Reuters, citing three people familiar with the matter, reported that Apple (AAPL.O) has trained a large language model specifically for the Chinese market, a move that differs from its previous strategy of relying mainly on third-party models to power AI features in China. The people said the AI model was developed by Apple in collaboration with Alibaba and trained with the latter's support. The news that Apple has trained a China-specific AI model had never been reported before. Previously, Apple preferred to rely on models provided by local Chinese partners to bring generative AI features to iPhones and other devices sold in China. Neither Apple nor Alibaba responded to requests for comment. The people familiar with the matter said Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI tools, is expected to launch in China in the coming months after an update to the iOS operating system.

his week, the Chicago Summit clarified the industry timeline: oxide electrolytes will be prioritized for deployment within 2–3 years, while all‑solid‑state sulfide batteries will be delayed until 2028–2030. The Baihu Lake Laboratory achieved a breakthrough in boride‑based solid‑state batteries with 400 Wh/kg, wide temperature range, and low‑pressure operation, targeting low‑altitude economy and robotics applications.

[SMM Solid-State Battery Weekly Analysis: Summit Sets the "Oxide First, Sulphide Delayed" Tone; Capital and Projects Accelerate in Resonance on the Eve of Mass Production] This week, the Chicago summit set the industry pace: oxide electrolytes are expected to be deployed first within 2-3 years, while sulphide all-solid-state batteries are postponed to the period from 2028 to 2030. Baima Lake Laboratory's boride solid-state battery has broken through 400 Wh/kg, operating over a wide temperature range and under low pressure, and targeting low-altitude economy and robotics scenarios. Sichuan Advanced Battery Innovation Center will be delivered at the end of August, Shandong Chuanglu's 100 mt-class production line will enter mass production, and De'er Co., Ltd.'s PACK pilot line was completed. Ruizhi New Energy and Guxin Energy raised a combined total of more than 100 million yuan, a joint laboratory for robot batteries was established, and solid-state batteries have fully transitioned from the laboratory to mass-production-driven development.

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Magnesium Ingot Holds Up Well, Boosting the Market; Weak Demand Caps Downstream Gains] This week, mainstream quotations in major magnesium ingot producing areas were 15,900-16,000 yuan/mt, up 100 yuan/mt WoW, with FOB quotes at $2,250-2,350/mt. This round of magnesium ingot gains was driven by three factors: supply-side maintenance-induced production cuts, cost push from coal and ferrosilicon, and concentrated deliveries and restocking by traders. However, after the price increase, downstream buyers showed fear of high prices and transactions returned to mediocre levels; foreign trade remained weak, constrained by exchange rate fluctuations and the uncertain recovery of summer break orders. Upstream dolomite prices were stable, and supply from multiple channels was sufficient; downstream magnesium powder and magnesium alloy prices followed the rise, but demand follow-through was insufficient. Magnesium alloy processing fees remained under pressure due to ample inventory, the impact of non-standard supply sources, high-temperature maintenance at die-casting enterprises, and plastic substitution in two-wheelers. In the short term, cost support is competing with weak demand, and magnesium prices will continue to move sideways.

SMM August 13: Domestic Bauxite: Domestic Ore Supply Disruptions Linger, Mainstream Prices Remain Stable Affected by coking coal-related events in Shanxi, mining at domestic bauxite main producing areas such as Shanxi and Henan was somewhat disrupted in the short term, and ore supply showed phased changes. Meanwhile, alumina prices remained at relatively high levels, and alumina enterprises had moderate tolerance for rising raw material prices, mainly passively accepting current ore prices in the short term. As of today, in Shanxi, VAT-exclusive EXW transaction prices at crushing plants for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5 and 60% alumina content were around 530-550 yuan/mt; in Henan, VAT-exclusive EXW transaction prices at crushing plants for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5 and 60% alumina content were around 500-540 yuan/mt; in Guiyang, VAT-inclusive EXW prices for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 6 and 60% alumina content were 490-540 yuan/mt; in Guangxi, VAT-exclusive EXW transaction prices at crushing plants for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 6 and 53% alumina content were 320-335 yuan/mt. Imported Bauxite: August Contract Prices Raised Slightly, Imported Ore Price Divergence Between Upstream and Downstream Intensifies Data as of August 7 showed that total weekly port departures of bauxite at main ports in Guinea were 4.5611 million mt, up 690,800 mt from the previous week, with shipments higher. As US-Iran tensions heated up again, oil prices rebounded, and ocean freight rates from Guinea to China showed an upward trend, with market quotes rising to around $35/dmt; costs at various mines also increased to varying degrees. Coupled with policy uncertainty in Guinea and transport affected by severe weather, mines in Guinea tightened control over bauxite shipments. In Australia, as of August 7, total weekly port departures of bauxite at main Australian ports were 926,700 mt, down 126,000 mt from the previous week, with shipments basically flat. Going forward, attention should be paid to the shipment pace of Australian mines and changes in port departures. As of August 7, China's bauxite port arrivals were 5.2267 million mt, up 1.352 million mt from the previous week. Continuous attention should be paid to the impact of elevated and fluctuating oil prices and ocean freight rates on future port arrival pace and landed costs. Price-wise, Guinea's August bauxite long-term contract prices rose slightly compared with July, settling at $73-74/mt, but downstream price acceptance was relatively limited. Meanwhile, bauxite inventories at alumina refineries in China remained high. This week, alumina refinery bauxite inventories were relatively stable, with days of inventories at around 96 days, capping ore prices to some extent. For Guinean bauxite, with transportation costs from Guinea to China rebounding and shipment reductions caused by the traditional rainy season and severe weather adding to mine costs, offers from upstream sellers and traders remained firm and edged up slightly to a high price range around $73/mt; at Chinese alumina refineries, under the combined impact of persistently high inventory and shrinking margins, intended transaction prices held at $70-71/mt; upstream and downstream participants in the bauxite market diverged sharply on prices, transactions slowed, and the standoff carried over from last week. As of this Thursday, Guinean bauxite FOB quotes were $38-42/mt, with the average price unchanged from last Thursday; Guinean bauxite CIF prices were $70-74/mt, with the average price unchanged from last Thursday; the SMM imported bauxite index price stood at $71.72/mt, up $0.15/mt from last Thursday. Going forward, bauxite prices will still depend on cost conditions at individual mines, the traditional rainy season in Guinea, and the impact of the Guinean government's bauxite export quota policy on overall shipments. SMM will continue to closely monitor bauxite market trends and transaction activity. Overall , domestic ore prices held at current levels; meanwhile, inventory at Chinese alumina refineries remained high (about 96 days), and the bid-offer standoff between buyers and sellers continued; uncertainty over Guinea's quota policy, lower shipments, and the traditional rainy season also put some upward pressure on bauxite costs. In the short term, with shipments reduced by the dual impact of costs and policy, imported ore prices are expected to continue their high-level standoff pattern; afterward, close attention should be paid to the implementation of Guinea's quota policy and ocean freight rate trends.

On August 10, 2026, Ruizhi New Energy announced the completion of a several‑tens‑of‑millions RMB Pre‑A+ exclusive financing round, fully funded by Shanghai Chenyao Yichuang Investment Fund. Founded in 2021, Ruizhi is the first new‑energy‑battery technology commercialisation spin‑off from Northwestern Polytechnical University, focusing on two core products: active functional separators and membrane‑form solid‑state electrolytes.