On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Antimony Forum, hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Yi Xiaobo, Senior Advisor/Senior Engineer at the National Power and ESS Battery Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, shared insights on "The Fundamentals of Supply and Demand in the Battery Market and the Application and Development of Antimony Metal in Lead-Antimony Alloy Plates for Batteries.

On June 13, at the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metal Industry Conference - Antimony Forum hosted by Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. and SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) , Yi Xiaobo, Senior Advisor/Senior Engineer at the National Quality Supervision and Inspection Center for Power and Energy Storage Battery Products, shared insights on "The Fundamentals of Supply and Demand in the Battery Market and the Application and Development of Antimony Metal in Lead-Antimony Alloy Plates for Batteries." I. Analysis of the Lead-Acid Battery Application Market 1. Total Production 2. Proportion of Main Products ►Power Type: Electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers, electric four-wheelers; Top-tier enterprises: Tianneng, Chilwee, Xupai, Jingjiu, Suzhong, Huoju. ►Starting Type: Cars, agricultural vehicles, motorcycles, ships, diesel locomotives; Top-tier enterprises: Camel, Fengfan, Leoch, Jujiang, GS Yuasa. ►Standby Power Type: Electric power, telecommunications, UPS, data centers; Top-tier enterprises: Narada, Leoch, Shuangdeng, Sacred Sun, Ruida, Vision. ►Energy Storage Type: ESS power stations, industrial and commercial ESS, household ESS; Top-tier enterprises: Narada, Leoch, Shuangdeng, Sacred Sun, Huafu. 3. Market Situation In recent years, with the continuous emergence and application of various new-type batteries, the traditional lead-acid battery market has faced severe challenges. Overall Situation: Lithium batteries have rapidly occupied the high ground; sodium-ion batteries are poised for takeoff; other new-type power supplies are eagerly awaiting their turn. Automotive Market As of 2024, the domestic automobile ownership stood at approximately 353 million units, with NEVs accounting for 8.9%; globally, automobile ownership reached 1.6 billion units, with NEVs accounting for 3%. ►Market Analysis Ø The market demand growth rate for internal combustion engine vehicles will decline over the next three years. Ø Extended-range and plug-in electric vehicles have become the mainstream in NEV development. Ø Currently, 98% of internal combustion engine vehicles, except for parked heavy trucks, use lead batteries. Ø Lithium batteries dominate in NEVs, with lead batteries serving as a supplement. Ø The development of vehicle electrification and intelligent driving over the next three to five years will have a significant impact on the traditional lead-acid battery market. Ø Demand characteristics: Safety, starting capability, charging acceptance, vibration resistance, low-temperature resistance, high-temperature resistance, lifespan, and price. Ø Sodium-ion batteries are beginning to penetrate the market. Electric Two-Wheelers In 2024, the total domestic sales of electric two-wheelers reached approximately 49.5 million units, representing an 11.6% YoY decline compared to the previous year, while overseas sales totaled around 18.77 million units, showing a 24.8% YoY increase. By the end of December 2024, the ownership of electric two-wheelers in the Chinese market was approximately 400 million units. ►Market Analysis Ø Currently, lead-acid batteries hold a market share exceeding 87%, lithium batteries account for around 11%, and sodium-ion batteries make up less than 2%. Ø The trend still favors lead-acid batteries, as there is a demand for batteries with higher safety than lithium batteries, and sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a strong contender. Electric Three-Wheelers and Low-Speed Electric Four-Wheelers By the end of 2024, the market ownership of electric three-wheelers nationwide was approximately 70 million units. In 2024, the sales of low-speed electric four-wheelers in China were about 302,000 units, representing an 8.5% YoY decline. The market is expected to continue declining in 2025, with future development depending on policies and relevant standards. ►Market Analysis Ø Lead-acid batteries account for approximately 60% of the market for electric three-wheelers and low-speed electric four-wheelers, with lithium batteries gradually increasing their share to 40%, and sodium-ion batteries accounting for 0.5%. Ø For other electric vehicles, including electric forklifts, electric logistics vehicles, electric flatbed trucks, and tourist sightseeing vehicles, lithium batteries account for about 80% of the market, lead-acid batteries for about 20%, and sodium-ion batteries for 0.3%. II. Application of Antimony Metal in Lead-Acid Batteries 1. The Importance of Antimony Metal Rare Metal: Antimony has an extremely low abundance in the Earth's crust, at only two parts per ten million. It is primarily found in the sulphide mineral stibnite (Sb2S3). As of 2024, global antimony reserves reached 2.255 million mt, with China holding 670,000 mt, accounting for 29.7% and ranking first in the world. Strategic Metal: Known as the "vitamin" of industry, antimony plays an indispensable role in new energy and military industries. 