The 2026 SMM Hong Kong Metals Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) and sponsored by China Securities International as platinum sponsor, wrapped up successfully at Novotel Hong Kong Century on May 6. With over 300 registrations and 200 on-site attendees, the forum focused on the theme "New Metals Cycle: Prices, Power & Global Wrestling". The event featured keynote speeches by industry experts and SMM analysts, covering base metals, new energy materials, and strategic revaluation of minor and precious metals. Two high-level panel sessions were held, exploring hot topics such as geopolitics, supply-demand fluctuations, CBAM impacts, and market opportunities. It also served as an efficient platform for networking and cooperation across entire industry chains. SMM Opening Address SMM Chairman Adam Fan SMM Chairman Adam Fan stated in the opening address that it was a great honor to gather with elites from all sectors of the industry at this forum. The world is currently at a critical development period, and the exchange of industry ideas is not only an industry necessity but also an inevitable requirement for global development. Adam reviewed the century-long legacy of the London Metal Exchange, which has weathered nearly 150 years of global changes and industry evolution, fully demonstrating that although market structures may change, the fundamental need for risk management and reliable price discovery remains constant. At the same time, Adam candidly acknowledged that global markets are currently mired in a pattern of deep fluctuations. Geopolitical conflicts, supply chain fragmentation, and the compounding crises of energy and food, overlaid with de-globalization and rising trade protectionism, have intensified market uncertainty and inflationary pressures, posing severe challenges to global economic growth and industrial cooperation. Against this backdrop, SMM has steadfastly upheld its mission, refusing to be a bystander to the trend of industry fragmentation, and is committed to serving as a bridge for global industrial connectivity amid a landscape of division. SMM is dedicated to promoting dialogue and exchange, breaking down industry and regional barriers, and bringing together regulators, traders, and producers from around the world to discuss industry development. SMM upholds the principle of information transparency, continuously providing accurate, real-time market data to help the industry see through market fog and clarify market distortions. SMM deepens pragmatic cooperation by building a neutral and professional platform for exchange and matchmaking, driving all parties to pursue collaborative development based on shared interests and transcending political differences. Adam emphasized that information sharing and open collaboration would be leveraged to mitigate market risks and strengthen overall industry resilience, and called on the industry to seize the opportunity of this forum to jointly explore solutions, transforming current challenges into momentum for driving integrated and robust development of the global metals industry. Speech by Platinum Sponsor Wang Guangxue, Member of the Executive Committee of China Securities Co., Ltd. and Chairman of China Securities Futures Co., Ltd. Wang stated that as a vital bridge connecting the capital market and the real economy, China Securities has always been committed to serving the high-quality development of the metals industry. Leveraging the comprehensive financial strengths of CITIC Group, the company has built a full-chain integrated service system covering securities, futures, investment, and research. The company has been deeply engaged in the commodities sector, continuously providing forward-looking research to anticipate market trends, utilizing futures instruments to build robust risk barriers, and empowering industrial upgrading through capital services. It will fully leverage CITIC Group's full-license resource advantages and the strategic value of Hong Kong as an international financial center to continuously strengthen its cross-border comprehensive financial services capabilities. The company aims to tailor integrated risk management and asset allocation solutions at home and abroad for enterprises across the metals industry chain, precisely helping enterprises hedge against price fluctuation risks, and enabling them to operate steadily and advance with high quality in complex market environments. Structural Shifts: Rethinking Commodity Benchmarks in an Era of Persistent Inflation and Rivalry Speaker: Tian Yaxiong, Co-Head of R&D Department, China Securities Futures Tian shared professional research findings and cutting-edge market insights on hot topics including the market outlook for global metals and the deep impact of geopolitics on commodity trends. SMM Industry Analysis: Market Outlook and Pre-seminar Sharing for Base Metals and New Energy Materials (Copper, Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt, Lithium, and Tin) & How SMM Empowers Your Commodity Trading & Analysis Speakers: Dr. Yanchen Wang, Managing Director of SMM Global UK Ltd.; Thomas Feng, Head of Industry Analysis at SMM Dr. Wang first analyzed the macroeconomic landscape. At the beginning of this year, the manufacturing PMIs of major economies performed quite well, actually exceeding 50%. Without the conflict, demand this year would have been quite strong. However, at the end of February, the US-Iran conflict broke out, and the International Monetary Fund subsequently revised down its global economic growth expectations. He pointed out that China's exports remain one of the three pillars that are still functioning well to date. Regarding automobile consumption, he noted that for the EV market, the positive factor for the auto industry also lies in exports. In Q1 this year, export performance was indeed very strong. If you look at EV exports alone, they actually grew nearly 160% YoY. Driven mainly by growth in global markets, he remains optimistic about the auto industry this year. In Europe, gasoline and diesel prices have risen significantly due to the US-Iran conflict, and EV demand is expected to benefit from this factor. He believes the power sector continues to maintain strong growth. Based on power grid and power generation investment data from the first two months, combined with State Grid Corporation of China's earlier announcement that fixed asset investment during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period is expected to reach 4 trillion yuan, this indicates that electricity demand will drive strong growth. State Grid Corporation of China will build more ultra-high voltage transmission projects, which will undoubtedly support aluminum demand and also copper demand. Aluminum: Wang noted that base metal prices experienced wild swings since the beginning of this year. He also discussed that China's aluminum smelters continued to raise operating rates due to favorable profitability; aluminum demand pulled back in Q1, and high prices drove inventory higher; approximately 950,000 mt of new aluminum smelting capacity in Indonesia may come online in 2026, with some investors watching Angola; and aluminum semis and wheel hub exports maintained growth in Q1. Copper: After copper prices experienced a pullback and adjustment in March, downstream procurement demand in China was rapidly released, providing strong support for copper prices to rebound. Copper prices rose sharply, with the market downplaying geopolitical risks. China's copper cathode demand was robust, and inventory continued to decline. China's copper scrap market was not truly facing a spot shortage issue. The outlook for copper cathode demand is positive. China remains dependent on copper concentrate imports. Spot copper concentrate TCs showed no signs of bottoming out. By-product revenue sustained smelter profits. He also analyzed the DRC sulphuric acid market conditions, the expected slowdown in global refined production growth, and how a refined market supply deficit should support higher copper prices. He also mentioned that the AI industry maintained strong development momentum, bringing new growth momentum to copper demand. Tin: He elaborated from the following perspectives: Myanmar tin production — slow recovery, upward trajectory, 2025-2027E; Indonesia tin ore RKAB quotas — expected to ease slightly in 2026; DRC — major mine production remained stable, but the M23 movement added uncertainty; global tin prices — supply determines the floor, macro factors drive fluctuations; the global tin market is expected to maintain a tight balance, with new mining capacity expected to be concentrated for release in 2028. Thomas Feng shared insights on nickel, cobalt, and lithium: emerging from the trough and entering a new cycle. ►New energy demand landscape: from EV popularization to energy storage deployment. First, he reviewed and provided an outlook on the global NEV market: NEV demand no longer maintains a one-sided high-growth trajectory, but instead exhibits characteristics of regional differentiation, structural divergence, and intensifying cyclical volatility; development paces in China, Europe, and the US have shown notable differences; performance trends of BEVs, PHEVs, and commercial vehicles have diverged; and the impact of inventory and price cycles on industry operations is increasing significantly. Second, in his review and outlook of the global energy storage market, he noted that the global energy storage market will remain concentrated in three key regions: China, the US, and Europe. Driven by 2030 climate goals, emerging markets such as the Middle East, Australia, and Southeast Asia are showing strong growth in demand for large-scale energy storage. Benefiting from cost advantages and improved safety performance, LFP battery market share is expected to continue climbing. ►Lithium: Reshaping the Supply-Demand Pattern in a New Cycle Global lithium carbonate market: shifting from overall surplus to structural tightness, with prices in a post-trough reassessment and recovery phase. Lithium hydroxide supply and demand maintained a tight balance: production on the supply side was driven by demand, the market share of ternary power batteries was squeezed, and room for growth was limited. The concentration of lithium resource supply declined, with marginal growth rates slowing down simultaneously. Significant demand growth drove the continued expansion of resource projects. ►Nickel: Navigating Policy Changes and Narrowing Oversupply Indonesia's nickel ore HPM adjustment: aimed at enhancing the economic value of non-nickel resources. The discussion covered scenario analysis of nickel ore prices following the implementation of the new policy, and the impact analysis of nickel ore benchmark price adjustments on MHP full costs. Indonesia's nickel ore RKAB quota: a tight balance is expected to set the tone for 2026. Global primary nickel is expected to remain in persistent oversupply. Regarding the logic behind refined nickel price trends, it was noted that policy and macro factors jointly amplified price fluctuations, while cost support elevated the long-term price floor. ►Cobalt: Shifting from Surplus to Shortage after the DRC Export Ban——Long-Term Uncertainty Remains Following the DRC policy announcement, cobalt product prices in China rose rapidly. However, high prices suppressed downstream demand, putting prices under pressure. Starting from H2 2025, the Chinese market continued destocking. Amid raw material shortages, enterprises began using MHP and recycled materials as production substitutes. MHP and recycling are expected to continue growing rapidly, effectively bridging the cobalt hydroxide gap. Cost pressure transmitted in both directions: LCO doping/ternary substitution restarted, and consumer cobalt demand is expected to decline by 10%. As persistently high cobalt prices suppress demand, if China secures 90% of the DRC quota, supplemented by MHP and recycling supply, inventory buildup could occur as early as 2026. Panel Discussion: Global Metals Market Outlook——Geopolitics Disruption, Macro Cycles and the Return of Commodity Volatility •Copper and Aluminum Price Rise, 2024-2026 •Precious Metals Storm: Silver Swung Wildly, Gold Hit Record Highs — Interest Rate Cycles, Safe-Haven Demand, and Industrial Logic •Precious Metals and Industrial Metals: Are Commodities Entering a New Cycle •Focus on Critical Minerals: Emerging Region Supply Rise and Policy Shifts, Green Transition Co-Shaping a New Narrative •Chinese Market: The 15th Five-Year Plan Moderator: Yanchen Wang, Managing Director, SMM Global UK Ltd. Panelists: Yahong Tian, Co-Head of R&D, CITIC Futures Henry Van, Head of Industrial Metals Analysis, Trafigura Sharon Ding, Head of China Basic Materials, UBS Justin William Hughes, Commodity Derivatives Distribution, Optiver Xie Shaobo, Head of China, Appian Mining Fund & independent non-executive Director, Zijin Gold International Panelists noted aluminum has great upside—its 10% price rise lags its 4%-5% supply contraction (vs. oil’s 60% price surge on 10% supply drop), with valuation recovery incomplete. They were more optimistic about copper demand, driven by real downstream demand rather than speculation; aluminum semis’ upside is underappreciated due to high oil prices. Long-term, copper and gold are key for mining investment, with scarce high-quality copper mines and solid gold fundamentals. They also discussed US tariffs, China’s metal demand resilience and overseas mining investment. Overseas mining success hinges on resource-to-reserve certainty; West Africa, Latin America, DRC and Zambia are new hotspots, while Australian/Canadian listed miners are undervalued. Enterprises must plan prudently based on risk tolerance. Geopolitical conflicts (e.g., Iran) may trigger energy crises, but current inflation control and China’s high metal consumption share weaken demand impact. Long-term, energy crises will boost electrification, expanding copper/aluminum demand. Investment depends on risk appetite and fundamental grasp. SMM Industry Analysis: Strategic Re-valuation of Minor Precious and Minor Metals in 2026 — The Case of Silver and Tungsten Silver: Market Supply-Demand Balance and Macroeconomic Volatility: Evolution and Shift in Industrial Demand, Particularly Driven by the PV Sector Tungsten: Strategic Status Upgrade - Supply Constraints and High-End Demand Driving the 2026 Price Rally Speaker: Juno Zhu, Senior Analyst of Minor and Precious Metals, SMM Juno shared insights on the strategic revaluation of tungsten and silver. Tungsten: Tungsten prices have surged over 500% since 2025; China holds over 50% of global tungsten reserves, contributes nearly 80% of global production, and possesses a complete industrial value chain; China's tungsten supply constraints in 2025: H1 mining quotas declined 6.45% YoY; global new project stagnation: limited capacity expansion in 2026, with ex-China mine development cycles of 3–5 years; domestic tungsten downstream applications: significant growth in cutting tools and PV tungsten wire in 2025; European market: persistent raw material shortages, with Rotterdam tungsten prices surging since February 2025; China's tungsten product exports: transitioning from primary products to deep-processed products; SMM analysis: the tungsten market supply-demand gap is expected to persist but narrow in 2026; prices are expected to consolidate at highs after overheating cools. Silver: Silver price fluctuations in 2026: an unexpected surge from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, where frenzied investment demand and capital liquidity completely overshadowed the impact of the industrial off-season. Shift in trade dynamics in Q1 2026: SGE-LBMA premiums reversal and a surge in imports. Demand spike in Q1 2026: the PV industry started with a recovery, and an investment boom generated a phased demand peak. PV market outlook: policy shifts in 2026 are expected to curb demand growth, with overall silver consumption remaining stable. Silver demand outlook for 2026: industrial fundamentals provide support, while investment surges serve as a tactical highlight. Silver supply outlook for 2026: mild annual growth and an expanding secondary supply share are expected to drive a tight balance in the market. Market outlook: short-term trends are expected to revert to industrial fundamentals, while the medium and long-term trajectory is expected to fluctuate at highs driven by safe-haven demand. Panel Discussion: Metals in a Fragmented World: Trading Opportunities in the Age of Instability (Physical Trading and Hedging) •Shifting Liquidity Landscape across LME, CME, and SHFE •Shipping Risks and Sanctioned Metals: Implications for LME Inventory Structure •How European CBAM is Reshaping Global Metals Trade Flows •Is the Metals Market Entering an "Era of Geopolitical Risk Premiums" •Internationalization of SHFE & GFEX: Opportunities and Challenges for Global Investors Moderator: Jean Tang, Commercial Director, SMM Panelist: Anant Jatia, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Greenland Investment Management Bella Yu, General Manager of Marketing Department, Liyang Unilink E-commerce Co., Ltd. David Wilson, Director of Commodity Strategy, BNP Paribas Duncan Hobbs, Research Director, Concord Resources Nicholas Snowdon, Head of Metals and Mining Research, Mercuria Energy Trading SA Sabrina Qian, Director of Geared broking desk, IFCHOR GALBRAITHS Anant Jatia stated: CBAM represents a major policy shift in Europe's metals sector. It is not merely about raising trade costs, but will profoundly reshape global metal trade flows and pricing logic. CBAM officially took effect in January this year, initially covering categories such as steel and aluminum semis, with its core mechanism incorporating carbon emission intensity costs into Europe's metal pricing system. High-carbon-emission producers will need to bear additional carbon allowance costs, significantly weakening their export competitiveness to Europe, while green capacity powered by clean energy will gain a clear advantage in the European market and capture greater market share. Following the policy's implementation, the landed cost of metals in the European market will rise, sustaining a long-term regional premium similar to the aluminum premium structure in the US market. Compared with the market differentiation among LME-registered brands following CBAM's implementation, what deserves more attention are the entirely new market opportunities it creates. By sourcing low-carbon, high-quality materials, market participants can potentially capture green premiums, while the mechanism will also transform metal trading models and the global trade flow landscape. The panelists also discussed the changing liquidity landscape across LME, CME, and SHFE. They noted that liquidity in the commodity market is becoming increasingly fragmented, with copper and other products now tradable across multiple global futures exchanges. Price discovery is no longer concentrated in a single market, and the traditional pattern of one market leading gains and others following has reversed, with multi-exchange rotation driving price movements becoming the norm. Factors such as geopolitical policies and tariff adjustments have given rise to regional pricing divergence, with price movements in some markets increasingly driven by capital flows and sentiment. Policy and geopolitical events have also significantly affected the spread between futures and spot prices of metals, creating opportunities for cross-market arbitrage. Meanwhile, policies related to critical minerals supply security, regional supply shocks, and geopolitical disruptions have widened the dislocation between regional