Grupo México expects the global copper market to remain in a slight deficit in 2026, supported by a resilient US economy and accelerating demand across decarbonization technologies, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. Speaking during an analyst call on Wednesday, Leonardo Contreras, head of the company's mining unit, emphasized that current supply and demand dynamics lean toward a tight global market. The constructive market outlook follows the conglomerate's quarterly financial results released on Tuesday, which revealed a 79% jump in net profit fueled by higher benchmark copper prices. Rapid expansion in energy transition initiatives, EV production, and power-intensive AI data center infrastructure continues to absorb refined copper supply at a robust pace. Simultaneously, steady industrial activity in the United States provides a solid macro floor for physical consumption. Given the extended lead times and operational hurdles involved in bringing new mine capacity online, fundamental demand growth is set to outpace mine supply additions heading into 2026.
Jul 24, 2026 21:40On July 19, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kangqian Intelligent UHV flexible new-type power grid intelligent aluminum alloy precision components project was held in the Hailing High-tech Zone. The project plans to invest a total of 500 million yuan to construct 2 GIS aluminum alloy component machining production lines. Upon completion and operation, annual sales are expected to increase by 600 million yuan.
Jul 24, 2026 20:04On July 18, the roasting process of Guangxi Investment Group Qiangqiang Carbon-based New Materials' annual 600,000 mt carbon-based new material project, under Guangxi Aluminum Group, completed start-production operations, marking the project's official entry into the trial production phase. As the core step of prebaked anode production, the roasting process is mainly responsible for the high-temperature binder coking of carbon blocks. The project is equipped with two 60-chamber roasting furnaces, overhead traveling cranes, carbon block cleaning robots, and other key equipment, along with an integrated management and control platform covering logistics, automatic temperature regulation, and carbon block detection. Through highly automated and intelligent operation modes, it ensures the stable output of high-quality prebaked anodes.
Jul 24, 2026 20:03Sprott Asset Management’s research suggests that Western countries are investing billions of dollars to restructure supply chains to meet rare earth demand from national defense and clean energy, but artificial intelligence (AI) is unexpectedly becoming a new driver of rare earth demand growth. The Toronto-based investment management firm said AI has now joined national defense and electrification as the third driver of rare earth demand growth, with the world’s top five hyperscale data center operators alone having pledged to invest $400 billion in 2025.
Jul 24, 2026 18:55As the global green transition and the "dual carbon" goals advance further, the nonferrous metals industry is accelerating its shift toward low-carbon, smart, and high-end development. South China, as a core industry hub, boasts a well-established industry chain, outstanding resource endowments, and strong policy support, generating robust development momentum. Hosted by SMM, the is scheduled to be held from September 9 to 11 in Nanning, Guangxi. Centered on five key topics—price trends, market outlook, trade environment, policy direction, and low-carbon technology—the conference serves as a high-end industry platform for exchange and collaboration. Geely Baikuang Group Co., Ltd. sincerely invites colleagues from all sectors to gather in Nanning, join in this grand event, and jointly promote technological innovation and digital-intelligent transformation, helping enterprises seize opportunities and tackle challenges, and driving the high-quality development of the nonferrous metals industry. Click the to sign up and attend now! Booth No.: B6 Unleashing the Value of Resources for Sustainable Social Development Geely Technology Group was founded in 2017 and is affiliated with Geely Holding Group. It consistently adheres to the development philosophy of "innovation-driven, industry-based," advancing the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the growth of strategic emerging industries through technological innovation. The Group has four core industries: new materials (resources), motorcycle smart manufacturing, the low-altitude economy, and power and AI semiconductors, with strategic investments in commercial aerospace, new energy, and other businesses. It continues to strengthen its industry ecosystem advantages and consistently delivers valuable products and services to society. Currently, the Group's annual output value exceeds 100 billion yuan, with a workforce of more than 20,000. Geely Baikuang Group is an important member of the Fortune Global 500 company Geely Holding Group and one of the core enterprises in the new materials (resources) sector of Geely Technology Group. Its business spans multiple fields, including coal, electric power, aluminum, carbon, deep aluminum processing, and ecological manganese. Guangxi Baiming New Materials Co., Ltd. 