This week, the weekly operating rate of leading downstream aluminum processing enterprises in China rebounded 1.1 percentage points MoM to 64%.

On March 11, Inner Mongolia Power Group and the State Grid Corporation of China signed an entrusted construction management agreement for the Dalate–Mengxi 1,000 kV AC power transmission and transformation project. Under the agreement, the State Grid Corporation of China will invest in and build the Dalate–Mengxi 1,000 kV AC power transmission and transformation project, and will entrust Inner Mongolia Power Group with on-site construction management, while State Grid UHV Construction Branch will participate in technical and cost management. The signing of this agreement marked an important achievement in deepening strategic cooperation between the State Grid Corporation of China and Inner Mongolia Power Group.

According to Polaris Power Network, the Jirige (Kusha II) 500 kV power transmission and transformation project was officially approved by the Energy Administration of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a good start for power grid construction in Ordos in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. As a key power grid project that was among the first to be launched in the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the project’s approval and implementation marked a critical step forward in regional power grid development.

Here is the professional English translation: Recent Implementation of the 2026 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Economic and Social Development Plan Issued by the People's Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region The plan outlines key initiatives to advance the construction of a new power system, including: Deepening the implementation of grid enhancement projects; Accelerating the smart grid upgrade of the West Inner Mongolia Power Grid; Building 20 new 500 kV power transmission and transformation projects; Conducting feasibility studies for a UHVDC flexible HVDC transmission line from Alxa to Central Inner Mongolia. Context on Alxa Clean Energy Base Leveraging abundant wind and solar resources, Alxa’s clean energy base development has accelerated significantly.

On February 5th, the Dalate-Mengxi 1000-kilovolt AC power transmission and transformation project was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. This project is a key project in China's 14th Five-Year Plan for power and also a supporting project for the Mengxi-Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei ±800-kilovolt UHV DC power transmission project. It is reported that the project plans to build a new 1000-kilovolt substation in Dalate, with 2 groups of 3 million kVA main transformers installed. A double-circuit 1000-kilovolt line from Dalate to Mengxi will be newly built, with a line length of 2×124.6 kilometers, and the project investment is 4.374 billion yuan.

On January 28th, the construction of the 500-kilovolt power transmission and transformation project in Fengtai, Beijing officially started. This project is the first newly-built 500-kilovolt power grid project in Beijing during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It will significantly enhance the resilience and power receiving capacity of the southern Beijing power grid and provide reliable power support for Beijing to continuously optimize the investment structure and vigorously develop high-end, precise, and cutting-edge industries. The 500-kilovolt power transmission and transformation project in Fengtai, Beijing is a key project of Beijing's power grid during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and one of the "3 100" key projects in Beijing this year. It is constructed and managed by the State

On February 2nd, the 750-kilovolt power transmission and transformation project of the third passageway from northern Shaanxi to central Shaanxi was fully connected. The project starts from the 750-kilovolt Shuofang Substation in Shenmu City in the north and ends at the 750-kilovolt Bailuyuan Substation in Lantian County in the south. It has newly built a 1,271-kilometer line, passing through 18 counties (districts) in 4 cities including Yulin, Yan'an, Weinan and Xi'an.

Procurement Announcement for Air Conditioners in the EPC General Contracting Project of the 220 kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project at Bensteel Group's Energy General Plant 1. Procurement Conditions The purchaser for this procurement project, the EPC General Contracting Project of the 220 kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project at Bensteel Group's Energy General Plant - Air Conditioners (AGGCJSHGXHD250827232836), is the Procurement Office of Ansteel Group Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. The funds for the procurement project are self-raised, and the project has met the procurement conditions. A public inquiry and comparison are now being conducted. 2. Project Overview and Procurement Scope 2.1 Project Name: EPC General Contracting Project of the 220 kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project at Bensteel Group's Energy General Plant - Air Conditioners 2.2 Alternative Procurement Methods in Case of Procurement Failure: Transition to Negotiated Procurement or Direct Procurement 2.3 The procurement content, scope, and scale of this project are detailed in the attachment "Material List Attachment.pdf." 3. Bidder Qualification Requirements 3.1 Joint bidding is not allowed for this procurement. 3.2 This procurement requires bidders to meet the following qualification requirements: (1) Business License 3.3 This procurement requires bidders to meet the following registered capital requirements: Registered Capital: 500 (10,000 yuan) or more 3.4 This procurement requires bidders to meet the following performance requirements: The bidder must have at least one air conditioner supply performance (contract and corresponding VAT invoice) since 2022. 3.5 This procurement requires bidders to meet the following capability requirements, financial requirements, and other requirements: Financial Requirements: The bidder's registered capital shall not be less than 5 million yuan. Capability Requirements: (1) Scanned copy or photo of the original Business License (or duplicate). (2) Scanned copy or photo of the original Tax Registration Certificate (or duplicate), except for those with a unified social credit code. (3) Scanned copy or photo of the original Organization Code Certificate (or duplicate), except for those with a unified social credit code. (4) Type of bidding enterprise: Unlimited. (5) The air conditioner brands required for this tender are Gree, Midea, and Haier. Agent bidders need to provide valid authorization for the brands they are bidding on (project authorization is allowed). When the producer bids, the agent's bid is invalid. Other Requirements: Refer to the attachment for details (if necessary). 3.6 For projects that must be tendered according to the law, bidders who are dishonest persons subject to enforcement shall be invalid. 4. Acquisition of Procurement Documents 4.1 All interested bidders are requested to log in to the Ansteel Smart Tendering and Bidding Platform at http://bid.ansteel.cn from 15:15 on August 27, 2025, to 08:00 on September 4, 2025 (Beijing Time, the same hereinafter) to download the electronic procurement documents. Click for Details:

According to SMM's latest monthly data survey, the total production of aluminum rods nationwide in May 2025 was 417,000 mt, an increase of 10,500 mt from April. After adjusting for the number of days in the month, the operating rate of aluminum rod plants in May was recorded at 62.15%, down 1.01% MoM and up 5.95% YoY. In the first half of May, due to the in the doldrums of aluminum prices and sufficient profit margins from orders on hand in the downstream sector, the market's purchasing efforts did not significantly weaken. Coupled with the industry still being in a concentrated shipping cycle, the supply side was able to maintain fluctuations at highs. However, in the second half of May, LME aluminum prices held up well due to the scarcity of aluminum ingots circulating in the market, while there was a noticeable weakening trend in industry deliveries. Consequently, market conditions took a sharp turn for the worse, and processing fees pulled back rapidly.

According to statistics from the National Energy Administration, the investment completed in power grid projects in April reached 46.3 billion yuan, up 47% YoY and 5% MoM. From January to April, the total investment completed in power grid projects was 122.9 billion yuan, up 25% YoY. SMM believes that the operating rate of the aluminum wire and cable industry is expected to remain in the doldrums in the short term. The industry is currently undergoing an adjustment phase following the conclusion of the concentrated delivery period in the early stage. Leading enterprises are sustaining production with the support of order resilience, while small and medium-sized enterprises are facing significant pressure.