The global automotive industry is accelerating its low-carbon and intelligent transformation, with China's automotive industry advancing from scale advantages to dual leadership in technology and supply chain. In 2025, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in China exceeded 50%, driving the upgrade of automotive materials such as aluminum, steel, and magnesium, with demand for lightweight new materials surging. Coupled with the implementation of the EU carbon border tax, low-carbon transformation of the industry chain is imminent. Coinciding with the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the deepening phase of the dual carbon goals, the industry urgently needs a professional platform to address material technology challenges. Against this backdrop,will be held on September 10-11, 2026 in Shanghai . SMM together with exclusive drinking water title sponsorship partner - Anhui Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy New Material Co., Ltd. sincerely invites industry peers to attend the conference, promoting the in-depth evolution of the automotive supply chain toward green, lightweight, intelligent, and global development. Clickto attend. We look forward to meeting you at the conference. Anhui Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy New Material Co., Ltd. was established in October 2018 with a registered capital of 100 million yuan. Located at No. 12 Yanghuai Road, Economic Development Zone, Suixi County, Huaibei City, Anhui province, it is a private new-type aluminum alloy material enterprise integrating R&D, production, and sales. The company occupies a total land area of 63,603 m², approximately 95.5 mu. The planned total construction area is 32,000 m², with supporting public auxiliary engineering. The total project investment is approximately 150 million yuan, of which construction investment is 95 million yuan. The overall designed capacity is 150,000 mt per year. The main products include various grades of high-quality cast aluminum alloy ingots, aluminum alloy liquid, and secondary aluminum alloy bars, primarily used in automotive, new energy, and other fields . The main production equipment adopts China's advanced high-efficiency and energy-saving automatic melting furnaces, achieving high efficiency, energy conservation, reduced slag formation, and improved aluminum liquid purity. The production equipment, technical level, and economic indicators have reached the advanced level of similar domestic production processes. The company is dedicated to the research and manufacturing of aluminum as a substitute for steel and aluminum as an substitute for copper, promoting the lightweight development of automotive, rail transit, and aerospace components, achieving energy conservation and emission reduction, and protecting the global environment. For every mt of secondary aluminum we recycle, we can reduce ore mining by 11 mt, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 0.8 mt, reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 0.6 mt, reduce solid scrap by 20 mt, save 22 m³ of water, and save 14,000 kWh of electricity. Soaring forward with bold strides, breaking through with innovation! Xiongchuang Aluminum Alloy builds its backbone with integrity and forges brilliance with service! In the future, we will fully leverage our industrial advantages, integrate resources from all parties, target market development trends, and create greater value for our clients. Contact Information Mr. Liu 181 0561 3888 Mr. Yang 151 3040 8133 SMM Conference Contact Lv Junlei 176 1601 9596 lvjunlei@smm.cn

Driven by the dual forces of global energy structure transformation and the "dual carbon" goals, battery technology is evolving from a traditional electricity storage medium into a core engine reshaping transportation, consumer electronics, and even the energy internet. From fundamental breakthroughs in materials science to the industrialisation of cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state and sodium-ion batteries, the battery industry is in a period of explosive technological advancement with intense competition. This conference brings together the world's top scholars, industry chain leaders, and capital forces, aiming to break down barriers between "industry, academia, research, and application." We will delve into key topics including high energy density, ultimate safety, ultra-fast charging technology, and recycling, jointly charting a new blueprint for green, efficient, and sustainable energy. Shenzhen Huanaxincai Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event to discuss industry development trends with industry peers and jointly drive battery technology to new heights. form to sign up immediately, and together witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, co-creating a brilliant new chapter! Shenzhen