SMM, July 18: Metals market: Overnight, base metals in the domestic market nearly all rose. SHFE copper increased 0.15%, SHFE aluminum rose 0.22%, SHFE lead gained 0.69%, SHFE zinc fell 0.85%, and SHFE tin jumped 1.57%. SHFE nickel edged down 0.28%. In addition, the most-traded alumina futures rose 1.64%, and the most-traded foundry aluminum contract climbed 0.67%. Overnight, ferrous metals mostly fell. Stainless steel dipped 0.3%, iron ore declined 0.46%, rebar dropped 0.35%, and HRC slipped 0.36%. For coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract rose 1.34%, and the most-traded coke contract increased 0.56%. Overnight in the overseas market, LME base metals broadly fell. LME copper edged down 0.11%, LME aluminum dipped 0.33%, LME lead rose 0.96%, LME zinc fell 1.48%, LME tin edged up 0.73%, and LME nickel declined 0.38%. Overnight, precious metals : COMEX gold rose 0.77%, with its weekly line falling as it dropped 2.2% for the week; COMEX silver inched up 0.06%, with its weekly line declining for a second straight week, down 6.56% for the week. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE gold contract rose 0.67%, with its weekly line falling for a second straight week, down 3.07% for the week; the most-traded SHFE silver contract gained 1.05%, declining for two consecutive weeks with a weekly loss of 7.85%. Data from the World Gold Council showed gold prices weakened in June, erasing earlier gains, leaving H1 ending with a decline. Despite outflows in June, China's gold ETFs still recorded significant inflows in H1, pushing total assets under management (AUM) slightly higher to 243 billion yuan and total holdings up by 29 mt to 277 mt. In June, China's gold ETFs saw outflows of 15 billion yuan, the weakest monthly performance on record. (From Wall Street CN APP) As of 8:45 am, July 18, overnight closing prices: Macro front Domestic: [Ministry of Finance, Two Other Departments Adjust Consumption Tax Policy for Certain Batteries] On July 17, the Ministry of Finance announced that, starting September 1, 2026, a 2% consumption tax will be levied on mercury-free primary cells, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium primary cells, lithium-ion batteries, and all-vanadium flow batteries; from September 1, 2027, a 4% consumption tax rate will apply to these battery products. Starting April 1, 2027, a 2% consumption tax will be levied on solar cells; from April 1, 2028, the rate on solar cells will rise to 4%. From September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028, consumption tax will be exempted for sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, fuel cells, as well as for perovskite cells, tandem cells, and gallium arsenide cells among solar cells. [MIIT: Automotive Producers Required to Firmly Resist Irrational Competition and Strengthen Product Testing, Verification, and Safety Assessment] On July 17, the Equipment Industry Department I of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) convened a symposium for key automotive producers, deploying efforts to further regulate competition order in the automotive industry, enhance production conformity and quality safety levels of automotive products, and carry out key tasks such as safety risk and hazard investigations and inspections and supervision of automotive products. (from Wall Street CN app) [Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: Advance Urban Renewal with High Quality and Intensify the Implementation of the Renovation of Old Urban Residential Communities] On July 17, the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development held an expanded study session of the theoretical study center group. The meeting stressed that carrying out urban work in the new era and on the new journey is a glorious mission with arduous tasks. It called for advancing urban renewal with high quality, promoting urban governance with high efficiency, and building “four-good” construction of good houses, good residential communities, good neighborhoods, and good urban districts to high standards. It emphasized intensifying efforts to implement livelihood-related projects such as the renovation of old urban residential communities, the construction of complete communities, the improvement of property service quality, the environmental remediation of back alleys and lanes, the development of pocket parks, and the opening and sharing of green spaces. It called for making great efforts to solve the most pressing difficulties and problems faced by the people, such as the installation of elevators, parking, and charging, striving to make people’s urban life more convenient, comfortable, and beautiful, and seizing the momentum to open