Recently, Steel Research Huapu (Wuhan) Technology Co., Ltd. completed the comprehensive construction and precise commissioning of its high-end fuel cell system production line. All process parameters and performance indicators met the standards, officially achieving the scaled mass production and market delivery of hydrogen fuel cell engine systems and core parts. The smooth commissioning of this line marks a new level in the enterprise's fuel cell intelligent manufacturing capabilities, effectively addressing the capacity shortfall of hydrogen energy equipment in Central China, accelerating the commercial application of hydrogen in the region, and injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the national hydrogen energy industry. It is understood that the newly commissioned fuel cell mass production base is located in Junshan New City, Chedu Auto Parts Industrial Park, Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone . The first phase covers approximately 7,000 m² and is planned with full-function zones including production and processing, warehousing, performance testing, and office support, forming a standardized and intelligent fuel cell engine dedicated production line. The base has a stable capacity of annual production of 500 fuel cell systems , with the core product being the SY200 fuel cell engine system . It also achieves a key fuel cell parts localisation rate exceeding 90% , significantly enhancing the independent and controllable level of domestic fuel cell equipment and effectively reducing industrial supporting costs. Leveraging solid technical expertise, Steel Research Huapu's fuel cell products have passed multi-scenario, long-cycle practical operation tests, demonstrating outstanding operational stability, fuel economy, and environmental adaptability, fully suitable for high-intensity commercial operation scenarios. Under the demanding conditions of coke heavy-haul transport, hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks equipped with SY135 fuel cell engine systems have been operating long-term at high frequency, with a daily average round-trip mileage of 300 km. As of May 2026, the safe driving mileage per supporting vehicle has exceeded 150,000 kilometers , with a measured average hydrogen consumption as low as 8.5 kg per 100 km. These data fully confirm the product's core advantages of low energy consumption, long lifespan, and high reliability. Meanwhile, the lightweight design further increases the vehicle's effective payload, allowing it to adapt to various extreme conditions such as low temperatures and complex road surfaces, comprehensively meeting the commercial operation standards for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Drawing on the parent company's deep material technology R&D strengths, Steel Research Huapu's fuel cell products can achieve multi-scenario, full-coverage applications, precisely matching the market's diverse hydrogen usage demands and building a comprehensive zero-emission hydrogen energy application system. The products are not only suitable for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks, port container trucks, and muck transport and other heavy-duty logistics scenarios, but also widely serve municipal transport sectors such as urban buses, sanitation operations, and urban distribution, helping to build a regional green transport system. Additionally, this series of fuel cell equipment can be paired with on-site hydrogen forklifts, meeting zero-pollution operation needs in factories and warehouses. It can also be extended to special energy fields such as offshore platform hydrogen power supply, hydrogen cogeneration, and emergency backup power, continuously expanding the boundaries of industrial hydrogen applications. The commissioning of this fuel cell production line in Wuhan is expected to effectively drive the clustering development of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone and even Central China, including hydrogen production, storage, refueling, and vehicle manufacturing of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain, generating high-quality industrial job opportunities, promoting a green and low-carbon transition in regional transport, and providing solid industrial and technological support for the implementation of the national "dual carbon" strategy. Moving forward, Steel Research Huapu will use the Wuhan mass production base as a core hub, continuing to promote capacity expansion and technology iteration, constantly optimizing product performance, enriching the product portfolio, and expanding diverse application scenarios. The commissioning of this production line is a key milestone in the enterprise's hydrogen energy industrialisation layout. In the future, the company will continue to supply high-quality fuel cell core equipment, persistently supporting the transformation of the national energy structure and the scaled, high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry.

During the survey period (June 2–June 8), operating rates of rebar and coiled rebar rolling lines in Central China held steady, while capacity utilization edged down.

Against the backdrop of global energy transition and the accelerated development of the digital economy, silver—a strategic metal with both industrial and financial attributes—is undergoing profound changes across its industry chain. On one hand, demand for silver from emerging fields such as PV, NEVs, and 5G communications continues to climb, driving the industry toward high value-added and green development. On the other hand, resource constraints, technological barriers, and market fluctuations are placing higher demands on industry chain resilience, making innovation-driven, coordinated development across the entire chain an urgent priority. Dual Policy and Market Drivers Under China’s “dual carbon” goals and the global wave of ESG investment, the silver industry faces urgent demands for green production, circular utilization, and low-carbon technologies. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) “14th Five-Year Plan for Circular Economy Development” explicitly calls for strengthening the recycling of precious metal resources, while international silver price fluctuations and geopolitical risks are compelling enterprises to enhance supply chain self-sufficiency and controllability. Against this backdrop, the Silver Industry Chain Innovation Conference has emerged, aiming to build a collaborative platform integrating government, industry, academia, research, and end-users, address industry pain points, and steer the sector toward high-end, intelligent, and international development. Innovation Needs and Industry Pain Points Technological Breakthroughs: Urgent breakthroughs are needed in silver purification processes, nano-silver material applications, and scrap recycling technologies to meet the demand for high-purity, low-cost silver in emerging fields such as PV silver paste and flexible electronics. Industry Chain Coordination: Information silos exist among the mining, smelting and processing, and end-use application segments, requiring digital tools to achieve optimized resource allocation and risk sharing. Green Transition: Traditional smelting processes are energy-intensive and highly polluting, necessitating the promotion of cleaner production technologies and circular economy models in response to global carbon neutrality commitments. Market Expansion: The application potential of silver in frontier fields such as hydrogen energy and quantum computing has yet to be fully tapped, calling for strengthened cross-industry cooperation and standard setting. Conference Objectives and Value With the theme “Silver Chain Innovation: Smart Future,” this conference convenes leading global silver industry chain enterprises, research institutions, financial organizations, and policymakers for in-depth dialogue on three core topics: technology R&D, supply chain optimization, and market expansion. Through the release of an industry white paper, the establishment of an innovation alliance, and the signing of major projects, the conference aims to propel the silver industry’s transition from “resource dependence” to “technology leadership,” providing key material support for the global energy revolution and the digital economy. Kunshan Shangzeqi Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event to explore industry development trends with peers and jointly advance the silver industry to new heights. Click