The European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2026/1384, establishing the EU steel trade regime that takes effect 1 July 2026 and replaces the safeguard measures expiring 30 June. The new framework sets annual tariff-rate quotas of 18.3 million mt with a 50% out-of-quota duty, and adds a melt-and-pour origin requirement to curb circumvention. Crucially, the country-specific quota allocations are not yet set: they will come via a separate implementing act that has not been published, even as talks with several FTA partners reportedly continue. The gap leaves importers and supply chains uncertain about how the quota system will function from day one, with stainless mills among those watching the final country splits.

Recently, the north-east China City Football League Harbin division kicked off at the Acheng District Culture and Sports Center in Harbin. As the event's official strategic partner, Geely combined methanol energy, sports events, and north-east China's regional characteristics, showcasing its green commercial vehicle products in event scenarios. Following the appearance of the Farizon Xinghan H methanol-electric heavy-duty truck at the Shenyang division, the Farizon Xingzhi T9M methanol-electric light truck debuted in Harbin as the official ceremonial float. The addition of this model signifies that Geely Farizon has achieved product synergy from heavy-duty to light-duty trucks in event support scenarios, further demonstrating the multi-category layout of its methanol-electric commercial vehicles in the north-east China market. The north-east China Super League is the country's first inter-provincial mass football tournament, covering eight cities including Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun, and Harbin. Using football as a link, the event showcases the vitality of coordinated regional development in north-east China. Geely provides support in event operations, brand promotion, and support services, and through methanol-electric products, showcases green transportation solutions, conveying a healthy, safe, and environmentally friendly travel and transportation philosophy . The Farizon Xingzhi T9M has moved from behind-the-scenes support to the forefront, becoming a vital vehicle for showcasing methanol-electric technology to the public. Previously, Geely Farizon's products have served large-scale events such as the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Harbin Asian Winter Games, covering scenarios including public mobility, urban logistics, and torch relay, while completing support tasks in low-temperature environments, verifying the adaptability of methanol-electric technology in cold regions. With cold winters, vast geographic spans, and strong logistics transportation demand, north-east China places higher requirements on the driving range, energy replenishment, and low-temperature starting capabilities of new energy commercial vehicles. Traditional battery-electric routes are prone to issues such as driving range degradation and reduced energy replenishment efficiency in extremely cold environments, whereas methanol-electric technology, by combining fuel-based energy replenishment with an electric drive system, offers an alternative new energy commercial vehicle solution for north China. Leveraging Geely's over 20 years of technological accumulation in methanol, Geely Farizon has formed a methanol-electric product matrix covering categories such as heavy-duty trucks, light-duty trucks, buses, and agricultural machinery, adaptable to various scenarios including trunk logistics, urban distribution, short-haul transport, engineering operations, public transport, and agricultural production. Considering the energy and transport characteristics of north China, "Methanol in the North, Electricity in the South" is emerging as a key pathway for Geely Farizon to promote the development of regional new energy commercial vehicles . In terms of operational performance, the methanol-electric light truck can cover intercity trunk routes exceeding 900 km from Harbin to Dalian, start rapidly in -20°C low-temperature environments, and achieve per-kilometer costs as low as 0.5 yuan, representing a reduction of over 50% compared to equivalent diesel light trucks. Methanol-electric buses have been deployed in Tianjin, Daqing, Harbin, Shenyang, and other cities, offering a driving range of up to 600 km, maintaining a constant cabin temperature of 20°C to 25°C in winter, and saving 180,000 yuan over an 8-year vehicle life cycle. In the heavy-duty truck sector, the Farizon Xinghan H methanol-electric heavy-duty truck, fully loaded at 42 mt, traveled 1,522.9 km on a single tank of methanol traversing the Hexi Corridor, earning a world record certification. In May this year, a driverless tractor equipped with a methanol-electric agricultural machinery power solution commenced spring plowing applications in Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, providing green power support for agricultural production. Regarding the energy replenishment system, Geely Farizon has cooperated with enterprises including PetroChina and Sinopec to build over 1,000 methanol refueling stations nationwide and plans to expand this to 4,000 by the end of 2027, enhancing the convenience of methanol vehicle usage. At the policy level, the green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol industry is being integrated as a key development direction, and multiple regions have successively introduced policy documents supporting the promotion of methanol vehicles. Liaoning Province has proposed reaching a methanol vehicle production scale of over 50,000 units by 2028, while Heilongjiang Province is also advancing the construction of a methanol ecosystem. From sports event showcases to road transport, public transit, and agricultural production, Geely Farizon's methanol-electric technology is achieving multi-scenario implementation in north-east China. Going forward, as models such as the Xingzhi T9M accelerate their promotion, methanol-electric commercial vehicles are expected to further serve the new energy transition of commercial vehicles, energy structure optimization, and green transportation system development in north-east China.

In June 2026, the hydrogen energy transportation equipment sector in the Xixian New Area saw new progress. A Skyworth-brand hydrogen fuel cell low-floor city bus, with its hydrogen core power system independently developed by resident enterprise Shengshi Yingchuang Hydrogen Energy Technology (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd. and equipped with its hydrogen fuel cell system, recently rolled off the production line. This model has been included in the 389th batch of the "Announcement of Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Their Products" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, laying a foundation for commercial operation. With the roll-off, Xixian New Area has added new support for the demonstration application of hydrogen fuel cell buses and the green transformation of urban transportation. It is understood that the hydrogen core power system of this city bus was entirely led and developed by Shengshi Yingchuang. The vehicle is equipped with the company's independently developed 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell system , and a Type IV high-end on-board hydrogen supply system jointly created with Beijing Tianhai. Compared with traditional battery electric buses, hydrogen fuel cell buses offer differentiated advantages in refueling efficiency, low-temperature adaptability, and long driving range operation, making them more suitable for the high-frequency, long-duration operational demands of bus routes. A relevant person in charge of Shengshi Yingchuang stated that the vehicle's power system features independent controllability, strong adaptability, and stable operation, which can improve vehicle operational efficiency while ensuring safety. The vehicle's combined driving range reaches 550 km , and with its fast hydrogen refueling capability, it can alleviate issues such as driving range decay and long refueling times that battery electric buses face in low winter temperatures, offering strong adaptability to the climatic conditions of north-west China and urban public transportation scenarios. Hydrogen energy is regarded as an important direction for green and low-carbon transition. The "Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021–2035)" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration proposes to orderly promote demonstration applications in the transportation sector, focus on promoting the application of medium and heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and gradually form a complementary development pattern of fuel cell electric vehicles and lithium battery electric vehicles. In the Xixian New Area, the hydrogen energy industry chain is accelerating its agglomeration. At present, the new area has attracted over a hundred hydrogen energy upstream and downstream enterprises such as Xushun Times and Shengshi Yingchuang, covering fields including PV electrolysis hydrogen production, liquid and solid-state hydrogen storage, fuel cell manufacturing, hydrogen refueling station construction, and the R&D and production of hydrogen commercial vehicles. The number of related enterprises has accounted for more than one-third of the total number of hydrogen energy enterprises in Shaanxi Province and nearly 70% of similar enterprises in Xi'an, preliminarily forming an **integrated industry ecosystem of "R&D breakthroughs, equipment manufacturing, and demonstration applications."** Going forward, Xixian New Area will continue to expand the integrated application of hydrogen energy in transportation, energy, industry, and other fields, deepen industry-university-research collaborative innovation, improve industrial supporting facilities and enterprise service systems, and attract more high-growth enterprises for cluster development. As demonstration scenarios continue to expand, the hydrogen energy industry is expected to become a significant growth point for the new area's green and low-carbon transition and high-quality development.

SMM Nickel, June 25: Macro and Market News: (1) The People’s Bank of China announced that, to maintain ample liquidity in the banking system, on June 25, 2026, it will conduct a 500 billion yuan MLF operation via a fixed-quantity, interest-rate tender, and multiple-price bidding method, with a tenor of one year. (2) On June 24, to implement the “Regulations of the State Council on the Security of Industrial and Supply Chains,” conduct investigations on the security of industrial and supply chains, and safeguard the security of China’s industrial and supply chains, the Ministry of Commerce formulated the “Measures for Investigation on the Security of Industrial and Supply Chains,” which is now promulgated and shall take effect on the date of promulgation. Spot Market: On June 25, the SMM #1 refined nickel price dropped by 2,350 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. In terms of spot premiums, the average premium for Jinchuan #1 refined nickel was 1,600 yuan/mt, up 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, while the range for mainstream domestic brand electrodeposited nickel was -400 to 400 yuan/mt. Futures Market: The most-traded SHFE nickel contract (2607) plunged in the night session, losing the 130,000 yuan mark and hitting a recent low, closing at 129,970 yuan/mt in the morning session, down 0.92%. The US Fed’s hawkish signals fueled rate hike expectations, pushing the US dollar index above the 101 mark to a 13-month high. Market rumors that Indonesia may raise the total mining quota (RKAB) for 2026 in mid-year significantly dampened market sentiment. In the short term, nickel prices are expected to remain in the doldrums.

On June 24, 2026, Hydrexia and the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, signed an industry-academia research collaboration agreement. The two parties will jointly conduct R&D on the coupling of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transport systems with solid oxide fuel cell systems , further exploring the technical possibilities for the synergistic operation of SOFC, SOEC, and magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transport products (MHX), and advancing the formation of a zero-carbon energy loop encompassing "green electricity hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage, and high-temperature power generation." Hydrexia has long been committed to the industrialisation of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and has continuously pursued cutting-edge research on solid oxide fuel cells. Its self-developed magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transport system features operation at ambient temperature and pressure, high hydrogen storage density, and intrinsic safety, and has already achieved batch applications in areas such as cross-border hydrogen transport, energy storage peak shaving, and emergency power supply, forming an integrated product delivery capability from materials to systems. The key to this collaboration lies in the strong thermal energy synergy potential between SOFC/SOEC systems and magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage products. The high-temperature excess heat generated during SOFC operation can be used to drive the release of hydrogen from magnesium-based materials, while the heat released when magnesium-based materials absorb hydrogen can also provide a heat source for SOEC hydrogen production via electrolysis. Through thermal cycle complementarity, system energy consumption is expected to decline significantly, enabling the integrated operation of "hydrogen storage + power generation" , with overall energy efficiency potentially exceeding 90%. Leveraging ERI@N's research expertise in energy materials and electrochemical systems, alongside Hydrexia's experience in the engineering and industrialisation of hydrogen energy products, the two parties will jointly advance the development of integrated high-performance products coupling MHX with SOFC/SOEC. In the future, these technologies could be applied in scenarios such as stationary power supply for AI computing centers, long-duration hydrogen ESS power stations, zero-carbon industrial parks, and off-grid microgrids, providing support for long-cycle, stable clean power supply and facilitating the integration of renewable energy and the reduction of fossil fuel emissions. Professor Zeng Shaohua, Co-Director of ERI@N at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, stated that the collaboration with Hydrexia reflects ERI@N's direction of translating frontier research outcomes into tangible environmental benefits. By combining ERI@N's research facilities and interdisciplinary research capabilities with Hydrexia's experience in hydrogen energy technology, both parties will jointly study the synergistic mechanisms between waste heat recovery and hydrogen storage, thereby advancing next-generation energy technologies and supporting global decarbonisation. Fang Peijun, Chairman of Hydrexia, stated that the company has continuously advanced basic R&D on SOFC and the commercialisation of magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen storage and transport products over the years. This collaboration with an international university will help break through coupling technology bottlenecks. Hydrexia will leverage ERI@N's scientific research capabilities to accelerate core system iteration and promote the transformation of laboratory results into replicable and implementable standardised products, thereby expanding the large-scale application of hydrogen energy in more scenarios. This collaboration represents not only a technical partnership between academia and industry but also a complementarity between scientific research capability and engineering capability. Looking ahead, Hydrexia will use this collaboration as a starting point to continue deepening R&D on coupling technologies for solid-state hydrogen storage and high-temperature fuel cells, refining integrated solutions across the entire hydrogen energy industry chain, and providing technical support for the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry and the global green, low-carbon transition.

SMM June 25: In the metals market: Base metals on the domestic market all fell overnight. SHFE tin dropped 2.64%, SHFE copper fell 2.3%, SHFE zinc lost 1.33%, SHFE aluminum declined 2.13%, and SHFE nickel slid 1.72%. SHFE lead edged down 0.95%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures contract fell 0.84%, and the aluminum casting main contract lost 1.69%. Ferrous metals showed mixed performance overnight. Iron ore rose 0.47%, rebar and HRC edged lower, and stainless steel fell 0.85%. In coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract gained 0.4%, and the most-traded coke contract rose 1%. On the overseas market, LME base metals all fell overnight. LME copper dropped 2.59%. LME aluminum tumbled 4.43%, hitting a more than three-month low of $3,110/mt during the session. LME lead fell 1.59%. LME zinc lost 2.67%. LME tin declined 3.05%. LME nickel dropped 2.52%. In precious metals overnight: COMEX gold fell 3.21%, touching a session low of $3,975.7/oz; COMEX silver plunged 7.39%, hitting a session low of $55.75/oz. SHFE gold lost 2.45%, and SHFE silver tumbled 6.31%. As of 7:12 on June 25, overnight closing prices: Macro front China: [Ministry of Commerce: Announcement on Further Improving the Handling of Reports Regarding Violations of Export Controls on Strategic Mineral Dual-Use Items] Announcement No. 26 of 2026 of the Ministry of Commerce. To fully leverage social oversight and combat violations of export controls on strategic mineral dual-use items, all organizations and individuals have the right to report suspected violations of relevant laws and regulations in exporting strategic mineral dual-use items, including: exporting strategic mineral dual-use items without authorization; exporting such items beyond the scope, conditions, or validity period specified in the export license; exporting prohibited strategic mineral dual-use items; circumventing licensing requirements by modifying or disassembling items into components or parts to export strategic mineral-related dual-use items; and evading export control regulations on strategic mineral dual-use items by routing through a third country (region), among others. [Ministry of Commerce Releases "Measures for the Security Investigation of Industry Chain and Supply Chain"] To implement the "Provisions of the State Council on the Security of Industry Chain and Supply Chain" (State Council Order No. 834), conduct security investigations on industry chain and supply chain effectively, and safeguard the security of China's industry chain and supply chain, the Ministry of Commerce formulated the "Measures for the Security Investigation of Industry Chain and Supply Chain," which is hereby released and takes effect from the date of publication. [Ministry of Commerce and seven other departments: Strictly crack down on illegal recycling and dismantling of end-of-life motor vehicles, and regulate the business practices of end-of-life motor vehicle recycling enterprises] The Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Transport, State Administration for Market Regulation, and other departments formulated the "Special Rectification Action Plan for Illegal Recycling and Dismantling of End-of-Life Motor Vehicles." It is hereby issued. This special rectification action focuses on addressing prominent issues in the end-of-life motor vehicle recycling industry. All regions and relevant departments should adhere to a problem-oriented approach, improve the coordinated supervision mechanism, strictly crack down on illegal recycling and dismantling of end-of-life motor vehicles, and regulate the business practices of end-of-life motor vehicle recycling enterprises. Through this special rectification action, the standardized operation level of end-of-life motor vehicle recycling enterprises will be continuously enhanced, the proportion of end-of-life motor vehicle recycling volume to vehicle deregistration volume will be steadily expanded, illegal recycling and dismantling of end-of-life motor vehicles will be effectively curbed, the level of parts recycling and reuse from end-of-life motor vehicles will be continuously improved, and the high-quality development of the end-of-life motor vehicle recycling and dismantling industry will be promoted. Additionally, local authorities are guided to concurrently address the recycling standards for PV modules and wind turbine blades. [Central Bank: To conduct 500 billion yuan MLF operation on June 25] According to the central bank, on June 25, 2026, the People's Bank of China will conduct a 500 billion yuan MLF operation through a fixed-quantity, rate-based tender, and multiple-price winning bids, with a term of one year. [CAICT: Domestic mobile phone shipments reached 27.639 million units in May; 5G phone shipments up 23.8% YoY] Data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) shows that in May 2026, domestic mobile phone shipments reached 27.639 million units, up 16.5% YoY. Among them, 5G phone shipments were 26.224 million units, up 23.8% YoY, accounting for 94.9% of total mobile phone shipments during the same period. As for the US dollar: The US dollar index extended gains from the previous two trading days, rising another 0.2% overnight to close at 101.57. The PCE price index release on Thursday will be the next key period. Forecasters anticipate that the May data will show acceleration on both MoM and YoY basis, providing new reference for the Fed’s policy direction. Goldman Sachs' chief economist Jan Hatzius reiterated that his baseline forecast remains no rate hike, citing that if a lasting peace is achieved in the Middle East, the inflation environment will be milder than the Fed currently expects. (Wall Street Journal) US Treasury Secretary Bessent praised Fed Chairman Warsh for eliminating forward guidance, and he also believed that no one should make dot plot forecasts. On the economic front, he expected real wage growth to return to its pre-April pace, and he anticipated economic growth to accelerate through the remainder of the year without driving up inflation. He stressed that US dollar dominance was crucial. He believed that after the situation in Ukraine ended, Russia would want to return to the dollar system, and the new Venezuela was moving back into that system. During the period when interest rates were being lowered, the dollar could remain strong, and the US would be happy to take the right measures to keep the dollar strong. On the issue of Iran, Bessent stated that the US Treasury would oversee the distribution of funds to Iran, which would initially be disbursed through Qatar, and a significant portion of those funds would be used to purchase US food and medicine supervised by the Treasury, and any funds received by Iran should belong to Iranians. (Gold Ten Data) According to CME "Fed Watch": The probability of the US Fed keeping interest rates unchanged in July was 65.8%, and the probability of cumulative rate hikes of 25 basis points was 34.2%. The probability of the US Fed keeping interest rates unchanged through September was 33.6%, the probability of cumulative rate hikes of 25 basis points was 49.7%, and the probability of cumulative rate hikes of 50 basis points was 16.7%. Macro front: Data to be released today include Australia's May seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, Germany's July GfK Consumer Confidence Index, US initial jobless claims for the week ending June 20, US May core PCE price index year-over-year, US May personal spending month-over-month, US Q1 real GDP annualized quarter-over-quarter final, US Q1 real personal consumption expenditures quarter-over-quarter final, US Q1 core PCE price index annualized quarter-over-quarter final, US May core PCE price index month-over-month, and US May durable goods orders month-over-month. Furthermore, attention should be paid to: Nvidia's annual general meeting of shareholders; the Bank of Canada's release of monetary policy meeting minutes; the US Fed's release of annual bank stress test results; Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda's attendance at a central bank lecture event held by the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Micron Technology's fiscal year 2026 Q3 earnings call; 300 billion yuan in 1-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) and 248 billion yuan in 7-day reverse repos maturing today. Crude oil side: Overnight, both oil futures dropped sharply, with WTI falling 4.56% to an intraday low of $69.93/bbl and Brent falling 4.45% to an intraday low of $73.32/bbl. Brent crude has largely erased all the geopolitical risk premium accumulated since the outbreak of the Iran war. News-wise, Trump stated in a social media post on the 24th that Iran had informed the US it would not impose any tolls, insurance premiums, or other charges on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but he also threatened that negotiations would immediately cease if this information proved false. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, the UAE's oil exports have recovered to nearly 85% of pre-war levels, reflecting a substantial increase in the volume of oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks. The UAE alone sold about 60 million barrels of crude oil from the Persian Gulf in recent weeks. Data shows that vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has hit a new high since the signing of the memorandum of understanding and continues to rise. (Wall Street See)

Some of the European Union’s top cobalt users warn that planned rules to protect workers’ health will instead threaten the bloc’s push to bolster its mineral supply chains and industries like energy and defense. The European Commission will on Tuesday decide whether to approve legislation to reduce workers’ exposure to cobalt dust and particles to safeguard against cancers and other respiratory illnesses. But companies involved in the supply chain say the proposed limits are too strict, costly and challenging to meet, and risk closing businesses and diverting investments away from the EU.

Sherritt International (TSX: S) has begun shutting down its Fort Saskatchewan refinery after expanded US sanctions on Cuba halted the feedstock supply needed to keep the facility in Alberta, Canada running. The Toronto-based nickel and cobalt producer said the transition follows previous guidance that refinery operations would continue only until mid-June based on available inventory. The company has implemented shutdown procedures and will retain the personnel and resources required to keep the facility in a safe and secure state while operations remain suspended. Sherritt said it is preserving cash, managing costs and preparing the refinery for a potential restart while carrying out maintenance work during the shutdown. The shutdown marks the latest fallout from Washington’s tougher stance on Cuba and highlights the vulnerability of supply chains that depend on the island’s mining sector. Sherritt mined nickel and cobalt at its Moa joint venture in eastern Cuba and processed the material at its refinery near Edmonton.

[China Iron Ore Briefing] The Tangshan domestic ore market remains relatively stable, with 66% grade iron ore concentrates dry basis tax-included EXW prices at 970-980 yuan/mt. Safety inspection impacts have receded, but local and Chengde raw material resources remain tight, with beneficiation operation rates low and costs high, facing external weakness.

[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Commentary] On the news front, leading coke enterprises initiated the ninth round of coke price increases, raising wet quenched coke by 50 yuan/mt and dry quenched coke by 55 yuan/mt, effective from 0:00 on June 26. In terms of supply, most coke producers remain loss-making, which suppresses their production willingness, and coke supply tightens. On the demand side, steel prices fluctuate downward and steel mill profit margins narrow. However, blast furnace hot metal output at mills stays high, daily coke consumption remains relatively robust, and coke purchasing enthusiasm is moderate. Overall, the short-term coke market is expected to hold up well, with expectations for the ninth round of price increases to be implemented.