Zijin Mining's 2025 annual report sent a clear industry signal: its lithium business has officially moved from strategic reserve to the stage of scaled monetization.

Since the beginning of 2026, the lithium battery materials industry has seen a new wave of structural positioning led by chemical giants. In March, Dazhong Mining announced that it planned to sign a tripartite agreement with the Meishan High-tech Zone Administrative Committee and Wanhua Chemical (Sichuan) Battery Materials Technology Co., Ltd. to jointly invest in and build a “200,000 mt/year lithium chemicals project,” with Phase I expected to be planned at 30,000 mt.

On March 27, the 2026 SMM (21st) Lead & Zinc Conference and Industry Expo, organized by SMM, wrapped up successfully at Howard Johnson Agile Plaza in Chengdu, Sichuan!

►New Advances in Magnesium Materials and Processes ►Development and Application of New-Type Low-Cost, High-Strength, Corrosion-Resistant Magnesium Alloys ►Stainless Magnesium Technology: R&D Progress from Alloy Materials to Semi-Solid Processes, R&D and Application of Stainless Magnesium Alloys ►Hefei • Great “Magnesium” Chaohu — Building a First-Class Magnesium Industry Ecosystem in China ►R&D Progress and Current Industrialisation Status of Magnesium-Based Materials and Products at Baowu Magnesium ►Haitian Magnesium Alloy Injection Molding Technology and Market Outlook ►Magnesium from an International Perspective: The Transformation from a Cost-Driven Bulk Commodity to a Strategic Engineering Material ►: Focusing on the New Cycle of Supply and Demand for Magnesium Metal and Downstream Applications — Outlook for the Magnesium Market in 2026

According to the latest data from the China Customs website, China’s total nickel matte imports in January 2026 were 58,937 mt in physical content, up 46% MoM and up 13% YoY. According to the latest data from the China Customs website, China’s total nickel matte imports in February 2026 were 65,355 mt in physical content, up 11% MoM and up 37% YoY.

In January 2026, SMM hydrometallurgy intermediate products imports reached 172,151 mt in physical content, up 5% MoM. In February 2026, SMM hydrometallurgy intermediate products imports reached 124,548 mt in physical content, down 28% MoM.