to register now for the conference—witness and take part in this momentous, far-reaching industry event, and together create a brilliant new chapter! Kunshan Shangzeqi Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. completed development of its stirring-type dry gas seal software in 2022, which can be widely applied in semiconductors, new energy, small molecule, fine chemical, pharmaceutical, fermentation and other industries. It has already been applied in photoresist projects, new energy projects, and more. Its features include zero pollution, high purity, no contact, no temperature rise, long life, easy maintenance, and insensitivity to rotational speed. This structure provides comprehensive anti-contamination solutions, fully meeting the conditions of clients with high anti-pollution requirements. Kunshan Feihong Company primarily engages in the research, development, manufacturing and application of filtration and separation equipment, drying equipment, reaction equipment, crushing and mixing equipment, and more. The company is dedicated to developing and promoting clean production, safety and environmental protection, and energy-saving and consumption-reduction technologies in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Drawing on years of R&D and application experience in pharmaceutical and chemical equipment, combined with extensive client feedback and integrated multi-resource advantages, we can formulate complete and applicable technical solutions tailored to enterprise needs. With outstanding product design capabilities, innovative design and production processing strengths, Feihong Company delivers safe, stable and reliable products to sectors including biomedicine, fine chemicals, food, dyeing and printing, new energy, new materials, semiconductors, and resins. Founded in 2015, Kunshan Unaike Machinery Co., Ltd. specializes in the research and development of crushing and de-agglomeration equipment for “high-end pharmaceutical” or “precious metal” applications. By incorporating advanced Japanese and European technologies, the company continuously refines its products and processes to better serve the precious metal field. Its products have already earned cooperation and recognition from numerous R&D and production organizations in China's precious metal sector. Contact Information Yu Songlei 18914968197 Long press and scan to register now 2026 SMM (7th) Silver Industry Chain Innovation Conference

Recently, Hunan Angzhu Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. signed an APP advertising cooperation agreement with SMM (Shanghai Metals Market). This partnership aims to expand pragmatic cooperation and promote industry exchange, thereby achieving deepened collaboration, market expansion, and mutual benefit. Going forward, SMM will leverage its advantages as a leading non-ferrous metals industry service platform to provide Hunan Angzhu Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. with a one-stop online marketing solution through comprehensive online display, forming a virtuous cycle between production and market, and realizing mutual value for both parties. Hunan Angzhu Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2018 and is located at No. 1 Xincheng Road, Leiyang City, Hengyang City, Hunan Province. It is a comprehensive enterprise specializing in non-ferrous metal deep processing and trade sales. Hunan Angzhu Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2018 and is located at No. 1 Xincheng Road, Leiyang City, Hengyang City,Hunan Province. it is a comprehensive enterprise specializing in non-ferrous metal deep processing and trade sales. With pyrometallurgy #1 lead as its core product, the company has an annual capacity of 200,000 mt (based on pyrometallurgy #2 refined lead). It also engages in primary lead, lead-calcium alloy, lead-antimony alloy, secondary lead, and secondary refined lead businesses, building an entire industry chain service system from raw material procurement to finished product sales. Taking Pyrometallurgical Grade 1 Lead as its core product, the company has an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons (calculated by Pyrometallurgical Grade 2 Lead). It also engages in businesses such as electrolytic lead, lead-calcium alloy, lead-antimony alloy, recycled lead and recycled refined lead, and has built a full-industry-chain service system from raw material procurement to finished product sales. Core Strengths 1 Environmental Protection First Actively responding to the national call for green development, the company has invested in the construction of integrated environmental protection production facilities to achieve the recycling of wastewater, waste gas, and waste residue, creating a modern factory with "zero pollution and low energy consumption" and being awarded as a provincial-level green production demonstration unit. Actively responding to the national call for green development, the company has invested in the construction of integrated environmental protection production facilities to realize the recycling of wastewater,waste gas and waste residue, creating a modern factory with "zero pollution and low energy consumption" and being awarded as a provincial-level green production demonstration unit. 2 Technology-Driven The core management team has 20 years of industry experience, has established a three-level quality inspection system, and has obtained ISO9001 quality management system certification, with product purity reaching over 99.996%. Through intelligent equipment upgrades, production efficiency has increased by 40%, saving over 20 million yuan in annual production costs. The core management team has 20 years of industry experience, has established a three-level quality inspection system and has obtained ISO9001 quality management system certification, with product purity reaching over 99.996%. Through the intelligent transformation of equipment, production efficiency has increased by 40%, saving more than 20 million yuan in annual production costs. 3 Social Responsibility The company has cumulatively created over 200 jobs and was awarded the title of "Outstanding Enterprise in Employment Contribution of Hengyang City." It has established industry-university-research cooperation with Central South University and trained over 50 professional and technical talents. It has created more than 200 jobs cumulatively and was awarded the title of "Outstanding Enterprise in Employment Contribution of Hengyang City".It has established industry-university-research cooperation with Central South University and trained more than 50 professional and technical talents. Business System • Raw Material Procurement: Crude lead, secondary crude lead • Main Products: Pyrometallurgy #1 lead (national standard GB/T 469-2023), primary lead, alloy lead • Trade Services: Providing value-added services such as warehousing and logistics, futures hedging, and supply chain finance Development Vision Adhering to the business philosophy of "Quality Builds Brand, Innovation Leads the Future," the company plans to establish a provincial-level technology center by 2026 and strives to become a benchmark enterprise in non-ferrous metal deep processing in Central China. We sincerely invite colleagues from all walks of life to visit and guide us for common development! Adhering to the business philosophy of "Quality Builds Brand, Innovation Leads the Future", the company plans to establish a provincial-level technology center by 2026 and strive to become a benchmark enterprise in non-ferrous metal deep processing in Central China. We sincerely invite colleagues from all walks of life to visit and guide us for common development! Contact Information Lin Yuancai 139757991777/18768272777 SMM Contact Cao Juanjuan caojuanjuan@ly10000.com 19521491689

On May 18, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "Implementation Measures for Capacity Replacement in the Steel Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Replacement Measures"). SMM conducted a comparative review and analysis of the relevant content...

On April 9, 2026, the Japanese Cabinet officially approved the latest amendment to the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act (commonly known as the "Waste Cleansing Act"). The core of the amendment is to upgrade metal recycling operations from a notification system to a permit system, and to impose a new obligation requiring confirmation from the Minister of the Environment for scrap metal exports.

