【SMM Flash】U.S. Issues Black Mass Export Rule, Restrictions Effective Aug 27

【U.S. Issues Black Mass Export Rule, Restrictions Effective Aug 27】 The U.S. Department of Commerce on August 5 published the Interim Final Rule implementing export restrictions on black mass and tungsten scrap, following President Trump's Executive Order signed on July 30. The rule will take effect on August 27, 2026, and remain in force until August 27, 2027. During this period, exports of the covered materials will be subject to new U.S. export control requirements, with certain exports requiring authorization or meeting specified conditions. The U.S. government said the measure aims to strengthen domestic critical mineral supply and support the country's battery recycling and critical minerals industries.

Monthly Sodium-Ion Battery Analysis: High Demand Drives Capacity Expansion, Tight Supply Expected Soon

Glass Price Raised, Cell Producer Offers Rise [SMM Silicon-based PV Morning Meeting Summary]

[SMM Silicon-based PV Morning Meeting Minutes: Glass Price Raised, Solar Cell Producers Raised Quotes] Today, quotes in the solar cell market were generally raised, expectations for price hikes heated up, and multiple producers raised their quotes. The quotation range for 183 cells was 0.27-0.275 yuan/W, and those for 210N and 210R were raised to 0.26-0.265 yuan/W. However, downstream module procurement follow-up was weak, with a clear divergence between offer prices and actual transactions, and high prices have not yet been confirmed by actual orders. The market outlook will depend on downstream order performance. If high-priced deals are concluded, there is upside room for prices; if orders are insufficient, quotes may pull back again.

[PV Module Distributor Prices Expected to Show Upward Signal]

Some distributors' quotations are expected to be raised today, mainly affected by the rise in upstream raw material prices. Module producers plan to raise quotations, driving up distributors' quotations. However, current order support is relatively weak, and prices are expected to remain in a tug-of-war.

Samsung SDI Targets AI Data Center BBU Market With Cylindrical Batteries

Samsung SDI announced on August 4 that it will strengthen its push into the AI data center battery backup unit (BBU) market with cylindrical batteries that offer space efficiency, high output and safety. The company plans to expand the application of its cylindrical batteries from power tools and home appliances to BBUs for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

Fayette County to Take Over Permitting and Inspection Work for LG Energy Solution-Honda U.S. Battery Plant

According to local U.S. media reports, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners in Ohio unanimously approved on June 29 a proposal for the county building department to resume reviewing building permits and conducting site inspections for the L-H Battery Company plant. The work had previously been handled by the state government. Following the decision, construction-related permitting and inspection authority for the battery plant near Jeffersonville will be transferred to Fayette County.

Electric Vehicles Excluded From “Korean IRA” Tax Credit Scheme

In the tax reform plan announced on August 3, the South Korean government limited domestic production tax credit support to six sectors: semiconductors, secondary batteries, artificial intelligence (AI) robot components, critical materials, solar power and wind power. As a result, electric vehicles were excluded from the domestic production tax credit scheme, often referred to as the “Korean IRA.”

【SMM Flash】Middle East August Sulfur Contract Prices Released

KPC has set the August Kuwait Sulphur Price (KSP) at $865/mt FOB, down by $85/mt from the July KSP of $950/mt; QatarEnergy has kept its August Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) unchanged at $890/mt FOB from July; ADNOC has kept its August official selling price (OSP) for the Indian subcontinent unchanged at $1,000/mt FOB Ruwais from July.

【SMM Flash News】Digitalization Gains Momentum Across Africa's Lithium to EV Value Chain

Industrial digitalization is emerging as a growing focus area across Africa's lithium and EV supply chain, as producers and downstream players face increasing pressure to demonstrate transparency, traceability, and operational efficiency from mine to battery. In one example of this trend, Southern Africa based industrial software provider IS³ has announced plans to connect operations across the region's lithium and EV ecosystem spanning mining and mineral processing, battery manufacturing, EV assembly, and battery recycling through a shared industrial data platform. The initiative centers on enabling organizations across the value chain to securely share operational data, with stated goals of improving collaboration, visibility, and supply chain resilience across SADC region mining and manufacturing operations. The broader push reflects a wider industry shift: as African lithium projects scale from early production toward integrated regional supply chains, data connectivity and digital infrastructure are increasingly viewed as complementary to traditional competitiveness factors like grade, cost, and logistics. SMM View: Digital traceability and operational data-sharing are becoming a growing differentiator as African lithium producers seek to meet the compliance and sustainability expectations of downstream battery and EV manufacturers, particularly in markets with tightening ESG and supply chain due diligence requirements. As more of Africa's lithium output moves toward integrated processing and battery value chains from Zimbabwe and Namibia through to Southern Africa's broader EV ambitions the pace of digital infrastructure adoption may become an increasingly relevant factor in project competitiveness and investor due diligence going forward.

【SMM Analysis】Ghana's Ewoyaa Lithium Lease Ratified; Chinese Bid for Atlantic Lithium Emerges

Ghana's Parliament ratified the mining lease for Atlantic Lithium's Ewoyaa project on March 20, 2026, granting a 15-year lease under a new sliding royalty scale 5% when spodumene prices fall below $1,500/tonne, rising to 12% above $3,200/tonne, replacing the previously proposed flat 10% rate. The ratification clears Ghana's first-ever lithium mining lease and positions Ewoyaa to move toward a final investment decision. Half of Ewoyaa's planned output is committed to Elevra Lithium (the merged Piedmont Lithium Sayona Mining entity), which holds prior offtake ties to Tesla and LG Chem. Atlantic Lithium's Q1 2026 report showed access to up to $16.4 million in funding, including roughly $11 million from a Ghanaian pension fund, alongside A$13.9 million cash on hand and no debt. In a more recent shift, China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt announced on May 7, 2026 a proposed $210 million acquisition of Atlantic Lithium outright. Days later, Huayou separately agreed to assume Ewoyaa's remaining development funding obligations a move that decouples project construction from the broader takeover outcome, meaning the mine could advance even if the acquisition doesn't close. SMM View: Ewoyaa's ratification cements Ghana's entry into Africa's lithium production landscape, but the Huayou bid adds a new ownership dimension to watch potentially extending Chinese control further into West Africa's spodumene supply chain alongside Mali's Goulamina and Bougouni projects.