Huanaxincai Co., Ltd. was founded in November 2021 by a doctoral team of high-level overseas talents. It is a national high-tech enterprise specialising in the R&D, industrialisation, and end-use applications of sodium-ion battery cathode materials. The company has been recognised as a "Shenzhen Specialised, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative Enterprise" and a "Shenzhen 20+8 Industrial Cluster Enterprise." It has applied for or been granted nearly 80 patents, obtained ISO9001, ISO14001, and other system certifications, and served as the lead or major co-drafter of four sodium-ion battery standards. The company has received multiple rounds of financing from publicly listed firms including Meilian New Material and Zijian Electronics, and has won numerous industry awards. Core Business The company specialises in the R&D, production, and sales of sodium-ion battery cathode materials. With years of deep industry expertise and over 100 core patents accumulated, it possesses strong technological capabilities. Currently, the enterprise has fully mastered both mainstream sodium-ion battery cathode material technology routes — layered oxide and polyanion. Its products maintain a leading position in overall market performance. The layered oxide cathode materials feature high energy density, high working voltage, and excellent C-rate performance, making them widely suitable for application fields such as power batteries. The polyanion NFPP cathode materials are characterised by high safety, ultra-long cycle life, and outstanding wide-temperature adaptability, with excellent cycling performance, making them particularly suitable for scenarios with stringent safety and service life requirements such as utility-scale energy storage, backup power supplies, and starter batteries. The polyanion NFS cathode materials feature high voltage and high capacity performance, and are widely applied in scenarios such as light vehicle power and others. Leveraging a mature technology system and rigorous quality control management, the company's products have achieved large-scale mass production and stable supply, successfully entering various application segments and establishing in-depth partnerships with multiple Fortune Global 500 enterprises and leading industry clients. We remain committed to technological innovation as our core driving force, continuously iterating product performance, and dedicated to providing global clients with high-grade, highly reliable sodium-ion battery cathode materials to facilitate the high-quality development of the new energy industry. Long press 2026 SMM Battery Technology Conference

SMM June 4 update: This week, the aluminum fluoride tender price from downstream benchmark enterprises was finalised, and aluminum fluoride prices declined. As of now, SMM aluminum fluoride prices closed at 11,280-11,700 yuan/mt; cryolite prices remained stable, with SMM cryolite quoted at 7,000-8,500 yuan/mt. Raw material side: This week, China's 97% fluorite wet powder market remained stable, with mainstream delivered transaction prices concentrated at 3,100-3,400 yuan/mt, and regional price spreads remained notable. Supply side, as mine operating rates in northern major producing areas continued to recover, domestic spot supply steadily increased; meanwhile, Mongolian imported fluorite cargoes arrived at ports successively and flowed into the market, further exacerbating the loose supply pattern. However, recent coal mine safety accidents in Shanxi triggered market expectations of stricter mine safety and environmental protection supervision, which may cause periodic disruptions to production pace at some mines going forward, and the market still held certain wait-and-see sentiment toward the supply side. Demand side performance remained weak. Downstream hydrofluoric acid enterprises, constrained by insufficient operating rates in end-use industries such as refrigerants and fluoropolymers, maintained just-in-time procurement for raw materials, with limited follow-up on large orders, and overall market trading atmosphere was sluggish. Affected by weak raw materials and insufficient end-use demand, the hydrofluoric acid market price center continued to shift downward, further weakening support for the fluorite market. Overall, under the combined influence of multiple bearish factors including domestic supply recovery, continuous supplementation of low-priced imported cargoes, and weak downstream demand, the overall supply-demand pattern remained loose, and fluorite prices are likely to continue weak consolidation in the short term. This week, China's aluminum hydroxide market held up well within a narrow range, with SMM aluminum hydroxide weighted average price at 1,656 yuan/mt, up 0.3% WoW. Upstream cost supported spot quotes, while downstream made purchases on demand with limited transaction