[SMM Analysis] South Korea Battery Giant Expands Recycling Business

China's  Lithium hydroxide output fell 13% MoM in August    a rebound is expected in September.

[SMM Analysis]Lithium hydroxide output fell 13% MoM in August    a rebound is expected in September.

This week, lithium hydroxide prices extended last week’s weakness, but the week-on-week decline was limited. 

[SMM Analysis]SMM Lithium Hydroxide Price Review This Week（8.21-8.28）

The lithium carbonate market continued its downward trend this week, with spot prices fluctuating downward overall.

[SMM Analysis] Lithium Carbonate Prices Continue to Decline, Can Peak Demand Season Provide Support?

SMM lithium ore prices fell sharply in tandem with the decline in lithium carbonate prices.

[SMM Analysis] SMM Lithium Ore Price Review This Week（8.21-8.28）

[Lithium Industry Branch Initiative: Resist "Rat Race" Competition and Jointly Foster a Fair, Just, Stable, and Orderly Market Environment]  
To strengthen industry self-discipline, prevent "rat race" competition, safeguard the security of the industry chain and supply chain, and promote the healthy and orderly development of the lithium industry, the Lithium Industry Branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) issued the following initiative to enterprises across the lithium industry chain:  
Enhance upstream-downstream collaboration to ensure industrial security. Uphold the concept of a shared industrial future and adhere to the principle of fair market competition, resolutely opposing disorderly competition, market monopolization, false advertising, and other misconduct. Actively assess market trends and rationally plan new capacity. Elevate the level of strategic cooperation and coordinated development between upstream and downstream segments of the industry chain, improving transparency to reduce communication barriers. Stabilize market supply through measures such as long-term cooperation agreements, optimize industrial layouts, and enhance synergy across the chain to ensure smooth circulation and maintain a healthy development environment.  

Lithium Industry Branch Urges Fair Competition and Collaborative Development for a Stable Market

[Ganfeng Lithium: Ganfeng International and LAR to Jointly Consolidate Joint Venture] Ganfeng Lithium announced that GFL International Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd., and Lithium Argentina AG plan to consolidate Millennial Lithium Corp as a joint venture by injecting three lithium salt lake assets—PPG, PG, and Puna—into Millennial for the joint development of Argentina's Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes salt lake basin. As part of the transaction, the company or its subsidiary agreed to provide LAR with financial assistance of up to $130 million using its own funds, with LAR pledging its equity in the consolidated Millennial as collateral. The financial assistance will primarily support LAR's funding needs, including the construction and development of the consolidated PPGS lithium salt lake project or other mutually agreed purposes. The transaction is subject to approval by relevant government authorities and carries the risk of not being approved. 

Ganfeng Lithium and LAR to Jointly Consolidate Millennial Lithium Corp as JV for Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes Project

[Chinese Scientists Achieve 2-3 Times Improvement in Lithium Battery Energy Density and Driving Range]  
Chinese researchers recently broke through the bottlenecks of conventional lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density and application performance, developing pouch battery cells with an energy density exceeding 600 Wh/kg and module batteries with 480 Wh/kg. These performance metrics represent a direct 2-3 times enhancement over existing lithium-ion batteries in both energy density and driving range. 

Chinese Scientists Achieve 2-3 Times Improvement in Lithium Battery Energy Density, Boosting Driving Range

[149 ESS Producers Voice Opposition to "Rat Race" Competition, Industry Association: Expected to Gradually Form Industry Consensus and Self-Discipline] Recently, the China Industrial Association of Power Sources (CIAPS) released the "Initiative on Maintaining Fair Competition and Promoting the Healthy Development of the Energy Storage Industry" (Draft for Comments). The initiative shows that 149 companies have participated. CIAPS stated that the participating companies collectively cover various segments of the industry chain and supply chain, including lithium-ion battery, flow battery, sodium-ion battery, compressed air energy storage, flywheel energy storage, supercapacitors, thermal storage, PCS, BMS, energy storage system integrators, intelligent equipment, temperature control systems, fire protection systems, design and planning, and construction and installation. For instance, nine out of the top 10 lithium-ion battery producers and eight out of the top 10 energy storage system integrators actively participated in this initiative, indicating strong support and positive response from the ESS industry chain. This is expected to gradually foster industry consensus and self-discipline. 

