[Lead-Acid Battery Enterprise Updates] Chilwee Group recently disclosed that after the large-scale commissioning of its sodium-ion batteries, they have continued to sell strongly, with all orders for this year already locked in. Its two existing production lines have been operating at full capacity, and eight additional production lines have entered the installation and commissioning stage. At present, the company has 4.5 Gwh of sodium-ion battery capacity and opened its first directly operated sodium-ion battery store in 2025, attempting to directly encourage end-use consumers to replace the lead-acid or lithium batteries in some two-wheeler models with sodium-ion batteries.

[Lead Market Dynamics] Yesterday, Chilwee Power (00951) issued an announcement stating that Executive Director Zhou Longrui passed away due to illness on February 6, 2026.

On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Antimony Forum, hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Yi Xiaobo, Senior Advisor/Senior Engineer at the National Power and ESS Battery Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, shared insights on "The Fundamentals of Supply and Demand in the Battery Market and the Application and Development of Antimony Metal in Lead-Antimony Alloy Plates for Batteries.

On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Antimony Forum hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) , Yi Xiaobo, Senior Advisor/Senior Engineer at the National Quality Supervision and Inspection Center for Power and Energy Storage Battery Products, shared insights on "The Fundamentals of Supply and Demand in the Battery Market and the Application and Development of Antimony Metal in Lead-Antimony Alloy Plates for Batteries." I. Analysis of the Lead-Acid Battery Application Market 1. Total Production 2. Proportion of Main Products ►Power Type: Electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers, electric four-wheelers; Top-tier enterprises: Tianneng, Chilwee, Xupai, Jingjiu, Suzhong, Huoju. ►Starting Type: Cars, agricultural vehicles, motorcycles, ships, diesel locomotives; Top-tier enterprises: Camel, Fengfan, Leoch, Jujiang, GS Yuasa. ►Standby Power Type: Electric power, telecommunications, UPS, data centers; Top-tier enterprises: Narada, Leoch, Shuangdeng, Sacred Sun, Ruida, Vision. ►Energy Storage Type: ESS power stations, industrial and commercial ESS, household ESS; Top-tier enterprises: Narada, Leoch, Shuangdeng, Sacred Sun, Huafu. 3. Market Situation In recent years, with the continuous emergence and application of various new-type batteries, the traditional lead-acid battery market has faced severe challenges. Overall Situation: Lithium batteries have rapidly occupied the high ground; sodium-ion batteries are poised for takeoff; other new-type power supplies are eagerly awaiting their turn. Automotive Market As of 2024, the domestic automobile ownership stood at approximately 353 million units, with NEVs accounting for 8.9%; globally, automobile ownership reached 1.6 billion units, with NEVs accounting for 3%. ►Market Analysis Ø The market demand growth rate for internal combustion engine vehicles will decline over the next three years. Ø Extended-range and plug-in electric vehicles have become the mainstream in NEV development. Ø Currently, 98% of internal combustion engine vehicles, except for parked heavy trucks, use lead batteries. Ø Lithium batteries dominate in NEVs, with lead batteries serving as a supplement. Ø The development of vehicle electrification and intelligent driving over the next three to five years will have a significant impact on the traditional lead-acid battery market. Ø Demand characteristics: Safety, starting capability, charging acceptance, vibration resistance, low-temperature resistance, high-temperature resistance, lifespan, and price. Ø Sodium-ion batteries are beginning to penetrate the market. Electric Two-Wheelers In 2024, the total domestic sales of electric two-wheelers reached approximately 49.5 million units, representing an 11.6% YoY decline compared to the previous year, while overseas sales totaled around 18.77 million units, showing a 24.8% YoY increase. By the end of December 2024, the ownership of electric two-wheelers in the Chinese market was approximately 400 million units. ►Market Analysis Ø Currently, lead-acid batteries hold a market share exceeding 87%, lithium batteries account for around 11%, and sodium-ion batteries make up less than 2%. Ø The trend still favors lead-acid batteries, as there is a demand for batteries with higher safety than lithium batteries, and sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a strong contender. Electric Three-Wheelers and Low-Speed Electric Four-Wheelers By the end of 2024, the market ownership of electric three-wheelers nationwide was approximately 70 million units. In 2024, the sales of low-speed electric four-wheelers in China were about 302,000 units, representing an 8.5% YoY decline. The market is expected to continue declining in 2025, with future development depending on policies and relevant standards. ►Market Analysis Ø Lead-acid batteries account for approximately 60% of the market for electric three-wheelers and low-speed electric four-wheelers, with lithium batteries gradually increasing their share to 40%, and sodium-ion batteries accounting for 0.5%. Ø For other electric vehicles, including electric forklifts, electric logistics vehicles, electric flatbed trucks, and tourist sightseeing vehicles, lithium batteries account for about 80% of the market, lead-acid batteries for about 20%, and sodium-ion batteries for 0.3%. II. Application of Antimony Metal in Lead-Acid Batteries 1. The Importance of Antimony Metal Rare Metal: Antimony has an extremely low abundance in the Earth's crust, at only two parts per ten million. It is primarily found in the sulphide mineral stibnite (Sb2S3). As of 2024, global antimony reserves reached 2.255 million mt, with China holding 670,000 mt, accounting for 29.7% and ranking first in the world. Strategic Metal: Known as the "vitamin" of industry, antimony plays an indispensable role in new energy and military industries. 