I. Full Review of Copper Billet Industry in H1 2026 (I) Policy Side: Strict Control of Reverse Invoicing, Long-Term Restriction on Recycled Raw Material Circulation In H1, fiscal and tax supervision became the core underlying constraint weighing on the copper billet industry. The reverse invoicing policy for recycled resources entered a phase of normalized, high-pressure implementation; natural-person individual sellers had an annual invoicing quota of 5 million yuan, which significantly narrowed circulation channels for domestic unticketed scrap brass. Grassroots recyclers showed low willingness to sell, leading to a persistent shortage of compliant domestic sources of secondary brass. During the policy transition period, corporate compliance costs rose notably. Small and medium-sized processing plants, lacking channels for stable raw materials with invoices, were forced to proactively cut production and undertake maintenance to avoid risks. Large top-tier players leveraged their international trade qualifications and stable import sources to buffer the raw material gap, accelerating the concentration of industry capacity toward compliant large-scale enterprises. The No. 770 policy on secondary copper tax rebates continued to tighten, completely compressing the grey circulation space in the industry. The contradiction of raw materials "having the goods but no invoices available, with invoiced goods at high prices" pervaded the entire H1 cycle. (II) Raw Materials and Imports/Exports: Domestic Secondary Supply Contracted, Premiums on Imported Secondary Brass Rose 1. Domestic Raw Material Bottleneck Intensified The compliant circulation volume of domestic scrap brass fell sharply YoY, weakening the cost advantages of secondary brass over copper cathode. Most brass billet plants faced difficulties in raw material procurement and high credit costs, and with the natural-person quota ceiling constraint, supply could hardly return to the level seen in previous years. Meanwhile, speculation in the brass scrap market further drove up prices, and copper-zinc separation operations raised overall raw material costs. 2. Imported Cargo Became a Mainstream Supplement, but Costs Continued to Rise Domestic enterprises turned to bulk purchasing of imported secondary brass with invoices. In H1, imports of secondary brass maintained YoY growth, however, overseas scrap copper export policy uncertainties and rising international copper prices pushed up procurement premiums. Available overseas scrap brass supply tightened, and import procurement coefficients continued to climb, further raising raw material costs for brass billet. Data Source: SMM From January to May, cumulative imports of brass billet in China were approximately 11,400 mt, down 1.23% YoY, but the cumulative import value reached $105.7079 million, up 23.42% YoY, highlighting a pattern of shrinking volume and rising prices. In terms of import sources, in May, South Korea remained the largest source country (accounting for approximately 40%), with Japan second (at approximately 16%), showing initial signs of regional diversification. (III) Costs and Prices: Copper Prices Swung Wildly at Highs, Industry RC Continued to Decline In H1 2026, copper cathode prices showed a pattern of "retreating after a rapid rise and consolidating at highs." Prices hit an annual peak in January and fell to a periodic low in March. In Q2, the price center stabilized above 100,000 yuan/mt, with the annual average price rising sharply YoY, directly lifting raw material costs for copper billet. As of end-June, the average spot price of Hpb59-1 brass billet in the Zhejiang region had climbed to a historical high of 70,650 yuan/mt. Price transmission had significant blockages: traditional downstream brass demand was sluggish, with end-users possessing strong bargaining power, so raw material price increases could not be smoothly transferred downstream. The industry exhibited a typical pressured pattern of "rising prices with weak volume." From April to May, the overall profitability pressure on the industry climbed to its worst level in the past two to three years. High-precision copper billet used in new energy and AI applications saw stronger RC resilience due to technical barriers and stable rigid demand, making it the only sub-category with relatively stable profits in H1. Coupled with rising logistics, tax, and capital occupation costs, most small and medium-sized brass billet enterprises remained in a state of meager profit or even losses over the long term. (IV) Supply and Demand: Demand Severely Polarized, Operating Rates Stayed Low 1. Supply Side: Operating Rate Weakened Month by Month, Enterprise Polarization Significant The overall copper billet operating rate drifted lower in H1, continuously falling back from 50.86% in January to 46.09% in June, with declines seen both YoY and MoM. The gap in capacity polarization continued to widen: large enterprises with stable raw material channels saw a 52.6% operating rate in June; medium-sized enterprises, squeezed by both raw materials and orders, operated at only 38.76%; small processing plants, facing raw material shortages and order scarcity, saw operating rates fall to 23.44%, intensifying industry polarization. Raw material constraints were the core supply-side constraint; coupled with losses forcing enterprises to control production, the overall industry capacity utilization rate remained in a historically low range in H1. 2. Demand Side: Traditional Sectors Weakened Deeply, Emerging Sectors Strengthened Independently Traditional brass demand (air conditioning, plumbing, valves, general hardware) remained persistently weak in H1. The downturn in the post-property cycle, combined with an early off-season for home appliances, saw downstream users purchasing as needed without concentrated restocking. Meanwhile, the substitution penetration rate of stainless steel in air conditioning parts continued to rise, continuously diverting rigid demand from brass, and brass billet orders shrank month by month. Data Source: SMM Structural demand support was concentrated in the copper billet segment: the three electric systems (power battery, drive motor, and electronic control system) of NEVs, large-power charging piles, energy storage PCS, AI server GPU cooling, and precision pins for optical modules continuously released stable rigid demand. Orders for high-purity oxygen-free copper billet were full, partially offsetting the overall decline in industry demand. However, with copper billet capacity accounting for a limited share, this was not enough to boost the brass segment's recovery. II. Market Outlook for Copper Billet Industry in H2 2026 In Q3, the industry is expected to be under pressure and hit bottom. The traditional off-season, coupled with high temperatures suppressing end-user procurement and the ongoing impact of stainless steel substitution, is expected to weigh on brass demand. SMM expects the overall copper billet operating rate to continue falling to 43.65% in July, hitting an annual low. Policy-side reverse invoicing supervision is unlikely to ease, capping the compliant supply of domestic scrap brass. Combined with continuously tightening controls on overseas scrap copper exports, the pattern of high premiums on imported secondary brass is expected to persist. The raw material bottleneck is set to run through the off-season. Brass billet is anticipated to be dragged down by the triple headwinds of the off-season, substitution, and low RCs, with profitability under sustained pressure in Q3. Only the continued commissioning of NEV and AI computing infrastructure projects is likely to bring rigid demand orders for copper billet, forming the sole demand support. In Q4, prosperity is expected to recover on a QoQ basis. As home appliances and plumbing enter their traditional stockpiling peak season, brass billet orders are expected to rebound MoM. Combined with year-end push for annual targets in PV, energy storage, and NEVs, demand for copper billet is expected to further strengthen, with industry operating rates and transactions both recovering. However, copper cathode prices are highly likely to continue consolidating at highs, with the raw material cost center stay high, putting cost pressure on processing enterprises throughout the year. In the medium and long term, the traditional brass demand center is expected to decline year by year, while AI computing, new energy, and energy storage constitute the core growth drivers of the copper billet industry. Small and medium-sized outdated capacity is expected to continuously exit the market, while top-tier players are simultaneously laying out high-end copper billet capacity. The three major thresholds of raw materials, orders, and compliance continue to widen the gap between enterprises, making the industry's transformation towards scale, compliance, and high-end manufacturing an irreversible trend. In summary: In H1 2026, the core contradictions in the copper billet industry were supply shortages caused by tightening recycled raw material policies, weakening traditional end-use demand, and the squeezing of processing profits by high copper prices. The industry relied on new energy and AI copper billet for structural support, maintaining a generally weak operating environment. In H2, the market is expected to show a pattern of initial weakness followed by later strength: in Q3, the triple negative resonance of the off-season, raw materials, and substitution is expected to keep operating rates and profitability under sustained pressure; in Q4, the combination of the traditional end-user peak season and continuously increasing volumes from emerging sectors is expected to repair industry prosperity on a QoQ basis. In the medium and long term, the reverse invoicing policy is reshaping the secondary copper circulation system, accelerating market clearing. High-precision copper billet for new energy and AI computing infrastructure is expected to become the core future growth line for the copper billet industry.

Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat is supplying thousands of tonnes of prestressed steel strands to major infrastructure projects across Vietnam, helping replace imports and support construction schedules. Hoa Phat is the only Vietnamese manufacturer producing PC strands with a fully integrated process using Italian technology, from billet to finished product, ensuring consistent quality, stable supply, and compliance with stringent technical standards. The strands have been supplied to multiple major bridge projects nationwide. Hoa Phat said domestic production supports Vietnam's infrastructure development while reducing reliance on imported materials.

Capacity-wise, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market stood at 43.77 GW, while the PEM electrolyzer market stood at 2.7 GW. Peric Hydrogen, a subsidiary of the 718th Research Institute of CSSC, completed factory inspection and shipment for delivery of its first hydrogen project equipment in Canada. The project has an installed capacity of 1.75 MW and adopts a containerized integrated hydrogen production system. Project-related updates: Inner Mongolia Baogangxin Energy Co., Ltd. : The hydrogen production and storage integrated demonstration project it invested in has been filed. Located in the Bayan Obo mining area in Baotou, the project has a total investment of 41.9 million yuan. The project will be equipped with one set of 1000 Nm³/h alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production unit, one set of 500 Nm³/h proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production unit, along with gaseous hydrogen storage tanks, a 100 kg solid-state hydrogen storage unit, and a heat storage and release system. It will also be furnished with supporting utilities such as power supply, automatic control, compressed air, and nitrogen generation facilities, creating an integrated demonstration project that couples multiple hydrogen production routes with solid-state hydrogen storage. China Energy Ningxia Coal Industry Co., Ltd. : The Phase I of the Ningdong Integrated Energy Station Project of Ningxia Coal Industry has been fully completed and is in the final stage of trial operation. The project is located at the entrance of the Ningdong Coal Chemical Industrial Park and is operated by Genyuan Zhihuan Logistics Company. Phase I has completed construction of canopies, refueling islands, LNG dispensing islands, an office building, fire-fighting and monitoring control rooms, and other supporting facilities. It is equipped with oil storage tanks with a total volume of 110 m³ and LNG storage tanks of 60 m³. The maximum on-site hydrogen storage capacity is 1,593.3 kg, including two 50 m³ diesel storage tanks, two 30 m³ gasoline storage tanks, one 60 m³ LNG storage tank, and three single-hose LNG dispensing islands. Meanwhile, civil works and process reservations for three hydrogen refueling islands have been completed. Once operational, the project will provide integrated refueling of oil, gas, and hydrogen for heavy-duty trucks, engineering machinery, and official vehicles in the park, thus strengthening the energy supply guarantee capacity of the Ningdong Coal Chemical Industry Base. CIMC New Energy (Liupanshui) Technology Co., Ltd. : The steel-coke integration project of CIMC New Energy (Liupanshui), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric, has been put into operation. The project relies on the coke oven gas from Shougang Shuicheng Steel to mass-produce blue LNG and 99.999% high-purity blue hydrogen. With a total investment of 808 million yuan, the project covers an area of 248 mu and had a construction period of 12 months. Upon reaching full production, it will achieve an annual output of 140 kt of LNG and 24 million Nm³ of high-purity blue hydrogen. Currently, the company has three similar projects in operation at Angang Bayuquan and Linggang, with three more new projects in the preliminary preparation stage. Its business covers Liaoning, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Southeast Asian markets outside China. All existing operating projects have a combined annual output of 48 million Nm³ of hydrogen, 420 kt of LNG, and 80 kt of liquid ammonia. Guoneng Nanjing Electric Power Test & Research Co., Ltd. : The EPRI subsidiary has issued a bidding announcement for hydrogen fuel procurement under a national key project. This project is undertaken by Guoneng Nanjing Electric Power Test & Research, involving fuel procurement for the National Key R&D Program "10 MW-class wide-load hydrogen co-firing technology integration and boiler demonstration." The test site is located at the Hainan Ledong Power Plant area. The project has a single bidding section for the 168-hour commissioning of a 10 MW pilot-scale gas boiler. It requires that the hydrogen blending heat value ratio in natural gas be no less than 20%, and the procurement includes pure hydrogen as well as full-process services such as transportation, technical training, and quality assurance. The gas supply threshold can be met by any one of three options: 200 hours of supply, 190,000 Nm³ of hydrogen, or the testing volume verified by the bid inviter; supply ends once any condition is met. Settlement will be based on the actual hydrogen supply volume. The supply period is 161 days from the contract signing, and all supplies must be completed by December 31, 2026. The supplier shall deliver to the Ledong site within 30 hours upon receiving the delivery notice. This tender only accepts bids from independent legal entities and agents, and does not accept any consortium. Hexi (Xinjiang) New Energy Co., Ltd. : The first phase of the 20 kt/year solar dish photothermal water splitting hydrogen production project at Sinopec Zhundong No.6 Station by Hexi Xinjiang New Energy has initiated its second public notice. The project is sited on the northwest side of Sinopec Zhundong Sixth Station in the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone, Changji, Xinjiang, covering an area of 50 mu. It will build an integrated dish photothermal RSOC water splitting hydrogen production station equipped with complete facilities for concentrating light, thermal storage, power generation, hydrogen production reaction, hydrogen purification, transmission and distribution, intelligent control, and power supply and distribution. The first phase can produce 2 mt of green hydrogen and 16 mt of green oxygen daily, with an annual output of 660 mt of green hydrogen and 5,280 mt of green oxygen, leveraging new photothermal hydrogen production technology to expand local green hydrogen production pathways. Shanxi Yaxin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : The additional hydrogen pipeline laying project for methanol has obtained record-filing. The total investment is 2 million yuan. The pipeline starts from the Shanxi Yaxin New Energy plant area, runs along the park road, and is laid to the Lu’an Taihua plant area. Relying on the existing pipe gallery, a 1.8 km backup hydrogen transmission pipeline is newly built, which can supply up to 144 million Nm³ of hydrogen annually. The project is planned to commence in June 2026 and be completed in August, and construction may begin only after all approvals for planning, environmental protection, and safety are obtained. Sichuan Yuyan New Materials Co., Ltd. : The supporting 8,500 Nm³/h natural gas-based hydrogen production unit for Sichuan Yuyan’s 300 kt/year hydrogen peroxide project has completed full-process commissioning and successfully produced qualified hydrogen. The unit has officially entered the trial production stage, providing assurance for the stable full-load operation of the main hydrogen peroxide facility. Three Gorges Bazhou Ruoqiang Energy Co., Ltd.: The tender is now open for the hydrogen production