149 ESS Producers Oppose Intense Competition, Industry Association Aims for Consensus and Self-Discipline

[Farasis Energy: Receives Project Designation Notice from a Leading Domestic New Energy Commercial Vehicle Customer, Commencing Supply in 2026]  
Farasis Energy announced that Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd. recently received a project designation notice from a leading domestic new energy commercial vehicle customer (hereinafter referred to as the "Customer," whose name cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality requirements). According to the Customer's sales forecast and arrangements, the company is expected to commence supply in 2026. The designated car model will adopt an LFP power battery solution based on the Super Punch Solution (SPS) pouch power battery design.  
This designation notice signifies further market recognition of the company's SPS battery products and marks another breakthrough for Farasis' SPS LFP power battery in the new energy commercial vehicle sector. 

Farasis Energy Secures Project Designation for SPS LFP Batteries from Major Domestic EV Customer, Supply to Commence in 2026

[Nuode: Company's Products Primarily Used in Lithium Battery Manufacturing]  
Nuode announced that the closing price of its stock had deviated by a cumulative 20% over three consecutive trading days, constituting an abnormal stock trading fluctuation. Upon self-review, the company confirmed that its current production and operations are running normally, with no significant changes in internal or external business conditions. The company's core business involves the R&D, production, and sales of copper cathodes for lithium-ion batteries, with its products primarily applied in lithium battery manufacturing. 

Nuode Stock Experiences Abnormal Fluctuation Despite Normal Operations in Lithium Battery Material Business

[Azure Lithium Battery: Subsidiary Signs Cooperation Framework Agreement with Taiwan Molicel]  
Azure Lithium Battery announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Malaysia Tianpeng, signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement with Taiwan Molicel. The two parties will collaborate on specific product development, trial production and verification, toll processing, and establish a joint venture for product sales. The agreement took effect upon signing and remains valid for three years, with the possibility of extension upon mutual written consent. This cooperation will enhance the company's R&D and manufacturing capabilities in the high-end product sector, contributing positively to the sustained development of its lithium battery business. 

Azure Lithium Battery's Subsidiary Inks Cooperation Framework Agreement with Taiwan Molicel

[GEM and Azure Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement to Establish an Innovation Consortium for Ultra-High Specific Energy Battery Materials and Solid-State Batteries]  
GEM announced that the company has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Azure, establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two parties will engage in in-depth collaboration in areas such as raw material supply, R&D, market expansion, and capital support for ultra-high specific energy batteries. This agreement between GEM and Azure will enable both parties to jointly address the global market's demand and challenges for ultra-high specific energy battery materials, creating an innovation consortium for ultra-high specific energy battery materials and solid-state batteries, and collaboratively developing world-leading industrialisation technologies for ultra-high specific energy battery materials and solid-state batteries. 

GEM and Azure Form Strategic Partnership to Create Innovation Consortium for Ultra-High Specific Energy Battery Materials and Solid-State Batteries

[Chengdu: NEV Production Up 326.2% YoY in Jan-July]  
According to the official WeChat account of Chengdu Release, from January to July this year, the value-added output of industries above designated size in the city rose 8.0% YoY, while fixed-asset investment (excluding rural households) increased 4.5% YoY, with private investment up 5.6%. By sector, 24 out of 37 major industries saw growth in value-added output, including the automotive manufacturing sector (up 22.9%) and the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing sector (up 17.2%). In terms of major industrial product output, NEVs surged 326.2%, smartwatches jumped 135.2%, and lithium-ion batteries grew 41.4%. 

Chengdu Witnesses 326.2% YoY Growth in NEV Production from Jan-July

[Zhuhai CosMX Battery: Plans to Invest 2 Billion Yuan in New-Type Lithium Battery Production Construction Project]  

Zhuhai CosMX Battery announced that the company intends to invest approximately 2 billion yuan of its own or raised funds to implement a new-type lithium battery production construction project, which will be used to establish a new-type steel-shell mass production line. The project is located in Doumen District, Zhuhai City, with an estimated investment of 2 billion yuan, funded by the company's own or raised capital. The construction period is expected to be 12 months, aiming to enhance the core competitiveness of the company's products, meet customer demand, and consolidate and expand market share. This investment will not affect the company's daily cash flow, business operations, or operational independence, nor will it have any adverse impact on its financial or operational conditions. 

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