compiled detailed information of all enterprises that were visited during this tour, with details below: COSCO Shipping On the afternoon of March 27, the delegation visited COSCO Shipping for an exchange, where they received a warm welcome from the company's leadership. Both sides engaged in discussions on topics such as equipment transportation and technological upgrades. Sichuan COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Co., Ltd., registered and established in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, with an investment of 30 million yuan. COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Co., Ltd. is affiliated with China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited and serves as a core member of the "shipping, ports, and logistics" segment of COSCO Shipping Group, as well as an important component of its global digital supply chain system. The company operates warehouse space exceeding 6 million m², including 19 futures delivery warehouses. China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited is a globally leading shipping enterprise group, with a combined fleet capacity of 130 million DWT across 1,535 vessels, ranking first in the world. Sichuan COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. holds business qualifications and an operational scope covering multiple transportation modes including sea, land, air, and rail, providing comprehensive logistics services spanning both international and Chinese markets. Since entering the non-ferrous metals delivery warehouse business in 2016, the company has adhered to the principle of "client-centered and market-oriented," continuously enhancing its service capabilities and achieving steady business growth. Currently, at key logistics periods such as Shanghai Baoshan, Shanghai Yangshan, and Yixing in Jiangsu, the company successfully operates delivery warehouses designated by the Shanghai Futures Exchange for copper, nickel, zinc, and other products. It has become one of the three major non-ferrous metals warehouses of SHFE and was honored with the title of "Top Ten Designated Non-Ferrous Metals Delivery Warehouses" by the Shanghai Futures Exchange for two consecutive years. Sichuan Chengtun Zinc & Germanium Technology Co., Ltd. On March 28, the delegation visited Sichuan Chengtun Zinc & Germanium Technology Co., Ltd. (Shimian City). Both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on the development of the zinc smelting industry, with a focus on thorough discussions regarding product processing, production techniques, capacity scale, market trends, and the current challenges facing the industry. Sichuan Chengtun Zinc & Germanium Technology Co., Ltd. was established on December 6, 2015, with a registered capital of 1.6 billion yuan. The company has an annual capacity of 300,000 mt of electrolytic zinc, 150,000 mt of sulphuric acid, 400,000 mt of electrolytic zinc waste residue processing, and 40 mt of high-purity germanium dioxide. On January 16, 2019, the company was approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission and merged into the publicly listed firm Chengtun Mining Group Co., Ltd. The company's main business includes smelting and R&D of zinc-germanium series products, as well as comprehensive recovery of multiple metals. It has formed a complete industry chain from zinc concentrates entering the plant to finished products leaving the plant. Its production lines include zinc calcine, electrolytic zinc, electrolytic zinc waste residue processing, and comprehensive recovery of rare and precious metals. Sichuan Kunshun Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. (Shimian City) On March 28, the delegation headed to Sichuan Kunshun Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. (Shimian City) for a visit and exchange, where they received a warm reception from the enterprise. Both parties held in-depth discussions and exchanges on zinc smelting, covering topics such as production costs, production and market landscape, raw material procurement and processing, industry chain competitive advantages, and distinctive process technologies. Sichuan Kunshun Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. is a specialized and green environmental protection enterprise jointly invested and established by Sichuan Metallurgical Holding Group Co., Ltd. and Shimian Dongshun Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. to implement the national green production philosophy, actively develop the circular economy, and promote the comprehensive utilization of solid waste resources. It integrates solid waste treatment, recycling, and resource regeneration. The company primarily uses high-tech methods to carry out clean utilization and harmless treatment of heavy metal-containing waste generated by industries such as metallurgy and chemicals, eliminating the environmental impact of heavy metal solid waste at the source. The company was established in 2021 and is located in Zhuma Industrial Park, Shimian County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, covering an area of 65 mu with a total investment of 180 million yuan. The company