Canada has approved Canada Nickel Company’s Crawford Nickel Project in Ontario, clearing a key regulatory hurdle ahead of construction. The company targets a final investment decision (FID) in 2027, with the project requiring around CAD 5 billion (US$3.6 billion) investment, a 41-year mine life, and 240,000 t/day ore processing capacity. Crawford is expected to become the largest nickel sulphide project in the Western world and North America’s only primary chromium source, supporting critical supply chains for batteries, stainless steel and defense industries. We believe the approval is bullish for the long-term Western nickel supply chain, providing a potential low-carbon nickel alternative for Western countries.

[SMM Nickel Express] August 4 – In the high-grade NPI market today, the divergence between bulls and bears widened. The futures rally fueled the sentiment to hold spot prices firm, with some enterprises raising their offer prices, and bullish sentiment emerged.

[SMM Nickel Express] August 4 – The SMM high-grade NPI market sentiment index stood at 2.01, up 0.03 MoM. The upstream sentiment index for high-grade NPI was 2.09, up 0.05 MoM, and the downstream sentiment index for high-grade NPI was 1.92, flat MoM.

Prices for AISI 304 stainless steel cold-rolled coils edged higher across Asian markets, supported by upstream mill price hikes and increased spot market activity, with cost factors underpinning prices despite sluggish end-buyer demand. Chinese export offers rose approximately US$30/ton week-on-week, driven primarily by climbing raw material costs and improved procurement from Southeast Asia. However, elevated domestic inventory in China continued to exert downward pressure on spot prices. On the raw materials front, Indonesian NPI prices edged up largely due to new export inspection regulations implemented by Indonesian customs, which have disrupted the flow of nickel product exports.

[SMM Stainless Steel Daily Review] SS Futures Center Moves Up, Spot Stainless Steel Market Sentiment Recovers According to SMM news on August 4, SS futures shot up and probed higher overall. Near the close of the night session, driven by fund operations, SHFE nickel and SS futures shot up quickly. Although SS pulled back briefly at the morning open, it had risen significantly overall. At the close, the most-traded SS contract settled at 14,470 yuan/mt. Spot market, buoyed by the rally in SS futures, traders for stainless steel agents raised their quotes even as steel mill spot guidance prices held steady. Market activity picked up and inquiry and transaction performance was moderate. The most-traded SS futures contract: at 10:15 AM, SS2609 was at 14,870 yuan/mt, up 345 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums for 304/2B in Wuxi were in the 200–550 yuan/mt range. In the spot market, average prices: Wuxi cold-rolled 201/2B coil stable; cold-rolled raw edge 304/2B coil (Wuxi up 50 yuan/mt, Foshan up 75 yuan/mt); Wuxi cold-rolled 316L/2B coil flat; hot-rolled 316L/NO.1 coil quote flat in Wuxi; cold-rolled 430/2B coil flat in both Wuxi and Foshan. This week, macro sentiment turned bearish and dominated metals market trends, and stainless steel futures consolidated on a subdued note under overall pressure. The US Fed left interest rates unchanged at its meeting this week as expected, but its overall tone was hawkish. Commodity valuations came under broad pressure, and the nonferrous metals sector weakened across the board. Dragged down by the contagion of macro headwinds, SS futures...

