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2026 SMM Australia Metals & Mining Investment Seminar

2026 SMM London Metals Forum

2026 SMM AICE Asia Aluminum Conference

ASEAN Solar Storage Summit 2026

SMM CCAE 2026 15th COPPER INDUSTRY ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2027

Shanghai Metals Expo 2026

SMM (11th) Annual Nickel Conference 2026 - Ni Cr Mn Stainless Steel Event

Indonesia Nickel & Cobalt & EV Industry Conference 2024

CLNB 2024 9TH CHINA NEW ENERGY EXPO

Today, SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate spot prices continued to drift higher compared with the previous working day. The lithium carbonate 2701 contract opened higher at 132,000 yuan/mt today. After the open, bulls failed to extend the gains, and bears quickly entered to pressure prices, sending them consolidating lower and accelerating downward after breaking below the average price line. Around midday, prices dipped to a low of 125,200 yuan/mt. In the afternoon, bargain hunting emerged at low levels, lifting prices slightly to around 127,500 yuan/mt before they pulled back again. Near the close, prices moved sideways around 127,000 yuan/mt, eventually closing down 2.27% at 127,200 yuan/mt, with open interest up 9,528 lots.

In the spot market, downstream pre-holiday stockpiling continued, and downstream users kept buying the dip today. Upstream lithium chemical plants maintained firm sentiment on spot orders, with spot order quotes remaining relatively strong. A small number of lithium chemical plants sold spot orders mainly by referencing the website's monthly average spot price. As upstream sellers continued to hold back from selling spot orders, downstream spot order purchases were mainly concluded with traders, with some taking delivery of warrants. With active downstream purchasing and stockpiling, and upstream holding prices firm and holding back from selling, the spot-futures price spread for industrial-grade and battery-grade lithium carbonate has continued to strengthen recently, and the price spread between industrial-grade and battery-grade material has narrowed somewhat. Overall, market inquiries and actual transactions remained active.

SMM Daily Review: Spot lithium carbonate prices continued to drift higher on September 18

High-Power Demand Improves, but Weak Orders Keep Global PV Module Prices Rangebound [SMM Analysis]

 Solid-State Battery Weekly |  ​​​​​​​Industry Deepens TechnologyIteration Amid Ebb and Flow; Policy Push Intensifies

[Solid-state battery: Highpower Technology deploys three solid-state routes of polymer/oxide/sulphide, with multiple solid-state electrolyte patents granted] On September 17, 2026, Highpower Technology disclosed its solid-state battery layout during an institutional survey. The company is simultaneously developing three major solid-state electrolyte technology routes: polymer, oxide, and sulphide. In 2026, it has filed four core solid-state battery patents, covering composite solid-state electrolytes, solid-state electrolyte membranes, and gel polymer electrolytes, with a focus on solid-state battery development for I-end devices and robotics scenarios.

[Solid-State Battery: Highpower Technology Deploys Three Solid-State Routes of Polymer/Oxide/Sulphide, Multiple Solid-State Electrolyte Patents Landed]

Leapmotor plans to participate as a strategic investor in the Series A round of Qixin Power, a FAW Group unit, under an LOI signed in Huzhou on Sep 17. The two sides will deepen cooperation on hybrid engines, e-drive systems and range extenders, and jointly advance R&D on solid-state, lithium-rich manganese-based and sodium-ion batteries plus standardized cells, while exploring battery recycling and overseas supply chain collaboration.

[Auto: Leapmotor to Join Series A Funding of FAW's Qixin Power]

EVE Energy's subsidiary EVE Power signed a supply agreement with global energy storage integrator Fluence on Sep 17 to produce and deliver 206GWh of batteries during 2027-2031, including a committed 16GWh for 2027 and 190GWh of reserved capacity for 2028-2031. EVE said the deal recognizes its battery performance and supply qualification, and marks a key step in its global footprint expansion. Specific terms will be set in subsequent purchase orders.

[ESS: EVE Energy Signs 206GWh Battery Supply Agreement with Fluence]

[Solid-state battery: Easpring Technology's sulphide electrolyte enters the small-scale test validation stage with leading clients] On 16 September 2026, Easpring Technology stated on an investor interaction platform that the company has prepared highly active and highly dispersed lithium sulphide and nano-sulphide electrolyte precursors through special production processes such as particle size control, establishing an integrated preparation chain from "lithium sulphide – highly active sulphide electrolyte precursor – high performance sulphide electrolyte". Currently, the sulphide electrolyte materials synthesised from the company's self-developed lithium sulphide and precursors have entered the small-scale test validation stage with leading solid-state battery clients.

[Solid-state battery: Easpring Technology's sulphide electrolyte enters the small-scale test verification stage with leading clients]

[Solid-State Battery: Tinci Materials' Hundred-mt Lithium Sulfide and Solid-State Electrolyte Pilot Production Line Completed and Put into Use] On September 17, 2026, Tinci Materials stated during an investor relations event that the company's hundred-mt lithium sulfide and solid-state electrolyte pilot production line has been completed and put into use. The company maintains close R&D partnerships with mainstream downstream battery cell manufacturers and automakers, actively seizing opportunities arising from technological transformation in the industry.

[Solid-State Battery: Tinci Materials' Hundred-Ton Pilot Production Lines for Lithium Sulfide and Solid-State Electrolyte Completed and Put into Operation]

According to a decision published by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP) on September 15, Glencore’s Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) and Mutanda Mining (MUMI) have been ordered to terminate existing contracts with subcontractors that do not meet local legal eligibility requirements and remove them from their supplier lists.
The decision followed a regulatory review of the two companies’ suppliers and service providers. Of the 1,427 suppliers and service providers submitted by KCC, only 472 were registered by ARSP as eligible, while 955 failed to meet the required conditions. At Mutanda, 548 of the 1,133 submitted suppliers were deemed eligible, while 585 failed to qualify.
Both companies are also required to submit remediation plans to ARSP within 30 days of receiving the notice and are prohibited from signing new subcontracting agreements with the affected companies until they achieve compliance.
KCC and Mutanda are both major copper-cobalt assets in the DRC. Continued enforcement of the measures could increase supply-chain adjustment and compliance-management pressures for the two operations.
The original source is ARSP’s official Decision No. 020/ARSP/DG/2026, dated September 11 and publicly released on September 15.
For publication, retaining “KCC and Mutanda” in the headline would make the direct connection to Glencore’s key copper-cobalt assets in the DRC immediately clear to cobalt-market readers.

DRC Regulator Orders Glencore’s KCC and Mutanda to Terminate Contracts with Non-Compliant Subcontractors

The Future of Indonesia NPI and Asian Stainless Steel

Indonesia ESDM New HPM Formula & Nickel Market Updates

2025-2026 Global PV Market Review & Outlook: Navigating Geopolitics and Policy Shifts

SMM FREE WEBINAR: Sulfur Market: 2025 Review and 2026 Outlook

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

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

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

Category	Price Description	Change	Date
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate USD/tonne	+161.84	Sep 18
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (Coarse Particles) USD/tonne	-1.61	Sep 18
Cathode material	China Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (Powder Compact Density 2.50g/cm³ min) USD/tonne	+38.72	Sep 18
Battery separator	China 9μm Wet-process Separator USD/m²	0	Sep 18
Electrolyte	China Lithium Hexafluorophosphate USD/tonne	-1.59	Sep 18
Electrolyte	China Electrolyte (for LFP Battery) USD/tonne	-0.38	Sep 18

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