system equipment under the provisional price of the EPC contract for the Three Gorges Ruoqiang 6×660 MW coal-fired power project. The project is located in Ruoqiang County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, supporting the planned Ruoqiang–Sichuan ultra-high voltage DC transmission project. It is planned to install six 660 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired generating units, along with supporting environmental protection facilities. This procurement covers the plant-wide common hydrogen production equipment, including two sets of 10 Nm³/h proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production main units and complete supporting equipment such as electric controls, hydrogen storage, pipelines, and spare parts. The equipment is expected to be delivered on truck at the Ruoqiang project site by August 2027, with the actual delivery time subject to the bid inviter’s notice. This tender explicitly does not accept consortium bids. China United Energy Group: The Jordanian Cabinet officially approved the signing of a land use agreement with China United Energy Group to jointly conduct a feasibility study for a local green hydrogen production project. This cooperation aligns with Jordan's clean energy development strategy, aiming to attract high-quality investment in green hydrogen and low-carbon fuels. Once implemented, the project will help Jordan build a regional hub for green industry and clean fuels, boost the development of the upstream and downstream green ammonia industrial chain, and expand export channels for low-carbon products to markets outside China. Shanghai International Port Group Energy Co., Ltd. : SIPG Energy's methanol bunkering vessel, "Haigang Zhiyuan," conducted a bunkering operation for Hanwha Shipping's "HMM LEAF" at anchorage, supplying 3,000 mt of domestically produced biomass green methanol. This successfully completed Shanghai Port's first anchorage green methanol bunkering and set a new record for the largest single anchorage green methanol bunkering operation in China. Following this operation, Shanghai Port's green methanol bunkering service coverage has been expanded to encompass the entire port area, with service waters extended from Yangshan Port, Waigaoqiao Port Area, and Changxing Island Shipyard to anchorage grounds, enabling flexible, customized green fuel bunkering solutions for global shipping enterprises. State Energy Group Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd.: The first phase of the Cangzhou "Green Port, Hydrogen City" green ammonia project has been successfully mechanically completed, officially entering the integrated commissioning and feed trial operation stage. This project is Hebei Province's first 10kt-level green ammonia project. The first phase is equipped with a 50,000 mt/yr synthetic ammonia unit, relying on local wind and solar power green electricity and employing alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production, cryogenic nitrogen generation, and a multi-steady-state flexible synthesis process to produce green ammonia. Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd.: The results were announced for potential suppliers in the procurement project for a containerized integrated hydrogen production system for the R&D Center. This procurement did not accept consortium bids. The first-ranked candidate is Beijing Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid of 463,980 yuan; the second-ranked candidate is Xianhu Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid of 485,000 yuan; the third-ranked candidate is Shandong Saikesaisi Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd., with a bid of 598,000 yuan. The procurer is purchasing this equipment for internal R&D work. Policy Review 1. The Ministry of Transport, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and eight other departments jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Promoting the Large-Scale Application of New Energy Heavy Trucks," setting multiple targets and regulating the construction of energy replenishment infrastructure. The plan proposes that by 2030, the penetration rate of new energy heavy trucks should reach 40%, with ownership exceeding 1.6 million units and accounting for approximately 20% of total heavy truck ownership. The electrification rate for short-distance transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Fenwei Plain should exceed 80%, and the freight volume share of new energy heavy trucks on expressways should reach 18%. The national plan is to deploy approximately 3,000 battery charging and swapping stations for heavy trucks, build zero-carbon freight corridors along the expressway network, and simultaneously support these with hydrogen refueling and green fuel bunkering facilities. The document specifies that highway renovation projects must synchronously plan and construct supporting clean energy facilities such as charging and battery swapping stations, hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure, and energy storage systems. Parking areas for new energy heavy trucks for charging and swapping must maintain safe distances from densely populated service areas and oil and gas stations, and facility construction must strictly adhere to mandatory national standards. The plan proposes to build a comprehensive support system encompassing infrastructure, equipment, services, standards, and policies, establishing a multi-departmental collaborative linkage and promotion mechanism. 2. The PipeChina Hydrogen Energy Storage and Transportation Technology Exchange Conference was held in Beijing. The meeting unveiled the technical plan and complete set of standards for hydrogen pipeline transmission engineering, establishing a full-chain standardized system for hydrogen storage, transportation, and delivery, filling the gap in standards for complete sets of technologies for long-distance, large-scale hydrogen pipeline transmission in China, achieving a breakthrough from single-point technological advancements to systematic application. The complete technologies cover core engineering needs such as new hydrogen pipelines and retrofitting natural gas pipelines for hydrogen blending, establishing the first hydrogen pipeline transmission technical framework suitable for six sub-scenarios within two main application categories. The supporting standards cover the entire process including pipe materials, design, construction, and safety operations and maintenance, providing technical support for the demonstration and large-scale promotion of hydrogen pipeline transmission. 3. The National Energy Administration released the "Guidelines for the Classification and Grading of Data in the Energy Industry (2026 Edition)." The document indicates that these guidelines are applicable to the classification and grading of non-sensitive data within the energy industry in the People's Republic of China. Dimensions for energy industry data classification include, but are not limited to, energy type and energy activity. By energy type, the first-level classification of energy industry data includes: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, electricity, hydrogen energy, etc. By energy activity, the second-level classification of energy industry data includes: planning, design, construction, production, storage and transportation, consumption, scientific research, etc. Energy industry data processors may conduct third-level and fourth-level classifications based on data content and characteristics. Company Updates Hua Shang Xia Geng Hydrogen Technology (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. : The purchase contract for a 600 Nm³ skid-mounted hydrogen production equipment unit in Italy, led by Huashang International and executed by Huashang Xiamen Hydrogen, has officially