To all relevant organizations: As the new round of global technological revolution and industrial transformation advances in depth, the non-ferrous metal processing industry is embracing critical opportunities for high-quality development. As a vital basic industry for the national economy, innovation in non-ferrous metal processing technologies and equipment upgrades hold great significance for driving the high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing sector. With its abundant mineral resources, solid industrial foundation, and unique regional advantages, West China has become a key cluster for the country’s non-ferrous metal processing industry, and the pace of technological innovation and industrial upgrading continues to accelerate. Against this backdrop, the "2026 China Mid-West Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Equipment and Technology Expo" will be grandly held at the Gansu International Convention and Exhibition Center from October 30 to November 1, 2026. Themed "Innovation-driven, Smart Future, Green Empowerment," this expo will focus on cutting-edge technologies, advanced equipment, and industry trends in the non-ferrous metal processing sector, aiming to create a high-level platform integrating technical exchanges, achievement displays, and business cooperation. The event will comprehensively showcase the latest achievements in non-ferrous metal smelting, intensive processing, intelligent manufacturing, energy conservation, and environmental protection, bringing together industry experts, enterprise leaders, and research institution representatives to jointly explore new paths and opportunities for industrial development. As a major industrial base in north-west China and a key period along the Belt and Road, Gansu is actively promoting the high-end, clustered, and green transformation of the non-ferrous metals industry. The hosting of this expo will not only inject new momentum into the high-quality development of the non-ferrous metal industry in the north-west region but also provide an important opportunity for industry peers from China and overseas to deepen cooperation and share a prosperous future. We sincerely invite experts, scholars, enterprise representatives, and industry peers from home and abroad in the non-ferrous metal processing sector to gather in Jincheng Lanzhou, jointly explore technological innovation, share development opportunities, and contribute to the transformation, upgrading, and sustainable development of China's non-ferrous metal processing industry. The Expo is scheduled for October 30 – November 1, 2026 at the Gansu International Convention and Exhibition Center. Relevant matters are hereby notified as follows: I. Expo Theme Green Smart Manufacturing · Innovation-driven · Coordinated Development II. Date and Venue Date: October 30 – November 1, 2026 Venue: Gansu International Convention and Exhibition Center III. Organizational Structure Organizers: Gansu Provincial Society for Metals Shaanxi Provincial Society for Metals Shanxi Provincial Society for Metals Henan Provincial Society for Metals Sichuan Provincial Society for Metals Gansu Provincial Mining Federation Co-organizers: Northwest Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co., Ltd. Jiuquan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. Jinchuan Group Co., Ltd. Supporters: Lanzhou Engineering & Research Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy Co., Ltd. Gansu Provincial Nonferrous Metals Geological Exploration Bureau Lanzhou University of Technology Chalco Lanzhou Aluminum Co., Ltd. Gansu Ferroalloy Association Jinhui Mining Co., Ltd. IV. Concurrent Events: 2026 China Mid-West Aluminum Industry Expo 2026 China Mid-West Casting & Die Casting, Forging, Heat Treatment & Industrial Furnace Expo V. Exhibition Scope: Non-ferrous metal raw materials: Nickel, vanadium, titanium, chromium, tungsten, copper, aluminum, magnesium, zinc, lead, manganese, zirconium, molybdenum, silicon, antimony, tin, tantalum, indium, and other non-ferrous metal ore products and raw materials, magnetic materials, rare and rare-earth materials, precious metal materials, and various alloy materials; Non-ferrous metal products: Copper products (tubes, sheets & plates, sheets, bars, strips, flats and their alloy products, etc.); aluminum products (aluminum alloy profiles, tubes, bars, sheets & plates, strips, foils, aluminum sheets, aluminum ingots, etc.); titanium alloy products; magnesium alloy products; powder metallurgy products, etc.; Non-ferrous metal mining technology and equipment: Non-ferrous mining exploration, extraction, and beneficiation equipment, filtration equipment, powder processing equipment, construction and transportation equipment, etc.; Non-ferrous metal smelting technology and equipment: Smelting furnaces, refining equipment, smelting pumps and valves, filtration equipment, conveying equipment, heat exchange equipment, gas-based acid production equipment, corrosion-resistant equipment, hydrometallurgy, electrolysis equipment, large power rectifier power supply, electrolytic cells, extraction equipment, etc.; Non-ferrous metal processing technology and equipment: Melting, heating, hot and cold rolling, extrusion, drawing, straightening, shearing, casting equipment, etc.; Non-ferrous metal environmental protection equipment: Recycling equipment, energy-saving and emission-reduction equipment; Non-ferrous metal automation control equipment: Instruments and meters, packaging equipment, surface treatment equipment, etc.; Auxiliary materials for non-ferrous metal production: Chemicals, solvents, refractory materials, catalysts, gases, lubricants, etc. VI. Event Arrangements (I) Opening Ceremony: Speeches by leaders and guests; exhibition tour. (II) Theme Forums: 1. Forum on the Green Transformation Pathway for the Metallurgical Industry Under the "Dual Carbon" Goals 2. Forum on Smart Factories Empowering Metal Processing Upgrades 3. Application of Digital Twin Technology in Smelting/Casting/Heat Treatment Processes 4. Building the Non-Ferrous Metal Supply Chain Along the Belt and Road 5. Frontier Forum on Green, Low-Carbon, and Intelligent Smelting 6. Focusing on Technological Innovation and Intelligent Upgrading in the Metallurgical Industry Under the "Dual Carbon" Goals (III) Expo Exhibition Setup: October 28–29, 2026 Exhibition Dates: October 30 – November 1, 2026 Venue: Gansu International Convention and Exhibition Center VII. Participants The China Mid-West Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Equipment and Technology Expo, centered on "high-end, green, and regionalized" themes, will precisely invite large smelters, equipment manufacturers and technology suppliers, experts and scholars from universities and research institutes, professionals focused on new materials, new processes, and new technologies for non-ferrous metals, aerospace and national defense sectors, automotive and rail transit, construction and home furnishings, local government agencies, industry associations, and chambers of commerce, enterprises involved in aluminum semis import and export trade, as well as logistics, warehousing, and supply chain management companies. Covering multiple sectors such as equipment manufacturers, research institutions, end-use applications, government bodies, and trade service providers, this will form a diverse group of professional attendees and promote industry exchange and cooperation. VIII. Publicity and Promotion Before, during, and after the event, publicity and coverage will be carried out through platforms such as the official website, official account, Baidu promotion, WeChat Video, Douyin, Kuaishou, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Zhihu. The expo’s opening ceremony is planned to be widely promoted via a full live broadcast on the Video platform.