's 50kt annual capacity project for electrical round aluminum rod represents a critical strategic initiative by Geely Baikuang Group, leveraging its existing liquid aluminum capacity to extend the aluminum industry chain and enhance product added value. It is also a concrete practice of the Group's active response to the strategic deployment for the "second entrepreneurial push" of the aluminum industry by the Autonomous Region and Baise City, while deepening supply-side structural reform. As a vital link in the circular development of Baise's eco-aluminum industry, this project will further optimize the regional aluminum industry layout, promote the efficient local conversion of resources, and strengthen the industry's overall competitiveness. The project is situated within the Longlin Aluminum Plant, part of the Gui-Qian (Longlin) Economic and Industrial Cooperation Park in Mugu Village, Pingban Town, Longlin Various Ethnic Groups Autonomous County. There, it fully leverages the raw material advantage of the Longlin Aluminum Plant's existing liquid aluminum capacity, facilitating the direct supply and conversion of nearby liquid aluminum, thereby significantly reducing remelting energy consumption and production costs. Total project investment is approximately 14.2 million yuan. Once completed and in operation, it is expected to form a production capacity of 50,000 mt per year of electrical round aluminum rod, achieve an annual output value of about 1 billion yuan, and generate annual tax revenue of approximately 2 million yuan. Company's Main Products The electrical round aluminum rods cover mainstream alloy designations such as 1A60, 1370, 1350, 8030, 8R76, 6201, and 8A07 high-conductivity rod, and specifications include wire diameters of Ø9.5, Ø12, Ø15, etc. They are widely used in conductor manufacturing for power cables and fiber optic cables, as well as in electromagnetic wire, enamelled wire, and air-conditioning condenser tubes, providing high-performance materials for motors, transformers, electronic components, and NEV parts, thereby strengthening the foundation for power and signal transmission. The project introduces smart integrated equipment, integrates multiple processes, and precisely controls aluminum semis processing, practicing the principles of high quality, low energy consumption, high efficiency, and sustainability, breaking through traditional limitations, and supporting the green and low-carbon development of China’s aluminum industry. Aluminum Processing Industry The aluminum processing industry is a key breakthrough sector for Geely Baikuang Group to achieve transformation and upgrading. It shoulders the major mission of extending Guangxi’s aluminum industry “second startup” toward advanced aluminum processing. Currently, it includes aluminum wheel hubs, refined aluminum, etc. The aluminum wheel hub project relies on Geely’s systematic advantages in the automotive industry and enjoys huge market demand. For the 10-million-unit-per-year aluminum alloy wheel hub project, Phase I with 5.2 million wheel hubs was launched into production in 2021. Refined aluminum has completed construction of 10,000 mt capacity, with aluminum purity reaching 99.99%, mainly applied in high-tech fields such as electronics and aerospace. At the same time, Geely Baikuang Group is establishing an integrated system covering R&D, production, and sales, and advancing the construction of the aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil project and the production base for NEV all-aluminum vehicle-supporting aluminum products and parts, to meet the huge demand for aluminum-based composite materials from the NEV industry, enrich Baise’s aluminum industry structure, and promote the high-quality development of Guangxi’s aluminum industry second startup. Manganese Industry The manganese industry is an emerging industry of Geely Baikuang Group, currently including manganese carbonate ore, electrolytic manganese metal, etc. The Geely Baikuang Jingxi Ecological Manganese Industry Integrated Park is one of the important manganese ore industrial bases in Guangxi and even China, with existing manganese carbonate ore resources of 20 million mt, Envision reserves of 40 million mt, and an annual output of 330,000 mt of manganese carbonate ore; electrolytic manganese metal capacity of 60,000 mt has been completed and put into operation. Geely is vigorously promoting NEV production, and Geely Baikuang will actively transform and upgrade toward new energy battery manganese-based materials, providing raw materials to new energy battery enterprises. Aluminum Smelting Industry Contact Information Huang Xiaoma 18177800977 SMM Conference Contact Ding Weiquan 18029344837
Jul 24, 2026 16:59In response to a question at a regular press conference on the 24th about reports that US President Trump said the leaders of China and the US would discuss AI-related topics, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations. China is willing to work with the US side to well implement the important consensus of the two heads of state in the field of artificial intelligence.
Jul 24, 2026 16:22Shanghai, July 23– Since joining the International Lithium Association (ILiA) in November 2022, Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) has maintained its membership for four consecutive years, serving as a long
Jul 23, 2026 10:14SMM has updated and standardized naming conventions and methodologies for certain price points to enhance clarity, consistency, and professional integrity.
PriceFeb 1, 2026 21:231. SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne Methodology 1.1 General Principles of SMM Price Assessment Methodology SMM (hereinafter referred to as SMM) is a completely independent third-party service provider that does not participate in any substantive transactions. Instead, it maintains close communication with buyers or sellers in transactions as a market observer or organizer, and provides relevant services to the market. SMM continuously formulates, reviews, and revises its methodologies through communication with industry insiders, adopting the most common product specifications, trade terms, and trade conditions in the industry. It attaches equal importance to normal transactions that meet the specification standards. SMM reserves the right to exclude any price data information deemed to be of poor reliability or non-representative from its price assessments. SMM publishes daily spot metal prices (or price indices, including those for the Chinese market, markets outside China, and global markets), commonly referred to as SMM prices. For each published SMM price, SMM has established a corresponding methodology (all of which are available for reference on SMM’s official website, www.smm.cn). The methodology specifies the methods and procedures for generating and publishing SMM prices, and SMM strictly adheres to these provisions when producing and releasing SMM prices. To align with the actual conditions of the spot market, SMM may make necessary revisions to its price assessment methodology. Such revisions will be announced on SMM’s official website, www.smm.cn, 28 days prior to their formal implementation. For any questions or suggestions regarding SMM prices or their methodology, please contact SMM customer service (contact information can be found on SMM’s official website, www.smm.cn). This document outlines the standards for establishing SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne. The purpose of SMM in developing this standard is to establish a transparent and verifiable mechanism for SMM price determination. The SMM Benchmark Management Committee also regularly reviews the methodology and its assessment and publication processes. This committee oversees SMM’s methodology and compilation process, ensuring that the prices or indices reflect, as accurately as possible, the objective conditions of the physical spot market for the relevant commodities. If the committee identifies any issues, it will promptly highlight them and propose external consultation and revisions to the current methodology or processes, thereby enhancing the quality of the prices or indices published by SMM. The committee may only propose modifications to the methodology and procedures used for future price or index assessments it cannot alter already published prices or indices. 2. Formation of SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne 2.1 Significance of the Price Assessment In recent years, with the implementation of domestic and overseas NEV policies and the rapid expansion of NEV production, copper foil used as the anode carrier in lithium-ion batteries has shown a surge in demand. Meanwhile, the new infrastructure wave represented by 5G, along with rapid developments in artificial intelligence, big data, and automotive electronics, has driven increasing demand for copper foil in related electronic circuit industries. The copper foil industry is also advancing toward higher precision, density, and reliability. As industry capacity rises and develops, and enterprises expand into overseas markets such as South Korea, there is a growing need for a fair and standardized operating environment. Copper foil processing fees, beneficial for long-term risk control and management, play a crucial role in the industry's development. In light of this, SMM will officially launch weekly SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne starting December 26, 2025, at which time SMM price members will be able to simultaneously access historical prices. 2.2 SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne Price Assessment Methodology 2.2.1 Product Specifications and Standards Given the wide variety of copper foil specifications, SMM uses the 8μm with the largest market share for copper foil premium assessments. The premium assessment adopts 8μm thickness product width: 700-1,000 mm product type: Power Battery with Ordinary Tensile Strength. KS C 2211-2002 Electrolytic Deposit Copper Foil for Printed Circuits standard. 2.2.2 Price Terms The price is a VAT-excluded CIF price at major ports in Korea based on the premium over LME CSP, with a quotation period of M+0 (M M stands for arrival month), quoted in USD per metric ton. 2.2.3 Payment Terms The price assessment reflects payment terms for cash transactions in the month of the transaction. Reference is made to major international payment methods (including D/P documents against payment, D/A documents against acceptance, T/T telegraphic transfer, etc.). If significant deviations from this standard occur, SMM will consider whether to exclude individual samples based on trade volume. For forward payments or letter of credit payments, SMM will adjust based on prevailing interest rates to align with this standard. 