come into effect. Following the export of the same model of hydrogen production equipment to Indonesia last year, the enterprise has successfully achieved a key breakthrough in the European market. This supply involves a complete containerized hydrogen production system, encompassing a full suite of equipment including an alkaline electrolyzer, power supply, purification system, cooling system, and automatic control system. The equipment will obtain the EU "4+1" CE certification, making it the first domestically produced alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment to be exported to the EU with this certification. Sungrow Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. : Successfully won the bid for the 45MW hydrogen production unit project at the Daye Linkong Hydrogen Energy Industrial Base, deploying a 2000 Nm³/h electrolyzer to support the green transformation of this resource-dependent city. This bid win includes five sets of 1000 Nm³/h and two sets of 2000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production systems. The 2000 Nm³/h electrolyzer has undergone two years of iteration and over 4,000 hours of field testing, demonstrating stable and highly efficient performance. The excellent operational performance and highly recognized equipment and O&M services provided by Sungrow Hydrogen for the Daye Jiangqiao hydrogen production project previously laid the foundation for this renewed cooperation. Zhejiang Yuancheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group Co., Ltd. : Jointly built with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Shanghai's first integrated methanol refueling station—the Jiading Xingle Methanol Refueling Station—has officially commenced operations at No. 2619 Jia'an Road, Jiading District. Dongfang Electric Corporation : The new-generation high-pressure diaphragm compressor unit, jointly developed by Xinran Group Compressor Co., Ltd. and Dongfang Electric Corporation Boiler Co., Ltd., officially began commissioning at the Xinran production site. A special acceptance expert group arrived on site to conduct comprehensive verification of equipment performance, process, and safety across all dimensions. Shanghai AnChi Technology Co., Ltd.: Officially launched the world's first four-nozzle integrated mobile hydrogen ultra-fast charging station. By entering the hydrogen-powered off-grid ultra-fast charging sector with an integrated "hydrogen-electricity-storage-charging" solution, it injects new momentum into the construction of new power systems and the green transformation of the energy structure. Shaanxi Yulin Energy Group New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : Held cooperation discussions with China Hydrogen Energy Group Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Xinran Compressor. The three parties held in-depth discussions on matters concerning the construction of the Yulin Green Hydrogen Project, joint development of integrated energy stations, hydrogen energy equipment matching, coal chemical industry upgrades, high-end compressor matching, and local production site establishment, reaching a consensus on comprehensive industrial cooperation. NewAir (Hangzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. : Formally signed a technology development cooperation agreement with China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Co., Ltd. The two parties will leverage their respective strengths in technological innovation and large-scale chemical engineering implementation to jointly develop a commercial process package for Flexfining™ ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel, opening a critical pathway for domestic alcohol-to-jet technology from laboratory scale to industrial implementation, while simultaneously planning large-scale industrial projects in and outside China. SPIC Green Energy Co., Ltd. : SPIC Green Energy signed a special cooperation agreement with the Second Research Institute of CAAC in Chengdu, marking the entry of their collaboration into a new phase of implementation. Next, the two parties will conduct in-depth cooperation focused on technological breakthroughs, standards research, industry-research integration, and talent cultivation to overcome challenges in SAF industry development, accelerate the implementation of demonstration projects, promote low-carbon aviation development, and support national energy security and the achievement of the "dual carbon" goals. Beijing SinoHy Energy Co., Ltd.: Signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., a globally leading EPC enterprise, to jointly pursue global green hydrogen projects. According to the agreement, SinoHy Energy will contribute its technical strengths in alkaline electrolytic stacks and core hydrogen production equipment; Hyundai Engineering & Construction will leverage its experience in large-scale global energy infrastructure projects to provide system integration and EPC delivery services. The two parties will collaborate to create integrated alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production solutions for delivery to project developers worldwide. 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) submitted patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formula with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprints/Specifications 1. The team of Tong Lei and Liang Haiwei from USTC, together with Zhang Liang from Tsinghua University, proposed a Carbon Mesopore Depth Engineering (CMDE) strategy. By utilizing hollow mesoporous carbon spheres to regulate ionomer penetration depth, they addressed the inherent conflict between kinetic activity and oxygen mass transport in low-platinum fuel cells, developing a PtCo low-platinum catalyst that combines anti-poisoning properties, high mass transport, and excellent durability. Under an ultra-low platinum loading of 0.1 mgPt cm⁻², it achieved the power, activity, and durability targets stipulated by the US DOE. 2. The team of Professor Li Zhipeng from Northwestern Polytechnical University innovatively constructed a three-dimensional multi-physics field coupling model for tubular solid oxide fuel cells, systematically revealing the quantitative influence of temperature, electrode thickness, porosity, and oxygen domain geometric parameters on cell output performance. 3. China Automotive Engineering Research Institute's National Hydrogen Power Quality Inspection and Testing Center has built a 0-400kW three-axis comprehensive vibration testing platform for hydrogen-related equipment under load and opened it for commercial use, addressing the domestic gap in high-power hydrogen-related multi-physics field coupled testing. 4. The high-specific-power closed-cathode air-cooled fuel cell stack technology developed by the team of Academician Chen Zhongwei and Associate Researcher Zhang Meng at the State Key Laboratory of Energy Catalytic Conversion, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, has passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology effectively resolves the industry contradiction between water retention and oxygen mass transfer in air-cooled fuel cells, solving technical challenges such as low-humidity performance degradation, carbon corrosion, dry membrane flooding, and high-power thermal management. 5. Two group standards concerning hydrogen production by water electrolysis have been officially released and implemented: the "Technical Specification for Safety of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis" and the "Method for Calculating Economic Operation Indicators for Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis." 6. Petronor and H2SITE are collaborating to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, enhancing high-purity hydrogen recovery and low-carbon efficiency in refining.

Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube revealed during the World Economic Forum in Dalian that the country is actively considering using its abundant mineral resources as collateral through "resource‑linked debt instruments" to finance road and railway construction projects in cooperation with China. This model aims to leverage future revenue from natural resources as loan guarantees to address the huge funding gap for infrastructure development. Ncube said Zimbabwe has held preliminary discussions with China Railway Group regarding such financing arrangements. He told reporters: "We have discussed resource‑linked debt instruments and hope to use them in the future to support infrastructure development, particularly in the road and railway sectors." Under the envisaged plan, Zimbabwe would assess project costs, toll revenue potential, and the return cycle of required resource investments to determine the scale of resource collateral and the repayment path. As Africa's largest lithium producer, Zimbabwe possesses rich mineral resources, but years of economic mismanagement and political instability have left its infrastructure severely lagging. The African Development Bank estimates that the country needs approximately US$34 billion to modernise its transport and logistics network. The proposed resource‑for‑infrastructure plan resembles the model of the US$7 billion Sicomines copper‑cobalt joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo with Chinese companies. As early as September 2025, Zimbabwe's President, during a meeting in Beijing with senior executives of China Railway Group, promoted a railway rehabilitation cooperation plan totalling US$533 million. The project is to be implemented by Chuantie International, a subsidiary of China Railway Group with extensive experience in African projects. The scope of work includes repair and reinforcement of existing lines and bridges, modernisation of signal systems, procurement of 17 locomotives and 209 freight wagons, construction of five new stations, and the key trunk line connecting Beitbridge and Harare – a strategic corridor leading directly to South Africa, which is vital to Zimbabwe's foreign trade. Currently, the project's financing method and formal signing date are still under final negotiation. Zimbabwe's railway network was built during the colonial era and carried up to 12 million tonnes of freight annually in the 1990s. However, decades of underinvestment, equipment obsolescence, and foreign exchange shortages have caused the railway infrastructure to deteriorate continuously. Current annual freight volume has fallen to less than 3 million tonnes – only 15% of its historical peak. Many lines are overgrown with weeds, and a large number of locomotives and rolling stock have been taken out of service, directly weakening the capacity to transport bulk commodities such as lithium, chrome ore, and coal to the ports of Mozambique and South Africa. Consequently, Chinese mining enterprises operating in Zimbabwe – including Tsingshan Holding Group, Sinosteel Corporation, and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt – all face export bottlenecks for their products. The decline of the railway system has forced a large volume of freight onto roads, leading to a surge in heavy trucks, which in turn exacerbates road congestion, traffic accidents, and pavement damage, forming a vicious cycle. In response, the National Railways of Zimbabwe has incorporated this railway rehabilitation into a broader modernisation framework and has engaged in cooperation with 11 private enterprises. Among them, South Africa's Grindrod, through its subsidiary Beitbridge‑Bulawayo Railway Company, has already deployed three locomotives and 150 freight wagons to alleviate current transport pressures. At the same time, Zimbabwe is exploring collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe to leverage the university's innovation centre for localised railway technology R&D and talent training, building capacity for long‑term operations. Analysts point out that if this railway rehabilitation is successfully implemented, it will not only fully restore Zimbabwe's deteriorated railway network, but also provide critical logistics support for the country's US$12 billion mining target, while further deepening the strategic presence of Chinese enterprises in Zimbabwe's mining and infrastructure sectors. According to market dynamics, in recent years – and especially since the beginning of this year – lithium ore shipments from Zimbabwe have been persistently delayed at ports, with insufficient inland transport capacity being one of the main bottlenecks hindering smooth cargo arrivals. As the relevant logistics system upgrades are put into effect, this situation is expected to be significantly alleviated, and the transport efficiency of lithium materials will be notably improved, thereby injecting solid momentum into the stabilisation of global lithium supply. Sources: Mining.com , Azure Track Rail, and SMM

In Q2 2026, the traditional peak season for the galvanizing industry fell short of expectations, weighed by sluggish real estate recovery and delayed implementation of local government bonds. Overall operating rates weakened YoY, with only infrastructure and export-related categories showing structural opportunities.

Middle East Air Conditioning Market: Restocking Demand Concentratedly Released as Conflicts Ease. Regional geopolitical conflicts have eased in phases, trade and logistics order has been restored, releasing previously pent-up restocking demand; coupled with the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects in various countries driving demand for commercial equipment, and the iteration of regional energy efficiency regulations accelerating the replacement of old products, further boosting the growth in import stockpiling.

Capacity-wise, according to incomplete statistics, China’s alkaline electrolyzer market stands at 43.77 GW, and the PEM electrolyzer market at 2.7 GW. This week, no offline delivery information was publicly available. Project-related updates: Jiyuan (Siping) Green Energy Co., Ltd.: SPIC Green Energy issued the termination announcement for the centralized tender of the 12th batch of infrastructure projects in 2026. The D12-01 Biochar Preparation Unit EPC General Contracting Section under the subsidiary Lishu Wind and Solar-Based Green Hydrogen Coupled with Biomass Green Methanol Project has been officially terminated. The reason cited was notification from the bid inviter, without disclosure of details such as project adjustments or plan changes. It is understood that this section planned to build a new biochar preparation unit with an annual capacity of 240,000 mt, adopting an end-to-end EPC general contracting model covering supporting systems including biomass pretreatment, drying, torrefaction, and cooling, as well as a carbon shaping core system, heat supply, conveying, civil works, and intelligentization. Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Technology Group Co., Ltd.: Re-tender announcement for the general contracting of the hydrogen purification station project at the Hydrogen Industrial Park. The project is located in Dongjiakou Chemical Park, Huangdao District, Qingdao, with a total investment of 46.2968 million yuan, an engineering cost of 27 million yuan, a maximum bid ceiling of 26.8 million yuan, and a design fee ceiling of 200,000 yuan. The site covers 720 m² and includes one 5,000 Nm³/h PSA purification unit for upgrading hydrogen-rich tail gas, designed to produce over 3,600 mt/year of high-purity hydrogen with a purity ≥ 99.999%, meeting China’s national standards for vehicle-grade hydrogen. Guohua (Ningxia) New Energy Co., Ltd.: Open tender for the PC construction general contracting of the integrated hydrogen production portion of the Solar-Storage-Hybrid Off-Grid Hydrogen Production Key Technology Research and Demonstration Project. The project is located south of the Qingshuiying hydrogen production station in Ningdong Town, covering about 33 mu, with utilities relying on the existing hydrogen station. It plans six hydrogen production trains — Train E is a 1,000 Nm³/h hybrid pilot unit; Trains F through J consist of five new hydrogen production systems each rated at 1,000 Nm³/h (maximum operating load 1,200 Nm³/h), each paired with an 800 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzer, a 200 Nm³/h PEM electrolyzer, and purification equipment, achieving hydrogen purity of 99.999%. China Coal Green Energy (Ordos) Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : The prequalification results for the basic design of the first-phase hydrogen-ammonia project and supporting utilities of the Uxin Banner Wind and Solar-Based Hydrogen-to-Ammonia Integrated Project have been published. Wuhuan Engineering Co., Ltd. ranked first with a bid price of 1.698 million yuan. Goldwind Green Hydrogen Technology (Xing’an League) Co., Ltd. : The Xing’an League Goldwind Science & Technology Wind-to-Hydrogen (Phase III) Project has released its first environmental impact assessment public notice. The project is located in the Xing'an League Economic and Technological Development Zone, an expansion project with a hydrogen production capacity of 160,000 Nm³/h. It is being constructed in three phases: the first and second phases each have a hydrogen production capacity of 32,000 Nm³/h, and upon completion of the third phase, total self-owned green hydrogen capacity will reach 224,000 Nm³/h, with an additional 56,000 Nm³/h of green hydrogen purchased externally. The