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ASEAN Solar Storage Summit 2026

SMM CCAE 2026 15th COPPER INDSTRY ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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

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

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Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2027

Shanghai Metals Expo 2026

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

[SMM Analysis] Flake Graphite Exports Up 46% MoM in July, Led by US Exports

[SMM Analysis] China Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Import and Export Data for July

[SMM Analysis] Chariot inks term sheet for Nigerian lithium, DSO pricing linked to SMM lithium carbonate

[SMM Analysis] Separator Market Price Overall Stable

[SMM Separator Weekly Review] Prices Stable, Waiting for September Negotiation Window

[SMM Analysis: China's nutshell charcoal imports saw both volume and price decline in June 2026; drop in sodium-ion battery hard carbon costs boosts industrialisation pace] SMM August 20: According to the latest import and export data released by the General Administration of Customs, China's nutshell charcoal imports reached 18,472.3 mt in July 2026, up 2% MoM from June and up 67% YoY from the same period last year.

On a YoY basis, the 67% growth was particularly notable, reflecting a significant expansion in domestic demand for nutshell charcoal over the past year. This trend is closely linked to the rapid development of the sodium-ion battery industry—as the pace of sodium-ion battery industrialisation accelerates, demand for nutshell charcoal (especially coconut shell charcoal), a key precursor for hard carbon anode materials, has been continuously boosted. The mild 2% MoM increase indicates that after earlier rapid volume expansion, import growth is stabilising, and the market is entering a relatively steady restocking pace.

In July 2026, China's coconut shell carbon imports increased while prices fell, accelerating the localisation of hard carbon raw materials for sodium-ion batteries [SMM Analysis]

On August 18, its battery factory in Lansing, Michigan, US, covering 226 acres, officially commenced production.  
It is reported that LG Energy Solution's Lansing plant produces large-format batteries for energy storage systems (ESS) and electric vehicles. After full ramp-up, the plant’s annual capacity target exceeds 35 GWh.  
The plant produces LFP battery cells for ESS. These cells are integrated into complete systems by LG Energy Solution's US energy storage division, Vertech, for utility, grid-scale energy storage, and other commercial and industrial applications.  
LG Energy Solution's Lansing plant will also produce higher energy density nickel-cobalt-manganese (NMC) cells for Toyota. These cells will be used in battery electric vehicles such as the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, which will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) in Georgetown, Kentucky, thereby strengthening the automaker's US supply chain for next-generation models.  
Notably, with the commencement of the Lansing plant, LG Energy Solution now operates two plants in Michigan, located in Holland and Lansing, respectively. Since 2010, the company's total investment in Michigan has exceeded $5 billion. In addition to its manufacturing plants in Holland and Lansing, the company also has its North America regional headquarters and R&D center in Troy. By the end of 2026, LG Energy Solution's total headcount in Michigan will exceed 3,300, making the company one of the top 50 employers in the state.  
Additionally, from the perspective of its North American ESS deployment plan, LG Energy Solution plans to achieve over 50 GW in North America by the end of 2026

LG Energy Solution Launches 226-Acre Battery Plant in Michigan, Targets 35 GWh Annual Capacity

On the evening of August 19, Hunan Yuneng released its 2026 H1 report. The report shows that in H1 2026, the company achieved revenue of 34.877 billion yuan, up 142.92% YoY; net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm reached 2.91 billion yuan, up 853.51% YoY, marking a sharp increase in performance.

The company stated that during the reporting period, sales volume of phosphate cathode materials increased compared with the same period last year, while rising prices of key raw materials such as lithium carbonate pushed up product selling prices, leading to corresponding YoY revenue growth. In H1 2026, the company achieved phosphate cathode material sales of 667,200 mt, up 38.77% YoY; high-end product sales were approximately 416,700 mt, with their share of total sales rising to 62.46%; the share of sales from products used in the ESS sector increased to about 53%. During the reporting period, the company aggressively expanded into markets outside China, with phosphate cathode material exports reaching 18,000 mt, a leap forward compared with the same period last year. In terms of profitability, the gross margin for phosphate cathode materials during the reporting period was 14.81%, up 7.84 percentage points YoY. On the capacity front, as of the end of the reporting period, phosphate cathode material capacity was 704,000 mt, and the capacity utilization rate reached 95.92%.

