![[SMM Analysis] H1 2026 Silver Price Surge and Fall: Spot Market Squeeze and Fed Policy Shifts Drive Extreme Volatility](https://imgqn.smm.cn/production/admin/votes/imagesSbYYY20240307134125.png)
H1 2026 silver saw a sharp spike to 30,900 yuan/kg in January, then plunged 55% to 13,816 yuan/kg by June, driven by squeezed spot liquidity and Fed policy reversal from easing to hawkish. Supply grew steadily; PV silver demand fell 21% YoY. H2 outlook: wait for inflation signals and Fed pivot, silver likely remains under pressure.
Jul 10, 2026 19:10In early July 2026, CAAM and the CPCA sub-council successively released relevant data on the automotive market for June 2026 and H1. CAAM stated that in H1, China's auto industry operated generally steady, with cumulative declines in production and sales narrowing month by month. Market trends showed three key divergences: first, domestic demand was under obvious pressure, with sales dropping by double digits; second, exports exceeded expectations and provided stable support... SMM has compiled the relevant automotive market data for June 2026 and H1 for readers' reference. Automotive CAAM: June Auto Production and Sales Rose MoM; H1 Decline Narrowed Further vs. First 5 Months In June, auto production and sales reached 2.76 million and 2.81 million units, up 5.5% and 6.9% MoM respectively, down 1.2% and 3.2% YoY respectively. From January to June, auto production and sales totaled 14.993 million and 15.017 million units, down 4% and 4.1% YoY respectively, with the declines narrowing further compared to the first five months. CAAM: NEV Production and Sales Posted Steady Growth in June; H1 NEV Sales Accounted for 49.6% of Total New Vehicle Sales In June, NEV production and sales reached 1.598 million and 1.643 million units, up 26% and 23.6% YoY, respectively. NEV new vehicle sales accounted for 58.5% of total new vehicle sales. From January to June, NEV production and sales reached 7.438 million and 7.446 million units, up 6.7% and 7.3% YoY, respectively , with NEV new vehicle sales accounting for 49.6% of total new vehicle sales. CAAM: June Auto Exports Surpassed 1 Million Units for First Time in History; NEV Exports Up 1.6 Times YoY In June, auto exports reached 1.037 million units, up 11.6% MoM, up 75.1% YoY, with monthly exports surpassing 1 million units for the first time . In H1, auto exports reached 5.096 million units, up 65.3% YoY. In June, NEV exports were 523,000 units, up 17.2% MoM, up 1.6 times YoY ; traditional fuel vehicle exports were 514,000 units, up 6.4% MoM and up 32.7% YoY. In H1, NEV exports totaled 2.355 million units, up 1.2 times YoY; traditional fuel vehicle exports reached 2.741 million units, up 35.5% YoY. Regarding the H1 auto market, according to CAAM's analysis, in H1, China's auto industry operated generally steady, with the cumulative declines in production and sales narrowing month by month. Market flows exhibited three major divergences: First, domestic demand was clearly under pressure, with sales falling by double digits; export growth exceeded expectations, providing stable support. Second, the passenger vehicle market performed poorly, edging down slightly; the commercial vehicle market continued its positive trend, with sales maintaining growth. Third, the transition between old and new growth momentums continued, with the traditional ICE vehicle market shrinking further and NEVs growing steadily. Meanwhile, the CPCA also released data on the passenger vehicle market in June. In June, retail sales of passenger vehicles in China totaled 1.602 million units, down 23.2% YoY and up 6.1% MoM. Cumulative retail sales for the year to date reached 8.701 million units, down 20.2% YoY. China's passenger vehicle market in June 2026 exhibited a trend of recovery characterized by "overall volume under pressure, sequential strengthening, and extreme structural divergence." For passenger NEVs, June retail sales reached 1.007 million units, down 9.4% YoY and up 6.0% MoM; from January to June, retail sales of passenger NEVs totaled 4.704 million units, down 14.0% YoY. In June, retail sales of conventional ICE passenger vehicles were 600,000 units, down 39% YoY and up 6.3% MoM. Notably, sales of conventional hybrid models fell only 7% YoY and rose 24% MoM, an eye-catching performance. As for NEV exports, June passenger NEV exports reached 499,000 units, up 152.7% YoY, up 17.6% MoM , accounting for 56.9% of passenger vehicle exports, up 15.9 percentage points from the same period last year. Of these, pure electric vehicles accounted for 58.7% of NEV exports (63.1% in the same period last year), with the core focus A00- and A0-class pure electric vehicles representing 53.8% of pure electric exports (51.2% in the same period last year). As the scale advantages of Chinese NEVs become evident and market expansion demand grows, an increasing number of Chinese-branded NEV products are going global, with recognition outside China continuing to rise. Specifically, narrowly defined plug-in hybrids accounted for 37.7% of NEV exports (33.4% last year), while extended-range EVs accounted for 3.6% (3.5% last year). Despite recent interference from some external countries, exports of domestic narrowly defined plug-in hybrids to developing countries have surged rapidly, with a bright outlook. The CPCA stated that the core characteristics of the auto market in June were "a collapse in domestic ICE sales, strong dominance of NEVs, and surging exports." The core pressure on the domestic market downturn came from ICE vehicles, whose retail sales fell 39% under the impact of high oil prices. Their market share was 37.2% in June, and the year-on-year decline in ICE volume accounted for 78% of the total reduction in passenger car sales. Among them, retail