On April 29, 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources held its regular April press conference, comprehensively reviewing the achievements of China's mining green transformation. The conference noted that the mining sector nationwide had essentially established a closed-loop institutional framework of "source prevention, process control, and end-stage remediation," with green mine construction accelerating and expanding, and significant progress in ecological restoration of abandoned mines. As of the conference date, over 5,500 provincial-level and above green mines had completed construction nationwide, accounting for over 50% of licensed and operating mines; a cumulative total of 3.35 million mu of historically abandoned mine areas had been restored and remediated nationwide, exceeding the established restoration targets. Against the backdrop of comprehensive green upgrading in the mining industry, hydrogen energy, as a premium zero-carbon new energy source, is deeply compatible with the entire process of mine production, operation, and remediation, precisely matching the requirements for "full life cycle green development" in mining. It has become a key lever for facilitating large-scale green mine construction and driving low-carbon transformation of traditional mining, with broad implementation potential and industry prospects. I. Core Empowerment Value of Hydrogen Energy for Green Mine Construction (I) Rooted in Source Prevention, Achieving Zero-Carbon and Pollution Reduction in Mine Production Green exploration is the "first checkpoint" of green mining development and the core element of source-level mine governance (Xinhuanghe Client, 2026). Traditional mining, material transportation, and equipment operations are highly dependent on diesel-powered machinery, with prominent carbon emissions, exhaust gas, and noise pollution, constituting the core pain point constraining green mine compliance and failing to meet the regulatory requirements for source-level green prevention and control in mining. Hydrogen fuel cell equipment operates with zero exhaust, zero carbon emissions, and low noise throughout the entire process, capable of fully replacing traditional fuel-powered construction machinery and mining transport vehicles. Through hydrogen energy equipment substitution, mines can cut off pollutant and carbon emission outputs at the production source, perfectly aligning with the green development institutional framework for mineral resources proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, and addressing the shortcomings in source-level mine governance. Meanwhile, hydrogen energy equipment can effectively optimize the working environment in mining areas, helping mines break free from the traditional high-pollution, high-energy-consumption production model, driving more mines to complete upgrades to "garden-style mines" and "forest mines," and accelerating the realization of the construction goal of "transforming mining areas into scenic spots and mines into green mountains." (II) Focusing on Process Control, Facilitating Efficient and Compliant Mine Operations In recent years, China has continuously improved the green standards system for mining, issuing specialized regulations across exploration, development, and remediation stages, driving green mine construction from "demonstration-led" to "comprehensive advancement." Mine operations are characterized by heavy loads, continuous and high-frequency operations, and fixed sites, demanding extremely high equipment power stability, driving range, and refueling efficiency. Hydrogen energy equipment is well-suited for this scenario: fast hydrogen refueling, strong power output, and stable driving range, meeting the demands of round-the-clock continuous mine operations without the issues of insufficient range and prolonged charging times that affect production with lithium battery equipment. At the same time, most remote mining areas have weak power grid infrastructure. Green electricity self-supply and green electricity-to-hydrogen models can help mines build independent energy systems featuring "wind and solar power self-generation and self-consumption + on-site hydrogen production + local application." This both meets the green management requirements for mine development stages and improves the process control system for green mining development, while reducing mines' dependence on externally purchased thermal power and fossil energy, lowering production and operating costs, providing economic support for large-scale green mine implementation, and helping mines nationwide steadily achieve the construction targets of 90% of large mines and 80% of medium-sized mines reaching compliance by the end of 2028. (III) Empowering End-Stage Remediation, Activating Ecological and Industrial Value of Abandoned Mines Mine ecological remediation is the "second half" of green mining development. China has a long history of mineral exploitation, with a massive base of historically abandoned mines that are highly difficult to restore. Through the model of "central guidance + local implementation + social participation," the Ministry of Natural Resources has cumulatively completed remediation of 3.35 million mu of abandoned mines, exceeding phased restoration targets. However, a large number of remediated abandoned mines currently face issues of limited business formats, weak profitability, and difficulty in sustained operation and maintenance. The implementation of the hydrogen energy industry provides a completely new solution for comprehensive abandoned mine governance. Leveraging idle land, mine pits, and mountain resources of abandoned mines, PV and wind power projects can be built to produce green hydrogen, while mine pit spaces can be converted into hydrogen storage facilities, creating new energy industrial bases integrating green hydrogen production, storage, and application. This both completes end-stage ecological remediation work such as slope treatment, vegetation restoration, and soil and water conservation, addressing legacy issues of abandoned mine governance, and revitalizes idle mine resources, generating dual returns from "ecological remediation + new energy industry," and accelerating the comprehensive "clearance" of historically abandoned mines. II. Application Prospects of Hydrogen Energy in the Green Mining Sector (I) Continuously Expanding Application Scenarios with a Clear Trend Toward Full-Scenario Replacement As China's green mine institutional closed-loop fully takes shape, green mining development has entered a stage of full-chain, all-round upgrading, and hydrogen energy application scenarios are no longer limited to heavy-duty mine transportation. Currently, hydrogen energy is gradually covering the full spectrum of mining, material transfer, equipment power, energy supply, and ecological remediation. Hydrogen-powered excavators, loaders, drilling rigs, and other construction equipment continue to undergo iterative upgrades and are progressively deployed for testing in mining areas; supporting facilities such as wind-solar coupled green electricity-to-hydrogen production, skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations, and mine pit hydrogen storage are becoming increasingly popularized, building a complete mining area hydrogen energy supply system. From front-end green exploration and mid-end green mining to end-stage ecological remediation, hydrogen energy runs through the full life cycle of mines, becoming an essential energy source for green mining transformation. (II) Improving Policy Framework Catalyzing Large-Scale Market Demand China has established a green standards system covering the full life cycle of mineral resource exploration, mining, and remediation, with regulations for exploration, development, and remediation stages becoming increasingly refined, and comprehensive green mine advancement has become an industry trend. Stringent industry standards and clear mine compliance assessment targets are compelling mining enterprises to accelerate the phase-out of traditional high-energy-consumption, high-pollution fuel-powered equipment and drive clean energy substitution. Meanwhile, hydrogen energy industry support continues to intensify in multiple regions' "15th Five-Year" energy plans, combined with multiple incentive policies covering land, finance, and taxation, providing a favorable policy environment for the implementation of hydrogen energy equipment and mining area hydrogen production and storage projects. The conditions for commercialized and large-scale implementation of hydrogen energy-empowered green mines continue to mature. (III) Continuously Innovating Industry Models with Sustained Release of Commercial Value Under dual innovation in technology and business models, the economic viability of hydrogen energy applications in mining areas continues to improve. Leveraging mines' own new energy resources, on-site green electricity-to-hydrogen production can significantly reduce hydrogen costs; modular skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations offer flexible deployment suited to mobile mining operations, addressing the pain points of high construction costs and difficult implementation of traditional hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Meanwhile, the innovative model of "abandoned mine remediation + hydrogen energy industry" both completes ecological governance tasks and generates new energy industry revenue, solving the industry challenge of "investment only, no returns" in mine ecological remediation, enabling green mines to not only achieve ecological compliance but also possess sustainable commercial operating capabilities. III. Industry Development Summary and Outlook Overall, China's mining industry has completed its green transformation from pilot exploration to comprehensive implementation, forming a new pattern of full-chain green development. With its unique advantages of zero carbon, high efficiency, strong adaptability, and diverse application scenarios, hydrogen energy precisely addresses the full-process governance requirements of "source prevention, process control, and end-stage remediation" in mining, comprehensively facilitating quality upgrades of green mines and ecological governance of abandoned mines. Looking ahead, as green mine construction accelerates comprehensively and industry assessment standards continue to tighten, combined with continuous breakthroughs in hydrogen energy technology and ongoing improvement of the industry chain, hydrogen energy is expected to become the core energy source for zero-carbon mine transformation, deeply integrating into all aspects of mining production and ecological governance, continuously consolidating the green development foundation of the mining industry, helping mines across China fully complete green upgrades and achieve the goal of clearing all historically abandoned mines, and driving China's mining industry toward high-quality, sustainable green and low-carbon development.

Recent Performance of Key Iron Ore Price Spreads Since 2024, large-scale iron ore projects in and outside China have been continuously commissioned, leading to a notable increase in iron ore supply. However, the sharp decline in downstream steel demand caused the iron ore supply-demand gap to widen continuously. The iron ore supply-demand pattern shifted from tight to loose, which also led to a year-on-year decline in average iron ore prices. Nevertheless, influenced by multiple factors such as iron ore supply and demand, port inventory, and steel mill profits, the frequency of price spread fluctuations among iron ore varieties increased. SMM reviewed the recent trends of key price spreads, as detailed below: ◼ Internal Differentiation Among Medium-Grade Resources, with Price Spreads Widening Significantly Affected by long-term contract negotiations, the trade liquidity of mainstream medium-grade ore deteriorated significantly. The lack of trade liquidity in certain varieties was directly transmitted to variety price spreads, with price spread fluctuations of mainstream medium-grade ore such as MNPJ intensifying notably. Among them, the price spread between PB fines and Jimblebar fines was the most sensitive: In early September 2025, the price spread between the two was 20 yuan/mt. As news of the ban on Jimblebar fines port cargo pick-up was released, its spot price came under pressure and dropped sharply, with the price spread quickly widening to around 50 yuan/mt. In addition, affected by the reduction in tradable varieties of mainstream Australian medium-grade ore, the variety price spreads between PB fines and Newman fines, as well as MAC fines, also showed a notable narrowing trend. Source: SMM ◼ High-Grade Premium Highlighted, Price Difference Between High and Medium-Grade Ore Widening Rapidly From Q4 2025 to date, price spread fluctuations among high, medium, and low-grade ore were equally intense. After entering 2026, structural contradictions in the iron ore market became further pronounced. Affected by declining raw ore quality from northern Brazilian mining areas, IOCJ fines supply experienced a trend of contraction. Coupled with the cost-effectiveness recovery brought by earlier price weakness and the release of concentrated restocking demand from steel mills ahead of Chinese New Year, IOCJ fines prices received strong support. Meanwhile, mainstream medium-grade ore remained tight in available resources due to trade flow disruptions. Against the backdrop of a shift between high and low-grade resources, the price difference between high and medium-grade ore widened again. Reviewing the period from November 2025 to March 2026, north China entered the heating season, and environmental protection-driven production restrictions became more frequent. As Chinese New Year and the Two Sessions approached, production restrictions were further tightened, with blast furnaces at steel mills in multiple areas of Hebei shut down, leading to a notable decline in hot metal production. Notably, during this period, steel mill profits remained generally stable, and some enterprises, in pursuit of higher output, tended to increase the blast furnace blending ratio of high and medium-grade ore while correspondingly reducing procurement of low-grade ore. Driven by this structural demand shift, the price difference between medium and low-grade ore widened. Source: SMM ◼ Lump-Fines Price Spread Experienced a "V"-Shaped Trend, Declining First Then Rising Since sintering processes generate relatively high pollution emissions, environmental protection-driven production restrictions typically prioritized restricting sintering and shaft furnace production. In north China and north-east China, during heating seasons or major events, if production restriction periods are prolonged, steel mills often increase the proportion of lump ore in their mix to alleviate tight supply of sinter and pellet, thereby driving lump ore prices to rise rapidly. However, over the past three years, the impact of seasonal factors on lump ore demand has gradually weakened, mainly for three reasons: first, steel mills have successively completed ultra-low emission retrofits for flue gas, reducing overall pollution intensity; second, sintering machines in Hebei and other regions have surplus capacity, and environmental protection-driven production restrictions have mostly been limited to within one week, significantly reducing the actual impact on production; third, steel mill profits have been under pressure, reducing the pursuit of hot metal production, and the proportion of high-grade ore usage has adjusted downward accordingly. Under the combined influence of the above factors, since H2 2024, lump ore premiums have continued to decline, hitting a new low by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, the price spread between PB lump and PB fines also narrowed significantly, contracting from 195 yuan/mt to 63 yuan/mt, a decline of over 50%. Against this backdrop, the cost-effectiveness of lump ore gradually became more prominent. Combined with the extended environmental protection-driven production restriction period in northern China in November 2025, the proportion of lump ore usage began to increase. However, as lump ore premiums had remained low for an extended period, product returns were poor, and major mines correspondingly reduced lump ore production. Driven by both supply contraction and demand growth, lump ore premiums rebounded, and the lump-fines price spread widened accordingly. As of mid-March 2026, lump ore premiums have risen to a periodic high, up nearly 280% from early January. The lump-fines price spread has also gradually widened to above 100 yuan/mt. Source: SMM Key Driving Logic of Product Price Spreads Mix Adjustment Led by Steel Mill Profits (Core Driver) ◼ 1 Profit Expansion Phase: High Hot Metal Production Drives Demand for High-Grade Ore When steel mill profits widened and per-mt crude steel returns were higher, steel mills pursued pig iron production and tended to raise the grade of furnace feed. When selecting iron ore, they preferred to purchase high-grade or medium-grade ore. As shown, in H1 2025, profits of common billet at China's steel mills rebounded notably. Common billet profits reached a peak of nearly 350 yuan/mt. At this point, to boost production, steel mills moderately increased the proportion of high-grade IOCJ fines, as well as high-grade lump and pellet usage. Demand growth over a certain period stimulated high-grade ore price increases, and it was clearly evident that the price spread between high-grade and medium-grade ore began to widen. Source: SMM ◼ 2 Profit Contraction Phase: Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement Boost Low-Grade Ore Procurement After steel mill profits contracted, to reduce costs and improve efficiency, steel mills significantly increased their focus on cost-effectiveness across iron ore products, tending to prioritize products with higher cost-effectiveness. Within the mid-grade ore range, steel mills preferred varieties with a larger price spread relative to PB fines. Meanwhile, weakening profits meant that higher pig iron or crude steel production led to greater loss pressure. Therefore, steel mills controlled pig iron production rationally from the perspective of economic efficiency. However, given the high comprehensive costs of shutting down or reducing blast furnace loads, steel mills tended to maintain normal blast furnace operations while lowering furnace charge grade and increasing the use of low-grade ore. Under these circumstances, assuming other conditions remained unchanged, the price spread between mid- and low-grade ore tended to narrow. Taking the market around October 2025 as an example, billet profits continued to decline, and the mid-to-low-grade ore price spread narrowed accordingly. Data source: SMM Dual Transmission Paths of Seasonal Effects ◼ Seasonal factors influenced iron ore variety demand through dual paths of "end-use demand fluctuations" and "heating season environmental protection-driven production restrictions" ◼ 1. Seasonal fluctuations in end-use demand: impact on steel mill production and raw material procurement pace The shift between off-season and peak season in end-use demand created cyclical impacts on iron ore variety demand. Off-seasons were mainly concentrated in summer (June–August) and winter (November–February): high temperatures and heavy rainfall in summer suppressed construction, while hydropower replacing thermal power in south China lowered electric furnace production costs and squeezed blast furnace hot metal production; in winter, construction sites in north China shut down and steel demand contracted. During off-seasons, steel mills increased blast furnace maintenance and lowered furnace charge grade to control production, with demand for high-grade iron ore weakening accordingly. During peak seasons (spring March–May, autumn September–October), downstream construction activity was released intensively, steel mills actively ramped up production, and furnace charge grade rose in tandem, strengthening demand for high-grade fines, lump ore, and pellet, supporting their premium performance. In summary, seasonal fluctuations in end-use demand drove cyclical changes in iron ore variety demand by influencing steel mill production and furnace charge grade selection. Transmission logic: end-use demand fluctuations → steel mill production adjustments → changes in total iron ore procurement volume → corresponding shifts in variety demand structure Data source: SMM Data source: SMM ◼ 2. Environmental protection-driven production restrictions during the northern heating season: direct disruption to furnace charge structure and variety premiums Heating season environmental protection-driven production restrictions primarily targeted steel mills in north China, spanning November to April of the following year . During this period, if air quality failed to meet standards, local environmental protection authorities would initiate production restriction measures, prioritizing restrictions on sintering machines and shaft furnaces, leading to tighter supply of sinter and pellet. To maintain blast furnace operations, steel mills were forced to increase the proportion of lump ore in their charge mix, driving a seasonal strengthening of lump ore demand, which in turn supported lump ore premiums and a rise in the lump-fines price spread. Transmission logic: environmental protection policy → sinter machine production restrictions → forced adjustment of furnace charge structure → stronger demand for lump ore and pellet ore → premium fluctuations Data source: SMM Coke prices affected the iron ore product mix through dual channels of fuel costs and profit margins ◼ 1 High coke prices suppressed lump ore demand As raw material directly charged into furnaces, lump ore consumed more coke than sinter and pellet ore, so steel mills typically controlled the lump ore charging ratio at around 10%. During periods when coke prices fluctuated at highs, steel mills tended to reduce lump ore proportions to control fuel costs. Before H1 2024, coke prices fluctuated at highs, and the lump ore usage ratio continued to decline, falling to a low of 9.8%. However, as coke prices underwent nearly a year of decline and entered a low range, combined with relatively low lump ore premiums and the push from environmental protection-driven production restriction policies, the lump ore charging ratio gradually rebounded, once exceeding 11%. Data source: SMM ◼ 2 Demand for high-silicon fines suppressed The higher the silicon content in iron ore, the greater the blast furnace slag volume and the higher the coke ratio. Therefore, low-silicon smelting is a key direction for blast furnace process optimization and a critical lever for cost reduction and efficiency improvement. Among current iron ore products on the market, mainstream mid-grade ore Si content mostly ranges from 4-6%. Brazilian high-silicon BRBF has relatively high Si content at 10-12%. Therefore, Australian ore is mostly used as the primary material, while Brazilian ore and non-mainstream ore serve as auxiliary materials. When coke prices were at highs, the cost disadvantage of high-silicon resources became prominent, and steel mills tended to reduce Brazilian high-silicon BRBF, Indian fines, and South African fines, shifting to mid-to-high-grade fines with lower silicon content (such as PB fines and IOCJ fines). Going forward, the iron ore oversupply pattern will become more prominent, while under overcapacity pressure in China's steel sector, steel mill profits will remain poor. Therefore, cost reduction and efficiency improvement will be a long-term direction, driving stronger demand for low-silicon, low-aluminum products. Consequently, mainstream mid-grade ore will remain the product with the best market circulation. Data source: SMM ◼ 3 Rising share of mid-to-low-grade fines under low profits High coke and ore prices squeezed steel mill profits, and steel mills no longer pursued hot metal production maximization, instead increasing mid-to-low-grade fines usage and lowering charging grade to control costs. Based on historical data, such situations occurred in Q3 2024 and Q2 2025. Auxiliary Variables: Inventory, Substitution, and Preferences ◼ 1 Product substitution effect: mid-grade inter-substitution and "high-low blending" substitution In the product mix of steel mill sinter, "high-low blending" and "mid-grade blending" are commonly mentioned concepts, with the core principle being to select the optimal products based on the cost-effectiveness of different iron ore varieties. Under normal circumstances, steel mills use MNPJ (i.e., mainstream medium-grade ore types such as Mac fines, Newman fines, PB fines, and Jimblebar fines) as primary materials, or adopt a high-low grade combination of " IOCJ fines + super special fines " as primary materials, and adjust auxiliary material ratios based on the acidity and alkalinity of the primary materials. Using mainstream medium-grade ore types as primary materials is the more common practice. When mainstream medium-grade ore types are periodically less cost-effective — for example, when the combined cost of "IOCJ fines + super special fines" is lower than that of medium-grade PB fines — some steel mills periodically switch to high-low grade combinations as primary materials to reduce costs. As shown in the chart, during March to April of 2024 and 2025, the cost-effectiveness advantage of high-low grade combinations was significantly superior to that of medium-grade