up a new landscape in the modernization and construction of people-oriented cities. (China Construction News) [The “Several Measures to Further Promote the Development of ‘AI+Manufacturing’ in Shanghai” Issued] The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization has issued the “Several Measures to Further Promote the Development of ‘AI+Manufacturing’ in Shanghai.” It mentions promoting breakthroughs in key and core technologies. Support will be provided for breakthroughs in technologies such as knowledge graph integration and text-to-3D parts design, focusing on frontier fields including industrial vertical large models, AI programming large models, physical AI, industrial agents, industrial software, and the industrial Internet, with a maximum support of 20 million yuan. For the R&D of comprehensive security solutions for industrial large models and agents, a maximum support of 10 million yuan will be provided. The measures aim to reduce the cost of using intelligent elements. Industrial intelligent computing cloud platforms are encouraged to provide manufacturing enterprises with low-code agent development platforms and free trials of industrial agents, distribute platform token trial coupons, and introduce computing power benefit packages for enterprises. Support will be given for renting non-affiliated intelligent computing resources to carry out the R&D and application of industrial large models and industrial agents, with a maximum subsidy of 40 million yuan. Supports using third-party large models or private deployment of third-party large models to advance industrial vertical applications, with a maximum subsidy of 5 million yuan. Supports purchasing high-quality corpora for the R&D and application of industrial vertical large models and industrial agents, with a maximum subsidy of 5 million yuan. (Jin10 Data APP) On the dollar: The US dollar index edged up 0.03% overnight to 100.76. On the weekly chart: The US dollar index fell for the week, down 0.2%. According to the latest survey, US consumer sentiment surged to a five-month high in early July, boosted by falling gasoline prices. The survey results released on Friday showed that the University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index for July rose to 54.4 from 49.5 in June, compared with market expectations of 51. Gasoline prices fell steadily from June through early July, effectively easing household budget pressures. However, renewed tensions in the Middle East have since begun to push oil prices higher and cloud the inflation outlook further. The survey covered the period from June 23 to July 13, but the report noted that over 70% of responses were completed before the US airstrikes against Iran in early July. The improvement in consumer sentiment was broad-based across age, income groups, and political affiliations. (from Wallstreetcn APP) US housing starts surged in June after a sharp drop the previous month, driven by a rebound in apartment construction. Official data released Friday showed that housing starts increased 19% to an annualized rate of 1.43 million units, the highest since March and exceeding economists' expectations. Starts for multifamily housing jumped over 76% to an annualized rate of 532,000 units, following a plunge of nearly 40% in the prior month. Meanwhile, single-family starts slipped 0.2%, declining again after builders experienced a sluggish spring. The rebound in multifamily construction underscores the volatility of monthly data, especially in the apartment sector. However, high home prices and elevated mortgage rates have been weighing on demand for single-family homes, factors that may be supporting apartment demand. At the same time, single-family builders have generally faced high inventory and weak demand. This has forced many builders to attract buyers through sales incentives. Simona Mocuta, chief economist at State Street Global Advisors, said that the dollar has been supported this year by safe-haven inflows and market pricing of Fed rate hikes, but these factors are already reflected in the exchange rate, so the dollar is set to resume its multi-year depreciation trend. Her baseline forecast is that the US Fed will keep interest rates unchanged throughout the year, but Mokuta said the risk of a rate hike remains. Even if a hike occurs, it has already been priced into the dollar and would therefore not have much additional impact; whereas if a rate hike fails to materialize, it would weaken the dollar. As concerns over the US fiscal outlook persist, the dollar will return to its long-term depreciation trend. (from Wallstreetcn APP) On the macro front: Next week will see the release of China’s