2. Main Uses of Antimony Metal ►Flame Retardants: Antimony trioxide, when combined with halogenated flame retardants, becomes an irreplaceable flame-retardant material widely used in industries such as plastics, rubber, textiles, and chemical fibers. ►PV Power Generation: PV Glass: Antimony compounds and sodium pyroantimonate are used as glass refining agents to improve transparency. Monocrystalline Silicon Panels: Doping with antimony increases oxygen precipitation rates, improves crystal quality, and enhances photoelectric conversion efficiency. ►Lead-Acid Batteries: Grid alloys, parts, and additives (antimony trioxide). ►Semiconductor Materials: High-purity antimony and its compounds are used as dopants in n-type silicon wafers with ultra-high conductivity (for diodes, infrared detectors, Hall elements, etc.). ►Glass Ceramics: Porcelain: As a hardness and wear-resistance agent for glazes. Glass: As a coloring agent, strength enhancer, and heat-resistant agent. ►Strategic Military Applications: Nuclear weapons, rockets, missile shells, bullets, flares, gun barrels, night vision goggles, infrared sensors, precision optics, laser sights, etc. ► Alloy materials: Enhancers and corrosion inhibitors for bearings, gears, chemical pipelines, cable sheathing, etc. ► Chemical materials: Stabilizers and catalysts for polyester compounds and polyethylene terephthalate. 3. Production and price of antimony metal ► Limited production: In 2024, China's antimony metal production was 72,000 mt, a 10.3% YoY decrease, with a capacity utilisation rate of 33%, constrained by insufficient raw material supply. The demand in 2024 was 97,100 mt, mainly driven by the expansion of PV systems and flame-retardant materials, which increased the demand for antimony metal. ► Significant increase in antimony imports: According to customs statistics, China's imports of antimony ore and concentrate were 51,080.2 mt in 2024, a 46.0% YoY increase. ► Price increase: The intensified supply-demand imbalance drove up prices. ► Development trends: A. The state intensifies industry regulation and export controls; B. The supply of antimony resources may continue to tighten; C. The demand for downstream applications is increasingly robust; D. Technology reshapes the value chain, with application scenarios shifting towards high-end (PV, military, battery); E. The supply-demand gap for antimony will widen in 2025; F. Prices may continue to rise; G. Antimony recycling technology improves, with an increase in recycling rates. 4. Application of antimony metal in lead-acid batteries ► Application history a. In 1859, Frenchman Gaston Plante invented the lead-acid battery (two lead plates immersed in dilute sulphuric acid could generate an electric current). b. In 1881, Frenchman Camille Faure invented the pasted plate (a rechargeable lead-acid battery with lead oxide coated on the lead plates). c. In 1882, Englishman Sellon invented the lead-antimony alloy grid (with 5%-7% antimony content, enhancing plate strength, conductivity, and lifespan). d. 1950s-1970s: Lead-antimony-arsenic alloy (with 3%-5% antimony content, addressing water loss and self-discharge issues). e. 1980s-1990s: Lead-antimony-arsenic-tin alloy (with 1.5%-2% antimony content, addressing water loss, internal resistance, and self-discharge issues). f. 1990s onwards: Application of valve-regulated batteries (gradually replacing lead-antimony alloy grids); lead-antimony-arsenic-tin-copper-selenium(sulphur) alloy (with 0.5%-1% antimony content, addressing water loss, self-discharge, and corrosion issues). ► Current application status a. Lead-antimony grids: Flooded battery grids (for automotive, agricultural vehicle starting batteries, forklift traction batteries, electric three-wheeler power batteries, and motorcycle starting batteries). b. Applications of lead parts: terminal posts, terminals, busbars, and connecting strips. c. Lead-calcium grid plate: Antimony trioxide (an additive for positive active material, addressing the passivation issue of deep-cycle plates, i.e., solving the "antimony-free effect" of plates). ‌‌►Usage volume a. Antimony ingot: Approximately 10,000 mt per year; b. Antimony trioxide: Approximately 2,000 mt per year. ‌‌►Future usage trends a. The usage of antimony ingot will gradually decrease (forklift batteries and electric three-wheeler batteries are gradually being replaced by lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries). b. The usage of antimony trioxide will remain basically unchanged. 》Click to view the special report on the 2025 SMM (13th) Minor Metals Industry Conference

To further advance the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot and deepen reform, innovation, and opening up, the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Advancing the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot, Deepening Reform, Innovation, and Expanding Opening Up." The Opinions outline the coordinated promotion of integrated reforms in the education, science and technology, and talent systems and mechanisms, advancing the empowerment of the real economy with high-quality development through finance, technology, data, etc., establishing a new, more open economic system at a higher level, and improving a scientific, refined, and rule-of-law governance model. The Opinions clarify the need to deepen reform and expand opening up from a higher starting point, at a higher level, and with higher goals, creating more replicable and promotable fresh experiences, better leveraging Shenzhen's role as a key engine in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its radiating and driving role in the national overall plan, contributing to and providing examples