2. Main Uses of Antimony Metal ►Flame Retardants: Antimony trioxide, when combined with halogenated flame retardants, becomes an irreplaceable flame-retardant material widely used in industries such as plastics, rubber, textiles, and chemical fibers. ►PV Power Generation: PV Glass: Antimony compounds and sodium pyroantimonate are used as glass refining agents to improve transparency. Monocrystalline Silicon Panels: Doping with antimony increases oxygen precipitation rates, improves crystal quality, and enhances photoelectric conversion efficiency. ►Lead-Acid Batteries: Grid alloys, parts, and additives (antimony trioxide). ►Semiconductor Materials: High-purity antimony and its compounds are used as dopants in n-type silicon wafers with ultra-high conductivity (for diodes, infrared detectors, Hall elements, etc.). ►Glass Ceramics: Porcelain: As a hardness and wear-resistance agent for glazes. Glass: As a coloring agent, strength enhancer, and heat-resistant agent. ►Strategic Military Applications: Nuclear weapons, rockets, missile shells, bullets, flares, gun barrels, night vision goggles, infrared sensors, precision optics, laser sights, etc. ► Alloy materials: Enhancers and corrosion inhibitors for bearings, gears, chemical pipelines, cable sheathing, etc. ► Chemical materials: Stabilizers and catalysts for polyester compounds and polyethylene terephthalate. 3. Production and price of antimony metal ► Limited production: In 2024, China's antimony metal production was 72,000 mt, a 10.3% YoY decrease, with a capacity utilisation rate of 33%, constrained by insufficient raw material supply. The demand in 2024 was 97,100 mt, mainly driven by the expansion of PV systems and flame-retardant materials, which increased the demand for antimony metal. ► Significant increase in antimony imports: According to customs statistics, China's imports of antimony ore and concentrate were 51,080.2 mt in 2024, a 46.0% YoY increase. ► Price increase: The intensified supply-demand imbalance drove up prices. ► Development trends: A. The state intensifies industry regulation and export controls; B. The supply of antimony resources may continue to tighten; C. The demand for downstream applications is increasingly robust; D. Technology reshapes the value chain, with application scenarios shifting towards high-end (PV, military, battery); E. The supply-demand gap for antimony will widen in 2025; F. Prices may continue to rise; G. Antimony recycling technology improves, with an increase in recycling rates. 4. Application of antimony metal in lead-acid batteries ► Application history a. In 1859, Frenchman Gaston Plante invented the lead-acid battery (two lead plates immersed in dilute sulphuric acid could generate an electric current). b. In 1881, Frenchman Camille Faure invented the pasted plate (a rechargeable lead-acid battery with lead oxide coated on the lead plates). c. In 1882, Englishman Sellon invented the lead-antimony alloy grid (with 5%-7% antimony content, enhancing plate strength, conductivity, and lifespan). d. 1950s-1970s: Lead-antimony-arsenic alloy (with 3%-5% antimony content, addressing water loss and self-discharge issues). e. 1980s-1990s: Lead-antimony-arsenic-tin alloy (with 1.5%-2% antimony content, addressing water loss, internal resistance, and self-discharge issues). f. 1990s onwards: Application of valve-regulated batteries (gradually replacing lead-antimony alloy grids); lead-antimony-arsenic-tin-copper-selenium(sulphur) alloy (with 0.5%-1% antimony content, addressing water loss, self-discharge, and corrosion issues). ► Current application status a. Lead-antimony grids: Flooded battery grids (for automotive, agricultural vehicle starting batteries, forklift traction batteries, electric three-wheeler power batteries, and motorcycle starting batteries). b. Applications of lead parts: terminal posts, terminals, busbars, and connecting strips. c. Lead-calcium grid plate: Antimony trioxide (an additive for positive active material, addressing the passivation issue of deep-cycle plates, i.e., solving the "antimony-free effect" of plates). ‌‌►Usage volume a. Antimony ingot: Approximately 10,000 mt per year; b. Antimony trioxide: Approximately 2,000 mt per year. ‌‌►Future usage trends a. The usage of antimony ingot will gradually decrease (forklift batteries and electric three-wheeler batteries are gradually being replaced by lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries). b. The usage of antimony trioxide will remain basically unchanged. 》Click to view the special report on the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metals Industry Conference

[SMM Analysis: 10,000 mt Production Lines of NFPP Successively Put into Operation: Innovation in Sodium-ion Battery Cathode Materials and Reshaping of Market Landscape] SMM reported on May 13: On May 8, 2025, Huzhou Yingna New Energy put its 10,000 mt-scale production line for sodium iron iron(II) phosphate (NFPP) cathode materials into operation, marking a new stage in the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries...

