Bezant Resources PLC has completed the first blast at the Hope open pit within its 90%-owned Hope & Gorob copper-gold project in Namibia, marking a further step toward mining and future concentrate production at the project. The initial blast involved approximately 20,000 tonnes of material and is expected to liberate around 2,000 tonnes of commercially viable mineralisation. Preliminary evaluation of the exposed mineralisation indicates that its location and grade are broadly consistent with the project's existing geological block model. Following the blast, grade-control work will compare assay results from blasthole samples with the exposed mineralisation to refine ore selection. Mining and transportation of run-of-mine (ROM) ore to the Tsaoxaub Metals flotation plant are expected to begin shortly, where material will be stockpiled ahead of future plant commissioning. Preparations for further mining are also progressing. Blastholes have already been drilled for a second blast, while the mining contractor has commenced ground clearance and separation of ore and waste for haulage. Recruitment of plant operators is ongoing following the appointment of the plant site manager, while the mine geology team is working with external consultants to validate the existing block model. The first blast represents an important operational milestone as Hope & Gorob moves closer to the processing stage. The next key developments will be the delivery of ROM ore to the plant, commissioning of the flotation facility and eventual production of saleable concentrate, providing clearer indications of the project's transition from development into copper-gold production.

【Current Operating Status and Future Outlook of China's Crude Zinc Market Under Dual Supply-Demand Pressure】Since 2026, the domestic crude zinc market has exhibited operating characteristics of concurrent supply-side contraction and demand-side structural divergence. Affected by the combined impact of tightening raw material supply ......

SMM, August 14: Under the dual pressures of tight scrap battery raw material supply and smelting losses, domestic secondary crude lead smelters showed weak willingness to produce and sell. This Friday, mainstream tax-inclusive delivered secondary crude lead transactions were concentrated at 14,400-14,450 yuan/mt. New transactions for imported crude lead were sluggish, with scarce public quotes in the market, and only a small number of long-term contracts were executed at parity with the SMM #1 lead average price on an EXW port basis. Looking ahead to next week, domestic secondary crude lead supply is unlikely to see significant release, and downstream demand is expected to remain mediocre. Against the backdrop of lead prices in the doldrums, suppliers holding imported crude lead lacked sufficient profit margins, mostly chose to hold back from selling and await sales; although their quotes remained firm, the impact on the spot market was limited.

During the first half of August, the domestic spent battery cell market exhibited a pattern of price divergence and sluggish trading activity.

August 13, 2026 For Citi, silver remains the classic hedge against gold. In a recent client note, the analysts confirm their optimistic price targets of US$75 per ounce over the next zero to three months and US$90 over the next six to twelve months – based on the current price of around US$65. Investment flows are overtaking industrial demand as a price driver Citi expects investor demand to continue to recover and to have a greater impact on price trends in future than industrial demand. Two macro factors are particularly crucial in this regard: a possible easing of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and a less restrictive stance by the US Federal Reserve. Whilst higher real yields and a strong US dollar have recently weighed on silver , the bank estimates that these factors are likely to ease between September and December. In this environment, silver – with its typically higher beta – should follow the trend set by gold and react particularly sensitively to any geopolitical de-escalation. At the same time, the focus is shifting in the short term from industry towards capital flows. In the solar sector, a structural slowdown is emerging due to material savings and the rise of the more efficient back-contact cell technology (BC). BC technology could become the standard by 2028. Indian tailwind meets structural market deficit The silver market continues to receive strong support from India, where a local premium of around 7 per cent highlights the high level of demand. Citi expects an additional surge in demand here ahead of the upcoming festival and wedding season in the fourth quarter. Despite the headwinds from the solar sector, the bank expects the global silver market to remain in deficit until at least 2027. Key growth drivers such as artificial intelligence, 5G and electric mobility are largely offsetting the weaker demand from the solar sector. For investors, this results in an attractive mix of macroeconomic recovery, rising investor demand and a persistent structural shortfall. Source： https://goldinvest.de/en/is-a-silver-rally-on-the-cards-citi-confirms-target-of-ususd90