for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country. Opinions of the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Further Advancing the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot, Deepening Reform, Innovation, and Expanding Opening Up (August 30, 2024) To further advance the Shenzhen Comprehensive Reform Pilot and deepen reform, innovation, and opening up, with the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the following opinions are hereby proposed. I. General Requirements Adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, comprehensively and accurately implement the new development philosophy, adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, coordinate development and security, uphold the organic integration of top-level design with grassroots exploration, and, in accordance with the working mechanism of studying and formulating lists of authorized matters in batches, introduce another batch of reform measures, implement a batch of innovative experiments, and deepen a batch of opening-up initiatives. Take the lead in making pioneering efforts, forging ahead with innovation, and taking concrete actions in areas such as breaking down institutional and systemic barriers in the fields of education, science and technology, and talent, strengthening the deep integration of the innovation chain, industry chain, capital chain, and talent chain, expanding new approaches, scenarios, and carriers for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao cooperation, and building a modern, international, and innovative city. Deepen reform and expand opening up from a higher starting point, at a higher level, and with higher goals, create more replicable and promotable fresh experiences, better leverage Shenzhen's role as a key engine in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its radiating and driving role in the national overall plan, and contribute to and provide examples for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country. II. Coordinate the Promotion of Integrated Reforms in the Education, Science and Technology, and Talent Systems and Mechanisms (1) Strengthen efficient coordination and deep integration among industry, academia, and research. Reinforce the leading role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation and optimize effective pathways for leading science and technology enterprises to act as "problem setters."Explore market-oriented salary management systems for new-type R&D institutions, and support the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Sciences in pioneering new mechanisms for research management, talent recruitment, and funding utilization. Deepen reforms in research funding management by implementing a "budget + negative list" approach. Pilot a research project manager system, granting greater management authority in project selection, team formation, technology roadmap determination, and budget allocation. Establish and improve mechanisms for the empowerment, transfer, and evaluation of job-related scientific and technological achievements, with long-cycle assessments for state-owned asset preservation and appreciation resulting from such transfers. Explore diversified investment and open-sharing mechanisms for major scientific and technological infrastructure, while facilitating streamlined customs clearance procedures for research equipment and consumables. (2) Coordinate reforms in educational approaches, school operation models, management systems, and support mechanisms. Promote deep integration of engineering education in emerging fields with industrial development, support universities and enterprises in jointly cultivating high-quality interdisciplinary engineering talent, and nurture a cohort of innovation-driven entrepreneurs mastering cutting-edge technologies. Explore specialized, "small yet refined" university models suited to megacities. Integrate vocational skills training with the cultivation and upgrading of advanced manufacturing clusters. Aligning with regional skill demands, allow foreign investors to establish vocational training institutions in Shenzhen in compliance with regulations, introducing advanced curricula, faculty, and teaching methods. Develop effective linkages between the industry chain and vocational training chain, fostering a skilled workforce through the convergence of higher vocational and technical education. Enable course selection and credit recognition between Shenzhen's higher vocational colleges and applied technology universities. Optimize enrollment mechanisms for migrant workers' children. Actively implement the national Silver Age Teacher Action Plan. Explore personalized teaching approaches and new talent cultivation pathways adapted to AI development. (3) Enhance support mechanisms for overseas talent recruitment. Leverage opportunities from building a high-level talent hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to attract more urgently needed professionals. Refine supporting talent service policies, granting employers greater autonomy in overseas recruitment and related personnel, research, and foreign affairs management. III. Empowering High-Quality Real Economy Development through Finance, Technology, and Data (4) Improve incentive and constraint mechanisms for financial services to support the real economy. Support Shenzhen in piloting integrated sci-tech industry-finance special projects. Refine practical scenarios and regulatory systems for sci-tech enterprise credit, intellectual property securitization, and transactions of scientific achievements and IP rights. Optimize coordination mechanisms between debt and equity financing for tech firms. Deepen green finance reforms. Support insurance funds in legally establishing private equity and venture capital funds in Shenzhen that primarily target specific sectors. Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are permitted to list on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in accordance with policy provisions. (5) Innovate institutional mechanisms to support the development of emerging industries. Leveraging platforms such as the Shenzhen Stock Exchange's Science and Technology Achievements and Intellectual Property Trading Center, establish a comprehensive service system for the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements. Explore mechanisms for the approval and application of AI-assisted medical devices, and under the premise of safety and controllability, investigate rules and standards for data collection, integration, sharing, and compliant use of such devices. Support Shenzhen in deepening reforms and innovations in the flight management system for unmanned aerial vehicles, improve low-altitude flight supervision rules, and explore general aviation services such as cross-border helicopter flights and public welfare operations. Expand ESS application scenarios and explore integrated generation-grid-load-storage business models. Innovate management systems for international industrial and standards organizations. (6) Deepen market-oriented reforms for the allocation of data elements. Refine trading rules and standard specifications, support Shenzhen in exploring mechanisms for data transactions, trusted circulation, and benefit distribution, and achieve more institutional outcomes in areas such as compliance assessment and certification. Under the premise of security, steadily advance the lawful and compliant hierarchical and classified opening of public data in fields such as transportation, geography, satellite remote sensing, meteorology, and healthcare, while improving related management systems, service mechanisms, and standard specifications. Enhance the city information modeling (CIM) foundational platform and prudently conduct pilot applications of 3D territorial spatial model outcomes. Strengthen data security governance and regulatory capabilities, and explore efficient, convenient, and secure mechanisms for cross-border data flows in compliance with laws, regulations, and relevant requirements. IV. Building a New System for a Higher-Level Open Economy (7) Promote the optimization and upgrading of goods trade. Advance trade facilitation and support the development of new trade forms and models. Support Yantai Port in increasing exploration efforts in areas such as customs clearance facilitation and fuel refueling settlement. (8) Innovate and enhance service trade. Under the premise of information sharing among regulatory authorities and controllable risks, support key enterprises outside comprehensive bonded zones in piloting high-value-added, high-tech, and environmentally protection-compliant "two ends abroad" bonded maintenance operations. Study the increase of designated immigration ports and berthing points for Greater Bay Area yacht tourism. Further expand the delegation of approval authority for international express (agency) business licenses. Strengthen innovation in digital RMB pilot application scenarios, participate in multilateral central bank digital currency bridge project research, and explore the applicability of central bank digital currencies in cross-border contexts. Improve policies for customs clearance facilitation, cargo supervision, and warehousing logistics in the international cultural relics trade. (9) Improve supporting mechanisms for facilitating personnel mobility. We will deepen the reform of supporting systems related to international navigation vessels and provide convenient handling services for social insurance registration for crew members from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. We will pilot a policy allowing eligible Hong Kong tax professionals to register and practice in specific areas of Shenzhen. We will steadily and orderly expand the list of foreign occupational qualifications recognized for convenient practice and optimize the examination mechanism for foreign futures practitioners and others to practice in Shenzhen. V. Improving a Scientific, Refined, and Rule-of-Law-Based Governance Model (10) Enhancing the level of livelihood security and service provision. We will deepen the reform of the drug and medical device evaluation and approval system and enhance the capacity for drug supervision and inspection and testing at ports. We will improve the system for the use and supervision of clinically urgent imported drugs and medical devices and explore feasible paths for using real-world clinical data from international new drugs in the registration and marketing authorization of imported drugs. We will deepen the reform and construction of digital government to enhance the intelligent and professional level of social governance. (11) Improving the management system for land and other natural resources. We will support comprehensive surveys of land, buildings, forest land, wetlands, and sea areas and islands. We will explore a computer-aided review system based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and pilot three-dimensional registration of real estate in specific areas. We will reform the mechanisms for