volume growth. This week, domestic sulphuric acid stayed high and held up well. High sulphur costs combined with concentrated maintenance at multiple facilities and tight spot supply; although phosphate fertiliser downstream was in the traditional off-season, suppressing room for price increases, just-in-time chemical demand provided a floor, and short-term sulphuric acid prices are expected to continue fluctuating at highs with an overall firm pattern. Overall, this week aluminum fluoride's main raw materials were generally stable with slight rise. Rising aluminum hydroxide and sulphuric acid prices drove the industry's comprehensive cost center upward, and raw material price increases were difficult to pass through smoothly downstream, intensifying pressure on enterprise production costs. Supply side continued the pattern of "rigid high costs—sustained profit pressure—low operating rates." This week, sulphuric acid and aluminum hydroxide prices rose, the industry was generally in a state of losses, enterprise maintenance and flexible production increased, and the industry operating rate remained at a low level of around 40%, with limited effective incremental supply. Demand side, downstream operating aluminum capacity remained stable at high levels, providing rigid floor demand for aluminum fluoride, but aluminum enterprise procurement was dominated by just-in-time restocking and pushing for lower prices with a wait-and-see approach, with no additional incremental demand for now. Brief comment: Recently, the raw material market was generally stable with a strengthening trend. Within the week, the industry's comprehensive cost center rose, enterprise profit margins continued to be squeezed, and sustained losses dampened production enthusiasm. On the demand side, downstream aluminum enterprises still maintained just-in-time procurement. Within the week, the June benchmark aluminum enterprise aluminum fluoride tender price was officially finalised, down 200-220 yuan/mt WoW. Driven by the tender price reduction, market transaction price center shifted downward accordingly. Going forward, close attention should be paid to dynamic changes on the raw material cost side, as well as marginal adjustments in downstream aluminum enterprise procurement pace.

[SMM Rare Earth News Flash] The preliminary economic assessment of Ramaco Resources' Brook rare earth project in Wyoming showed that at an 8% discount rate, the after-tax net present value was approximately $1.2 billion, with an internal rate of return of 38%, initial capital costs of $473 million, and a payback period of approximately 5 years. The mine had a designed life of 42 years and was expected to produce 1,000 mt of total rare earth oxides annually. The project is the first new rare earth-critical minerals mine built in the US in seventy years, and construction of mining and pilot facilities is currently underway. The Phase 1 SRC processing facility of REalloys is expected to commence operations by the end of 2026 or early 2027, with a designed annual capacity of 525 mt of Pr-Nd alloy, 25 mt of dysprosium metal, and 12 mt of terbium metal.

Refined Cobalt: Spot refined cobalt prices fluctuated lower this week, being under pressure. In terms of supply, mainstream smelters lowered their ex-factory quotations to 422,000 yuan/mt, while trader quotation basis continued within the previous range, maintained between parity and a premium of 10,000 yuan/mt. Demand side, downstream alloy and magnetic material enterprises continued to restock on an as-needed basis, maintaining strict control over raw material inventory. The price decline this week was mainly driven by the continued weakening of cobalt salt prices. Currently, the metal price spread between refined cobalt and cobalt salt has been largely eliminated, and the reverse dissolution arbitrage window has completely closed. In the short term, the market may continue to face a volatile and pressured landscape, and the stabilization of refined cobalt prices still depends on cobalt salt prices returning to stability. Cobalt Intermediate Products: Cobalt intermediate product prices edged down this week. Supply side, mainstream miners and traders still held firm on quotations near $26/lb; however, as the cobalt salt market remained persistently weak, downstream smelters adopted a more cautious purchasing stance, and tender transaction prices from some miners had pulled back to $25.1/lb. Regarding shipments, Q1 2026 quota approvals continued to progress slowly due to complex procedures, compounded by tight logistics capacity in the DRC and low priority given to cobalt raw material transportation, causing the arrival of large volumes of cargo to be repeatedly delayed. In the short term, demand-side support remained weak, and prices may continue to move sideways; for the market to stabilize and strengthen