According to SMM data, the antimony market showed a stable-then-rise trend this week, with the price center continuing to move higher. The average price of #1 antimony ingot stabilized at 92,000 yuan/mt from Monday to Wednesday (Aug 10-12), was raised by 1,500 yuan/mt to 93,500 yuan/mt on Thursday (Aug 13), and remained unchanged on Friday. 99.8% antimony trioxide (domestic) largely moved in tandem, with its average price stabilizing at 82,000 yuan/mt from Monday to Wednesday, edging up by 500 yuan/mt to 82,500 yuan/mt on Thursday (Aug 13), and unchanged on Friday. The increase in antimony trioxide was noticeably smaller than that in antimony ingot, reflecting that downstream demand from flame retardants and other end uses improved but remained mild. In terms of pace, prices in the antimony products market mainly climbed steadily during this week's trading days; smelters generally held prices firm and held back from selling under loss-making pressure, and the market showed clear directional momentum. The mid-week rise was mainly driven by warming expectations of continued buyer stockpiling, but market participants widely reported that downstream rigid-demand restocking slowed noticeably and speculative interest also cooled, with overall market sentiment shifting to mildly bullish. Date #1 Antimony Ingot Lowest Price #1 Antimony Ingot Highest Price #1 Antimony Ingot Average Price Antimony Trioxide Lowest Price Antimony Trioxide Highest Price Antimony Trioxide Average Price Change 2026-08-10 (Mon) 91,000 93,000 92,000 81,000 83,000 82,000 Antimony +2,000 / oxide +1,000 2026-08-11 (Tue) 91,000 93,000 92,000 81,000 83,000 82,000 Unchanged 2026-08-12 (Wed) 91,000 93,000 92,000 81,000 83,000 82,000 Unchanged 2026-08-13 (Thu) 92,000 95,000 93,500 81,500 83,500 82,500 Antimony +1,500 / oxide +500 2026-08-14 (Fri) 92,000 95,000 93,500 81,500 83,500 82,500 Unchanged Weekly Average 90,500 92,900 91,700 78,750 81,400 80,075 Weekly +1.6% / +0.6% According to SMM estimates, China's antimony ingot production in July 2026, including antimony ingot, converted crude antimony, and antimony cathode, jumped about 30% MoM, showing a sharp increase. Customs data show that antimony ore imports from outside China in April, May, and June all exceeded 10,000 mt, and large ore imports inevitably translated into higher antimony ingot production. In H1 2026, cumulative antimony ore imports reached 59,347.5 mt in physical content, already exceeding total imports for full-year 2025. June antimony ores and concentrates imports were 10,688.6 mt, down 2.7% MoM from 10,980.1 mt in May, but still above the 10,000 mt mark. However, the previously market-worried "Spain variable" source is not sustainable. Combined with limited domestic mining output growth, the tight raw material pattern remained unchanged. Notably, a planned #1 antimony ingot smelting project with annual capacity of 10,000 mt in Xiaoerkule, Xinjiang may affect the future supply landscape. From a cost perspective, mining costs of some large producers' self-owned antimony ore plus smelting processing fees are now relatively close to spot prices, and smelters' willingness to hold prices firm and hold back from selling is highly consistent, which is also the core reason prices could sustain their uptrend this week. June antimony trioxide export volume was 474.3 mt, up 145.6% MoM from about 193 mt in May, with Russia as the top destination. Export channels showed a diversification trend, but total volumes remained low. Over the same period, unwrought antimony exports were zero, indicating antimony ingot exports were still restricted. The import structure shifted markedly, with Spain's share rising; export channels became more diversified, but total volumes remained low. Looking at Thai trade data, Thailand's antimony ingot imports in June were 1,405 mt, up 173.1% MoM and a half-year peak, sourced mainly from Vietnam, Myanmar, and Hong Kong; exports were 689 mt, up 132.1% MoM, mainly destined for Belgium, South Korea, and Japan. Thailand's industry chain pattern of processing antimony ingots into value-added exports to developed economies is clear, with export unit prices generally above import costs and a notable processing value-added effect. Data Indicator Latest Month Previous Month MoM Change Antimony ores imports (mt) 10,688.6 (Jun) 10,980.1 (May) -2.7% H1 cumulative antimony ore imports (mt in physical content) 59,347.5 - Exceeds full-year 2025 Antimony trioxide exports (mt) 474.3 (Jun) 193.2 (May) +145.6% Unwrought antimony exports 0 (Jun) 0 (May) Remained zero Antimony ingot production Jul +30% MoM Jun +30% Export controls continue. Since July 1, export controls on strategic minerals have been upgraded to "whole-supply-chain networked supervision"; compliant export channels have narrowed, which will further tighten domestic available supply. Although antimony trioxide exports rose sharply MoM, total volumes remained low compared with normal monthly exports of several thousand mt, and the industry chain's export willingness improved but the overall stance remained cautious. On end-use demand, as the traditional off-season draws to a close, operating rates across downstream sectors are expected to rebound steadily; for example, operating rates in the flame retardant and alloy sectors are expected to increase with the arrival of the September-October peak season. After earlier capacity contraction, the PV glass industry also has production resumption expectations, but demand for sodium pyroantimonate still needs to be observed and verified. Bromine prices rose to 36,500 yuan/mt on tightening supply and consolidated at highs, providing cost support for antimony prices. However, after restocking for rigid demand in the previous period, end-users now hold some raw material inventory and are not highly motivated to continue restocking in the near term. From this week's antimony trioxide transactions, downstream acceptance of high-priced antimony trioxide supply remained cautious, and there was some resistance in passing this through to the upstream smelting segment. This was also an important reason why this week's antimony price rise was measured and lacked momentum for a one-sided sharp rally. For example, sodium pyroantimonate production in July fell 20% MoM, and two consecutive months of decline showed that the peak demand season had not arrived. From this week's trend, the pace of price increases reflected the market's core contradiction: a game between smelters' willingness to hold prices firm and downstream acceptance of high prices. Looking ahead to next week, the core logic supporting antimony prices remains solid: smelters generally face loss-making pressure from inverted prices of externally purchased raw materials and finished products, and their willingness to hold prices firm and hold back from selling is highly consistent; meanwhile, the approaching September-October peak season is further strengthening downstream expectations of future restocking. Next week, antimony prices are expected to hold up well. Given that current gains are relatively mild and upward momentum still needs to accumulate, the probability of a sustained one-sided sharp rally is low. Attention should be paid to downstream actual acceptance of cargoes after price increases. In the medium and long term, over the next month, the antimony market is expected to continue its firm pattern as peak-season demand materializes. Late Q3 to early Q4 is the traditional peak consumption season for antimony products; the flame retardant industry entering its production peak will boost consumption of antimony trioxide and antimony ingot, and the PV glass industry has production resumption expectations. On the supply side, China's antimony ore is constrained by resources and can hardly see significant volume growth; export controls continue to deepen, and the price center is expected to rise gradually. Key Points to Watch: - Downstream actual acceptance of antimony ingot prices after increases and the sustainability of transaction volume expansion - Changes in Antimony Oxide Capacity Outside China and China's Export Recovery Progress - Actual Verification of "September-October Peak Season" Demand - Subsequent Changes in Antimony Ore Imports - Progress on the 10,000 mt Antimony Ingot Smelting Project in Xiaoerkule, Xinjiang - Bromine Price Trend and Cost Support - Enforcement of Strategic Mineral Export Control Policies