the disposal and recovery of idle land, improve the policy linking the collection standards for idle land fees to the duration of idleness, and innovate ways to revitalize and utilize land. We will strengthen land use guarantees for major industrial projects. We will improve the management system and supporting policies for the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone. We will explore reasonable and effective utilization models for non-core areas of nature reserves and scenic spots. (12) Deepening judicial reform and exchanges and cooperation. We will establish a "one-stop" diversified mechanism for the resolution of international commercial disputes that organically integrates litigation, mediation, and arbitration. Within the framework of the Civil Procedure Law, we will explore the expedited filing and execution of simple enforcement cases and the handling of simple enforcement objection cases by a single judge. We will support the reform of the integrated management system for property-related aspects of criminal judgments. We will deepen the pilot program for the legal protection of new-type intellectual property rights. We will explore the unified registration of commercial mediation organizations by judicial administrative departments and strengthen supervision and management. We will support Shenzhen in legally conducting judicial confirmation and enforcement of mediation agreements issued by specific commercial mediation organizations from Hong Kong and Macao. We will support Shenzhen arbitration institutions and the China Sports Arbitration Commission in researching the resolution of sports disputes, international cooperation in arbitration, and other related work. VI. Strengthening Organizational Implementation (13) Upholding and strengthening the overall leadership of the Party. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we will improve working mechanisms, strengthen overall coordination, and implement the Party's leadership throughout the entire process of advancing the pilot comprehensive reform in Shenzhen to ensure the effective implementation of pilot tasks. (14) Ensuring the implementation of reform initiatives. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) should strengthen overall coordination, and relevant parties should grant Shenzhen relevant management authorities in accordance with the requirements of this Opinion and the approved list of matters, in accordance with the law. Important projects, major issues, and key reforms should be implemented after being reported and approved in accordance with the prescribed procedures. Guangdong Province should increase its efforts to delegate powers and support Shenzhen in deepening its comprehensive reform pilot. Shenzhen should earnestly assume the main responsibility for the pilot, establish a sound mechanism for promoting and implementing reforms that is efficient, verifiable, and covers the entire process, and ensure that reform measures are implemented on schedule. It should improve the mechanism for identifying major risks and preventing systemic risks, and do a good job in risk assessment, control, and response. Shenzhen should establish and improve laws, regulations, and policy adjustment mechanisms that are compatible with the comprehensive reform pilot. Where adjustments to existing laws or administrative regulations are involved in the implementation of this Opinion, they should be implemented after being authorized by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress or the State Council in accordance with legal procedures. (15) Strengthen the evaluation and promotion of pilot experiences. Closely track the progress of the comprehensive reform pilot, focus on consolidating the achievements of the comprehensive reform pilot, solidify effective experiences and practices in appropriate forms and promote them on a larger scale, promptly analyze and evaluate new situations and new problems, and timely adjust and improve pilot measures that have not achieved the expected results. Major issues should be promptly reported to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for instructions.

[MIIT: Increase Sampling Inspections of Car Models with High Public Attention and Significant Quality and Safety Risks] On June 9, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice, deciding to organize and carry out the 2025 supervision and inspection of production conformity for road motor vehicle producers and their products. The inspection scope covers road motor vehicle producers and their products that have obtained access permits for road motor vehicle production. The inspection locations include road motor vehicle producers, product distribution sites, etc.

According to the latest data from SMM, the capacity utilisation rate of domestic mines was 54.5% last week, down 4.7 percentage points from the previous week. The production of iron ore concentrates was 728,000 mt, a decrease of 62,000 mt WoW. Sales volume was 633,000 mt, a decrease of 137,000 mt WoW. The inventory of ore concentrates at mines increased by 95,000 mt, with the total inventory now at 375,000 mt.

According to the latest data from SMM, the capacity utilisation rate of domestic mines was 54.5% last week, down 4.7 percentage points from the previous week. The production of iron ore concentrates was 728,000 mt, a decrease of 62,000 mt WoW. Sales volume was 633,000 mt, a decrease of 137,000 mt WoW. The inventory of ore concentrates at mines increased by 95,000 mt, with the total inventory now at 375,000 mt.