has built a 3.5m × 50m Waelz rotary kiln production line, equipped with advanced and well-established low-grade zinc oxide production technology, achieving a resource recovery utilization rate of over 95% and effectively managing waste gas, noise, solid waste, and groundwater risks. It is also equipped with supporting facilities including desulphurization, denitrification, and flue gas defogging towers, as well as a wastewater treatment station, raw material warehouse, raw material pre-washing workshop, water slag processing workshop, biomass semi-gasification furnace, zinc crystallized salt workshop, production safety and environmental protection center, and laboratory for detection and testing. The company holds qualifications for treating hazardous waste categories including HW12, HW17, HW23, HW48, and HW49, with an annual capacity to process 100,000 mt of zinc-containing waste. Its main products include low-grade zinc oxide and zinc crystallized salt. The company has always upheld the green and environmentally friendly development philosophy, adhering to the fundamentals of "being responsible for the environment, for clients, and for employees," guided by technological innovation, and targeting the "reduction, recycling, and detoxification" of solid waste pollution prevention and control. The company is committed to building a modern "solid waste" management and disposal service provider, actively carrying out emergency environmental protection disposal, proactively assuming social service functions, and making positive contributions to promoting the circular economy development in Sichuan and strengthening the ecological civilization construction of lucid waters and lush mountains! Yunnan Luoping Zinc & Electricity Co., Ltd. (Qujing City) On March 30, the delegation visited Yunnan Luoping Zinc & Electricity Co., Ltd. (Qujing City) for exchanges. During the meeting, both sides conducted in-depth discussions on key topics including magnesium removal process optimization, production management organization, and raw material substitution plans, and put forward constructive suggestions on improving the plant environment. Yunnan Luoping Zinc & Electricity Co., Ltd. was established to fully leverage Luoping's local hydropower and lead-zinc mineral resource advantages. In accordance with the "ore, electricity, and smelting integration" development strategy proposed by the Luoping County Party Committee and County Government, and the overall requirements of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government for the reform of industrial enterprises across the city, the company was registered and established at the Yunnan Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce on December 21, 2000. It was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange A-share market in 2007 and is a state-controlled enterprise under Luoping County. The company's assets are an optimized combination of three components: hydropower, lead-zinc mines, and zinc smelting. In terms of company assets, they are primarily composed of three advantageous resources of Luoping: mineral, hydropower, and zinc smelting. These mainly include six production units: Luoping County Fule Lead-Zinc Mine with an annual processing capacity of 100,000 mt of raw ore, Lazhuang Power Plant with annual power generation of 250 million kWh (installed capacity of 60,000 kW), a zinc smelter with an annual output of 120,000 mt of electrolytic zinc, a zinc powder plant with an annual output of 12,000 mt of ultra-fine zinc powder, a comprehensive utilization plant with an annual processing capacity of 129,500 mt of zinc slag, and a sulphuric acid plant with an annual output of 140,000 mt of sulphuric acid, achieving a total annual industrial output value exceeding 2 billion yuan. The company has six wholly-owned subsidiaries. The company's main businesses include hydropower generation, mining of lead, zinc, and other non-ferrous metals, as well as the production and sales of zinc smelting and its extended products. It is currently the only publicly listed firm in China's zinc smelting industry that integrates mining, power generation, chemical processing, and smelting. Its products include zinc sulphide concentrates, lead concentrates, zinc ingots, industrial sulphuric acid, ultra-fine zinc powder, cadmium, germanium concentrates, silver concentrates, copper concentrates, zinc alloys, industrial and residential electricity, edible oils and fats, among others. Its main product, "Jiulong" brand zinc ingots, is popular in non-ferrous product markets in and outside China thanks to its superior product quality and corporate reputation. Honghe Prefecture Hongqian Non-ferrous Chemical Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. On March 31, the delegation visited Honghe Prefecture Hongqian Non-ferrous Chemical Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. for exchanges. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including the economic benefits of smelting by-products, energy utilization efficiency, the current status of enterprise development, and future cooperation intentions. Honghe Prefecture Hongqian Non-ferrous Chemical Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. was established on August 1, 2007, with a registered capital of 50 million yuan. The total investment in project construction was 475.5543 million yuan. The company currently has over 600 employees and covers an area of 443 mu. The plant is located in the Heishenmiaobo Industrial Zone, situated in the central area of the Gejiu-Kaiyuan-Mengzi urban cluster. The company is a new-type joint-stock enterprise centered on crude lead smelting, integrating sulphur dioxide acid production, waste heat power generation, lead electrolysis, and recovery of precious and rare metals such as gold, silver, antimony, and bismuth, with further extension into deep processing of lead-series products including red lead, massicot, electrode plates, and storage batteries. It is a benchmark enterprise among private lead smelters in the city, featuring a relatively large scale, advanced technology, compliance with environmental protection standards, comprehensive utilization of resources, and a complete industry chain. The company pioneered the application of new technologies to upgrade and transform the traditional crude lead smelting model among private enterprises in the city. The company has formulated the working philosophy of "prioritizing environmental protection, ensuring safety, attracting talent, enforcing strict management, and enhancing efficiency," and continues to drive high-quality development. In April 2007, the company commissioned China ENFI Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. to conduct a feasibility study on the lead smelting technological transformation project, and determined a comprehensive industrial facility technological transformation project with a total investment of 490 million yuan and an annual capacity of 60,000 mt of crude lead. On December 21, 2009, the "Demonstration Project of Oxygen-Enriched Bottom-Blowing Lead Smelting Technology with Annual Output of 60,000 mt of Crude Lead" was designated by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology as a 2009 Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Project. In 2010, it was further designated as a key industrial project by the provincial, prefectural, and municipal governments. On November 14, 2011, the company obtained ISO9001:2008 quality management system certification. On March 7, 2012, "HSPb99.94PCT" was successfully registered on the London Metal Exchange. In 2019, the company successively passed the safety completion acceptance and environmental impact assessment completion acceptance, fully achieving compliant operations and sustainable development. Yunnan Zhenxing Industrial Group Co., Ltd. On March 31, the delegation headed to Yunnan Zhenxing Industrial Group Co., Ltd. for a visit and exchange. Both parties conducted in-depth discussions on topics including Yunnan Province's mineral resource endowment, smelting industry development trends, corporate business strategies, and technological innovation applications, jointly assessing the current status and prospects of the industry and analyzing the challenges and opportunities ahead. Yunnan Zhenxing Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Group") was founded in 1996 and is located in the Chongposhao New Materials Industrial Park, Shadian Sub-district Office, Gejiu City. The Group currently has 7 subsidiaries, 2 holding companies, and 1 equity-participation company, with approximately 3,000 employees. Its capacity reaches annual output of crude lead (100,000 mt), electrolytic lead (60,000 mt), zinc ingot (20,000 mt), lead-acid battery plates (9 million sets), lead-acid batteries (6 million units), superphosphate (350,000 mt), sulphuric acid (200,000 mt), and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) (60,000 mt). The Group has established five major production sites and five major product brands covering crude lead raw material, lead-zinc smelting, power supply manufacturing, fertilizer and chemical production, and resource recovery. It has formed an internal industrial cycle spanning lead ore mining—lead-zinc smelting—lead-based alloy melting—battery manufacturing—waste battery recycling—precious metals production, making it one of the few private non-ferrous enterprises in China with a complete lead industry chain. Since 2013, the Group has been consecutively recognized as one of the Top 100 Non-Public Enterprises in Yunnan Province. In 2025, it ranked 41st among the "Top 100 Non-Public Enterprises in Yunnan Province" and was selected for the first time into the "Top 20 Private Enterprises in Innovation Capability," ranking 7th. Yunnan Shadian Lead Industry Co., Ltd., a subsidiary controlled by the Group, ranked 71st. The Group has received nearly 100 honors at various levels, including "High-tech Enterprise," "Outstanding Private Technology Enterprise," "Enterprise with Harmonious Labor Relations," "Provincial Model Collective for Ethnic Unity and Progress," and "Key Enterprise for Industrial Development in Honghe Prefecture" in Yunnan Province. The Group's Yunsha brand lead ingot was successfully registered on the London Metal Exchange in 2007 