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2026 SMM AICE Asia Aluminum Conference

ASEAN Solar Storage Summit 2026

SMM CCAE 2026 15th COPPER INDSTRY ANNUAL CONFERENCE

2026 SMM GRMI RENEWABLE METAL INDUSTRY CHAIN SUMMIT（NINGBO）

ASCC 2026 SMM 8th Automotive Supply Chain Conference & Industry Collaboration Forum

2026 SMM (3rd) South China Non-Ferrous Metals Annual Conference

CLNB 2026 Asia Battery Material Cooperation Forum

Shanghai Metals Expo 2026

APAC (11th) Ni-Cr-Mn Stainless Steel Industry Conference 2026

Indonesia Nickel & Cobalt & EV Industry Conference 2024

Cobalt Product Quotes in the Doldrums, Refined Cobalt Dropped Over 20,000 Yuan in a Single Week, Cobalt Sulphate Extends Losing Streak to Five Days [Weekly Observation]

H1 Battery Materials Import and Export Data Released, Lithium Carbonate Imports Surge over 50%, How About Other Segments? [SMM Special]

[SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Drifted Lower on July 24]  
SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate spot prices drifted lower compared with the previous working day. In the futures market, the lithium carbonate 2609 contract opened lower at 144,200 yuan/mt today, drifted lower after opening, moved sideways below the average price line (143,800 yuan/mt) in the morning, and hit a low of 141,300 yuan/mt; around midday, bulls and bears repeatedly struggled in the 141,000–144,000 yuan/mt range, with trading volume increasing in stages; in the afternoon, bulls briefly exerted strength, pushing the price to surge to 145,800 yuan/mt, before it encountered bearish selling pressure and drifted lower. The contract then consolidated at lows around 144,300 yuan/mt in the late session, finally closing down 0.88% at 144,300 yuan/mt. Open interest decreased by 13,209 lots.  

In the spot market, downstream purchase willingness moderated, with purchasing mainly as needed; upstream lithium chemical plants continued to hold prices firm and hold back from selling for spot orders, trading more with downstream through long-term contracts. Overall, market inquiries and actual transactions relatively slowed down.

SMM Daily Review: Spot lithium carbonate price drifts lower on July 24

July 24 News:

North China ports: 46% Australian lumps at 41.5-42 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate at 34.7-35.2 yuan/mtu, down WoW; Gabonese at 39.3-39.7 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African high-iron at 29-29.5 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African medium-iron at 36-36.5 yuan/mtu, stable WoW.

South China ports: 46% Australian lumps at 42.9-43.4 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African semi-carbonate at 36.7-37 yuan/mtu, down WoW; Gabonese at 40.9-41.4 yuan/mtu, stable WoW; South African high-iron at 31.5-32 yuan/mtu, down WoW; South African medium-iron at 37.5-38 yuan/mtu, stable WoW.

Manganese ore market prices continue to grind lower, end-use demand remains tepid, and trader sell-offs at reduced prices are relatively common.

[SMM Manganese Ore Weekly Review] Overseas markets broadly decline, coupled with weak demand, manganese ore prices continue to grind lower.

NANOCMS, a South Korean nanomaterials company, announced that they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for strategic business cooperation with China’s general trading company DR Group on July 22.
According to NANOCMS, DR Group will leverage its network in China’s battery industry to support the promotion and business expansion of NANOCMS’ silicon anode materials targeting leading global battery companies, including BYD, CATL, Gotion and EVE Energy.

NANOCMS Partners With China’s DR Group on Battery Materials Business

The Korean company Eco&Dream announced on July 24 that they have shipped NCM precursors produced at its Saemangeum plant in response to customer orders.
The Saemangeum plant has an annual precursor production capacity of 35,000 mt. Once production stabilizes, the company is expected to secure total capacity of 40,000 mt, including its existing 5,000 mt Cheongju plant.

Eco&Dream Begins NCM Precursors Shipments From Saemangeum Precursor Plant

On July 23, Minmetals New Energy released its performance forecast, expecting a net profit attributable to the parent of 340 million yuan to 400 million yuan for the first half of 2026, compared to a loss of 26.8265 million yuan in the same period last year, marking a turnaround from loss to profit. The net profit after deducting non-recurring gains and losses is expected to be between 330 million yuan and 390 million yuan. In the first half of 2026, the company seized industry development opportunities, coordinated efforts across three major areas—power battery materials, energy storage materials, and consumer electronics materials—resulting in a significant year-on-year increase in product sales. At the same time, the company continued to promote technological iteration and process optimization of core materials, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials and further enhancing its product delivery capabilities.

[Lithium Battery: Minmetals New Energy Expects H1 2026 Net Profit Of 340-400 Million Yuan]

Recently, the 3GWh solid-state battery pack intelligent manufacturing and electric heavy-duty truck logistics industrial park project, jointly invested by Beijing Weilan New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Guangdong Xinghan Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and Shaanxi Jianshengtai Investment Co., Ltd., has commenced construction at the Xifeng Industrial Park in Qingyang City, Gansu Province. The project covers approximately 50 mu of land with an investment of 600 million yuan. It adopts the world's leading intelligent manufacturing technology for solid-state battery packs and plans to produce 3GWh of solid-state battery packs annually.

[Solid-State: Solid-State Battery Pack Project Breaks Ground In Qingyang, Gansu]

According to market sources, Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has reportedly been offline for more than 10 consecutive days. The information has not yet been officially confirmed by Sigma, but it is broadly consistent with recent regulatory developments.

On 22 July, Sigma announced that it was negotiating a Conduct Adjustment Agreement, or TAC, with the Minas Gerais state government in response to a penalty notice issued by the regional environmental authority, SUPRAM. The company expects to pay fines of up to approximately US$540,000 and invest around US$1 million in remediation measures to restore activities that are currently described as “partially and temporarily suspended.”

The waste-rock piles at Grota do Cirilo have previously been subject to repeated reviews by Brazilian labour and environmental authorities. Although Brazil’s National Mining Agency had concluded that the relevant waste piles did not present an imminent geotechnical risk, the restrictions imposed by the labour authorities were not automatically lifted. A May inspection reportedly found that the project was continuing to use one of the restricted waste piles.

Sigma produced 35,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in the second quarter, above its previous target of 33,000 tonnes. However, this production figure reflects operating conditions before the formal regulatory notice was delivered and therefore does not represent the project’s third-quarter operating status.

The key issue affecting Sigma’s supply outlook is no longer the size of the fine, but the timing of the TAC agreement, the scope of the operational suspension and the regulatory inspection process required before production can resume. Market participants should closely monitor the actual third-quarter production performance at Grota do Cirilo, as well as progress towards the scheduled commissioning of the project’s Phase 2 expansion.

Sigma Lithium Reportedly Suspends Production for More Than 10 Days

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

The 4th National Excellent PhD Student Forum on Magnesium Materials

Category	Price Description	Change	Date
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate USD/tonne	-164.01	Jul 24
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (Coarse Particles) USD/tonne	-162.63	Jul 24
Cathode material	China Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (Powder Compact Density 2.50g/cm³ min) USD/tonne	-41.6	Jul 24
Battery separator	China 9μm Wet-process Separator USD/m²	0	Jul 24
Electrolyte	China Lithium Hexafluorophosphate USD/tonne	+135.4	Jul 24
Electrolyte	China Electrolyte (for LFP Battery) USD/tonne	-2.87	Jul 24

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