ore, and therefore some steel mills in regions such as Hebei and Shanxi predominantly chose high-low grade combinations as primary materials during these periods. Data source: SMM ◼ 2. Inventory Structure Drives Price Spreads among Varieties: Inventory Changes and Price Transmission Logic Inventory is the most intuitive reflection of short-term supply-demand imbalances in the iron ore market. When supply is loose or demand weakens, port inventory continues to rise, and inventory levels generally exhibit a negative correlation with prices. Once inventory accumulates to a certain level, it tends to exert significant downward pressure on prices. Over the past two years, the inventory and price trends of Ukrainian concentrate (hereinafter "Ukrainian concentrate") have well validated this pattern. In November 2023, Ukrainian concentrate shipments gradually resumed, but as steel mills still had concerns about the stability of its supply, actual usage did not increase significantly, leading to continued port inventory accumulation. By May 2024, SMM ten-port inventory data by variety showed that Ukrainian concentrate inventory exceeded 3 million mt , exerting significant downward pressure on prices, with Ukrainian concentrate prices falling from 1,200 yuan/mt at the beginning of the year to 900 yuan/mt. Meanwhile, the price spread between Ukrainian concentrate and PB fines also narrowed from 160 yuan/mt to 80 yuan/mt, and its cost-effectiveness advantage gradually emerged, driving a notable increase in steel mill demand. Entering early 2026, affected by a decline in Ukrainian concentrate supply, port inventory retreated from highs to around 1.1 million mt, and tightening supply supported a notable rebound in Ukrainian concentrate prices, with the price spread versus PB fines also widening from 80 yuan/mt to around 100 yuan/mt . Data source: SMM Variety Cost-Effectiveness Assessment Model and Selection Strategy ◼ 1. Horizontal Comparison: Micro-Indicator Assessment among Same-Grade Varieties. In recent years, global mainstream iron ore supply entered a resource transition period, with notable structural adjustment characteristics. On one hand, some aging mines faced resource depletion , with declining mining grades; on the other hand, new mines were still in the capacity ramp-up stage , and the transition between old and new resources still required time. As a result, quality indicators of multiple mainstream varieties were broadly downgraded. Among them, medium-grade ore indicators represented by PB fines and Newman fines weakened; due to declining raw ore quality in Brazil's northern system, not only did IOCJ fines production contract, but the proportion of high-silicon special IOCJ fines output also rose, with silicon content increase being particularly notable beyond the decline in iron grade. Against this backdrop, steel mills tended to assess the most cost-effective varieties by calculating comprehensive price spreads. From the perspective of minor indicator adjustment values, the smaller the adjusted price spread relative to the MMI 61% index, the better the variety met steel mill demand. Based on Q1 averages, Jimblebar fines offered the best cost-effectiveness, followed by PB fines, Mac fines, Newman fines, and BRBR. However, since Jimblebar fines could not be traded or delivered, PB fines remained the optimal choice among medium-grade ores. Data source: SMM ◼ 2. Vertical Comparison: Historical Percentile Timing of High, Medium, and Low-Grade Price Spreads Beyond the horizontal comparison of price spreads among varieties of similar grades, vertically examining price spread changes among high, medium, and low-grade ores was equally important. By analyzing historical percentiles of the price difference between high and medium-grade ore and the price difference between medium and low-grade ore, the relative valuation of each grade could be assessed to guide variety switching and timing. Price difference between high and medium-grade ore: when at historical highs, the high-grade premium was excessive, and switching to medium-grade was advisable under profit pressure; when at historical lows, high-grade cost-effectiveness stood out, and moderate allocation increases were appropriate. Beyond premiums, using IOCJ fines and PB fines as benchmarks and calculating based on their indicator costs, the neutral value of the price spread between the two was 100 yuan/mt. When the spread exceeded 100 yuan/mt, PB fines offered better cost-effectiveness; when below 100 yuan/mt, IOCJ fines were more cost-effective. Price difference between medium and low-grade ore: when at historical highs, low-grade advantages were evident, suitable for cost reduction during thin-margin periods; when at historical lows, medium-grade cost-effectiveness improved, allowing flexible adjustments. Using PB fines and SSF as benchmarks and calculating based on their indicator costs, the price spread between the two ranged from 100-120 yuan/mt, with a midpoint of 110 as the neutral value. When the spread exceeded 110 yuan/mt, super special fines offered better cost-effectiveness; when below 110 yuan/mt, PB fines were more cost-effective. Combining the historical percentiles of both, allocation windows for each grade could be captured based on profit cycles to achieve cost optimization. Data source: SMM ◼ 3 Morphology Comparison: Arbitrage Logic of Fines-Lump Price Spread and Lump Ore Premium. Taking the price spread between PB lump and PB fines as an example, influenced by steel mill profits and coke prices, the fines-lump price spread exhibited notable fluctuations. Historical data showed the price spread between PB lump and PB fines ranged approximately 80–500 yuan/mt. In H1 2021, driven by high steel mill profits and supply-demand mismatch, the fines-lump price spread once approached the historical high of nearly 500 yuan/mt. In recent years, as steel mill profits narrowed, the price spread contracted significantly. In 2025, the fines-lump price spread operated within a range of 70–220 yuan/mt, with an annual average of approximately 128 yuan/mt. In early 2026, the lump ore premium fell to $0.04/dmt, and the price spread narrowed to 65 yuan/mt. Given that China's overcapacity landscape has not fundamentally changed, steel mill profits are expected to remain basically flat with 2025, and the fines-lump price spread is likely to maintain the current range. Based on this assessment: When the lump-fines price spread exceeds 120 yuan/mt, PB fines offer better value; When the lump-fines price spread falls below 120 yuan/mt, PB lump offers better value. Steel mills can choose accordingly based on their own conditions. Data source: SMM ◼ 4 Substitution Comparison: Cost-Effectiveness Competition between Lump Ore and Pellet Generally, when steel mill profits are favourable, steel mills consider increasing the usage ratio of lump ore and pellet. Typically, the combined usage share of lump ore and pellet ranges between 20%–30%. In actual ore blending decisions, steel mills' price spread analysis between lump ore and pellet falls into two categories: inland steel mills usually compare the price spread between domestic pellet and lump ore such as PB lump and Newman lump; while coastal port steel mills focus more on the price spread between imported pellet and corresponding