Recently, construction officially began on the high-end rare earth aluminum alloy project in the Baotou Jinshan Economic Development Zone, with a total investment of approximately 500 million yuan and annual output of 100,000 mt. The project will be advanced in an orderly manner in two phases. Phase I will build a 30,000 mt high-end rare earth aluminum alloy production line, focusing on technology R&D and capacity release to rapidly achieve scaled-up production. Phase II will expand capacity by 70,000 mt, further extend, supplement, and strengthen the industrial chain, optimize the product mix, increase added value, and support Guyang in building a distinctive high-end rare earth aluminum alloy industrial cluster.

Capacity side, according to incomplete statistics, China’s alkaline electrolyser market remained at 43.77 GW and the PEM electrolyser market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity added. There was no offline delivery information this week. Project-related updates: PetroChina Shenzhen New Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd.: It issued a processing tender for its brine hydrogen production electrolyser. Funding for the tender project was self-raised by the enterprise, with a contribution ratio of 100%. It is understood that procurement of necessary raw materials and components included, but was not limited to, integrated electrolyser materials such as electrodes, end plates, bipolar plates, separators, and gaskets. Suppliers were also required to provide essential auxiliary accessories for the electrolyser, including cooling towers, chillers, and potassium hydroxide, in accordance with the purchaser’s requirements. Guangxi University of Science and Technology: It procured a hydrogen-fuel low-speed hybrid autonomous vehicle experimental system from Hefei Zhongke Shengu Technology Development Co., Ltd., with a transaction price of 844,800 yuan. Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences: It issued a procurement notice for a 500 W hydrogen fuel cell testing platform. It is understood that the testing platform will be used for performance, efficiency, and durability testing of 500 W-class hydrogen fuel cell stacks and single cells. CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.: The Jilin Hydrogen Future Energy Factory Integrated Energy Project issued a procurement notice for an energy-saving assessment report. It is understood that the project had successively completed procurement for reports including water resources assessment, feasibility study, land-use pre-examination, hydrogen pipeline design, and power market analysis. Shaanxi Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Co., Ltd.: It released a public notice on the social stability risk assessment survey for Phase I of the 30 GW new energy green hydrogen production and hydrogen pipeline project (Inner Mongolia section). According to the notice, the project is located in Tuke Town, Uxin Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is understood that the hydrogen pipeline route is 19.6 km long, with a design pressure of 6.3 MPa, and uses L290QH steel pipe material (seamless steel pipe). Total project investment is about 449.38 million yuan. Allocated by route length (with the Uxin Banner section accounting for 53.4%), the estimated investment within the area is about 239.97 million yuan. The project construction period is 2026–2028. PetroChina Shenzhen New Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd. : Its hydrogen energy R&D department plans to custom-process one set of MW-class brine hydrogen production electrolyser equipment, with hydrogen production capacity of no less than 200 Nm³/h. Tender scope: procurement of one set of brine hydrogen production electrolyser equipment. Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited: It officially signed the Phase I project of the Inner Mongolia Baofeng coal-based new materials wind and solar power hydrogen production project. According to the agreement, Shanghai Electric will provide eight 1,250 Nm³/h alkaline electrolysers, the world’s largest single-set 5,000 Nm³/h separation and purification system, and an industry-first outdoor three-dimensional layout solution. Suqian Green Energy Hydrogen Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.: During the 5th China International Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Exhibition, Suqian Green Energy Hydrogen Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. and China Power Engineering Consulting Group Northwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony at the China National Convention Center in Beijing for a domestic MW-class AEM electrolyser testing project. Shenneng Northern Energy Holdings Co., Ltd.: It issued procurement for the preparation of a feasibility study report for the Etuoke Banner wind power hydrogen production integration green application project (Phase II), covering hydrogen production by water electrolysis and SAF synthesis. It is understood that the Etuoke Banner 505 MW wind and solar power hydrogen production integration green ammonia synthesis project (Phase I) was successfully selected in October 2025 as one of the first batch of hydrogen energy pilot projects in China’s energy sector, and is planned to be fully completed and put into operation in August 2026. Policy Review​ 1. Notice of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments on issuing the Implementation Plan for the High-Quality Development of Energy-Saving Equipment (2026–2028). The document stated that by 2028, mass-produced water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment should achieve DC power consumption of less than 4.2 kWh/Nm³ under rated operating conditions. 