Stainless Steel Daily Review: SS Futures Trend Lower, Spot Market Trading Sluggish

Today, the DCE iron ore contract fluctuated at weak bias as the main contract I2605 finally closed at 753, down 0.92% from the previous working day.

MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (December 15)

[Domestic iron ore review: Iron ore concentrate prices in Shandong region may remain in the doldrums] In Shandong region, the tax-exclusive offer for 64% grade alkaline powder dry base dropped by 15 yuan to 874 yuan. Steel enterprises synchronized price cuts. Some miners resumed production after earlier maintenance, leading to a recovery in supply. However, a few miners experienced decreased production due to raw material shortages. Currently, most mines and beneficiation plants maintain normal production. Entering next week, some may undergo annual maintenance.

[Domestic Iron Ore Brief] Iron Ore Concentrate Prices in Shandong Region May Remain in the Doldrums

CATL and Transfar Group have recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Ningde, Fujian province, formalizing a partnership aimed at accelerating green and intelligent transformation across i...

CATL, Transfar Group forge strategic partnership to advance zero-carbon and smart industrial ecosystems

On December 12, autonomous driving technology company WeRide and global mobility platform Uber announced the official launch of a public Robotaxi service in Dubai, carried out in collaboration with th...

WeRide, Uber launch public Robotaxi service in Dubai with RTA backing

South Korean battery manufacturer SK On and Ford Motor previously established a 50-50 joint venture, BlueOval SK, responsible for battery production in the United States. The joint venture had two plants in Kentucky and one plant in Tennessee. However, on December 11 local time, SK On announced that it had reached an agreement with Ford Motor to restructure the operational structure of BlueOval SK. The two parties will independently own and operate the battery plants, with SK On taking over the Tennessee portion and Ford receiving the Kentucky portion. This agreement is expected to be finalised in Q1 2026, but it is subject to approval from relevant departments and the completion of other subsequent procedures.

[SMM New Energy] South Korea Battery Giant SK On and Ford 'Split Up'

Recently, the APsystems official account announced that the 100 MW/400 MWh ESS power station in Shenzhou, Hebei, supported by its subsidiary Jiangsu Lingchu Yuneng, has officially entered the grid connection phase. The project utilizes 80 sets of Ocean 5000L prefabricated energy storage cabins, one set of EMS system, and PCS+BMS system independently developed by Lingchu Yuneng. Each Ocean 5000L prefabricated energy storage cabin can store 5,000 kWh of electricity. The delivered products adopt modular distributed energy storage technology and an adaptive temperature difference regulation strategy, significantly reducing auxiliary power consumption compared to traditional solutions, marking an important breakthrough in the company's ability to secure and deliver orders for large-scale ESS projects.

APsystems' Subsidiary Powers Up 100 MW/400 MWh ESS Station in Hebei

CNGR responded to investors on December 12, stating that the company has already laid out two salt lake lithium mines in Argentina, and is expected to control over 10 million mt LCE of lithium resources. This resource volume is anticipated to increase as exploration work deepens. Subsequently, the company will further confirm the reserves of the two salt lake lithium mines and proceed with mining based on exploration and construction progress, in conjunction with its own and market demand. The company will disclose relevant progress on the Argentine lithium mines in accordance with relevant regulations.

[SMM New Energy] CNGR: Has Already Laid Out Two Salt Lake Lithium Mines in Argentina, Expected to Control Over 10 Million mt LCE of Lithium Resources

China Baoan announced that the company would act as the lead of a restructuring investment consortium, joining with its subsidiary BTR New Materials Group Co., Ltd. and other potential investors, to participate in the substantial consolidation restructuring investor recruitment for Shanshan Group Co., Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Ningbo Pengze Trading Co., Ltd. The announcement revealed that the Yinzhou District People's Court of Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, accepted the bankruptcy restructuring case of Shanshan Group on February 25, 2025, and ruled to substantially consolidate the restructuring of Shanshan Group and Ningbo Pengze on March 20. On November 7, 2025, the administrator of Shanshan Group issued an announcement to continue recruiting interested investors. Currently, China Baoan has submitted application materials as required by the administrator and paid a 50 million yuan due diligence deposit, while also commissioning intermediaries to conduct due diligence. The company's board has authorized management to draft a restructuring investment plan and participate in subsequent on-site presentations and potential competitive negotiations.