The scrap battery recycling industry has long faced two major price pain points: ▲ High Recycling Costs : The traditional process is cumbersome, leading to high recycling costs and severely compressing the profit margins of enterprises. ▲ Chaotic Pricing Mechanism : Informal channels disrupt the market through low-price competition, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to stand in price wars. How to Eliminate Price Barriers? How Can the Scrap Battery and Secondary Lead Industries Break Through? [This Time, We Will Make a Concession on Price!] GBRC 2025 SMM Battery Recycling and Circular Industry Conference , will be held on August 14-15, 2025 , in Ningbo, Zhejiang . Super Early Bird Price: Register before May 30th and enjoy a super early bird discount, saving 800 yuan! [At Previous Battery Recycling Conferences, These Companies Were All Present (Only Some Listed)!] (Among the previous attendees, 35% were Chairmen and General Managers ; 39% were Sales and Procurement Executives ) ▲Lead Battery Recycling Companies: Zhejiang Tianeng Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Chilwee Bafang Recycling Industry Co., Ltd. Shanghai Xinyun Guixi Metal Recycling Co., Ltd. Anhui Hongyu Qian Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangmen Leen Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Nantong Lishi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Chengdu Xupai Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Suzhou Blue Port Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Sichuan Rongsheng Changhong Renewable Resources Recycling Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Jieyu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Kuaidian New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ▲Secondary Lead Smelters: Taihe County Dahua Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Anhui Lukong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. Camel Group (Anhui) Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Anhui Tianshuo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Tianeng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Henan Yuguang Gold Lead Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Hongda Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Juxin Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. ▲Power Battery Recycling Companies: GEM Co., Ltd. Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd. Guangdong Guanghua Sci-Tech Co., Ltd. Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Miracle Golden Tiger Cobalt Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Hao Peng Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang New Era Zhongneng Technology Co., Ltd. CNGR Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. Anhui Xunying Power Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Tengyuan Cobalt Co., Ltd. Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. Shanghai BYD Co., Ltd. Lv Xun New Energy Technology (Foshan) Co., Ltd. ▲Battery Companies: Tianeng Battery Group Co., Ltd. Chilwee Group Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. Guangzhou Great Power Energy & Technology Co., Ltd. Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. REPT Battero Energy Co., Ltd. Phylion Battery Co., Ltd. SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. Desay Battery Technology Co., Ltd. EVE Energy Co., Ltd. Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd. Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited BYD Company Limited Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. SEVB Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. Xupai Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jingjiu Power Technology Co., Ltd. Fengfan Co., Ltd. Jujiang Power Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Camel Group Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Just Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd. [Detailed Conference Agenda] [ Supply and Demand & Closed-Door Meetings | August 14] 08:00-10:00 Registration 10:00-12:00 Closed-Door Discussion on Secondary Lead, Closed-Door Seminar on Power Battery Recycling 10:00-12:00 Supply and Demand Exchange for the Battery Recycling Industry (Endless Business Opportunities) 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch [ Main Forum | August 14] 13:30-13:50 Opening Remarks of the Conference 13:50-14:20 Current Situation and Future Development Trends of the Battery Recycling Market Guest Speaker: Li Shilong, Chairman, China Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance for Resources Recycling Industry (CIAR) 14:20-14:50 Competition and Cooperation Between Lead-Acid Batteries and Lithium Batteries Under the "Dual Carbon" Goals Invited Company: Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. 