supporting green methanol project has a combined capacity of 1.575 million mt across the three phases. Pre-construction work is currently progressing in an orderly manner. Guohua (Rudong) New Energy Co., Ltd.: The solar-hydrogen-energy storage integrated project has been fully completed and put into operation. It is the largest project of its kind in China and a key national PV base project, integrating PV, energy storage, and green electricity hydrogen production facilities to build a complete green electricity industry chain. The project generates 468 million kWh of electricity annually, sufficient to meet the power needs of nearly 200,000 households, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300,000 mt per year. The energy storage system supports stable grid operation and enhances new energy consumption levels. The project produces 482 mt of high-purity green hydrogen annually, achieving zero-carbon production, with the green hydrogen supplied directly to the Yangtze River Delta region. The entire system has been commissioned and all indicators meet the standards. CSSC (Handan) Peric Hydrogen Technologies Co., Ltd.: The Shuangyashan Jixian electrolyzer project has completed filing. It is invested and constructed by Heilongjiang Hai Rui Ke Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The project is located in Jixian County, Shuangyashan City, with a total investment of 612 million yuan, including fixed asset investment of 238.7 million yuan, and a construction period of two years. It is planned to build a new production line with an annual output of 500 sets of 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzers and complete hydrogen production equipment, with a total capacity of 2.5 GW. The project covers an area of 63.23 mu, where factory buildings, office buildings, and supporting facilities will be constructed, and equipment such as CNC machining, welding, assembly, and detection equipment will be procured. Junrui Green Hydrogen (Alxa League) Energy Co., Ltd.: A change announcement for the winning bid result of the first phase of the 14,400 mt/year green hydrogen base project in the Alxa High-tech Zone has been released. The original first-ranked winning candidate, a consortium led by Xinjiang Xingyu Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., failed to collect the bid acceptance notice within the specified time as required. According to the tender document provisions, this is deemed an automatic forfeiture of the winning qualification. After this change, the second-ranked winning candidate, a consortium led by Guangxi Construction Engineering Group No.4 Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., becomes the project's winning bidder. The winning bid amount is 915,185,806.17 yuan, and the project duration is 18 months (549 calendar days). The project had previously completed the public announcement of winning candidates and the release of the initial winning bid result in April. China Coal Green Energy (Ordos) Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : The winning bid result for the design and survey services of the first phase of China Coal Green Energy (Ordos) Uxin Banner wind-solar hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis integrated project's hydrogen production, storage, and transportation engineering has been announced. China Power Engineering Consulting Group North China Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. won the bid for 4.75 million yuan. The project is located in Uxin Banner, Ordos. Phase I will construct large-scale electrolytic water-based hydrogen production equipment, spherical tanks, and solid-state hydrogen storage facilities, with a total hydrogen storage capacity of 308,000 Nm³, accompanied by supporting systems for hydrogen transport and automatic control. The project encompasses the entire industry chain of wind and solar power generation, hydrogen production and storage, and ammonia synthesis. Gansu Huanshui Energy Chemical Co., Ltd. : Gansu Huanshui Energy Chemical issued the tender announcement for the EPC contract of electrolytic hydrogen production supporting the Huadian flexible ammonia project, a key project under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Located in the Tianshui Chemical Park, Huan County, Qingyang, Gansu, the project covers an area of 524.43 mu. It will construct new facilities for sodium chloride electrolysis and mercury-free polyethylene and related supporting infrastructure, with a total investment of 2.6112 billion yuan. Relying on green electricity for production, it will produce 31.50 million Nm³ of hydrogen annually, primarily supplying the flexible ammonia project. The construction period is 24 months, and consortium bids are allowed, with a maximum of 4 members; the lead partner must possess construction qualifications. Sinopec Xinxing Xinjiang Green Hydrogen New Energy Co., Ltd. : The candidate for the general construction contracting (Section 1) of the new-type electrolyzer industrial application demonstration project was announced, with Sinopec Henan Oil Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. ranking first. The project will build multiple electrolyzer testing platforms, along with supporting civil engineering, substation, automatic control, and fire protection facilities, covering construction, material procurement, and subsequent maintenance and related work. Zhongxiang Fuguang Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The integrated energy project coupling green electricity-based hydrogen production with CO₂ capture has been filed in Zhongxiang city, Jingmen, Hubei. With a total investment of 2.8 billion yuan, the project focuses on green hydrogen preparation, direct air carbon capture, and green fuel synthesis. Once completed, it is expected to produce 10,000 mt of green hydrogen, 10,000 mt of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and 150,000 mt of China VI standard diesel annually, with construction scheduled to start in February 2027. The project site is in Zhongxiang city, planned to lease 1,000 mu of land, and will construct 260,000 m² of new factory buildings, a 20,000 m² standardized hydrogen storage yard, and supporting auxiliary facilities, procuring 216 units (sets) of core equipment including electrolyzers, storage tanks, and control systems. Shanghai Yiwei Industrial Technology Co., Ltd.: won the bid for the general contracting project of the 1500Nm³/h integrated biomethane-based hydrogen production and refueling station in Pinggu Mafang for Beijing Gas. This project is Pinggu's first integrated hydrogen production and refueling demonstration project and a key demonstration project for Beijing Gas to promote green energy transition. The project is configured with three Hysail-500Nm³/h containerized hydrogen generators, with a total production capacity of 1500Nm³/h. Leveraging biomethane-based hydrogen production technology, it creates a model of 'on-site production, immediate refueling, and nearby consumption,' yielding 99.999% high-purity hydrogen compliant with the GB/T37244-2018 national standard for vehicle hydrogen. Once completed, it will become a critical hub for hydrogen energy supply in eastern Beijing. Policy Review 1. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other departments issued a notice on printing and distributing the "Guidelines for Accounting Non-Fossil Energy Electricity Consumption (Trial)". The content pointed out the need to strengthen alignment with energy statistics and carbon emission accounting systems, holistically consider factors such as physical connections, electricity energy trading, and green electricity certificate trading, and clearly categorize the rules for recognizing non-fossil energy electricity consumption and the accounting methods for users at the province (autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government; the same hereinafter) and city (prefectural) levels. Recognition methods for non-fossil energy electricity consumption: Physical Recognition. Self-generated and self-consumed non-fossil energy electricity and self-consumed electricity from new business models like direct green electricity connections are recognized as the electricity user's non-fossil energy electricity consumption. Electricity consumed for the production of non-fossil energy power generation projects is recognized as the generation enterprise's non-fossil energy electricity consumption. Transaction Recognition, encompassing electricity energy trading (including conventional non-fossil energy electricity trading, green electricity trading, etc.; the same hereinafter) and green certificate trading (including green certificate transfers, etc.; the same hereinafter). 2. The Energy Bureau of Jilin Province and the Development and Reform Commission of Jilin Province jointly issued the notice on the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Integrated and Converged Development of New Energy in Jilin Province". Overall goal: By 2030, integrated and converged development shall become a major approach for new energy expansion in the province, with new scenarios featuring integration and convergence emerging continuously. The province's new energy development model will become more flexible, consumption channels more diverse, application scenarios richer, and the electricity market more dynamic, with over 50 new integrated application projects and scenarios being newly established, strongly supporting the comprehensive green transformation of the province's economic and social development. 