[SMM New Energy] China Baoan Leads Consortium Including BTR in Shanshan Group Restructuring

A Swedish electric vehicle brand announced that the model it plans to launch next year will be produced under contract manufacturing in South Korea and will be equipped exclusively with NCM batteries sourced from Korean suppliers.

Swedish EV Brand to Have Next-Year Model Contract-Manufactured in Korea with Korean NCM Batteries

On the 9th (local time), the Korea Automobile Technology Institute (KATECH) held a handover ceremony for electric vehicles and opened a hybrid charging station in Jakarta as part of an e-vehicle system project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia. The 15 Kona EVs delivered were produced locally in Indonesia and are equipped with the country’s first domestically manufactured EV batteries.

Korea Automobile Research Institute Delivers 15 Kona EVs to Jakarta, Opens Hybrid Charging Station

Hubert Fink, Vice Chairman of Germany-based specialty chemicals group LANXESS, said on the 10th that the company does not rule out the possibility of establishing research and development (R&D) or production facilities in South Korea.

LANXESS Vice Chairman Says Company May Establish R&D and Production Facilities in South Korea

SK On has recently decided to convert the electric vehicle–oriented ternary battery production facility currently being expanded at its Seosan battery plant in South Chungcheong Province into a dedicated LFP production line for energy storage systems (ESS). Once completed, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 3 GWh.

SK On converts Seosan battery plant expansion into ESS-Dedicated LFP production line

[Multiple Listed Companies Plan to Raise Prices of Lithium Iron Phosphate Products]

According to information obtained by reporters from the First Third Council Meeting of the Lithium Iron Phosphate Materials Branch of the China Industrial Association of Power Sources, several leading companies have begun adjusting the prices of their products. Recently, the lithium iron phosphate industry has been witnessing an intensive wave of price hikes. Reporters have learned from multiple companies along the supply chain that leading manufacturers have started issuing clear price increase notices to their customers.  

It is understood that one major manufacturer has explicitly stated that, starting from 2026, processing fees for the entire range of lithium iron phosphate products will be uniformly raised. Another industry insider revealed that price increases for certain customers have already been implemented. Some companies are still in intensive negotiations with clients but acknowledge that "price hikes have become an inevitable trend." This move is expected to help restore profit margins for companies in the industry.

[Multiple Listed Companies Plan to Raise Prices of Lithium Iron Phosphate Products]

[China's Domestic Power Battery Installation Volume in November Reaches 93.5 GWh, Up 39.2% Year-on-Year]

The China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance released the power battery monthly data for November 2025. In November, domestic power battery installation volume reached 93.5 GWh, an increase of 11.2% month-on-month and 39.2% year-on-year. Among these, ternary battery installation volume was 18.2 GWh, accounting for 19.4% of the total, showing a 9.9% month-on-month growth and a 33.7% year-on-year increase. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery installation volume was 75.3 GWh, constituting 80.5% of the total, with an 11.6% month-on-month rise and a 40.7% year-on-year surge. From January to November, the cumulative domestic power battery installation volume was 671.5 GWh, reflecting a cumulative year-on-year growth of 42.0%. Within this, cumulative ternary battery installation volume was 125.9 GWh, representing 18.8% of the total, with a cumulative year-on-year increase of 1.0%. Cumulative LFP battery installation volume reached 545.5 GWh, making up 81.2% of the total, and saw a cumulative year-on-year growth of 56.7%.




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