2. Notice of the General Office of the National Energy Administration on issuing the Guidelines for the Establishment of 2026 Energy Industry Standard Plans. The key areas for the 2026 energy industry standard plan include eight items. In the hydrogen energy field, key directions include fundamentals and general applications, hydrogen production and conversion, hydrogen storage and transportation, hydrogen refuelling, hydrogen power and power generation, and hydrogen equipment. 3. Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 18 of 2026: announcement of the launch of a trade barrier investigation into US practices and measures that hinder trade in green products. Preliminary evidence and information obtained by the Ministry of Commerce showed that the US had implemented multiple practices and measures in trade-related areas that hinder trade in green products, including but not limited to restricting exports of green products to the US, slowing new energy deployment, and restricting technology cooperation related to green products. Enterprise Updates​​ Xieqing (Shanghai) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: Its hydrogen-powered drone H100 was officially put into use for material transport by China Post in Suibin County/Bayan County, Heilongjiang, entering the stage of regularised operations. Henan Junheng Industrial Group Biotechnology Co., Ltd. : Five reactors for its 1 million mt/year waste oil and fat processing sustainable aviation fuel project were successfully hoisted into place. Hubei Yingteli Electric Co., Ltd.: The two sets of thousand-cubic-metre-class IGBT hydrogen production power supplies it provided were successfully applied in South Korea’s first off-grid green hydrogen production project. Ordos Hanxia New Energy Co., Ltd. : At the hydrogen production plant of the Narisong PV hydrogen production industry demonstration project in Jungar Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the first truckload of 99.999% national-standard high-purity green hydrogen in 2026 was successfully dispatched after filling operations were completed. Hydshine Energy (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.: It announced the completion of its Pre-B round of financing. This round was exclusively strategically invested by the Shenzhen Energy Storage Fund. It is understood that the funds will be mainly used for global market expansion, next-generation product R&D, and industrialisation capabilities. Shanghai Hydrogen Energy Group Co., Ltd.: It was successfully recognised as a “Shanghai Specialised, Sophisticated, Distinctive and Innovative SME” in the first batch list of Shanghai specialised and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises. Tianneng Battery Group Co., Ltd. : During the Tianneng 2026 Spring New Product Launch held in Tianjin, Tianneng signed strategic cooperation agreements with multiple partners on hydrogen fuel cells and solid-state batteries. In hydrogen energy, Tianneng joined hands with Guangdong Vision Holding Group and Tianjin Weida Space Technology to deepen the deployment of hydrogen-powered shared bicycle scenarios and promote the rollout of this model in more cities. ​​Patent Applications​​ 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences​​ (China) disclosed patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. ​​2. Johnson Matthey​​ (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity close to platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint/Technical Specifications​​ 1. Professor Yu Ying’s team at Central China Normal University developed a three-dimensional graded nanostructured catalytic electrode, a core part for seawater hydrogen production. 2. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron-pump catalyst with an asymmetric photoresponse structure to maintain asymmetry in electron distribution. 3.​​Research teams from the School of Electrical Engineering at Xi’an Jiaotong University and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Materials and Electrical Insulation successfully developed a Ru/Ti3C2Ox@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. 4. Johnson Matthey and Syensqo achieved efficient recycling and reuse of platinum group metals and ionomers in PEM fuel cells and electrolysers, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. 5. Teams from Xi’an Jiaotong University and Peking University jointly developed a new-type osmium-based catalyst, significantly improving the efficiency and economics of AEM water electrolysis hydrogen production and supporting the scale-up of low-cost green hydrogen.

BAIC Industrial Investment Management Co., Ltd. announced the completion of a strategic investment in Jiangxi Aite Magnetic Material Co., Ltd., aiming to support its R&D innovation and market expansion in the field of soft magnetic powder cores. Founded in 2014, Aite Magnetic Material focuses on soft magnetic powder core products such as Sendust, iron-silicon, iron-based amorphous, and nanocrystalline materials, and holds an important position in the magnetic materials sector.

BAIC Industrial Investment Management Co., Ltd. announced the completion of a strategic investment in Jiangxi Aite Magnetic Material Co., Ltd., aiming to support its R&D innovation and market expansion in the field of soft magnetic powder cores. Founded in 2014, Aite Magnetic Material focuses on soft magnetic powder core products such as iron-silicon-aluminum, iron-silicon, iron-based amorphous, and nanocrystalline materials, and holds an important position in the magnetic materials sector. As a professional investment platform under BAIC Group, BAIC Industrial Investment's move into the magnetic materials field will help Aite Magnetic Material enhance its technology R&D capabilities, expand its market share, and promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the automotive industry and related sectors.

The Meeting of the Leading Group for the Construction of Baotou Municipal Party Committee’s “Two Rare Earth Bases” Was Held. Chen Zhichang, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, presided over the meeting. Meng Qingwei, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, and Zhou Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, attended. The meeting heard a report on the work in 2025 and the work arrangements for 2026, and reviewed documents including the R&D directions in key fields for the 15th Five-Year Plan.

At this year’s national Two Sessions, Xie Yancui, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and chief engineer of the Technology and Quality Center at Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. of Aluminum Corporation of China, showcased the team’s latest R&D achievement: a new-type high-performance rare earth aluminum alloy material. This represents the latest independently developed innovation in China’s aluminum processing sector. According to reports, this seemingly ordinary metal plate has already been successfully applied in the field of manned spaceflight.

SUMCO, a major global silicon wafer manufacturer based in Japan, recently announced adjustments to its capacity expansion plans, putting its new plant project on hold and focusing resources on upgrading existing facilities and conducting R&D on advanced process technologies. It is understood that following this adjustment, the related subsidy amount SUMCO receives from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has been reduced from the originally planned 75 billion yuan to 19.3 billion yuan. The company stated that it will focus its development efforts on technological upgrades and capacity optimization at existing plants in places including Imari City, Saga Prefecture, while giving priority to advancing R&D on silicon wafer technologies suited to cutting-edge chip manufacturing processes and increasing capacity.

On March 30, the Shenzhen Municipal Commerce Bureau issued the Three-Year Action Plan of Shenzhen to Promote the Improvement of Quality and Efficiency in Foreign Trade—Special Measures for “Export Shenzhen.” It stated that support would be provided for the import of advanced technological equipment and key parts needed for the development of the “20+8” industrial clusters; enterprises would be guided and assisted in actively applying for national import interest subsidy support for technologies and products included in the Catalog of Technologies and Products Encouraged for Import; and “one-on-one” tax reduction and exemption guidance services would be provided for enterprises engaged in related frontier technology products. Personalized regulatory measures would be formulated for the import of important intermediate products required for the development of industries such as integrated circuits and flat-panel display modules, so as to promote the efficient input of key materials and components into R&D and production. Efforts would also be made to explore and advance pilot imports of used key parts for automotive R&D testing.

[SMM Tin Morning Briefing: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Opened Slightly Higher in the Night Session and Then Fluctuated Lower, While Trading in the Spot Market Was Relatively Weak]

DKEM (300842.SZ) reported attributable net profit of -276 million yuan in 2025, down 176.80% YoY, mainly due to fluctuations in raw material silver powder prices and the impact of non-recurring gains and losses. The company recorded operating revenue of 18.046 billion yuan, up 17.56% YoY; net profit excluding non-recurring items was 163 million yuan, down 62.78% YoY. The board of directors proposed not to distribute cash dividends. Operationally, full-year sales of PV conductive paste were 1,829.16 mt, down 10.23% YoY, of which N-type TOPCon battery paste accounted for 95.72%. The company will continue to increase R&D in N-type battery paste technology to consolidate its industry-leading position.