one-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) for July 20, Germany June PPI MoM, Canada June CPI MoM, US June Conference Board Leading Index MoM, Switzerland June trade balance, UK May three-month ILO unemployment rate, UK June public sector net borrowing, UK June unemployment rate, UK June claimant count change, Germany July ZEW Economic Sentiment Index, Eurozone July ZEW Economic Sentiment Index, US ADP employment change for the week ending July 4, UK June CPI MoM, UK June RPI MoM, China’s June SWIFT share of the Chinese yuan in global payments, Australia June seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, UK July CBI industrial orders balance, Eurozone ECB deposit facility rate decision on July 23, Eurozone ECB main refinancing rate decision on July 23, Canada May retail sales MoM, US initial jobless claims for the week ending July 18, Eurozone July consumer confidence preliminary, UK July GfK consumer confidence, Japan June core CPI YoY, Germany August GfK consumer confidence, UK June seasonally adjusted retail sales MoM, France July manufacturing PMI flash, Germany July manufacturing PMI flash, Eurozone July manufacturing PMI flash, UK July manufacturing PMI flash, UK July services PMI flash, US July S&P Global manufacturing PMI flash, US July S&P Global services PMI flash, and US June new home sales annualized, among other data. Also next week, attention will be on: the ECB interest rate decision; ECB President Lagarde’s monetary policy press conference. Crude oil: Overnight, both crude oil futures surged, with WTI up 4.46% and Brent up 4.78%. Weekly: WTI futures gained for a second straight week, up 14.51% for the week; Brent futures gained for two consecutive weeks, up 16.12%. On Friday, the Middle East situation deteriorated further, and the escalation of geopolitical conflicts drove a sharp rally in crude oil. Data released by Kpler, an international market service provider, on the 17th showed that vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued to weaken on the 16th, with confirmed transits falling to 8 vessels, the lowest in nearly three weeks. (From Wallstreetcn APP) International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol warned on the 16th that if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be restored in a few weeks, global energy security will raise a red flag. According to UK sources, Birol told an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations that oil supply security remains a key issue at present, and the world should be concerned if the situation in the Strait of Hormuz does not improve in the coming weeks. He said that the response measures taken by some countries “cannot last forever”; even if the US significantly increases oil production, it would be far from enough to offset the supply gap caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. (CCTV News) Energy services company Baker Hughes said US energy firms added rigs for a fifth straight week this week, the first such streak since early June, pushing the total count to the highest level since April 2025. As an early indicator of future production, the total rig count rose by 7 to 588 in the week ended July 17, according to Baker Hughes. The company said this week’s increase lifted the total rig count by 44, or 8%, compared to the same period last year. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs increased by 7 this week to 452, the highest since May 2025; the number of natural gas rigs held steady at 126, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at 10. (From Wallstreetcn APP) It is worth noting that: The NYMEX August crude oil futures will be affected by contract rollover. The final floor trading will conclude at 2:30 a.m. on July 22, followed by the final electronic trading at 5:00 a.m. Pay attention to exchange announcements regarding expiration and contract rollover to manage risks. In addition, some trading platforms’ US oil contracts typically expire one day earlier than the official NYMEX schedule; please take note. Recommended Reading:

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that copper miners producing more than one-seventh of the world’s primary copper supply are now mired in turmoil in the sulphuric acid market, a crisis triggered by conflicts including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The agency notes that while the long-term supply outlook for copper has improved slightly, the metal still faces multiple severe challenges in the short term. In its newly released "Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026" report, the Paris-based IEA says that the short- and medium-term outlook for the copper market has sharply deteriorated over the past year.

Huahong Technology’s semi-annual results forecast disclosed on the evening of July 13 shows that attributable net profit in H1 2026 is expected to be 320 million yuan to 360 million yuan, up 301.84%–352.08% YoY. As for the reasons for the performance change, Huahong Technology said: In H1 2026, driven by industry policies and improved downstream demand, prices of major rare earth products in China climbed steadily. The company’s rare earth comprehensive utilization segment seized market opportunities, fully leveraged its comprehensive advantages in capacity scale, cost control and process technology, and continuously optimized its supply, production and sales coordination and inventory management strategies, effectively driving the full release of the segment’s profitability. The company continued to deepen its rare earth industry chain layout, steadily expanding its downstream rare earth permanent magnet materials business. Driven by steady demand from end-use sectors such as NEVs, wind power and industrial automation, the segment’s business scale kept expanding, its revenue and product mix continued to improve and it became an important supplement to performance growth. A review of SMM’s Pr-Nd oxide price trend in H1 shows that the Pr-Nd oxide price stood at 609,000 yuan/mt at the start of the year, hit its H1 high of 890,000 yuan/mt by late February, a cumulative gain of up to 46.7% from the start of the year. The key driver was the supply side: spot Pr-Nd oxide supply remained tight, futures surged sharply, suppliers held back from selling amid strong bullish sentiment, and pre-holiday stockpiling purchases by metal companies pushed prices up rapidly. At the same time, supply disruptions from Myanmar ore, domestic separation plants’ production resumptions falling short of expectations and market sentiment created a combined effect of “undersupply + bullish hold-back.” From March to April, however, bearish supply-side news combined with weak demand from traditional end-use sectors pulled Pr-Nd oxide prices back quickly to around 700,000 yuan/mt. Yet the rise in China Northern Rare Earth’s concentrate prices in April, supply support from production suspensions at separation plants and export orders released under the export control extension window together drove prices to rebound slightly. From May, downstream sectors gradually entered the off-season and purchases became more cautious. From late June, the formal implementation of the Mineral Resources Law Implementation Regulations, which list rare earths as strategic minerals, and production cuts by scrap recycling enterprises due to tax invoice issues boosted Pr-Nd oxide prices again, which rebounded to 742,500 yuan/mt on June 30. Huahong Technology announced on June 30 that its controlling shareholder Jiangsu Huahong Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which holds a 32.01% stake, plans to reduce its holdings by no more than 15.0102 million shares (1.99% of total equity) through centralized bidding and block trading within three months after 15 trading days; Director and senior executive Zhu Dayong, who holds a 0.19% stake, plans to reduce his holdings by no more than 365,000 shares (0.05% of total equity) through centralized bidding or block trading within three months after 15 trading days; Director and senior executive Liu Weihua, who holds a 1.52% stake, plans to reduce his holdings by no more than 2.8 million shares (0.37% of total equity) through centralized bidding or block trading within three months after 15 trading days. Huahong Technology previously released its 2025 annual performance report, showing that in 2025, the company achieved operating revenue of RMB7.835 billion, up 40.51% YoY, reaching a three-year high. After posting losses for two consecutive years, the company successfully returned to profitability, with net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company reaching RMB204 million, up 157.46% YoY. 1. The rare earth segment seized the industry opportunity, acting as the "ballast stone" and "engine" for the turnaround. In 2025, the global rare earth market experienced a major shift in the supply-demand pattern. Driven by surging downstream demand from sectors such as new energy and robotics, combined with rigid supply-side constraints, rare earth product prices continued to rise, with the cumulative annual price increase for core products like Pr-Nd oxide exceeding 35%. The company's Rare Earth Resource Comprehensive Utilization Division keenly captured this industry opportunity, made accurate assessments, and acted accordingly: the company kept pace with the market, optimized procurement and sales strategies, and maximized product value during the price upcycle. Technological transformation yielded results and capacity was released: the previously completed technological transformation and capacity expansion projects at Xintai Technology and Jiangxi Wanhong reached full production, with annual capacity for rare earth oxides stabilizing at 12,000 mt, significantly releasing economies of scale. The company tapped internal potential to reduce costs and enhance efficiency: by optimizing process flows, production costs were strictly controlled and recovery rates were improved. During the reporting period, the company's rare earth resource comprehensive utilization business recorded strong production and sales performance with rising volumes and prices, contributing core profits to the company. 