2.2.4 Delivery Time Within 4 weeks. 2.2.5 Reference Transaction Volume Min 25 tonnes. 2.2.6 Delivery Location Major Ports in Korea. 2.2.7 Price Publication Time Weekly, last trading day of the week, by 1pm Seoul time. 2.2.8 Price Format The assessed price are presented as a range, indicating the lowest and highest prices. For example: 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, cif Korea, $/tonne range 3,000-4,000 $/tonne, average: 3,500 $/tonne. 2.2.9 Price Collection Method SMM will, in accordance with the price collection confirmation agreement, have price analysts regularly collect price information from copper foil industry price contacts via phone, QQ, WeChat, fax, and email. This price information includes concluded transaction prices, the enterprise's expected most likely pending transaction prices, etc. All instant messaging content, email communications, and any records of face-to-face communications will be archived details of phone communications will be recorded and entered into the database. SMM analysts must comply with the Compliance System when reporting any forced or threatened communications from market participants, or any induced offers attempting to influence the assessment. Once published, SMM will not revise or adjust the price on the same day. 2.2.9.1 Assessment (Calculation) of Published Prices Step-1: The final dataset from the previous chapter, which exists as a processing fee range, is split into several lower limit values and several upper limit values for two different types of enterprise classifications in this methodology version: copper foil producers and downstream end-users. Arithmetic averages are calculated for both sets and rounded to the nearest whole number. Among these: - When both transaction information and offer/counteroffer information are present, the weight of transaction information is set at 60%, and offer/counteroffer information at 40%. - When transaction information, offer/counteroffer information, and other information are all present, the weight of transaction information is set at 50%, offer/counteroffer information at 40%, and other information at 10%. - When only offer/counteroffer information and other information are present, the weight of offer/counteroffer information is set at 90%, and other information at 10%. Step-2: The two price ranges derived from the previous step, which exist as processing fee states, are split into two lower limit values and two upper limit values. Weights are applied, and weighted averages are calculated, then rounded to the nearest whole number. In this methodology version, copper foil producers are weighted at 50%, and downstream enterprises at 50%. Step-3: The relevant calculation coefficients above will be adjusted every six months to ensure timeliness. 2.2.9.2 Data Standardization Although SMM has standardized definitions for our prices, diversity exists in market transactions. The price of each transaction is influenced by numerous factors, including order size, brand of goods, delivery time, payment terms, etc. SMM will comprehensively consider market offers, bids, and transaction information, aligning them with our standards. Each price datum will be electronically recorded or accompanied by written records. All electronic and paper records must be archived by price collection personnel and retained long-term (at least 5 years) in secure network and physical environments. For details, please refer to the SMM Data Retention Policy. 2.2.9.3 Price Assessment Process The specific process is as follows: 2.3 Methodology Changes All markets change, and SMM has a responsibility to ensure that the methodology for market reports evolves with the market. Therefore, SMM will regularly conduct internal reviews of the methodology's appropriateness based on industry feedback. For all substantive but non-urgent potential modifications, SMM will follow a formal external consultation process. Major changes will then be announced with a notice period of at least 28 days, inviting industry comments, unless special circumstances, particularly force majeure (natural disasters, war, exchange bankruptcy, etc.), necessitate a shorter notice period. SMM is committed to carefully considering all comments on proposed methodology changes, but in some cases, it may be necessary to proceed with changes contrary to the wishes of some market participants. Additionally, SMM has a formal methodology consultation process. SMM commits to holding a formal consultation on the methodology every three years. The date of the last consultation and the deadline for the next consultation committed by SMM are located at the top of the methodology document. 2.4 Compliance with SMM Policies All relevant SMM employees must not only comply with the methodology published by SMM but also adhere to SMM's internal standards and policies. These include: SMM Conflict of Interest Policy, SMM Whistleblower Policy, SMM Error Correction Policy, SMM Methodology Review Consultation and Change Policy, SMM Complaints Policy, etc. Welcome more relevant enterprises in the industry chain to participate and support SMM in better serving related enterprises in the copper foil industry chain. For inquiries, please contact: Shanghai Metals Market Copper Research Team, Shanyu Jiang Contact: 021-20707916, +86 15615750662
PriceDec 23, 2025 15:00