14:50-15:20 Market Prospects Analysis of the Dual Drive of "Old-for-New" Policy on Battery Consumption and Recycling Invited Company: Zhejiang Tianeng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. 15:20-15:50 Comparison of China's "Whitelist" System and Germany's Dual-Track System (GRS and PRO Systems) on Recycling Efficiency Invited Guest: Wang Qi, Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences 15:50-16:20 The "Technological Watershed" in Lithium Battery Recycling: Commercial Competition Between Pyrometallurgy and Hydrometallurgy Invited Company: Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. 16:20-16:50 Roundtable: Lead-Acid vs. Lithium: Full Life Cycle Tracking 1. Current Status of Lead-Acid and Lithium Battery Recycling Market 2. Impact of Trade-In Policy on the Battery Recycling Market Proposed Companies to Invite: Zhejiang Chilwee Bafang Recycling Industry Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tianneng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd., Anhui Lukong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., Tianqi Lithium Corporation, GEM Co., Ltd., Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., Lvxun New Energy Industry (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. 16:50-17:20 Interpretation of the Impact of Increased China-US Tariffs on the Battery Import and Export Market Proposed Company to Invite: China Industrial Association of Power Sources [ Secondary Lead Forum| August 15, Morning] 09:00-09:25 Policies, Regulations, and Reverse Invoicing: A Policy Framework for Promoting the Development of the Circular Economy Proposed Guest Speaker: He Yi, Hazardous Waste Department, Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment 09:25-09:50 Breakthrough Strategies for Enterprises Amidst Overcapacity in the Secondary Lead Industry Proposed Company to Invite: China Nonferrous Metals Recycling Industry Association 09:50-10:15 Extraction Technologies for By-Products from Comprehensive Polymetallic Recycling and Smelting: Antimony, Bismuth, Tin, etc. Proposed Company to Invite: Central South University 10:15-10:35 Analysis of the Supply-Demand Pattern of Lead-Containing Scrap in the Next 3-5 Years Guest Speaker: Wang Meili, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 10:35-11:00 Interpretation of Policies and Market for Secondary Lead Going Global Proposed Guest Speaker: Chen Wenkai, President, Malaysia Non-Ferrous Metals General Chamber of Commerce 11:00-11:25 Current Status of the Waste Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Market: A Case Study of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Regions Proposed Guest Speaker: Dong Chenglin, Chengdu Xinjuxin Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. 11:25-11:50 2025-2026 Fundamentals and Price Analysis of Lead Ingot Consumption Guest Speaker: Xia Wenming, Senior Analyst, Lead and Zinc Industry Research Group, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch [ Power Battery Recycling Forum| August 15, Morning] 09:00-09:25 Global Analysis of the Power Battery Recycling and Reuse Market Proposed Company to Invite: Hydrometallurgy Branch, China National Resources Recycling Association 09:25-09:50 New Approaches to Building the Lithium Battery Recycling System from the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Recycling System for Lithium-Ion Batteries from Electric Bicycles" Proposed Guest Speaker: Zan Xiangming, Secretary General, Anhui Province New Energy Vehicle Power Battery Recycling Industry Alliance 09:50-10:15 Demand Analysis and Market Entry Strategies for Lithium Battery Recycling in Overseas Emerging Markets Proposed Guest Speaker: Zhou Jiang, Vice President, International Business Department, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited 10:15-10:35 Technological Breakthroughs and Applications of Targeted Leaching Strategies Based on Primary Cell Effects in Lithium Battery Recycling Proposed Guest Speaker: Li Jinhui, Professor, Tsinghua University 10:35-11:00 Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Intelligent Sorting and Process Optimization for Lithium Battery Recycling Proposed Guest Speaker: Dou Dejing, Professor, Fudan University 11:00-11:25 Industry Dynamics and Trends Following the Implementation of Black Mass Import Policies Guest Speaker: Lin Ziya, Lithium Battery Recycling Industry Analyst, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 11:25-11:50 Roundtable: The New Ecosystem of Lithium Battery Recycling: How Can Automakers, Battery Manufacturers, and Recycling Enterprises Break Through in the Billion-Dollar Market? Proposed Invited Enterprises: BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd., Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, Tianqi Lithium Corporation, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Gotion High-tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch