SMM July 2 News: Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh stated on Wednesday that US inflation upside risks have clearly cooled over the past four weeks, easing market concerns about aggressive rate hikes; he also indicated that no further forward guidance would be released on subsequent interest rate policy, refusing to disclose whether the US Fed needs to consider a rate hike at its next meeting; the US dollar weakened, and precious metals rebounded. As of around 16:09 on July 2, COMEX gold dropped 0.11% to $4,077.9/ounce; SHFE gold main contract rose 1.53% to 890.66 yuan/g; COMEX silver dropped 1.1% to $59.845/ounce; SHFE silver main contract rose 1.91% to 14,650 yuan/kg; silver T+D rose 2.95% to 14,551 yuan/kg. In the precious metals stock market, as of the close on July 2, the precious metals sector rose 4.21%, with individual stocks: Zhaojin Gold and Chifeng Gold hit their daily limit up, while Shanjin International, Xiaocheng Technology, Zhongjin Gold, and Western Gold led the gains. News [Warsh: Inflation Eases Over Past Four Weeks, AI Is Reshaping Economy, Forward Guidance Loses Necessity] On July 1, at the ECB's annual central bank forum in Sintra, Portugal, Warsh again clearly stated that the US Fed would not provide forward guidance on the future interest rate path , hoping that policymakers can engage in thorough discussions based on the latest data at each meeting, rather than previewing the policy direction to the market in advance. He said that US inflation risks had eased over the past four weeks, and the supply expansion brought by AI could profoundly change how the economy operates, with the US at the center of this transformation, but whether AI ultimately leads to inflation or deflation should be judged by the central bank based on data. Warsh said the US Fed is “charting a new path” and will no longer hint at the direction of interest rates in advance as it did in the past. He said: “We will hold our next meeting in four weeks, and I hope we can have a real family-style debate then.” He reiterated that forward guidance is not the right policy in the current economic situation, and the US Fed will continue to base its decisions on the latest economic data in the future, rather than committing to a policy path in advance. This means that the US Fed will rely more on real-time economic data rather than sending policy signals to the market in advance. Spot Market Silver In the spot market: On July 2, the reference average factory price of SMM 1# silver in the morning was 14,558 yuan/kg, up 3.35% from the previous trading day. In the spot market, overall offers remained firm early in the month, but transaction follow-through was slightly weak, and consumption performance fell short of expectations. As silver prices rebounded slightly, downstream wait-and-see sentiment intensified. In Shanghai, morning offers were mainly at TD+5 to +15 yuan/kg. Some smelters quoted on the high side, but actual buying interest was weak, with most deals clustered around TD+10 yuan/kg. In other regions, low-priced cargoes had basically been cleared, while offers in Shenzhen were mostly around TD+5-10 yuan/kg. Today, the market quoted premiums for the SHFE most-traded contract 2608 at a discount of 30 to 20 yuan/kg. Overall, a slight cooling in rate-hike expectations provided some support for precious metals prices. At the start of the month, the spot direction remained unclear. Maintenance at copper plants last month caused a slight disruption on the supply side, and offers generally maintained a slight premium structure. Views From Various Parties Regarding the outlook for precious metals, some institutions’ views are as follows: On July 1, the World Gold Council released the “2026 Mid-Year Outlook for the Global Gold Market.” Looking ahead to H2, gold’s valuation framework indicated that gold will continue to serve as a barometer of the global macro economy, with three main possible scenarios. From current levels, gold prices were broadly in line with market consensus: the market expected the US Fed to raise rates at least once in 2026, most likely in October; the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the European Central Bank were all set to tighten policy; and US Q2 inflation was expected to peak, near $3.9. If there were no major changes in the above environment, gold prices may trade around $4,100/oz within the year, with a fluctuation range of about ±5. If geopolitical or economic conditions deteriorate, or if interest-rate expectations shift, gold is expected to regain its upward momentum; however, only sufficiently strong signals of a global economic slowdown would be likely to drive a breakout to the upside. On the downside, a stronger US dollar, rate hikes exceeding expectations, and a rebound in market risk appetite were the main headwinds for gold prices; if gold prices remain below $4,000/oz, it may trigger further selling. However, based on historical performance, if gold prices fall by more than 10% from current levels, it may trigger “buy-the-dip” demand from long-term investors in multiple regions. State Street Investment Management said that, as the opportunity cost of holding gold and heightened volatility weighed on investor sentiment, bullish gold trades had been weak, and spot gold prices repeatedly tested the $4,000/oz support level. State Street believed that, although gold prices may be more volatile than in 2024-2025, the gold bull-cycle still has upside room, and the US Fed’s hawkish policy shift was expected not to change gold’s post-pandemic structural trend. State Street noted, “Since the US-Iran conflict, China’s retail gold imports have surged, and local premiums have risen in tandem, reflecting tightening fundamentals in China’s gold supply-demand balance.”State Street expects that over the next six to nine months gold prices could rise to the $4,750 to $5,500 per ounce range, with strong support in the $3,750 to $4,000 per ounce area. However, compared with the macro environment from January to February, the probability of gold prices reaching $5,500 to $6,250 per ounce is relatively small. (Zhitong Finance) State Street Investment Management strategists noted in a report that gold prices could reach $5,000 per ounce by early 2027, as the gold bull cycle remains persistent. They believe that as U.S. government debt rises, gold's role as a currency hedge is expected to be supported, while actual demand for gold remains strong. Global gold fund holdings (as a share of global mutual fund and exchange-traded fund assets) currently remain below State Street's target allocation of 3% to 10% for most portfolios. Moreover, they added that a hawkish pivot by the Fed should not alter gold’s structural post-pandemic trend. State Street expects base bullion prices to rise to $4,750 to $5,500 per ounce in the next six to nine months. (Jinshi Data APP) Analysts at Saxo Bank said, "The market has not yet attracted enough buying interest to establish that level as a support level." They also pointed out, "Even though energy prices have pulled back recently, investors still expect the Fed may further tighten monetary policy to combat an inflation rebound, and as a result, gold prices fell 14% in Q2, marking the worst quarterly performance since 2013." (Jinshi Data APP) CICC's latest research report pointed out that gold may have already overpriced rate hike expectations. Fed rate hikes are still not the base case, and the gold market may have overly priced in rate hike expectations, leaving room for a pullback this year. CICC's macro team believes that employment and consumption pressures, along with the expanding financing needs of the U.S. AI economy, may make it difficult for the Fed to materially turn hawkish, and monetary policy may be "hawkish in words but dovish in action." Based on the implied interest rate expectations model from gold prices, it is estimated that the current gold price around $4,000 per ounce has fully priced in three to four rate hikes, exceeding the rate hike expectations priced in by the interest rate futures market. Looking ahead, after the decline in oil prices is further reflected in U.S. short-term inflation data, the gold market's pricing of rate hike expectations may be corrected, and futures market short-term funds may have opportunities to cover short positions. (Jinshi Data APP) Li Xunlei, Deputy Director of the China Chief Economist Forum, pointed out that gold's long-term trend exhibits long bear markets and short bull markets. Since 1971, 30 years have been bear markets and 25 years have been bull markets, but each bull market has seen gains of over fivefold. A bull market typically lasts around 10 years. This gold bull run has now lasted nearly 10 years, with prices tripling during that time, so caution is warranted at this stage. (Jin10 Data App) Deutsche Bank analyst Michael Hsueh said the bank has cut its Q3 gold price forecast by over 20% to $4,300/oz and lowered its Q4 forecast by 17% to $4,800/oz. "Potential investors who would normally provide support are notably absent," he said, pointing to weak demand for exchange-traded funds and reduced buying appetite in some countries. (Jin10 Data App) Macquarie said profit-taking weighed on silver prices last month, and price action is once again driven by macro factors amid rising expectations for US Fed interest rate hikes. Similar to gold, silver prices are expected to move sideways for the rest of the year, then gradually decline into 2027, with inflationary pressures and the likelihood of further US Fed rate hikes limiting upside room. The higher inflation and bond yields, the greater the downward pressure. Silver, in particular, has been more susceptible to a pullback after outperforming gold, driven by bullish sentiment fueled by supply tightens, low inventory, and strong demand. Historically, silver pullbacks tend to be rapid. Macquarie expects silver to trade at $70/oz in Q4 this year and pull back to $65/oz by the end of 2027. (Jin10 Data APP) Recommended reads:

On June 30, 2026, the National Energy Administration issued the “Guidelines for Data Classification and Grading in the Energy Industry (2026 Edition).” Hydrogen energy was officially designated as a first-level category of energy data, on a par with traditional fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas, marking the domestic hydrogen industry’s departure from a single-demonstration phase and its full entry into a development cycle of large-scale and standardized systems. This top-level data system adjustment reshapes hydrogen’s national strategic positioning, leveraging a unified data management system to connect the entire chain of green hydrogen cost reduction, storage and transportation infrastructure, and diversified applications, and the industry may usher in a new expansion cycle. I. Policy Upgrade: Hydrogen Energy’s Strategic Status Achieves a Hierarchical Leap 1. Core Basis for Document Issuance The Guidelines serve as detailed implementation rules for the Data Security Law and the Measures for the Security Management of Data in the Energy Industry (Trial), defining a total of 12 first-level data categories for energy, including coal, oil and gas, and hydrogen energy. Hydrogen energy enters the basic energy data series for the first time, bringing the hydrogen industry under the national unified energy safety regulatory system. 2. Policy Evolution Context The Medium and Long-Term Plan for Hydrogen Industry Development (2021-2035), released in 2022, established hydrogen’s energy attribute in law for the first time and set the goal of diversified commercial applications by 2035. With the implementation of this data classification document in 2026, hydrogen completes its identity shift from a “demonstration and pilot industry” to a “national basic energy category,” and industry development moves from being purely driven by policy subsidies to a new phase characterized by policy guidance, scenario validation, and market-oriented operation in parallel. 3. Three Top-Level Strategic Support Logics Energy Security Assurance: Global geopolitical conflicts have intensified fluctuations in oil and gas imports. In 2025, China’s crude oil import dependency was 72.3%, and natural gas import dependency was 43.8%. Hydrogen, produced from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower, can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports while simultaneously achieving carbon reduction targets. Domestic Industry Supply-Demand Mismatch Correction: In 2024, China’s total hydrogen production was 37.28 million mt, ranking first in the world. Domestic planned capacity for green hydrogen accounted for 52% of the global total, but the average annual operating rate of commissioned green hydrogen facilities was only 23.6%, leaving a large amount of electrolyzer capacity idle. Unified data standards will compel the industry to shift from blindly expanding hydrogen production capacity to a demand-side orientation that aligns with downstream consumption scenarios. Global Hydrogen Competition Breakthrough: The EU implemented the Hydrogen Strategy Act in 2026, and the US allocates over $9 billion annually in hydrogen industry subsidies, as Europe and the US accelerate their efforts to seize dominance in hydrogen standards and trade. China uses the hierarchical management of hydrogen data to improve its domestic standard system, shore up shortcomings in industrial digitalization, and enhance the competitiveness of international hydrogen projects and equipment exports. II. Industrial Empowerment Value of the Hydrogen First-Level Data Classification System (1) Establishing a Baseline for Full-Chain Data Compliance and Security The Guidelines unify the classification of all energy data into three control levels: general, important, and core, covering the entire process of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization. They define mandatory control rules: geographical infrastructure data with coordinate accuracy ≤100 meters for hydrogen refueling stations, hydrogen production bases, and pipeline networks are classified as important data, with strict limits on external disclosure. Real-time operational control instructions for water electrolysis hydrogen production units and sensor data from high-pressure storage and transportation equipment are classified as core data, and unencrypted external transmission is prohibited. Electricity load data for wind and solar-powered electrolysis hydrogen projects and supporting new energy power plants are subject to tiered protection, with electricity data for super-grade green hydrogen projects implementing the highest protection standards. All enterprises must establish a full-life-cycle data ledger, mandatorily use commercial encryption technologies, and simultaneously comply with classified protection 2.0 and critical information infrastructure protection requirements to avoid risks such as monitoring data leaks in coal chemical and hydrogen plants, and cyberattacks on industrial control systems. (2) Restoring Industry Investment Confidence and Reducing Market Uncertainty As of year-end 2025, there were 627 registered wind and solar electrolysis hydrogen projects nationwide, with a total planned investment exceeding 860 billion yuan, but only 148 projects actually started construction, representing an overall commencement rate of 23.6%. The core pain point for the sluggish industry investment was the lack of unified data statistical standards, cost accounting, and operational supervision standards for hydrogen, causing capital to remain on the sidelines for a long time. This policy improves the investment environment in three ways: The National Energy Administration simultaneously releases unified hydrogen data statistical specifications, so enterprises no longer need to build their own differentiated data systems, reducing digital compliance costs per project by 30%-45%. Concurrently, it aligns with 19 existing draft national hydrogen standards, achieving bidirectional unification between data standards and equipment, storage, transportation, and refueling technology standards, thereby enhancing the export recognition of domestic electrolyzers and hydrogen storage cylinders. Standardized data provides a unified basis for financial institutions’ cost calculations and project return assessments, substantially mitigating investment risks arising from policy changes. Supporting policies simultaneously tightened industry assessment: In April 2026, the National Energy Administration clarified dynamic elimination mechanisms for nine major hydrogen pilot regions. Projects are assessed monthly on economic viability based on operational data after commissioning; those without a stable profit model for six consecutive months are directly withdrawn, marking the industry's complete departure from the era of extensive subsidies. (III) Enabling Data Interoperability Across the Industry Chain to Revitalize Idle Hydrogen Capacity The Guidelines categorize a secondary-level hydrogen data catalog, covering seven segments: planning, engineering construction, hydrogen production, tube trailer storage and transportation, hydrogen refueling, transportation/industrial consumption, and technological R&D, thereby establishing a framework for data interoperability across the entire industry chain. Benchmark practice: Rongcheng New Energy built China’s first system for capitalizing hydrogen entire industry chain data assets. Its hydrogen big data platform aggregates data from all dimensions including hydrogen production units, tube trailers, hydrogen refueling stations, heavy truck operations, and equipment maintenance, accumulating a total of 21.08 billion real-time operational data entries. Leveraging cross-segment data synergy, the enterprise reduced its overall hydrogen production, storage, and transportation costs by 12.7% and lowered equipment idle rate by 18%. Meanwhile, the policy mandates that enterprises holding important or core hydrogen data undergo at least one security risk assessment per year. Cross-border data transfers of hydrogen technology and capacity data, as well as cross-enterprise data flows, must be preceded by a specialized risk review. This not only controls cross-border data security but also delineates a clear compliance pathway for domestic enterprises’ hydrogen project cooperation outside China, facilitating the export of green hydrogen equipment and complete hydrogen production processes. III. Conclusion Elevating hydrogen to a first-level energy data category is a landmark policy move that incorporates hydrogen into the management of the fundamental energy system. On one hand, through three-tier data security controls, it fills the gaps in digital regulation of hydrogen and mitigates cybersecurity risks in the industry. On the other hand, it unifies industry standards for statistics, operations, and cost data, alleviating three core pain points: idle green hydrogen capacity, investment wait-and-see attitude, and fragmentation of the industry chain. Against the backdrop of intensifying global hydrogen competition and China's dual goals of energy supply security and carbon reduction, data standardization will accelerate the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen, the comprehensive layout of storage and transportation pipeline networks, and propel hydrogen from a niche demonstration track to a core emerging industry that supports China's energy transition and participates in global energy competition.

Japanese company Proterial will invest 22.5 billion rupees to build a rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh. The project, located in Achyutapuram, Anakapalli district, will have an annual production capacity of 1,200 mt of sintered NdFeB permanent magnets upon completion. Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals) is one of the world's leading suppliers of advanced magnetic materials, with consolidated revenue reaching 450 billion rupees last year.

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.

[SMM Magnesium Survey: Ex-China Magnesium Resource Development Accelerates, US and European Local Supply Expected to Fill Gap] Australia’s Latrobe fly ash magnesium extraction demonstration plant is 33% complete, with all capacity locked in for the US market, and plans to produce magnesium in H2 2026, filling the gap of no primary magnesium in the US; Canada’s Greenland has received C$7 million in funding to advance brine-based magnesium extraction tests at a molybdenum mine in Greenland, has obtained a magnesium mining permit, and is expanding magnesium resource supply for Europe and the US.

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

On June 29, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. (CSTC), named and delivered the first 10,800-vehicle dual-fuel car carrier built for Seaspan Corporation. The vessel is of the same design as “Glovis Pioneer,” the world’s first 10,800-vehicle pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), previously built and delivered by GSI for South Korea’s HMM. After delivery, the vessel will be leased to South Korea’s GLOVIS, Hyundai Glovis, for operation, serving automobile trade routes between Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

[SMM Flash] CCTV News: The world's first and largest single-unit capacity tension leg floating wind power platform, "Haiyou Anlan", departed from Zhuhai Gaolan Port on June 27, heading to the sea area of the Lufeng Oilfields in eastern Guangdong. The platform has a total height of over 307 meters and a total weight of nearly 8,000 mt. After operation, it will generate an annual average of 54 million kWh, reduce carbon emissions by about 35,000 mt, and save approximately 15,000 m³ of fuel oil, marking China's transition of deep-sea floating wind power from demonstration to scale and commercialization, and pioneering a new path for collaborative carbon reduction with "deep-sea wind power + oilfield development".

Democratic Republic of Congo will withdraw unused cobalt export rights under first-half quotas and reassign them to a state-controlled entity, its strategic minerals regulator said, tightening control over shipments from the world’s top producer. In a notice seen by Reuters on Monday, ARECOMS said all export quotas allocated for January to June that remain unused by June 30 will be forfeited and automatically reassigned to its “strategic quota.” ARECOMS said the reallocated quota volumes will support projects deemed of “national interest,” including efforts to boost local processing, increase value addition and protect the country’s economic interests. The regulator said forfeited quota volumes will be deducted from companies’ initial allocations and cannot be carried forward, effectively penalizing operators that fail to ship within deadlines. Congo’s mining chamber did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China’s CMOC and Glencore, the world’s largest and second-largest cobalt producers, operate in Congo alongside Eurasian Resources Group and China’s Huayou Cobalt, among others. In a further tightening of logistics rules, only cobalt shipments declared in the customs system by July 5 will qualify for export under first-half quotas. The measures take effect on July 1. ARECOMS also warned it could withdraw quotas entirely from companies that fail to export allocated volumes, transfer quotas to third parties, process third-party or artisanal material without authorization, or breach regulations.

Driven by the global energy transition and the ‘dual carbon’ goals, battery technology is evolving from a traditional electricity storage medium into a core engine reshaping transportation, consumer electronics, and even the energy internet. From fundamental breakthroughs in materials science to the industrialization of cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, the battery industry is in a boom period of intense technological competition. This conference brings together the world’s top scholars, industry chain leaders, and capital forces, aiming to break down barriers between industry, academia, research, and application. We will delve into key topics including high energy density, ultimate safety, ultra-fast charging technology, and recycling and reuse, jointly drawing a new blueprint for a green, efficient, and sustainable energy future. Hubei Juchuan Gaore Zhongneng Equipment Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event, discuss industry development trends with industry peers, and work together to elevate battery technology to new heights. via the form and sign up now to attend the conference, witnessing and participating in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, and jointly create a brilliant new chapter! Juchuan Equipment is a service provider specializing in the R&D, design, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning of industrial furnace equipment, with its headquarters in Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hubei Province. The company has been honored with numerous accolades, including provincial-level high-tech enterprise, ISO quality system certification, A-level taxpayer, and AAA-level credit enterprise. It currently employs over 60 staff and has a professional team with more than 10 years of experience in advanced furnace R&D, design, manufacturing, and service. Juchuan Equipment’s production site — Anhui Yongli Precision Industry — is located in Huaibei, Anhui Province, primarily engaged in tunnel kilns for the production of lithium battery materials. It has an annual production capacity of over 80 electric furnace equipment units (sets). By the end of 2025, Juchuan Equipment had supplied a total of over 300 furnace equipment units (sets) to various industries. To support the company’s operational development, the Huaibei factory was relocated back to Wuhan in 2024, and in 2025, the company initiated the planning and construction of an owner-built 20,000 m² factory. The company is dedicated to the manufacture of energy-saving and environmentally friendly furnace equipment. Its main furnace products include: large high-temperature roller hearth kilns, rotary kilns, mesh belt furnaces, tunnel kilns, box-type test furnaces, vacuum furnaces, shuttle kilns, and various other high-end heat treatment equipment. Its served industries cover: lithium battery cathode and anode materials, sodium-ion battery cathode and anode materials, magnetic materials, ceramic products, PTC and MTC materials, refractory materials, and other sectors. Main Furnace Types Long Press 2026 SMM Battery Technology Conference