2. All business segments collaborated to build a diversified support structure. While the rare earth resource comprehensive utilization segment led the way, other segments also achieved strong operating results, creating a favorable situation of "blossoming in multiple areas and developing in synergy": Rare Earth Magnetic Materials Segment achieved "dual improvement in volume and quality," with production capacity steadily released across various production sites, providing strong support for market expansion and order fulfillment. High-performance magnetic material products were successfully introduced into the supply chain systems of multiple first-tier NEV automakers, with order scale continuing to expand and client quality and business mix continuously optimized. Construction of the key Baotou production site is progressing in an orderly manner and is planned to enter trial production in Q2 2026, laying a critical foundation for doubling magnetic material capacity. Elevator Parts Segment: The traditional business seized the policy dividends from the "program of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins," rapidly responding to domestic demand for elevator installation and retrofitting. Through refined production scheduling and efficiency gains, total annual production grew by over 20% YoY. The segment steadily expanded its second growth curve, with customer acquisition and product development activities for emerging businesses such as automotive electronics and energy storage progressing on schedule. At the same time, the division's "going global" process accelerated, closely following market trends and customer needs. Renewable Resource Equipment Segment: In the face of profound industry changes and intense market competition, the business division continued to increase investment in new product R&D and accelerated its deployment in markets outside China, striving to secure survival and development amid fierce competition. Internally, it focused tightly on cost reduction across supply, production, and sales to enhance operational quality. In the renewable resource operations segment, the end-of-life vehicle dismantling and steel scrap processing businesses constantly explored more diverse and flexible business models, and introduced specialized teams to improve operational quality and efficiency. In 2025, the company's total volume of end-of-life vehicle recycling and dismantling reached a record high. The business models continued to mature, internal management was consistently optimized, and industry synergies were accelerated, laying a foundation for future business development. In 2025, the company also achieved notable results in cross-segment industry synergies. The industrial linkages between the Magnetic Materials Business Division and the Rare Earth Business Division, the industry sharing between the Elevator Business Division and the Magnetic Materials Business Division, and the upstream-downstream resonance between the operations segment and the Rare Earth Business Division demonstrated the wisdom and commitment of the company's entire management team. Regarding the company's main business operations, HuaHong Technology's 2025 Annual Report disclosed: The company has consistently upheld its corporate mission of "Serving the Circular Economy, Creating a Green Life" and steadfastly adhered to its corporate spirit of "Striving, Fact-Based, Innovation, and Dedication," committing to becoming a renewable resource processing equipment manufacturer and a comprehensive resource recycling and utilization operator serving global markets. The company actively deployed renewable resource operation businesses, building a circular economy industry chain centered on end-of-life vehicle recycling and dismantling, extending downstream to the comprehensive utilization of steel scrap, rare earth recycling materials, and other metallic and non-metallic resources, while continuously exploring possibilities for expansion into related industries such as high-end manufacturing and smart manufacturing. During the reporting period, the company's main business was divided into four major segments: "Renewable Resource Equipment and Operations," "High-End Manufacturing of Elevator Parts," "Comprehensive Utilization of Rare Earth Resources," and "Rare Earth Magnetic Materials." HuaHong Technology's corporate development strategy and business plan announced in its 2025 Annual Report indicate: The company's overall development approach is as follows: strengthen product upgrades and technological innovation in renewable resource processing equipment to further consolidate its leading position in the renewable resource processing equipment industry; actively deploy renewable resource operation businesses, vigorously develop the end-of-life vehicle recycling and dismantling business, and use this as a main line to expand the comprehensive recycling and utilization of downstream steel scrap, rare earth scrap, and other metallic and non-metallic resources, building the company into a well-known enterprise in the circular economy sector. It will continue to advance the company's dual-wheel drive strategy, increase R&D, production, and sales of precision elevator parts, thereby building Weilman into a global industry leader in elevator signal systems and safety components; through fund operations, equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other capital operation models, accelerate the enhancement of the company's capital operation capabilities, achieve resource optimization and integration, continuously monitor extension opportunities in the upstream and downstream industry chain, and actively explore possibilities for the company's expansion into environmental protection, smart manufacturing, and IoT-related industries, forming new driving forces for company development and further enhancing its core competitiveness and profitability. According to the latest SMM price report: On July 17, the average price of Pr-Nd oxide was 766,000 yuan/mt, down 0.33% from the previous trading day. On July 17, Pr-Nd oxide futures prices declined, while inquiries in the spot market were sluggish. As a result, offers from Pr-Nd oxide suppliers edged lower. Nevertheless, most market participants remain confident about the outlook and showed a strong willingness to hold prices firm, which limited the actual decline in oxide prices, and low-cost supply remained scarce and hard to find. In the metals market, prices also fell. Magnetic material enterprises saw poor new orders, limiting their ability to accept high metal prices; purchases mainly served rigid restocking demand, leading to sluggish inquiries in the metal market. Upstream and downstream sectors remained locked in a stalemate, with the metals segment continuing to face pressure. In the short term, due to the stagnant trading, Pr-Nd product prices are expected to move sideways in a narrow range. Recommended Reading:

JL MAG Rare-Earth's July 15 investor relations activity record shows: 1. Please elaborate on the company's expected H1 2026 performance growth? JL MAG Rare-Earth responded: In H1 2026, the company's management upheld the annual operating policy of "adhering to compliance and integrity, staying customer-oriented, focusing on the magnetic material core business, building 20,000 mt of capacity on schedule, actively deploying embodied robot motor rotors, and scaling new heights." Through measures such as technological innovation, organizational optimization, digitalization, and lean management, while fully ensuring contract fulfillment and delivery to a broad client base, the company achieved steady growth in operating performance. The company continued to consolidate its leading position in the new energy and environmental protection sectors and actively explored emerging markets, with operating revenue expected to grow approximately 30% YoY. In the NEV and parts sector, revenue grew approximately 30% YoY; in the robot and industrial servo motor sector, revenue grew approximately 90% YoY, with small-volume deliveries of embodied robot motor rotors already underway. In H1 2026, net profit attributable to the parent is expected to be 400 million to 460 million yuan, up 31% to 51% YoY; deducted non-recurring net profit attributable to the parent is expected to be 370 million to 430 million yuan, up 57% to 83% YoY. In Q2 2026, net profit attributable to the parent is expected to be 210 million to 270 million yuan, up 43% to 85% YoY and up 7% to 39% QoQ; deducted non-recurring net profit attributable to the parent is expected to be 190 million to 250 million yuan, up 50% to 97% YoY and up 9% to 44% QoQ. 2. What is the latest progress of the company's embodied robot business? JL MAG Rare-Earth responded: Robots liberate human productivity and represent a key direction in the new wave of technological change, with broad industry development prospects. The company is actively cooperating with world-renowned tech companies in the R&D of embodied robot motor rotors and has made small-volume product deliveries. In addition, through direct investment or participation in industrial funds, the company is making strategic deployments in key links of the relevant industry chain to accelerate industrial synergy and commercialization. 3. What about the company's raw material supply and recycling layout? JL MAG Rare-Earth responded: The company has established long-term strategic partnerships with major rare earth raw material suppliers, including China Northern Rare Earth Group and China Rare Earth Group, and fully leverages the advantage of controlling Yin Hai New Materials to deploy upstream rare earth recycling business, building a diversified rare earth resource supply system. The company was an early mover in rare earth recycling in the industry and currently holds a 51% stake in Yin Hai New Materials. Leveraging the group's manufacturing system, recyclable materials such as magnetic sludge and off-cuts generated during production at the company's various plants can be steadily supplied to Yinhai New Materials for recycling and processing, meeting its production needs while providing strong assurance for the company's raw material supply. In 2025, the company recovered a total of 3,681 mt of rare earth raw materials. Yinhai New Materials has already generated operating revenue and profit contributions. In 2025, it achieved operating revenue of 195 million yuan and net profit of 50.5 million yuan (the above are actual operating results, excluding adjustments related to purchase price allocation). Currently, Yinhai New Materials has passed ISO 14021 certification, and its main products have received certification for 100% recycled content under international standards. 