lump ore. In recent years, with the increase in China's pellet capacity and the decline in imported pellet volumes, the weighting of price spread comparison between same-grade lump ore and domestic pellet has further increased. Historical data showed the price spread between 62% grade pellet in Qingdao and PB lump ore at Qingdao port ranged approximately 40–260 yuan/mt, with an annual average price spread of approximately 108 yuan/mt in 2025. Considering steel mills' actual cost accounting, the price spread equilibrium point between pellet and lump ore is generally set at 120 yuan/mt. When the pellet-lump price spread exceeds 120 yuan/mt, lump ore offers better value; When the pellet-lump price spread falls below 120 yuan/mt, pellet offers better value. Steel mills can choose accordingly based on their own raw material conditions, logistics structure, and production requirements. Data source: SMM Carbon Neutrality as a Two-Way Driver: Steel Industry Restructuring Shifts Iron Ore Demand ◼ The rapid advancement of industrialisation has significantly intensified the impact on the global climate, making the urgency of achieving carbon neutrality increasingly pressing. Particularly over the past five years, major economies represented by China and the EU have not only defined their respective emission reduction targets but also successively introduced legally binding regulations, marking a shift in global climate governance from consensus to action. Going forward, China's Ecological Environment Code and the EU's European Climate Law and "Fit for 55" package will become the two major institutional benchmarks for global climate governance. China's carbon market and the EU's CBAM, from the two dimensions of domestic carbon pricing and cross-border carbon adjustment respectively, form core policy tools for effectively controlling carbon emissions. Source: SMM ◼ Driven by both domestic and international legislation, the steel industry will undergo an evolution in emission reduction pathways: process transformation from long-process to short-process steelmaking; low-carbon transition driving non-blast furnace ironmaking development and carbon constraints driving furnace charge structure upgrades. These pathways will collectively reshape the demand structure of iron ore, manifested as strengthened preference for high-grade, low-impurity iron ore concentrates and premium mainstream ore types, while demand for traditional sintering fines tends to narrow. ◼ 1. Process restructuring: the shift from long-process to short-process steelmaking will drive increased demand for mainstream varieties and high-grade ore Under the global backdrop of "carbon neutrality" goals, the steel industry is regarded as one of the key areas for industrial emission reduction. The traditional long process (blast furnace-converter process), due to its reliance on coke and iron ore, is considered a major source of high carbon emissions and has become a key target for regulation and transformation. Many countries have begun shifting toward the more environmentally friendly short process (steel scrap-electric furnace process), but this transition has been relatively slow in China. On one hand, electric furnace steelmaking is largely limited to rebar production; on the other hand, steel scrap supply is constrained. Additionally, considering factors such as melting costs and losses in steel scrap smelting, pig iron costs should be higher than steel scrap prices by 100-150 yuan/mt for steel scrap to be more cost-effective; if the price spread is below this level, pig iron offers better value. In 2025, the price spread between hot metal costs and steel scrap fluctuated in a range of -100-210. Pig iron costs were mostly more favorable than steel scrap, so the share of blast furnace steelmaking in China stayed high. Source: SMM In China, apart from profitability, short-process electric furnaces are also constrained by high electricity prices, steel scrap price fluctuations, and cost disadvantages , resulting in slow capacity growth. Although the national carbon market is already operational, current carbon prices have not been effectively incorporated into trading, which is not enough to drive a large-scale shift from long-process to electric furnaces, and enterprises mostly adopt gradual adjustments . Source: SMM Based on current policy and market conditions, before China's steel industry is formally included in the national carbon market trading and during the early stage of the EU's CBAM policy implementation, the blast furnace-converter long process will remain the dominant mode of global steel production over the next five years. However, under the dual pressures of domestic steel capacity capping and rising carbon prices in the future, China's electric furnace short process is entering a historic development opportunity, with its share of steelmaking set to gradually increase. By 2030, the share of electric furnace steelmaking is expected to reach around 35%. In the long term, this trend will gradually suppress iron ore demand, causing it to weaken. Against the backdrop of oversupply, competition among iron ore varieties will intensify, and therefore high cost-effective varieties with low silicon and aluminum content will become the optimal choice for steel mills. Undoubtedly, mainstream medium and high-grade ore such as PB fines, Mac fines, Newman fines, IOCJ fines, BRBF, and Simandou fines all belong to relatively high-quality varieties. ◼ 2 Low-carbon transition driving non-blast furnace ironmaking development, demand for high-grade iron ore concentrates with Fe content above 65% expected to continue rising Currently, global DRI production accounts for only 10% of total global production. As low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen-based DRI accelerate in application, DRI production share is expected to rise to 13% by 2030. In comparison, China's non-blast furnace ironmaking share is even smaller, with mass production not yet achieved and only leading steel enterprises in the trial production stage. Under current carbon neutrality requirements, China's non-blast furnace ironmaking is facing significant development opportunities. According to incomplete statistics, announced non-blast furnace ironmaking capacity totaled approximately 18 million mt, of which only 2 million mt were under construction, with the remaining 16 million mt of projects still in early stages, carrying relatively high risk coefficients. Whether these projects materialize depends on multiple factors including funding, market conditions, decarbonization policies, and government support, resulting in significant uncertainty regarding future commissioning time. Future projects will primarily be gas-based; current major DRI equipment uses coke oven gas (COG), but in the medium and long-term will gradually shift to green hydrogen. Data source: World Steel Association Data source: SMM Currently, the core requirements for DRI raw materials are "high grade, low impurities," with Fe grade ≥66% and SiO2+Al2O3 ≤3.5%. China's concentrates generally have relatively high silicon content, with some exceeding 10%. Therefore, only a few low-silicon concentrates can be used to produce direct reduced pellet feed. Ex-China high-grade concentrates offer a wider range of options. Data source: SMM As DRI production grows, demand for high-quality iron units is also increasing, leading to a structural rise in the share of high-grade iron ore and pure iron raw materials. As shown in the chart, varieties within the red box all have Fe content above 66%, with Si+Al content around 3.5%; these include some high-grade iron ore concentrates from China, Brazilian pellet feed concentrates, Peruvian concentrates, and emerging Simandou fines, all of which can serve as DRI raw materials. Data source: SMM ◼ 3. Carbon constraints drive furnace charge structure upgrades, with pellet replacing sinter becoming key to carbon reduction, and pellet-making concentrates with grades above 62% set to see significant growth. As China's steel industry pursues structural adjustment, optimization, and green, low-carbon, high-quality development, pellet ore as a premium raw material for blast furnaces has been increasingly favoured by the industry, driving the rapid development of the pellet sector. The energy consumption of the pellet production process is approximately 50% of that of the sinter production process. According to CISA's 2025 statistics, the average energy consumption of the sintering process among its member units was 48.5 kg/mt, while the average energy consumption of the pellet process was 25.23 kg/mt, indicating lower energy consumption in pellet production. Due to the different heat supply methods in pellet roasting compared to sintering, SO2, NOX, and CO2 emissions after combustion are much lower than those from the sintering process. In addition, pellet ore generates much less dust than sinter, making the pellet process more environmentally friendly. The emission comparison between the sintering process and the pellet process is shown in the chart below: Data source: SMM ◼ A high proportion of pellet ore in furnace charge is the direction and demand of current blast furnace charge structure development Compared with other countries in the world, China's blast furnace charge structure is dominated by sinter with a low pellet ratio , while blast furnaces in North America and Europe primarily use high proportions of pellets, with some blast furnaces reaching 100%. For example: SSAB's blast furnace in Sweden had a pellet ratio of 97.2%, Dofasco in Canada achieved 100% all-pellet smelting, and USS No. 14 blast furnace had a pellet ratio of 80%, etc. According to CISA's 2025 statistics, the average fuel ratio per unit of ironmaking at China's key steel enterprises was 523-525 kg/mt, approximately 70 kg higher than the average fuel ratio of European and American blast furnaces. The reason is that China's blast furnace charge is dominated by sinter, with sinter iron grade at around 54-57%, while pellet ore iron grade is above 62%. High sinter usage leads to high slag volume and high energy consumption in blast furnaces. Therefore, against the backdrop of carbon reduction, increasing the proportion of pellet ore usage is imperative. Data source: SMM ◼ Currently, there are three main types of pellet production equipment in China: shaft furnaces, chain grate-rotary kilns, and travelling grates . In recent years, pellet equipment with a single-unit capacity below 1.2 million mt/year (excluding ferroalloy and foundry pig iron pellets) has been classified as a restricted category; therefore, capacity replacement of pellet equipment continues, with new pellet projects predominantly using travelling grates, with single production line capacity mostly at 5 million mt. As a result, current pellet production is mainly based on rotary kilns and travelling grates. These two types of equipment have less stringent raw material requirements compared to shaft furnaces, allowing the blending of multiple ore types such as magnetite, hematite, and limonite. However, it must be concentrate, with a particle size requirement generally of -200 mesh, 70% or above. Commonly used varieties include: domestic concentrate, Ukrainian concentrate, Brazilian concentrate, Middle Eastern concentrate, Chilean concentrate, Australian concentrate, Sierra Leonean concentrate, etc. As the proportion of pellet usage increases in the future, demand for concentrate with grades of 62% and above will continue to expand. ◼ Overall, before 2030, as carbon neutrality policies and Europe's CBAM are still in the early stages of implementation, carbon emission costs have not yet become significantly prominent. Meanwhile, China's steel production is trending downward, while iron ore supply is accelerating, steel mill profits are under pressure, and cost reduction and efficiency improvement remain the industry's mainstream strategy. Therefore, procurement will continue to focus on low- and medium-grade iron ore, demand for non-mainstream ore varieties will remain robust, the price spread among high-, medium-, and low-grade ore will be difficult to widen, and premiums for lump ore and pellets will also stay at current low levels. ◼ After 2030, market requirements for green steel will gradually increase, the share of electric furnace steelmaking and non-blast furnace steelmaking will rise, and overall iron ore demand will decline notably. Although blast furnace capacity will decrease, operating rates may improve, driving down sinter demand while pellet demand increases significantly. This shift will lead to a sharp decline in fines demand and an expansion of market share for mainstream medium-grade ore; meanwhile, demand for high-quality concentrate will rise, pushing the price difference between high and medium-grade ore wider, and pellet premiums will also continue to climb. Additionally, although lump ore demand has some growth potential, the increase will be limited under carbon emission constraints, and lump ore premium elasticity will diminish accordingly.

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on the *Key Work Arrangements for Carbon Peaking, Carbon Neutrality, Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction in Shanghai for 2026*. The document stated that Shanghai would promote the diversified development of local renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, with the city adding 600,000 kW of new PV installations. Two batches of standalone ESS power station projects would be advanced. The results of competitive bidding on mechanism-based electricity prices for new energy incremental projects would be publicly announced. Huangpu District would be organized to carry out the national carbon peaking pilot program. Chongming District would be supported in steadily advancing the national pilot program for ecological product value realization mechanisms. The *Shanghai Action Plan for Accelerating Green and Low-Carbon Transformation (2024–2027)* would be implemented, promoting the deployment of 15 key application scenarios for green and low-carbon transformation. The construction of national-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be supported, and a number of municipal-level zero-carbon industrial parks would be developed.

[SMM Analysis] Why Has LME Lead Shifted Back to Backwardation for the First Time in Nearly a Year? SMM, April 21 — Since late March, London lead prices have stabilized after bottoming out, gradually holding above the $1,900/mt level and entering an upward trend, attempting to approach the $2,000/mt mark.