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AFRICA CRITICAL MINERALS FORUM 2026

2026 SMM Automotive Supply Chain Conference

Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026

Indonesia Nickel & Cobalt & EV Industry Conference 2024

CLNB 2024 9TH CHINA NEW ENERGY EXPO

SMM AFRICA CRITICAL MINERALS SEMINAR 2026

Shanghai Metals Expo 2025

AICE 2025 SMM (14th) Aluminum Industry Annual Conference

SMM Indonesia Seminar: Li-ion Battery & Energy Storage

2025 SMM ASEAN Automotive Supply Chain Conference

Due to the conflict in the Middle East, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, raising the risk of tighter global sulphur supplies. Indonesia relies on the Middle East for around 75% of its sulphur imports, and sulphur is a key raw material for producing sulphuric acid, which is essential for leaching metals in nickel and copper processing. Analysts note that sulphur inventories at Indonesia’s HPAL nickel plants typically cover only one to two months of consumption. If transport disruptions persist, some plants may be forced to cut production as early as next month. Overall, if shipping disruptions in the Middle East continue for more than a few weeks, production and demand for related metals may need to slow.

Gulf disruption squeezes Indonesia nickel makers' sulphur supply

On March 3, the 120,000 kW generation-grid-load-storage integrated project of Inner Mongolia Envision New Materials Co., Ltd. in Damaoqi successfully achieved grid connection. The project’s core construction covers two major segments: power supply and energy storage. The wind power section has a total installed capacity of 120 MW, with a 22 MW/22 MWh electrochemical ESS built simultaneously. The project adopts advanced grid-forming ESS technology, enabling smoothing and regulation of wind power output and flexible power dispatch, effectively improving the stability of power supply and supporting the efficient consumption of new energy power.

Inner Mongolia Envision's 120 MW Wind-Storage Project Achieves Grid Connection on March 3

[SMM Analysis] Hormuz Crisis: Methanol Supply Risks and the Rising Strategic Value of Green Methanol

[Dawn Automobile: Production and Sales of Certain Car Models Surged YoY in February 2026] Dawn Automobile announced that in February 2026, the company’s complete-vehicle production was 281 units, up 3,022.22% YoY; cumulative production for the year was 562 units, up 1,270.73% YoY. Complete-vehicle sales were 123 units, up 61.84% YoY; cumulative sales for the year were 171 units, up 5.56% YoY. Among them, pickup and special-purpose vehicle production and sales both rose sharply YoY. However, axle production and sales both declined YoY, and the YoY decline in new-energy axle production and sales was significant.

Dawn Automobile Sees Surge in Car Production and Sales in February 2026, Despite Axle Decline

March 6 Update:
Northern ports: South African high-iron 31.9-34 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate 38.2-38.7 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; Gabon 43.3-43.9 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps 43.4-43.9 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday.
south China ports: South African high-iron 33-33.5 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; South African semi-carbonate 35.3-35.8 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; Gabon 42-42.5 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday; 46% Australian lumps 43.4-43.9 yuan/mtu, up WoW from last Friday.

[SMM Weekly Manganese Ore Review] South African Manganese Ore Leads the Gains, Manganese Ore Prices Remain Firm

[SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Dropped Slightly on March 6]

The SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index price dropped slightly from the previous working day. Futures performance showed that the most-traded contract fluctuated within the range of 151,100-160,900 yuan/mt throughout the day, and open interest increased by about 1,500 lots from the previous trading day.

In terms of actual transactions, upstream lithium chemical plants remained weak in their willingness to sell spot orders, with strong sentiment to hold back sales and hold prices firm. Most downstream enterprises took a cautious purchasing stance, mainly staying on the sidelines. A small number of material plants bought the dip when prices were relatively low. Overall, although market inquiries increased, actual transactions remained somewhat sluggish.

SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Dropped Slightly on March 6

During the 2026 Two Sessions, Lei Jun, National People's Congress representative and founder of Xiaomi Group, put forward five main proposals. These include the "Proposal on Accelerating the Application of General-Purpose Humanoid Robots in Intelligent Manufacturing." It encourages factories to provide more production positions and create large-scale operational scenarios for humanoid robots. It supports the application and implementation of general-purpose humanoid robots in specific production lines such as handling and assembly, parts installation, flexible component assembly, welding, and painting, undertaking medium to high-intensity labor.

Lei Jun's 2026 Two Sessions Proposals Address Electric Vehicles, Humanoid Robots

The European Commission's newly drafted Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA) requires publicly subsidized clean energy projects to use EU-manufactured components. Photovoltaic projects must integrate EU-made inverters and solar cells within 3 years, a transition period praised by some for balancing reshoring but criticized by others as too slow to counter Chinese competition. Besides, BESS over 1 MWh face an aggressive timeline requiring EU-made battery management systems within 1 year and EU cells within three, which industry experts warn could stall storage rollouts. Additionally, the Act enforces strict barriers on strategic investments over €100 million from nations that 'control more than 40% of global capacity,' mandating technology transfers and capping foreign equity ownership at 49%.

[SMM PV News] EU Proposes 'Industrial Accelerator Act' Mandating Local Content for Solar and BESS

SMM Africa Webinar: Strategic Sharing & Insights of Copper, Aluminium, New Energy, and Iron Ore Market

Impact of Iran Situation on Aluminum & Zinc Chains: A China-Based Market Outlook

Lithium Is Moving Again — What It Really Means for BESS Costs and Procurement Strategy

Asia Copper and Aluminum Scrap 2025 Market Review and 2026 Outlook

SMM Aluminium Year-End Review: Indonesia 's Value Chain Acceleration - Tighter Quotas, Refinery Ramps & the Path to Aluminum Powerhouse Status

SMM Online Webinar: Nickel in Turmoil - Decoding Indonesia’s Policy Evolution & The Future of Global Supply

The 4th National Excellent PhD Student Forum on Magnesium Materials

Review and Outlook: Nickel, Stainless Steel and Feedstock of Stainless Steel

2025 H1 Lithium Carbonate Market Review and H2 Outlook

SMM Free Webinar: Cobalt Ban Extension Spells: DRC’s Price Boost vs Global Supply Chain Resilience

SMM ONLINE WEBINAR: Navigating the Commodities Landscape in the Energy Transition: Short & Medium-Term Investment Insights

Category	Price Description	Price Range	Avg	Change	Date
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate yuan/tonne	150500-160000	155250	-750	Mar 06
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (Coarse Particles) yuan/tonne	148000-154500	151250	-1250	Mar 06
Cathode material	China Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (EV Type, Powder Compact Density 2.50g/cm³ min) yuan/tonne	54540-55080	54810	-180	Mar 06
Battery separator	China 9μm Wet-process Separator yuan/m²	0.77-0.87	0.82	0	Mar 06
Electrolyte	China Lithium Hexafluorophosphate yuan/tonne	113000-122000	117500	-2000	Mar 06
Electrolyte	China Electrolyte (for LFP Battery) yuan/tonne	27000-32000	29500	-500	Mar 06

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