News, June 22, 2026: According to China Customs statistics, China’s total imports of high-carbon ferrochrome reached 131,000 tonnes in May 2026, falling 9.7% month-on-month and 15.62% year-on-year. Imports from South Africa stood at 10,000 tonnes, down 71.45% month-on-month and 37.18% year-on-year; Imports from Kazakhstan hit 84,700 tonnes, rising 10.18% month-on-month while slipping 13.87% year-on-year. From January to May 2026, China’s cumulative imports of high-carbon ferrochrome totalled 677,900 tonnes, a year-on-year drop of 45.5%. Cumulative imports from South Africa: 100,100 tonnes, plunging 83.0% year-on-year; Cumulative imports from Kazakhstan: 395,600 tonnes, edging down 9.9% year-on-year. South Africa's preferential electricity tariff of 0.62 rand per kWh has officially obtained approval from Nersa. Top ferrochrome producer Glencore-Merafe has withdrawn the clause involving 189 job cuts. Although South Africa's ferrochrome sector has entered full production resumption, output has not seen a notable jump, with monthly ferrochrome exports remaining at a relatively low range of 70,000–100,000 tonnes. Kazakhstan maintains steady production with limited fluctuations in its ferrochrome exports and supply volume. On the whole, China's ferrochrome imports will stay at a low and stable level in the short run.

In May 2026, China’s unwrought cobalt imports were approximately 673 mt, down 50% MoM and up 3% YoY; unwrought cobalt exports were approximately 370 mt, up 70% MoM and down 88% YoY.

[CCL Customs Data] According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in May 2026, China's imports of CCL (HS code: 74102110) were 3,096.38 mt, down 16.56% YoY and down 14.03% MoM; cumulative imports of CCL from January to May 2026 reached 17,269.55 mt, up 4.67% YoY. In May 2026, China's exports of CCL were 8,279.04 mt, up 15.03% YoY and up 2.05% MoM; cumulative exports of CCL from January to May 2026 reached 39,764.00 mt, up 10.31% YoY.

[Copper Foil Customs Data] According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China’s imports of copper foil (HS codes: 74101100, 74102190) in May 2026 were 7,135.43 mt, down 6.90% YoY and down 7.20% MoM. January-May 2026 cumulative imports of copper foil reached 36,620.91 mt, up 7.63% YoY. China’s exports of copper foil in May 2026 were 7,013.31 mt, up 56.29% YoY but down 4.71% MoM. January-May 2026 cumulative exports reached 31,993.17 mt, up 71.79% YoY.

[SMM Analysis: Impact on Solid-state Batteries of the Ministry of Commerce Adding 10 US Entities to the Export Control List] On June 22, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement and, effective immediately, formally implemented the "Export Control List (June 22, 2026)," which includes 10 US entities. This export control measure has almost no direct impact on China's solid-state battery industry, but attention should be paid to the indirect link of the rare earth supply chain. (1) China already has export controls on high-end batteries with an energy density exceeding 300 Wh/kg (including semi-solid and all-solid-state), and this measure targeting specific entities is an extension of the existing control framework rather than a new restriction specifically aimed at the solid-state battery industry. (2) The solid-state battery industry is still in the development stage and has not yet generated a significant export demand.

According to the latest customs data, China imported 2,622.81 tonnes of die-casting zinc alloy in May 2026, up 1.88 percentage points month-on-month. From January to May, China's cumulative imports of die-casting zinc alloy reached 13,258.95 tonnes, down 30.39 percentage points year-on-year.