sales of conventional hybrid models fell 7%, while pure ICE vehicles dropped 42%, further segmenting the ICE vehicle structure. High fuel prices, the consumer shift toward new energy vehicles, and other factors have accelerated the replacement of internal combustion engine vehicles by EVs. The new energy retail penetration rate stayed at a historical high of 62.8% this month. The electrification transition of joint venture brands has sped up, with joint venture new energy car model sales up 45% YoY in June, while internal combustion engine vehicle sales fell 39% YoY. Exports continued to be the industry’s core growth driver. New energy vehicles accounted for a record 57% of exports in June, while the 33% growth rate for internal combustion engine vehicle exports was also very strong, creating a super-strong performance where both new energy and internal combustion engine vehicles are going global at the same time. The current domestic auto market is increasingly defined by a fight for existing market share, with divergence within the industry continuing to intensify. The new energy market bid farewell to all-around growth and has entered a polarized landscape where high-end EVs experience explosive growth while low-end, economy-oriented car models are under pressure, with the county and township markets and entry-level car model segments seeing overly sharp declines. At the same time, the "new car model effect" is becoming short-lived, significantly weakening its ability to boost the market. Pressure on the channel side remains prominent, the pace of passive industry destocking has accelerated, and dealers are generally suffering losses with climbing operational risks. Overall, the MoM market improvement in June was only structural recovery; electrification upgrades and overseas exports have become the core long-term support for industry growth. The characteristics of the passenger vehicle market in June 2026: 1. Overall market under pressure with major structural divergence. The biggest focus is "cold internal combustion engine vehicles, hot battery EVs." The core reason for the domestic retail decline is the "internal combustion engine vehicle collapse," which pushed the new energy retail penetration rate rapidly past 60% to 62.8%, with the pace of electrification replacement exceeding expectations. 2. Mini EVs are under pressure, the A-segment car market is shrinking, and entry-level consumption urgently needs support; the launch of economy EV standards is eagerly awaited. 3. Exports showed explosive growth, with new energy vehicles accounting for 57% of exports (a record high). A new energy and domestic brand-led dual-drive globalization has become the core growth engine. 4. The characteristics of passive destocking are obvious, dealer inventories fell rapidly, listed dealers reported comprehensive losses, and dealers' survival pressure continues to intensify. 5. The high-end breakthrough of domestic brands was prominent, with retail sales for these brands accounting for over 50% in consumer market segments such as 200,000-300,000 yuan, 300,000-400,000 yuan, and above 400,000 yuan. June delivery data for new forces in the auto industry is out, Leap Motor is gaining unstoppable momentum, and how are automakers progressing toward their annual targets? At the beginning of July, several Chinese new force automakers released their June delivery data, with many enterprises reporting dazzling results: In June, Leap Motor continued its unstoppable momentum, delivering 93,376 units globally, up 95% YoY, with cumulative H1 deliveries reaching 356,487 units. According to previous media reports, Leap Motor's full-year 2026 sales target is 1 million units, and its target completion rate now stands at about 35.65%. This year, Leap Motor's new vehicle deliveries have climbed steadily, securing a leading position among new car-making forces with this stellar performance. In July, Leap Motor continued to gain momentum with the launch of its "Summer Deals, Save in the Season" car purchase event. Customers who place orders during the event can receive limited-time benefits worth up to 61,279 yuan, plus four lifetime free warranties and premium services. This generous package aims to provide users with a more hassle-free car ownership experience. As of June 18, 2026, Leap Motor's global cumulative deliveries surpassed 1.5 million units, marking a significant milestone in the brand's development. In June, NIO delivered 40,597 new vehicles, a new monthly high since 2026, up 62.9% YoY. Among them, the NIO brand delivered 21,908 units, up 50.1% YoY; the Ledo brand delivered 11,743 units, up 83.5% YoY; and the Firefly brand delivered 6,946 units, up 76.7% YoY. To date, NIO has cumulatively delivered 1,188,715 new vehicles. In H1 2026, NIO delivered a total of 191,123 new vehicles, hitting a record high, up 67.4% YoY, with deliveries of all three brands reaching record highs in the first half. According to publicly available information, NIO previously stated that it aims to maintain annual sales growth of 40% to 50%. Based on this, its 2026 sales target is 456,000 to 489,000 units. As of now, its full-year sales completion rate is around 39.08% to 41.9%. Meanwhile, as of now, NIO has achieved profitability for two consecutive quarters, entering the third phase of high-quality development. Its multi-brand strategy is steadily progressing, and synergies are driving rapid sales growth. In June, XPeng Motors delivered 40,126 new vehicles, up 15.9% YoY, with Q2 cumulative deliveries reaching 103,295 units. During the same period, the 10,000th XPeng GX rolled off the production line, and global cumulative deliveries of the XPeng X9 exceeded 60,000 units. The first SUV in the MONA series, the XPeng MONA L03, will