going forward, it still needs to await a recovery in downstream demand and a rebound in cobalt salt prices. Cobalt Sulphate: Spot cobalt sulphate prices continued to fall this week. Supply side, the quotation range of mainstream brands shifted down to 87,000-93,000 yuan/mt, and some smelters and traders, constrained by cash flow pressure, opted to sell at reduced prices, with low-priced resources in the market touching 85,000-86,000 yuan/mt. Demand side, downstream enterprises were primarily focused on destocking, with purchase willingness remaining subdued, and market transactions were limited to sporadic just-in-time procurement. The core reason behind this sustained price weakness lay in the strategic mismatch between sellers and buyers: on the demand side, LCO enterprises' procurement intensity fell short of expectations, and with top-tier players in their interim report disclosure period, inventory control tightened and stockpiling enthusiasm remained low; on the supply side, some enterprises, driven by cash flow pressure or interim report performance considerations, continued to adopt a strategy of selling at reduced prices, which further intensified bearish market sentiment and, through the cost side, dragged down black mass payables and absolute cobalt sulphate prices, forming a negative feedback loop. In the short term, cobalt sulphate prices may remain in the doldrums, and a stabilization and recovery in the market still awaits the substantive release of concentrated restocking demand from downstream. SMM New Energy Research Team Wang Cong 021-51666838 Ma Rui 021-51595780 Feng Disheng 021-51666714 Lv Yanlin 021-20707875 Xiao Wenhao 021-51666872 Zhang Haohan 021-51666752 Wang Zihan 021-51666914 Wang Jie 021-51595902 Xu Yang 021-51666760 Yang Lianting 021-51595835 Wang Zhaoyu 021-51666827

Spot lithium carbonate prices continued to decline this week. The futures market performed weakly, with the price range of the most-traded LC2609 contract fluctuating downward from 178,000-182,100 yuan/mt at the beginning of the week to 157,600-167,600 yuan/mt, hitting a mid-week low of 157,600 yuan/mt, with a weekly decline of approximately 10.7%. Overall open interest decreased, and market sentiment was bearish. Market transactions exhibited a divergent pattern of "upstream holding prices firm and holding back from selling, downstream dip-buying," while actual transactions maintained a certain level of activity. Upstream lithium chemical plants showed a passive attitude toward spot order shipments, with sentiment to hold prices firm and hold back from selling still prevailing. Only some enterprises that had hedged at higher levels earlier were able to close a small number of spot orders with downstream buyers or traders. On the downstream material plants side, June production schedules stayed high with demand continuing to grow. Supported by rigid demand, some enterprises maintained dip-buying and stockpiling for rigid needs. As prices continued to fall, some enterprises adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude, with purchase willingness and target prices adjusted downward in tandem. Overall, market inquiries and actual transactions maintained a certain level of activity. Supply side, production increased, and industry chain inventory changes diverged significantly. Lithium carbonate production increased this week, mainly due to the successive production resumptions of spodumene processing lines that had previously undergone maintenance. The recycling segment and salt lake segment maintained stable production, while the lepidolite segment experienced minor production fluctuations due to raw material supply issues. In terms of inventory changes: upstream lithium chemical plants saw slight destocking this week as long-term contract orders were delivered in a concentrated manner at the beginning of the month, coupled with some resumed production lines not yet operating at full capacity; downstream material plants saw inventory buildup as long-term contracts and customer-supplied materials arrived successively at the beginning of the month, combined with dip-buying spot orders; traders saw destocking as downstream buyers purchased as needed. Looking ahead, spot lithium carbonate prices are expected to maintain an in the doldrums pattern in the short term, but downside room is limited. Supply side, the pace of Zimbabwean lithium ore arrivals at ports and the progress of production resumptions at Jiangxi mines are key variables going forward. Demand side, downstream production schedules in June stay high, and rigid demand support persists. Short-term lithium prices are expected to maintain a fluctuating trend. It is recommended to closely monitor warrant inflection points, the pace of Zimbabwean lithium ore arrivals at ports, and the actual fulfillment of downstream production schedules.