and on the Shanghai Futures Exchange in 2020. In 2021, the Group was rated AAA in enterprise credit rating in the national non-ferrous metals industry. In August 2024, it was designated as a "Qiangyuan Zhuqi" Industry-Finance Service Base by the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Looking ahead, the Group will pursue the philosophy of "seeking survival, pursuing development, and accelerating enterprise transformation and upgrading," adhering to the working approach of "rooting in Honghe, basing in Yunnan, radiating to surrounding regions, and expanding across China." It will thoroughly implement strategies of enterprise management transformation, technology-driven development, talent empowerment, and sustainable development, striving to achieve significant increases in capacity and production of major products by 2035, with gross industrial output value up YoY, and to build itself into a 10 billion green lead-zinc comprehensive recycling technology enterprise. Mengzi Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. On March 31, SMM and the field trip delegation headed to Mengzi Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. for a visit and exchange. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on the entire zinc smelting process, covering topics including production technology, raw material supply, product sales, environmental protection governance, and future development plans, aiming to share experience, address industry pain points, and jointly clarify the direction of development. Mengzi Mining and Metallurgy Co., Ltd. was established in 1996. It is a resource-based mining and metallurgy enterprise integrating R&D, exploration, mining, mineral processing, smelting, and trading, with a focus on comprehensive utilization of resources. The company is one of the few comprehensive private enterprises in the non-ferrous metal industry that possesses an entire industry chain and operates independent trading and supply chain business platforms. It is among the top 100 enterprises in Yunnan Province and a key enterprise in Honghe Prefecture. Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co., Ltd. — Danxia Smelter On April 2, the SMM delegation visited Zhongjin Lingnan's Danxia Smelter for a survey and field trip to the core plant area. In-depth discussions were held on production operations, technological R&D, and raw material procurement, covering key topics such as production capacity, technical cooperation, and raw material procurement strategies. Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Zhongjin Lingnan") was established in September 1984 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in January 1997 (stock code: 000060). It is an internationalized entire industry chain resource company primarily engaged in lead, zinc, and copper mining, mineral processing, and smelting, as well as comprehensive recovery of rare, scattered, and precious metals. It is a publicly listed firm controlled by Guangsheng Holdings Group, a key wholly state-owned enterprise under Guangdong Province. Zhongjin Lingnan's business covers segments including mines, smelting, new materials, and supply chains. It has 23 directly affiliated enterprises, wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries. Major operating entities include Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine, Shaoguan Smelter, Danxia Smelter, Zhongjin Copper Co., Guangxi Mining Co., Perilya Limited in Australia, Zhongjin Technology Co., and Huajiari Co. The company has an annual output of 300,000 mt of lead and zinc metal content in concentrates, 450,000 mt of smelted lead and zinc products, 450,000 mt of copper cathode, 21,000 mt of aluminum extrusion, 20,000 mt of battery zinc powder, and 5,400 mt of composite metal materials. Among these, its battery zinc powder ranked first in Chinese market share, nickel-metal hydride and nickel-cadmium battery electrode sheets & plates materials ranked first in Chinese market share, and thermal bimetal ranked first in Chinese market share. The 2026 field trip brought together some global lead and zinc industry leaders for an inspiring and highly productive journey across China’s leading smelters and enterprises. The warm welcome, operational excellence, and innovative technologies on display made this event a resounding success — and we extend our deepest gratitude to all the companies and participants who made it happen. Looking ahead – Save the date for 2027: We are excited to announce that the 2027 SMM (22nd) Lead & Zinc Conference and Industry EXPO will take place from March 17–19, 2027 in Kunming, Yunnan, China . This premier event will once again bring together the global lead-zinc community for high-level networking, insight sharing, and industrial exploration. Interactive call – We want to hear from you: As we plan the field trip for the 2027 conference, we’d love your input. Which smelters or companies would you most like to visit for technical exchange and on-site learning? Please share your suggestions in the comments below — your feedback will help shape the 2027 experience. Let us know where the industry should go next!

On April 1, 2026, the launch ceremony for the Zhongke Liquid Sunshine (Shawan) Green Hydrogen Coupled Zero‑Carbon Liquid Sunshine Methanol Circular Economy Industrial Project was held in Shawan, Tacheng Prefecture, Xinjiang. As a flagship project of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan strategic hydrogen energy layout, the project has officially entered the construction phase. Led by the research team of Academician Li Can of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and developed by Zhongke Liquid Sunshine (Shawan) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd . , the project will build an integrated zero‑carbon circular economy system centered on wind‑solar power, green hydrogen, and methanol. It comprises three core modules: an annual output of 3.6 million tonnes of methanol, 13.5 GW of photovoltaic hydrogen production capacity, and an annual output of approximately one million tonnes of coal. Compared with conventional coal chemical industry, this model cuts coal consumption by two-thirds while enabling efficient utilization of green electricity and green hydrogen. The project adopts domestically developed oil‑methanol co‑refining technology to produce polyester fiber, supporting high‑value resource utilization in conjunction with Xinjiang’s textile industry. Multiple enterprises have participated in the joint construction, including China National Chemical Engineering Third Construction Co., Ltd. In alignment with national policies such as the West Hydrogen East Delivery pipeline initiative, the project will help upgrade Xinjiang’s wind and solar energy resources. It is expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs, serve as a model for Xinjiang’s green energy transition, and support national energy security and low‑carbon development.

【SMM Steel】Germany approved its Climate Protection Program 2026, allocating ~€2.9bn to support industrial electrification, decarbonization, and circular economy. The German Steel Industry Association welcomed the direction but noted a lack of concrete measures in key areas like rail infrastructure, which could limit progress. It also urged establishing "Made in Europe" criteria to protect competitiveness.

As the global energy transition accelerates, the NEV industry is booming at an unprecedented pace. Behind this green transformation, battery recycling—a critical link tied to resource security, environmental protection, and the sustainable development of industry—has quietly emerged as a new industry worth hundreds of billions. From an “environmental burden” to an “urban mine,” the battery recycling industry is demonstrating unprecedentedly broad prospects. Strong policy support has laid a solid foundation for the development of the battery recycling industry. In February 2025, the Executive Meeting of the State Council reviewed and approved the Action Plan for Improving the Recycling System for NEV Power Batteries, explicitly proposing the improvement of the standards system to achieve standardized, safe, and efficient recycling and utilization of power batteries. More importantly, the Interim Measures for the Administration of the Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization of Retired NEV Power Batteries, which will officially take effect on April 1, 2026, marks a new stage in the law-based and standardized management of power battery recycling and utilization in China. The core provisions of this new regulation, jointly issued by six departments including the MIIT, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, include: Establishing a digital ID system: generating a unique and dynamic digital ID for each power battery pack to enable full life cycle flow monitoring and information-based traceability Implementing the “vehicle-battery integrated retirement” system: retired NEVs must include their power batteries to prevent battery loss Clarifying the responsibilities of all parties: power battery enterprises and NEV producers must establish recycling service outlets and assume fallback responsibility for collection Defining red lines for comprehensive utilization: enterprises engaged in the comprehensive utilization of retired power batteries must complete the relevant procedures in accordance with the law, and such batteries are prohibited from being used in restricted fields such as e-bikes Battery recycling is not only an industry, but also a green revolution concerning the sustainable development of humanity. From policy support to technological innovation, and from resource security to industrial upgrading, China’s battery recycling industry is advancing at an unprecedented speed and with unprecedented intensity. As the 14th Five-Year Plan is implemented in greater depth and the “dual carbon” goals continue to advance, this “urban mine” of battery recycling will release enormous economic, environmental, and social value, contributing China’s wisdom and solutions to the global energy transition and the development of the circular economy.