make its China debut and start pre-sales on July 2. XPeng's product lineup is further enriched, and its global expansion continues to advance. In H1 2026, XPeng Motors delivered 165,977 vehicles, representing a completion rate of around 27.66% to 30.18% against its 2026 sales target of 550,000 to 600,000 units. It is worth mentioning that global cumulative deliveries of the XPeng X9 have now exceeded 60,000 units, setting a new record for the fastest delivery speed of an MPV by a new energy startup. In June, Li Auto delivered 30,895 new vehicles. In H1 2026, Li Auto delivered a total of 193,472 new vehicles. As of June 30, 2026, Li Auto's historical cumulative deliveries reached 1,733,687 units. In March this year, Li Auto's chairman Li Xiang proposed a YoY sales growth of over 20% in 2026, corresponding to a full-year target of 487,600 units. Currently, its H1 delivery completion rate is around 39.68%. In July, the new generation Li Auto L6 will also be officially launched. Xiaomi’s June deliveries continued to exceed 30,000 units, with its H1 sales at around 180,000 units, achieving approximately 32.73% of its sales target of 550,000 units announced in January 2026. Meanwhile, BYD, a globally renowned EV enterprise, sold a total of 403,472 NEVs in June, up 5.46% YoY. Its cumulative production for the year reached 1.8141 million units, down 15.11% YoY, and cumulative sales reached 1.8085 million units, down 15.72% YoY. Among these, passenger vehicle production was 396,400 units and sales were 397,300 units. Notably, in June, BYD’s markets outside China continued to see rapid growth, with overseas sales of passenger vehicles and pickups reaching 174,897 units, up 95% YoY. In H1, BYD’s cumulative sales reached 1,808,511 units, and cumulative NEV sales exceeded 16.9 million units. According to public information, its previously set sales target was between 5 million and 5.5 million units, and its current achievement rate is around 32.88%–36.17%. Looking at the June report cards of BYD and these new force automakers, BYD and Leap Motor stood out: BYD’s sales once again surpassed 400,000 units, while Leap Motor continued to set new delivery records, with over 90,000 global deliveries keeping it firmly in the top spot among new force automakers. Both NIO and XPeng Motors exceeded 40,000 deliveries in June, delivering commendable performances. However, the sales achievements of these automakers still fall short of their annual sales targets. The highest achievement rate is Li Auto’s 39.68%. That said, expectations remain for the September-October peak season in H2, and with the recent rollout of multiple favorable policies for the auto industry, automakers’ subsequent performance is still expected to be promising. Policy side, on July 2, the Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued an announcement on adjusting the preferential vehicle and vessel tax policies for energy-saving vehicles and NEVs, stating that from January 1, 2027, the policy of halving the vehicle and vessel tax for energy-saving vehicles will be abolished, and the exemption of vehicle and vessel tax for pure electric commercial vehicles, plug-in hybrid (including range-extended) vehicles, and fuel cell commercial vehicles will also be abolished; taxpayers who newly acquire or have already acquired such vehicles before this announcement takes effect shall be subject to vehicle and vessel tax in accordance with the Vehicle and Vessel Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, its implementation regulations, and other relevant provisions. In addition, on June 29, the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance and the Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance jointly released the "Initiative on Regulating Supplier Payment for Power and ESS Battery Enterprises," which set out norms and initiatives for multiple stages including order confirmation and changes, delivery and acceptance, payment and settlement, and contract duration. After the release of this initiative, enterprises in China's power battery and ESS battery industry chain, including CATL, EVE, and Gotion High-tech, actively responded. The relevant official of the Equipment Industry Section I under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology commented that the 11 key battery enterprises actively responded to the initiative and proposed relevant implementation measures, demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of enterprises. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will fully leverage the role of departmental coordination mechanisms, promptly resolve issues in implementation, and take multiple measures to promote the establishment of a collaborative and win-win development ecosystem for the entire industry chain of power batteries and ESS batteries, fostering healthy and sustainable industrial development. Looking ahead to H2, CAAM expects that the program of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins will continue to be implemented in an orderly manner, and consumption in the automotive aftermarket is expected to see new growth opportunities, with new product supply from enterprises continuously enriched, market prices relatively stable, and the overall economic operation of the industry further improving. At the same time, it must be noted that the external environment is complex and volatile, uncertainties continue to increase, the issue of insufficient domestic demand remains prominent, and industry operations still face significant pressure. It is necessary to stabilize policy expectations, strengthen guidance and regulation, closely monitor changes in the international situation, effectively address risks and challenges, and steadily expand international markets.
Jul 10, 2026 18:32[China's Highway Transport Capacity Continues to Expand, New Energy Truck Penetration Rate Exceeds 40%] The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing released the "2026 China Highway Transport Capacity Development Report" today (July 10). According to the report, in 2025, the highway transport market continued to adjust and optimize, with the capacity structure rapidly upgrading towards scaling, specialization, and greening, while enterprises' risk resistance capacity and normalized operational resilience improved. Survey data showed that in the highway freight capacity structure at the time, internal combustion engine vehicles still dominated, accounting for approximately 50%, but new energy vehicles had already formed an irreversible substitution trend in specific scenarios. Among the surveyed enterprises, the penetration rate of new energy trucks was 44.4%. Among enterprises that had purchased new energy vehicles, 37.5% chose to "continue expanding the new energy vehicle fleet," and 37.5% chose to "maintain the current scale."
Jul 10, 2026 18:18Per SMM statistics, the average operating rate of domestic die-casting zinc alloy manufacturers from January to June 2026 dropped by 6.25 percentage points year-on-year versus the same period in 2025, marking an evident slowdown in overall production activity.
Jul 10, 2026 17:57SMM, July 10: Metals market: As of midday close, domestic base metals nearly all rose, with SHFE copper up 1.67%, SHFE aluminum up 0.63%, SHFE lead edging down, SHFE zinc up 1.34%, SHFE tin up 2.18%, and SHFE nickel up 1.1%. Additionally, the most-traded cast aluminum futures contract rose 0.57%, the most-traded alumina futures rose 0.37%, the most-traded lithium carbonate futures fell 1.67%, the most-traded silicon metal futures rose 2.74%, and the most-traded polysilicon futures contract rose 2.28%. Ferrous metals mostly fell. Iron ore rose 0.74%, rebar edged up, and hot-rolled coil edged down. Stainless steel fell 0.49%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 2.09%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 1.51%. On the overseas base metals front, as of 11:41, LME metals mostly rose. LME copper rose 0.38%, LME aluminum rose 0.28%, LME lead fell 0.18%, LME zinc rose 0.39%, LME tin rose 0.7%, and LME nickel rose 0.18%. Precious metals, as of 11:41, COMEX gold fell 0.12% and COMEX silver rose 0.16%. Domestic precious metals: SHFE gold rose 1.15%; the most-traded SHFE silver futures contract rose 3.48%. Additionally, by midday close, the most-traded platinum futures contract rose 2.53%, and the most-traded palladium futures contract rose 3.65%. As of midday close, the most-traded container shipping (Europe route) futures contract rose 1.09% to 2,415 points. As of 11:41 on July 10, midday futures overview: Spot and Fundamentals Zinc: In the Tianjin market, #0 zinc ingot mainly traded at 24,420-24,910 yuan/mt, Zijin traded at 24,540-24,970 yuan/mt, #1 zinc ingot traded around 24,430-24,860 yuan/mt, Zijin was quoted at a discount of 0-10 yuan/mt against the 2608 contract, Huxin was quoted at 26,010 yuan/mt, #0 zinc ingot was quoted at a discount of 60-130 yuan/mt against the 2608 contract, and the Tianjin market was quoted at a discount of around 50 yuan/mt against the Shanghai market... Macro Front Domestic: [National Energy Administration: By 2028, Non-Fossil Energy Consumption Share to Increase by About 1 Percentage Point Annually] The National Energy Administration issued the "Energy Sector Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Action Plan (2026-2028)." It proposes that by 2028, the non-fossil energy consumption share will increase by an average of about 1 percentage point annually; reasonably control coal consumption of coal-fired power units, striving to raise the proportion of coal power capacity meeting current energy efficiency benchmark standards by 15 percentage points; build a number of zero-carbon and low-carbon coal mining and oil areas; support the construction of a number of zero-carbon parks, achieve significant progress in energy conservation and carbon reduction in key industries, and continuously improve green energy use. It proposed vigorously promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction in thermal power. A batch of eligible coal-fired power units of 300,000 kW and below will be shut down in a prudent and orderly manner, and the construction of replacement units is encouraged according to the requirements of new-generation coal-fired power ; a batch of 600,000 kW coal-fired power units will undergo ultra-supercritical cross-generation upgrading and retrofitting. Support will be given to eligible units for the co-firing of zero-carbon and low-carbon fuels and the retrofitting and construction of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). After retrofitting and construction, the carbon emission level per kilowatt-hour should be reduced by about 10%. A number of projects integrating coal-fired power, gas-fired power and new energy will be implemented, supporting the coupling of coal-fired power and new energy through thermal energy storage and other energy storage for peak shaving and peak support, integrated collection and transmission, thereby achieving the effect of integrated carbon reduction. (Jin10 Data APP) [China’s Road Transport Capacity Continues to Expand, New Energy Truck Penetration Rate Exceeds 40%] The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing released the "2026 China Road Transport Capacity Development Report" today (the 10th). According to the report, the road transport market underwent continuous adjustment and optimization in 2025, with the capacity structure accelerating its upgrade towards scale, specialization, and green development; enterprises saw improvements in their risk resilience and operational resilience. Survey data shows that in the current road freight transport capacity structure, internal combustion engine vehicles remain dominant, accounting for about 50%, but new energy vehicles have already formed an irreversible substitution trend in specific scenarios. Among the surveyed enterprises, the penetration rate of new energy trucks was 44.4%. Among enterprises that have already purchased new energy vehicles, 37.5% chose to "continue expanding the new energy fleet," and 37.5% chose to "maintain the current scale." (CCTV News) [New Breakthrough in Green Hydrogen: China Achieves Minute-Level Preparation of Platinum Group Metal Catalysts] Platinum group metal catalysts are core key materials supporting modern industries such as energy, chemical, and environmental sectors. Recently, a team led by Professor Hu Wenbin from Tianjin University proposed a "transient assembly" strategy, developing a millisecond-scale periodic heat pulse technology that achieved ultra-fast synthesis and precise regulation of platinum group metal core-shell structure catalysts, opening up a completely new technical pathway for the atomically precise preparation of platinum group catalysts. The related results were published online in the international academic journal *Science* on July 10, Beijing time. (Xinhua News Agency) [Guangdong: Plans to Accelerate Technological Breakthroughs in Key Frontier Fields Including 6G, Optical Communications, and Satellite Communications] Recently, the "Guangdong Province Information and Communication Industry 15th Five-Year Plan (Draft for Public Comments)" was released to solicit public opinions. It mentioned supporting basic telecommunications enterprises in actively participating in provincial key R&D programs, leveraging strategic scientific and technological forces such as the Pengcheng National Laboratory and industry leaders to help Guangdong’s information and communication industry establish a sound whole-process innovation ecosystem, accelerating technological breakthroughs in key frontier fields including 6G, optical communications, satellite communications, quantum communications, and agentic communications, and strengthening research on new network architectures such as integrated space-ground networks and integrated communication-sensing-computing networks. Focus on cultivating and developing the new 6G track, vigorously promoting the R&D and industrialisation of core components such as next-generation digital baseband chips, RF front-end chips, and 6G modules, as well as next-generation network communication equipment. Conduct application technology research on the integration of quantum encryption with information communication networks and the convergence of quantum computing with classical computing, and achieve breakthroughs in key technologies such as quantum computing, quantum materials, quantum precision measurement, quantum security, and critical core equipment. (Jin10 Data APP) [PBOC reverse repo operations led to a net withdrawal of 43 billion yuan on the day, and a net withdrawal of 416.5 billion yuan for the week] The PBOC conducted 20 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today, and with 63 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos maturing, the net withdrawal for the day was 43 billion yuan. During the week, the PBOC conducted 62 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repo and 1,000 billion yuan of outright reverse repo operations. With 678.5 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos and 800 billion yuan of outright reverse repos maturing, the net withdrawal for the week was 416.5 billion yuan. US dollar side: As of 11:41, the US dollar index fell 0.28% to 100.66. According to CME "FedWatch": The probability that the Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in July is 74.9%, while the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike is 25.1%. For September, the probability of rates remaining unchanged is 35.7%, the probability of a cumulative 25-bp hike is 51.1%, and the probability of a cumulative 50-bp hike is 13.1%. (Jin10 Data APP) Perli, manager of the New York Fed’s Open Market Account, said that the reserve management purchase operations have no preset course, and the New York Fed’s Open Market Trading Desk may raise or lower purchase amounts depending on money market conditions. Additionally, Perli said that as Fed Chairman Warsh appoints a working group on the Fed’s balance sheet, the trading desk is ready to implement any changes and interest-rate control frameworks the committee may decide to pursue. The Fed began reserve management purchase operations last December, anticipating a rapid drain in reserves in April as tax payments flowed into the Treasury General Account. When the Treasury’s account balance at the Fed increases, reserves in the banking system decline. (Jin10 Data APP) Dallas Fed President Logan said that if the Federal Open Market Committee conducts open market operations through a voluntary central clearing mechanism, it would help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and enhance the stability of US