Hunan Yuneng Reports 142.92% Revenue Growth in H1 2026, Driven by Phosphate Cathode Material Sales

On August 18, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor and CATL officially signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement in Ningde, marking a shift from a supply-demand relationship to a stage of eco-system co-building with entire industry chain synergy. The partnership aims to enhance Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor’s core competitiveness in the new energy commercial vehicle market and to promote the standardization of commercial vehicle batteries and business model innovation.

The two parties will focus on full-scenario technology research and standard customization, covering all types of commercial vehicle applications including tractors, dump trucks, cargo trucks, special-purpose vehicles, and hydrogen fuel vehicles. They will accelerate the deployment of new materials, new systems, and cutting-edge technologies, and jointly develop technical specifications for commercial vehicle batteries.

Meanwhile, both parties will drive business model innovation and closed-loop ecology, speed up the implementation of innovative services such as “battery banks” for commercial vehicles, and reduce end-users’ initial purchase costs and life cycle operational risks through vehicle-battery separation and asset-based operations.

CATL stated that it will continue to leverage its leading product technologies, large-scale delivery capabilities, and full life cycle services to deepen all-round cooperation with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, and jointly promote high-quality and low-carbon development in the commercial vehicle industry.

Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor and CATL Sign 5-Year Deal for New Energy Commercial Vehicle Advancements

POSCO Group announced on August 19 that it will cooperate with Chinese cathode materials producer Longbai Group across the secondary battery materials value chain, including battery-grade lithium supply and used battery recycling.

POSCO Holdings signed a strategic MOU with Longbai Group at POSCO Center in Seoul. Under the agreement, POSCO Group will seek to supply battery-grade lithium produced in South Korea and overseas to Longbai Group.
Potential supply sources include lithium produced from Australian ore by POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution in Yulchon Industrial Complex, brine-based lithium from POSCO Argentina, and lithium recovered from used batteries by POSCO HY Clean Metal.
POSCO Pilbara Lithium Solution plans to complete Longbai Group’s quality certification process for its ore-based battery-grade lithium hydroxide by the fourth quarter of this year. Once certification is completed, the two sides will discuss potential mass-production supply.

POSCO Group Seeks to Supply Battery-Grade Lithium to China’s Longbai Group

On August 20, EVE Energy disclosed its semi-annual report for 2026. During the reporting period, the company achieved operating revenue of 45.691 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 62.20%. By product segment, revenue from energy storage batteries reached 15.094 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 69.15%, with a gross margin of 12.51%, down 1.36 percentage points year-on-year. During the reporting period, power battery shipments reached 35.76 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 66.47%; energy storage battery shipments reached 44.46 GWh, a year-on-year increase of 54.88%. The commercial vehicle supporting business and large cylindrical battery business continued to scale up, showing significant growth momentum. Both domestic and overseas business revenue achieved growth exceeding 62%, though gross margins declined in both regions. The gross margin for domestic business decreased by 1.96 percentage points, while the gross margin for overseas business decreased by 6.23 percentage points.

[Lithium Battery: EVE Energy's H1 2026 Report: Revenue Of 45.691 Billion Yuan]

On August 18, Youngy Co. released its semi-annual report for 2026. In the first half of 2026, the company achieved operating revenue of 1.524 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 402.35%. The company plans to invest in the construction of a super charging hub project on a portion of its land within the Kangding Green Lithium Industrial Park. As of the reporting date, the company has only submitted a filing application and has not yet completed the project registration procedures. The site selection for the company's 2.5 million-ton lithium concentrate beneficiation project has not yet been finalized. The expansion of the original 350,000-ton beneficiation plant at the original site has not commenced. At this stage, the company continues to carry out the entrustment processing business for the transportation of raw ore from external sources.

[Youngy Co.: H1 2026 Revenue Of 1.524 Billion Yuan, Up 402.35% YoY]

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	-47.81	Aug 20
Raw Materials	Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide (Coarse Particles) USD/tonne	-66.52	Aug 20
Cathode material	China Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (Powder Compact Density 2.50g/cm³ min) USD/tonne	-4.06	Aug 20
Battery separator	China 9μm Wet-process Separator USD/m²	0	Aug 20
Electrolyte	China Lithium Hexafluorophosphate USD/tonne	+405.66	Aug 20
Electrolyte	China Electrolyte (for LFP Battery) USD/tonne	+8.84	Aug 20

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