3. The Administration for Market Regulation of Guangdong Province issued a notice soliciting opinions on the provincial local standard "Operational Specifications for Integrated Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Refueling Equipment (Draft for Review)". The document states that this standard specifies the basic requirements, personnel management, equipment and facility management, hydrogen quality management, refueling operation management, safety management, archive management, and data recording for the operation of integrated hydrogen production, storage, and refueling equipment. Corporate Dynamics Guohong Hydrogen Energy Technology (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd. : Hydrogen heavy-duty trucks from Hongjing Logistics, equipped with Guohong Hydrogen Energy fuel cell systems, officially commenced commercial operation in Xinjiang. The first batch of vehicles departed fully loaded with coke from the Yongxin Coal Chemical Plant in Fukang city, traveling 130 km one way to arrive at the Urumqi Bayi Steel Plant. Beijing Future Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : drafted and released the group standard "Long-term Stability Assessment Method for AEM Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Membrane Materials"(T/CIET 2226-2026). Hubei Inteli Electric Co., Ltd. : has seen its cumulative hydrogen project performance in the European export market exceed 1GW. It previously secured contracts to supply 38 units of 4000 Nm³ (alkaline) hydrogen production power supply equipment for a green hydrogen green steel project and 50MW megawatt-class IGBT PWM hydrogen production power supplies for a petrochemical enterprise in Greece. Sungrow Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : won the bid for the green hydrogen coupling coal chemical section of the first-phase project of the 600,000 kW off-grid renewable energy-based hydrogen production project in the Pingshuo coal mining subsidence area of China Coal Group, becoming the primary supplier of alkaline electrolyzer packages for this project with a 48MW scale. The project adopts a pure off-grid hydrogen production technology route, relying on PV and other renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen, which is directly supplied to coal chemical production lines. It serves as a benchmark project for low-carbon transition using wind and solar hydrogen production in the coal mining industry. According to the supply plan, Sungrow Hydrogen will provide 8 units of 1200Nm³/h electrolyzers, 2 sets of 4800Nm³/h gas-liquid separation and purification systems, along with its self-developed '4-to-1' flexible hydrogen production integrated solution, effectively enhancing the integration level of the equipment package and the long-term operational economy. The company's relevant off-grid hydrogen production package system has undergone long-term verification at a 30MW electrolytic water hydrogen production empirical base, possessing core advantages such as wide load regulation, millisecond-level power response, and long-cycle stable operation, perfectly adapting to fluctuating PV power conditions and addressing pain points in off-grid hydrogen production operations. Anscombe (Beijing) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: successfully won the bid for the green hydrogen coupling coal chemical section of the first-phase project of the 600,000 kW off-grid renewable energy-based hydrogen production project in the Pingshuo coal mining subsidence area of China Coal Group. The project utilizes an off-grid hydrogen production model, preparing green hydrogen from PV renewable energy, with the hydrogen output supplied directly for coal chemical production use. This project is a core initiative of China Coal Group's 'green hydrogen + coal chemical' coupled low-carbon pathway. Its scale is leading, and the off-grid operation mode imposes extremely high technical requirements on hydrogen equipment enterprises for system integration and adaptability to fluctuating new energy conditions. According to the cooperation plan, Anscombe will supply 4 units of 1200Nm³/h electrolyzers, 1 set of 4800Nm³/h gas-liquid separation and purification system, and provide a '4-to-1' flexible hydrogen production overall solution, comprehensively matching unstable off-grid wind/solar power operating conditions. Transportation Energy Company of Yanchang Petroleum & Gas Group: The hydrogen refueling demonstration station it constructed at the Fuping Service Area (North Zone) on the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway has successfully achieved mechanical completion and entered the feed test phase. This station is the first hydrogen refueling demonstration station on an expressway in north-west China, with a total investment exceeding 18.30 million yuan. It is a standardized Level 3 hydrogen refueling station, designed with a daily refueling capacity of 1,000 kg, equipped with an intelligent hydrogen refueling management and control system, capable of serving hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks and intercity buses, improving the Shaanxi expressway hydrogen energy supply network. Ai Hydrogen Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. : signed the contract for the western China integrated solid-state hydrogen production, storage, and utilization project with the People's Government of Zhong County, Chongqing. The project will address the shortage of hydrogen sources in Chongqing and guarantee hydrogen demand for transportation and industrial users in eastern Chongqing during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period. Relying on the enterprise's proprietary magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage core technology, the project can solve industry challenges such as high hydrogen storage and transportation costs and insufficient safety, enabling large-scale, low-cost, and safe hydrogen storage and transport. China Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. : The 10,000 mt-level biomass pressurized gasification pilot plant successfully completed a 72-hour continuous operation test. Industry experts witnessed that the parameters were stable, the equipment operated normally, and multiple core capabilities were verified, marking key progress in the engineering R&D of this technology. The project was led by CPEIC Zhonghe Institute, collaborating with multiple entities to systematically verify biomass pressurized gasification, operating condition optimization, and engineering scale-up aspects. Lanzhou LS Group Co., Ltd.: its self-developed 1000 Nm³ PEM electrolytic water hydrogen production system successfully passed industrial testing. The project's hydrogen production power supply was provided by Hubei Inteli Electric, featured a containerized integrated solution; the equipment completed installation and commissioning ex-factory, offering convenient deployment and strong adaptability, which can effectively shorten construction periods. 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), submitted patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation, with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technical Footprints / Technical Specifications 1. Lei Tong, Haiwei Liang from USTC, and Liang Zhang's team from Tsinghua University proposed the Carbon Mesoporous Depth Engineering (CMDE) strategy. By utilizing hollow mesoporous carbon spheres to regulate ionomer penetration depth, it resolves the inherent contradiction between kinetic activity and oxygen mass transport in low-platinum fuel cells, developing a PtCo low-platinum catalyst that balances poisoning resistance, high mass transport, and excellent durability, achieving power, activity, and durability targets set by the US DOE at an ultra-low platinum loading of 0.1mgPt cm⁻². 2. Professor Zhizhang Li's team at Northwestern Polytechnical University innovatively constructed a three-dimensional multi-physics field coupled model for tubular solid oxide fuel cells, systematically revealing the quantitative influence rules of temperature, electrode thickness, porosity, and oxygen domain geometric parameters on battery output performance. 3. China Automotive Engineering Research Institute's National Hydrogen Energy Power Quality Inspection and Testing Center completed a 0-400 kW hydrogen-involved load-bearing three-comprehensive vibration testing platform and opened it for commercial use, addressing the gap in domestic testing for high-power, hydrogen-involved multi-physics coupling. 4. The high specific power cathode closed-cathode air-cooled stack technology developed by the team of Academician Zhongwei Chen and Associate Researcher Meng Zhang at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics' State Key Laboratory of Energy Catalysis and Conversion passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology effectively overcomes the industry contradiction between water retention and oxygen mass transport in air-cooled fuel cells, solving technical challenges such as low-humidity performance degradation, carbon corrosion, dry membrane water flooding, and high-power thermal management. 5. Two group standards related to water electrolysis-based hydrogen production were officially released and implemented, namely "Safety Technical Specifications for Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production" and "Economic Performance Indicator Calculation Methods for Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production." 6. Petronor and H2SITE collaborate to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, enhancing high-purity hydrogen in refining and low-carbon efficiency.

H1 Price Review: In H1 2026, China’s grain-oriented silicon steel market fluctuated overall, with prices first suppressed and then rebounding. At the start of the year, market prices edged down, but as downstream demand gradually recovered, prices saw a rebound. Performance diverged notably by product type: competition intensified for regular grades amid mediocre demand, keeping prices generally weak; high-end high-permeability grades, supported by rigid demand from power infrastructure, remained firm throughout. On the supply side, regular grades were in ample supply and competition intensified, while high-end products, limited by technological barriers, saw constrained capacity deployment and persistently tight supply. The demand side showed pronounced structural divergence, with ongoing UHV construction and power grid upgrades sustaining solid rigid demand for high-end products, whereas demand for regular grades remained weak. H1 Fundamentals Review: From a production perspective, the production schedule of grain-oriented silicon steel in China in H1 2026 followed a trend of rising, then falling, and then rising again. Only the January-February production schedule volume exceeded the level in the same period of 2025, while the schedule from March to June all fell short of the year-earlier level. In March, it dropped to the H1 low of about 171,000 mt, and in May-June, it recovered to around 183,000 mt as production arrangements were stepped up. However, the overall production schedule center was lower than in H1 2025, and Q2 saw a marked contraction in production activity. Over the same period, the capacity utilization rate trend was highly synchronized with the production schedule. In January-February, the utilization rate was slightly higher than last year, then declined continuously from March to April, hitting the H1 low of 74% in April, and rebounded to 76% in May-June as the schedule recovered. For each month of H1, the utilization rate was significantly lower than the same period in 2025, with the full-year range kept at 74%-81%. This diverging pattern—"slight strength at the start of the year and simultaneous weakening of production schedule and utilization rate in Q2"—indicates that downstream demand support in H1 was weaker than in 2025. Enterprises proactively lowered their Q2 production plans, and the pace of capacity commissioning slowed down. Even with moderate supplementary production in May and June, overall actual operating loads remained weaker than in the same period last year. From the perspective of grain-oriented silicon steel consumption driven by power grid installations, overall demand in H1 2026 (January-April) showed a gradual weakening trend, with monthly consumption declining step by step. January marked the H1 demand peak, with total consumption of approximately 150,000 mt, supported simultaneously by PV, thermal power, and wind power. In February, total demand pulled back slightly, with consumption contracting across all sub-sectors. March fell to the H1 trough, as total monthly consumption was under 80,000 mt, and PV and thermal power installation releases slowed markedly. April saw a slight recovery in demand, but the overall volume remained low. In terms of demand structure, solar, wind, and thermal power remained the core consumption sources in H1, together accounting for nearly 80% of consumption, with nuclear power providing a small supplement and hydropower contribution consistently low. In January, thermal power and PV provided strong boosts, while wind power, which saw concentrated year-end commissioning, had limited release in H1. PV, the largest demand segment, saw continuously declining consumption from January to April, becoming the primary factor dragging down H1 demand. Compared with the full year, overall installation demand in H1 (January-April) was far below the two peak season highs of last May and December. The release pace of new installations was weak, with insufficient commissioning increments across all power sources. Overall, the end-use demand for grain-oriented silicon steel exhibited market characteristics of underperforming in the peak season and coming under monthly pressure. H2 Outlook: In H1 2026, only the Phase II 80,000 mt HIB grade grain-oriented silicon steel capacity of Angang Longdu Electromagnetic New Materials in central China came on stream in Q2, with limited new capacity additions in H1. H2 will mark a concentrated period for GO silicon steel capacity commissioning, with enterprises across multiple regions gradually starting up capacity: in east China, Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.'s 220,000 mt HIB grade GO silicon steel capacity will simultaneously commence production in H2, Zhejiang Jinlei Soft Magnetic Materials will start up 100,000 mt CGO grade GO silicon steel capacity in Q3, and Jiangsu Zhongsheng Electromagnetic Technology (180,000 mt HIB) and Jiangxi Chongxin New Materials (80,000 mt HIB) both plan to start production in Q4; in central China, Wuhan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. plans to launch its 200,000 mt HIB grade GO silicon steel capacity in Q3. Looking ahead to H2, market divergence will persist. The industry’s capacity structure continues to optimize, with new capacity focusing on high-end categories. Supported by energy efficiency upgrade policies and power infrastructure projects, rigid industry demand is expected to be steadily released. Overall, ordinary grades still face downward price pressure, while high-end, high magnetic induction grain-oriented silicon steel will maintain a stable to positive trend backed by favorable demand.

[SMM Analysis] Steel billet sees notable YoY increase, while UAE’s decline hits a new low By product: Steel billet’s increase remains impressive, mainly because previous geopolitical conflicts caused periodic logistical bottlenecks and surging insurance premiums in major billet and slab production areas at some local Middle East EAF mills and BF-based plants. Overseas billet supply faced a vacuum period, directly pushing global buyers to launch massive inquiries with China. Purchasing sentiment strengthened notably in Southeast Asia in particular. According to SMM’s order-taking survey, exports are expected to stay high in the short term. It is also worth noting that Vietnam’s anti-dumping duties on China’s HRC will be implemented on April 17. As a result, total HRC exports to Vietnam in April increased compared with March, driven by a final rush to front-load shipments before the deadline. Exports are expected to pull back again in May. Data Source: SMM, General Administration of Customs By country: Djibouti’s increase topped the list. Its product mix chart clearly shows that HRC (42%) and steel billet (30%) are the dominant products. As the “Gateway to East Africa” and a transshipment hub, Djibouti itself lacks large-scale consumption capacity. This surge is essentially because repeated Red Sea tensions caused large vessels to unload and transship directly in the Mediterranean or south of the Suez Canal, with Djibouti serving as a safe transit point serving East African inland infrastructure projects such as Ethiopia, or shipping onward via smaller vessels to North Africa. As a global shipping and trade settlement center, Singapore saw an increase of 290,000 mt, mainly due to centralized procurement and trade settlement by ASEAN and Chinese-invested construction projects in Singapore, which provided marginal support for China’s exports of bars, wire rods, and other infrastructure-related finished steel products. The UAE dropped 870,000 mt, and Saudi Arabia dropped 450,000 mt. This was primarily due to geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, compounded by excessive stockpiling by major Middle Eastern buyers earlier to avoid logistics risks, pushing the Middle East market into a defensive cycle of destocking and slower purchasing. Data Source: SMM, General Administration of Customs Outlook: SMM’s April orders remain at a high level, and May exports are still expected to see increases. According to SMM’s steel export order data, affected by holidays, steel export orders in April dipped slightly by 0.57% MoM from March. However, it is also learned that shipping to the Middle East is gradually recovering, and orders for slabs destined for Southeast Asia saw a significant increase in April. Taking all factors into consideration—with the new export orders index re-entering expansion territory, the export price advantage still significant, and export order performance excellent—SMM expects that China’s steel exports in May will still see growth, with steel billet continuing to play a dominant role. Data Source: SMM Copyright and Intellectual Property Statement: This report is independently created or compiled by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SMM"), and SMM legally enjoys complete copyright and related intellectual property rights. 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Around 200 companies attended an EU investment roadshow in Johannesburg on June 1 as the bloc advanced plans to invest EUR12 billion (USD13.98 billion) in South Africa’s critical minerals sector. The partnership focuses on mining, processing and industrial development to reduce dependence on single suppliers. South Africa said it aims to increase local beneficiation and industrial value instead of only exporting raw materials. At the same time, the EU plans to support South Africa’s green energy, port and railway infrastructure projects. Markets believe Africa’s resource development and local processing capacity are becoming increasingly important amid intensifying global competition for critical minerals.