4. Please elaborate on the situation regarding the company's planned acquisition of a partial stake in Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange Co., Ltd.? JL MAG Rare-Earth responded: In order to implement the company's development strategy and enhance its overall competitiveness, the company plans to acquire, through public listing and transfer on the Inner Mongolia Property Rights Exchange Center, a 9.24% equity interest in Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Rare Earth Exchange") held by China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech Co., Ltd. According to the appraisal report issued by Northern Asia Asset Appraisal Co., Ltd., as of the valuation date of December 31, 2025, the total equity value of the Rare Earth Exchange assessed using the market approach was 239 million yuan, a premium of 27.86 million yuan over the net asset book value of 211.14 million yuan as of the valuation date, representing an appreciation rate of 13.19%. The estimated transaction price for the target equity is 22.08 million yuan. Rare earths are the core raw material for producing NdFeB permanent magnet materials. The Rare Earth Exchange serves as a specialized trading platform for rare earth (metal) resources. If this equity acquisition is successfully completed, it will further enhance the company's ability to secure rare earth raw material supply, strengthen its overall competitiveness, and consolidate its market position in the rare earth permanent magnet industry. The company will, in accordance with the principle of cooperative co-construction and mutual benefit, fully leverage its own strengths to assist the Rare Earth Exchange in becoming a national-level rare earth (metal) resource trading platform. This planned acquisition of part of the Rare Earth Exchange's equity constitutes a state-owned asset transfer matter, and the transaction must strictly follow the statutory procedures for state-owned asset transactions, including approvals and listing. The company will monitor progress and fulfill its information disclosure obligations in accordance with relevant regulations. JL MAG Rare-Earth's semi-annual performance forecast released on July 1 showed: Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company is estimated to be between 400 million yuan and 460 million yuan in H1 2026, up 31.17% to 50.84% YoY. Regarding the reasons for the performance change, JL MAG Rare-Earth stated in its announcement: 1. In H1 2026, the company's management adhered to the annual operating policy of "upholding legal compliance, maintaining client focus, concentrating on the core magnetic materials business, adding 20,000 tons of capacity on schedule, proactively developing motor rotors for embodied robots, and scaling new heights." Through measures such as technological innovation, organizational optimization, digital transformation, and lean management, while ensuring full performance of contracts and delivery to a broad client base, the company achieved steady growth in its operating results. The company continued to strengthen its leading position in the new energy and environmental protection sectors and actively explored emerging markets. Revenue is expected to rise by approximately 30% YoY. Specifically, in the NEV and auto parts segment, revenue rose by about 30% YoY; in the robotics and industrial servo motor segment, revenue rose by approximately 90% YoY, and embodied robot motor rotor products have already seen small-batch deliveries. 2. During the reporting period, the estimated impact of non-recurring gains and losses on net profit was approximately 32 million yuan, compared with non-recurring gains and losses (after tax) of 70.94 million yuan in the same period last year. 3. During this reporting period, due to A-share and H-share equity incentives and the issuance of H-share convertible bonds, related expenses such as share-based compensation costs and financial expenses totaled approximately 121 million yuan. No such expenses existed in the same period last year. A recently issued announcement by JL MAG Rare-Earth showed that, to implement its development strategy and enhance overall competitiveness, it planned to acquire a 9.24% stake in Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange Co., Ltd. held by China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech Co., Ltd. through a public listing and transfer process on the Inner Mongolia Equity Exchange , According to the appraisal report issued by Northern Asia Assets Appraisal Co., Ltd., the total equity value of the Rare Earth Exchange assessed using the market approach as of the valuation reference date of December 31, 2025, was 239 million yuan, representing an increase of 27.8551 million yuan over the net asset book value of 211.1449 million yuan on that date, an appreciation rate of 13.19%. The expected transaction price for the target equity stake is 22.0836 million yuan. In accordance with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ChiNext Listing Rules, the Company’s Articles of Association, and other relevant regulations, this external investment falls within the approval authority of the CEO. It does not constitute a connected transaction, nor does it constitute a major asset restructuring as defined under the Administrative Measures for Major Asset Restructurings of Publicly Listed Companies. In its 2025 annual report, JL MAG described its main business and product applications as follows: The company is a high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, production and sales of high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet materials, magnetic assemblies, embodied robot motor rotors, and comprehensive recycling of rare