financial markets. Logan noted that such arrangements could improve the use of the Fed’s tools, such as the Standing Repo Facility. The facility is designed to provide liquidity to eligible financial institutions, but market usage remains low. Some believe that streamlining the clearing process could enhance its appeal. She also noted that market leverage levels need to be carefully managed and that financial markets must strike an appropriate balance between the returns and risks of leverage, as well as between leverage and liquidity. (Jinshi Data APP) The latest data showed that for the week ending July 4, which included the US Independence Day holiday, initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 215,000, below market expectations of 217,000 and persisting near historic lows. However, continuing claims, which reflect the state of re-employment among the unemployed, rose to 1.81 million, hitting a new high since March. Persistently low initial jobless claims, together with recent non-farm payrolls data, paint a picture of a US labour market characterised by shrinking layoffs and a slowdown in hiring. (Wall Street CN) Data-wise: Today will see the release of figures including Germany's final CPI MoM for June, France's final CPI MoM for June, Switzerland's June consumer confidence index, Canada's June employment numbers, China's June M2 money supply YoY, China's new RMB loans for the first half of the year, and China's total social financing growth for the first half of the year. Also in focus: a speech by 2026 FOMC voter and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan; and the provisional listing of SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the Nasdaq on July 10. Crude oil: As of 11:41, oil prices for both benchmarks edged up, with WTI crude rising 0.25% and Brent crude gaining 0.21%. Technical-level talks between the US and Iran are ongoing, with the market closely watching how the US-Iran situation unfolds. According to Fox News, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that Trump believes oil prices will remain at low levels in the future. India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved an expansion of the country's strategic petroleum reserves, highlighting efforts to strengthen energy resilience following the shock of the Iran conflict. According to a document, the board of India's largest oil and gas producer has approved the addition of 1.75 million mt of national crude oil reserve capacity in Mangalore, Karnataka. Specific costs and a timetable have yet to be announced. Upon completion, the project will increase the reserves managed by the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. The company currently operates underground storage facilities at three locations on the east and west coasts with a total capacity of 5.33 million mt. In addition, two new sites are under construction that will add 6.5 million mt of storage space. ONGC stated in Friday's filing that the project is of "national importance" and that related supporting facilities will be developed under the directive of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. (Jin10 Data APP) Spot Market Overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ►] ► ► ► ► ►
Jul 10, 2026 14:45Futures: Overnight, LME lead opened at $1,889/mt, fell first before rising to a high of $1,904/mt during Asian trading hours; after entering the European session, it plunged and gave back all gains to a low of $1,886.5/mt, eventually closing at $1,894.5/mt, up 0.19%. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE lead 2608 contract opened lower with a gap at 16,085 yuan/mt, briefly touched a high of 16,095 yuan/mt at the start of trading, then dived to a low of 15,975 yuan/mt, rebounded slightly in the last trading minutes, and finally closed at 16,040 yuan/mt, down 0.62%. On the macro front: The US Fed announced the list of heads for five new working groups. China's National Bureau of Statistics: In June 2026, the national consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.0% YoY, and the national producer price index (PPI) rose 4.1% YoY. CAAM: China's NEV production and sales reached 7.438 million units and 7.446 million units, up 6.7% and 7.3% YoY, January-June. The State Council issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Carbon Peaking Action Plan": By 2030, the share of non-fossil energy consumption will reach 25%, and the ownership of new energy vehicles is targeted to reach 30%. The "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Human Resources and Social Security": During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, a considerable scale of new urban employment will be maintained. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood and typhoon prevention in Zhejiang and Fujian from Level 4 to Level 3. Spot fundamentals: SHFE lead consolidated on a subdued note, and with ample circulating supply in the market, suppliers mostly sold at discounts. Meanwhile, EXW cargoes from primary lead smelters also saw wider discounts, with quotations in mainstream producing areas at discounts of 50-0 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price. In the secondary lead sector, smelters were less willing to sell, and secondary refined lead was quoted at or near parity with the SMM #1 lead average price on EXW basis. Downstream enterprises only maintained just-in-time procurement, with limited inquiries, leading to sluggish transactions in the spot order market. Inventories: As of July 9, LME lead inventory remained flat at 291,425 mt; as of July 9, total SMM lead ingot social inventory across five regions fell by 3,800 mt from July 6. Lead price forecast for today: Some primary lead enterprises have gradually completed maintenance, leading to an increase in lead ingot supply. Additionally, several secondary and primary lead producers plan to conduct maintenance in mid-to-late July, which is expected to limit further supply growth. At the same time, the off-season demand characteristics remain pronounced, and just-in-time procurement by downstream users is limited, raising doubts about the sustainability of destocking in social inventory of lead ingots. Currently, downstream enterprises harbor strong wait-and-see sentiment and reduced purchasing willingness. SMM expects lead prices to maintain a fluctuating trend in the short term.
Jul 10, 2026 08:09Dear Users, Greetings! In recent years, as the global new energy vehicle industry entered a large-scale retirement period and resource security strategies were upgraded, China's lithium battery recycling market continued to expand rapidly. In August this year, China officially began allowing the import and export of black mass, and it is expected that more black mass meeting quality requirements will enter China in the future. Against this backdrop, the value and pricing mechanism of overseas black mass in the Chinese market are attracting close attention from both upstream and downstream segments of the industry chain. In response to market changes, addressing the industry's practical needs for evaluating the value of recycled raw materials, and promoting the establishment of a more open and fair pricing benchmark in the lithium battery recycling sector, the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), after in-depth market surveys and discussions has decided: On January 9, 2026, SMM will officially launch new weekly price for lithium battery recycling. The newly added price are as follow: 1. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Nickle sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 9% < Ni < 20% 2. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Cobalt sulphate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 5% < Co < 10% 3. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Lithium Carbonate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 3% < Li < 3.5% Details of this price point are as follows: Description: SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Nickel Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 9% < Ni < 20% SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Cobalt Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 5% < Co < 10% SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Lithium Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 3% < Li < 3.5% Quality: Ni 9%-20%, Co 5%-10%, Li 3%-3.5% Quantity: Minimum 30 tonnes Definition: FOB Malaysia main ports Timing: 1-2 Months Unit: % Payment Terms: 50% Payment in advance T/T in USD , other payment terms normalized Pulication: Weekly, Friday 12pm Beijing time Relevant companies from the New Energy Industry Chain are welcomed to participate and support SMM in better serving the New Energy Industry Companies. Relevant companies from the New Energy Industry Chain are welcomed to participate and support SMM in better serving the New Energy Industry Companies. Shirley Wang 021-51666838 wangcong@smm.cn Thomas Feng 021-51666714 marui@smm.cn Freya Lin 021-51666902 linziya@smm.cn Rayna Lei 021-20707873 leiyue@smm.cn Melanie Choy (Malaysia) +6012-4926909 melanie.choy@smm.cn Shanghai Metals Market New Energy Research Team November 26, 2025
PriceDec 29, 2025 18:56To better serve industrial clients and more closely align with the market, SMM has added a weekly price for 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne, which will be officially launched on the SMM website (smm.cn) on December 19, 2025. 1. SMM 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne Methodology 1.1 SMM Price Assessment Methodology General Provisions Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) is a fully independent third-party service organization that does not participate in any actual transactions. Instead, it maintains close communication with buyers or sellers in the market as an observer or organizer and provides relevant services to the market. SMM continuously develops, reviews, and revises its methodology through communication with industry professionals, adopting the most common product specifications, trade terms, and trade conditions in the industry. Equal importance is given to normal transactions that meet the standard specifications. SMM reserves the right to exclude any price information deemed less reliable or unrepresentative 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, a corresponding methodology is established (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 guidelines when producing and releasing SMM prices. To align with the actual conditions of the spot market, SMM will make necessary revisions to the SMM price assessment methodology and announce these revisions on the official website www.smm.cn 28 days before their formal implementation. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding SMM prices or the methodology, please contact SMM customer service (contact information can be found on the official website www.smm.cn ). This document specifies the standards for formulating the weekly RC for 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne. The purpose of establishing this standard by SMM is to create a transparent and verifiable mechanism for SMM price formation. The SMM Benchmark Management Committee also regularly reviews the methodology and its assessment and publication processes. This committee oversees SMM’s methodology and compilation procedures, ensuring that the prices or indices accurately reflect 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 ongoing methodology or processes, thereby improving the quality of SMM’s published prices or indices. 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 8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne. 2.1 Significance of the Price Assessment Current copper rod industry faces increasingly prominent overcapacity issues, with low capacity utilization rates. The market for ordinary power-grade rods suffers from homogenized competition, processing fees are caught in internal competition, and profit margins for most enterprises are severely compressed. Against this backdrop, the copper rod industry is gradually transitioning toward high-quality development, enhancing product added value, expanding profit margins, and progressively addressing the structural imbalance of "excess low-end supply and insufficient high-end supply." Tin-plated copper rods, leveraging characteristics such as oxidation resistance, ease of welding, and strong stability due to the tin coating, meet the demands of high-end sectors like new energy vehicles and electronic devices. With the continuous expansion of emerging industries such as new energy and 5G communication, the tin-plated copper rod market holds broad prospects and will become a key direction for the transformation and upgrading of the copper processing industry. 2.2 SMM 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne Price Assessment Methodology 2.2.1 Product Specifications and Standards Given the wide variety of tin-plated copper rod specifications, SMM adopts the 1.8mm diameter, which holds a relatively high market share, as the basis for quoting tin-plated copper rod processing fees, with reference to the standard GB/T3952-2016 Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes. 2.2.2 Price Terms Ex-works, China, 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod premium top on SMM 1# Copper Cathode 2.2.3 Payment Terms cash, other terms normalized. 2.2.4 Delivery Time Within 3 days. 2.2.5 Reference Transaction Volume Min 1 tones. 2.2.6 Delivery Location China 2.2.7 Price Release Time Weekly, by 11:30 am Beijing time, last working day of every week. 2.2.8 Processing Fee Format The reported processing fees are presented as a range, indicating the lowest and highest prices. For example: 1.8mm Tin-Plated Copper Rod Premium (Electroplating), Ex-works China, VAT included, yuan/tonne range 3,000–4,000 yuan/tonne, average: 3,500 yuan/tonne. 2.2.9 Price Collection Methodology 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. 2.2.10 Standardization of Data 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. 2.2.11 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 Cathode Rod industry chain. For inquiries, please contact: Shanghai Metals Market Copper Research Team, Xinyang Wang Contact: 021-20707846, +86 15762822325
PriceDec 11, 2025 19:271. SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, CIF US, USD/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 US, USD/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 US, USD/tonne 2.1 Significance of the Price Assessment In recent years, with the implementation of domestic and overseas new energy vehicle 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. The wave of new infrastructure represented by 5G, along with rapid developments in artificial intelligence, big data, and automotive electronics, has increasingly expanded the demand for copper foil in related electronic circuit industries. The copper foil industry is also moving towards higher precision, density, and reliability. With the rise and development of industry capacity, overseas markets such as the US increasingly require a fair and standardized operating environment. Copper foil processing fees have long been beneficial for enterprises to control risks and facilitate management, playing a crucial role in the industry's development. In view of this, SMM will officially launch weekly price assessments for 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, CIF US, USD/tonne starting October 10, 2025. SMM price members will be able to simultaneously access historical prices at that time. 2.2 SMM 8μm Lithium Battery Copper Foil premium, CIF US, USD/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. 2.2.2 Price Terms The price is a VAT-excluded CIF price at major ports on the US east coast based on the premium over LME CSP, with a quotation period of M+0 (M being the month of shipment), quoted in US dollars 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 2 months. 2.2.5 Reference Transaction Volume Min 25 tonnes. 2.2.6 Delivery Location Major Ports on the US East Coast. 2.2.7 Price Publication Time Weekly, by 1:00 US 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 US, USD/tonne range 5,000-6,000 USD/tonne, average: 5,500 USD/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 60%, and downstream enterprises at 40%. 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
PriceSep 25, 2025 16:18