[SMM Copper Pipe & Tube Operating Rate] SMM expects the operating rate of copper pipe & tube enterprises in June to be 69.01%, down 3.25 percentage points MoM and down 4.64 percentage points YoY.

[SMM Copper Pipe & Tube Operating Rate] In May, the operating rate of copper pipe & tube enterprises was 72.26%, down 8.01 percentage points MoM and down 9.5 percentage points YoY.

South America remains the cornerstone of global copper supply, with Chile and Peru collectively accounting for more than one-third of global mined copper production. As electrification, grid modernisation, renewable energy deployment and AI-driven infrastructure investment continue to reinforce long-term copper demand growth, policy developments across the region are becoming increasingly important determinants of future supply availability.

The American Clean Power Association said US developers brought 6.4GW of new utility-scale solar, wind and energy storage capacity online in Q1 2026, lifting total domestic clean power capacity above 370GW. Additions included 3.63GW of utility-scale solar, 2.38GW of storage and 415MW of wind, with utility-scale solar now surpassing wind as the largest source of clean power capacity in the US. However, Q1 additions were down 17% year on year, mainly due to 6.4GW of projects originally expected online being delayed. ACP is tracking 59.5GW of delayed projects, affected by permitting delays, interconnection backlogs and fluctuating equipment prices. SMM believes the US solar and storage pipeline remains strong, but actual delivery will continue to be constrained by grid connection, permitting and supply chain challenges.

1. Tender Conditions This tender project for Copper Connector and Other Items (AGLGCGHGZHD260605294307) has the bid inviter being the Procurement Management Office of the Procurement Management Department of the Procurement and Sales Center of Lingyuan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. The tender project funds are self-financed, and the project has met the tender conditions and is now open for public bidding. 2. Project Overview and Tender Scope 2.1 Project Name: Copper Connector and Other Items 2.2 If the tender fails, it will be converted to negotiation procurement 2.3 For the tender content, scope and scale of this project, please refer to the Appendix "Bill of Materials Attachment.pdf". 3. Bidder Qualification Requirements 3.1 Joint bidding is not allowed for this tender. 3.2 The bidders must possess the following qualification requirements: (1) Distribution business license (2) Manufacturing business license 3.3 Bidders must meet the following registered capital requirements: Manufacturing registered capital: RMB 2 million and above Distribution registered capital: RMB 2 million and above 3.4 Bidders must possess the following performance requirements: Provide one copy of the same or similar electrical supply performance after January 1, 2023 (supporting materials: contract and corresponding invoice). Note: To facilitate the verification of performance authenticity and ensure fair and equitable procurement, information such as the performance subject, time, amount, and invoice number shall not be obscured. Any obscured performance will be deemed invalid. Additionally, fully red-inked invoices will be deemed invalid. 3.5 Bidders must also meet the following capability, financial and other requirements: Financial requirements: See the appendix (if necessary) Capability requirements: See the appendix (if necessary) Other requirements: See the appendix (if necessary) 3.6 For projects that must be tendered in accordance with the law, bids from dishonest debtors are invalid. 4. Obtainment of Tender Documents 4.1 All those interested in bidding, please log into the Angang Intelligent Bidding Platform at http://bid.ansteel.cn from 17:00 on June 5, 2026 to 08:00 on June 30, 2026 (Beijing time, the same hereinafter) to download the electronic tender documents. Click to view tender details:

After both sodium-ion battery cathodes and hard carbon anodes recorded significant increases YoY and MoM in May, the midstream and downstream segments of the industry chain—electrolytes and battery cells—also delivered impressive results, yet structural issues lurk beneath the growth.