earths. It is a leading supplier of rare earth permanent magnet materials for the new energy and environmental protection sectors. Its products are widely used in NEVs and auto parts, energy-efficient inverter air conditioners, wind power generation, robotics and industrial servo motors, 3C electronics, low-altitude aircraft, energy-saving elevators, rail transit, and other fields, and it has established long-term and stable partnerships with leading enterprises in these fields both within and outside China. The company has been actively deploying in the robotics field: on one hand, it collaborates with internationally renowned technology companies on the R&D and capacity building for embodied robot motor rotors, with small-batch product deliveries; on the other hand, through direct investment or participation in industry funds, it makes strategic moves in key links of the relevant industry chain to accelerate industrial synergy and commercialization. Regarding the 2026 annual operating plan, JL MAG Rare-Earth stated in its 2025 annual report: The company's 2026 business guideline: "Adhere to legal compliance, uphold customer orientation, focus on the core business of magnetic materials, build new capacity of 20,000 mt as scheduled, actively position in embodied robot motor rotors, and scale new heights." In accordance with the company's business guideline and on the premise of legal compliance, the company will focus on advancing the following efforts: 1. Orderly release of capacity under construction. In 2026, some of the company's projects under construction will gradually release capacity. The specific release progress will comprehensively consider factors such as equipment commissioning and market demand, advancing the commissioning and ramp-up of new capacity in an orderly manner. 2. Continuous enhancement of R&D capabilities. 3. Continuous optimization of product structure. The company will center on client needs, continuously enrich the product portfolio for different application scenarios, and enhance the resilience of the product structure and client stickiness. At the same time, it will steadily advance the layout of projects such as magnetic components and embodied robot motor rotors, equip dedicated production lines and professional teams, and drive the upgrade of small-batch production lines to large-scale, standardized manufacturing and quality systems. 4. Continuous improvement of operational capabilities. 5. Strengthening capital expenditure efficiency. 6. Improving incentive mechanisms and shareholder returns. 7. Advancing ESG system construction. As for the risks the company may face, JL MAG Rare-Earth stated when introducing the risk of price fluctuations in rare earth raw materials: Rare earth metals are the main raw materials for producing NdFeB magnetic steel. China is an important global supply hub for rare earth raw materials. Wild swings in rare earth raw material prices will adversely impact the company's production and sales in the short term. Countermeasures: The company has built manufacturing plants in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, a major production area for heavy rare earth, and Baotou, Inner Mongolia, a major production area for light rare earth. The company has established long-term cooperative relationships with major rare earth raw material suppliers, including China Northern Rare Earth Group and China Rare Earth Group. At the same time, the company strives to mitigate the adverse impact of rare earth raw material price fluctuations on its operating performance through measures such as pre-purchasing rare earth raw materials based on orders on hand, establishing price adjustment mechanisms with key clients, optimizing formulations, and improving processes. Looking back at the price performance of Pr-Nd alloy in H1 this year, it can be seen that: : The average price of Pr-Nd alloy on June 30 was 905,000 yuan/mt. Compared with its average price of 735,000 yuan/mt on December 31, 2025, the increase in H1 was 23.13%. The annual daily average price of Pr-Nd alloy in H1 this year was 904,650.86 yuan/mt, compared with 529,559.83 yuan/mt in H1 2025, with the semi-annual daily average price increasing by 375,091.03 yuan/mt, for a YoY increase of 70.83%. According to SMM's price quotes, on July 17, the price of Pr-Nd alloy was 920,000-930,000 yuan/mt, with an average price of 925,000 yuan/mt, down 0.54% from the previous trading day. Currently, rare earth market prices are trending slightly downward. Focusing on the Pr-Nd market, Pr-Nd oxide futures prices declined, while spot market inquiries were sluggish. Affected by this, suppliers lowered their offers for Pr-Nd oxide. However, most industry participants remain confident about the market outlook and show a strong willingness to hold prices firm, resulting in a relatively small actual decline in oxide prices, with low-priced goods still scarce and hard to find. Metal market prices also slipped. New orders at magnetic material enterprises were poor, limiting their capacity to accept high-priced metals, with procurement mainly driven by rigid restocking demand, leading to sluggish metal market inquiries. The upstream-downstream stalemate persisted in negotiations, with the metal side continuing to face pressure. It is expected that in the short term, due to sluggish trading activity, Pr-Nd product prices will likely move sideways in a narrow range. Recommended Reads:

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