EGC and Trafigura transport copper and cobalt to global markets via the Lobito Atlantic Railway.

According to the Arctic Star Power Transmission and Distribution Network, in 2026, Zhejiang plans to invest 51.23 billion yuan in power grid fixed assets, a 6.2% increase from the previous year. Among them, the investment in the first quarter exceeded 10 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of more than 40%. It is reported that as of the end of 2025, the installed capacity of wind and solar power had reached 71 million kilowatts, and it is expected to exceed 100 million kilowatts before 2030. Meanwhile, it is expected that in the summer of 2026, the maximum electricity load in Zhejiang will reach 142 million kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 8.3%.

Among Japan's three major automakers, Toyota and Nissan saw increased sales in China in January, while Honda continued to decline. Toyota's sales rose 6.6% YoY to 145,500 units, marking the first increase in five months. Nissan's sales grew 10.1% YoY to 50,024 units, the first rise in two months. Honda's sales fell 16.5% YoY to 57,489 units, declining for the 24th consecutive month, due to delays in launching new EV models.

Energy and commodities trader Mercuria recently announced the completion of its first copper and cobalt transaction with the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) state-owned cobalt company, EGC, marking a significant step forward in their cooperation in the field of critical metals. The deal was reached against the backdrop of the DRC government's introduction of a cobalt export quota system last year, while also requiring the implementation of EGC's mineral supply chain management and responsible sourcing standards in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Under the arrangement, the copper cathodes involved in the transaction will be shipped to markets such as the US, the UAE, or Saudi Arabia.