fundamentals and price signals. The metals market has entered a window of structural arbitrage opportunities, and this trend is expected to persist. Cross-market arbitrage continues to provide liquidity support to exchanges, a phenomenon broadly observed across both industrial and precious metals. In addition, the panelists engaged in in-depth discussions on the differences between exchange liquidity and industrial liquidity, as well as factors influencing metal price trends, including fundamentals, geopolitical developments, energy costs, and commodity transportation costs. Opening Remarks for Coffee Break Xu Tao, CEO of CSCI In his address, Xu Tao stated that Hong Kong serves as a vital hub in the global metals pricing and trading system, playing a key role in the aggregation of LME delivery resources and the internationalization of RMB-denominated commodities. Going forward, China Securities International will continue to leverage its role as a bridge for cross-border business, deepen collaboration with CSC Futures, and provide clients at home and abroad with efficient and professional comprehensive financial services in commodities, contributing to a higher level of opening-up of China's financial markets. Networking (Coffee Break) Acknowledgments The 2026 SMM Hong Kong Metals Forum was successfully held with special thanks to the Platinum Sponsor, China Securities International, for its strong support, as well as sincere gratitude to Liyang Unilink E-commerce Co., Ltd. for its significant contribution to the forum. Going forward, China Securities and China Securities International will continue to leverage the unique geographical and resource advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial center, deepen strategic cooperation with authoritative industry platforms such as SMM, and continuously improve the "onshore + offshore" integrated bulk commodity comprehensive service system, precisely empowering enterprises to seize market opportunities and hedge operational risks, contributing professional expertise to advancing the internationalization of China's bulk commodity market and enhancing the industry's global competitiveness. Liyang Unilink E-commerce Co., Ltd. (formerly Wuxi Stainless Steel Electronic Trading Center) has been engaged in new energy materials and critical metals supply chain services for over 20 years. Through its digital platform and offline service network, the company provides upstream and downstream clients with full-process online services including price negotiation, contract signing, contract execution, payment settlement, cargo delivery, processing, quality inspection, and after-sales services. With transparent pricing, 100% fulfillment guarantee, and strict quality control, it has established stable cooperation with over 30,000 industrial clients. In the field of critical strategic metal resources, Unilink has built a supply chain service system covering 14 critical metal varieties including indium, bismuth, nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Spot delivery volumes of indium and bismuth each account for over 90% of China's consumption. For new energy materials, spot delivery volumes of nickel, cobalt, and lithium on Zhonglian Jin's platform account for 30%, 90%, and 20% of China's consumption respectively, while daily sulfur trading volume exceeds 80,000 mt. Unilink implements a service model of "payment upon delivery, cargo pick-up upon payment," effectively shortening delivery cycles, reducing enterprise operating costs, and helping upstream and downstream clients achieve stable and efficient material scheduling. Zhonglian Jin strictly adheres to national industrial policies and resource management requirements, consistently focusing on serving the real economy, fully ensuring the security and smooth operation of bulk commodity supply chains, and promoting efficient resource allocation. It has ranked among China's Top 500 Service Enterprises and China's Top 20 Growing Internet Enterprises for two consecutive years. With that, the 2026 SMM Hong Kong Metals Forum came to a successful conclusion! Thank you for your help and support for this forum~

LME nickel climbed to its highest intraday level in nearly two years as Indonesia’s mining quota cuts and a global sulfur shortage tightened the supply outlook. Since the start of the Iran war, nickel futures have risen by about 10%, with surging sulfur prices fueling concerns over disruptions to Indonesian MHP production and copper leaching operations in Africa. LME nickel briefly reached $19,350/t, the highest level since June 2024. Current market sentiment remains firm, with traders focusing on tighter Indonesian supply expectations and the potential impact of sulfur shortages on hydromet nickel intermediate production.

In March 2026, China’s refined copper imports totaled 234,600 mt, up 53.33% MoM but down 24.03% YoY. Exports stood at 58,200 mt, down 25.60% MoM and 14.40% YoY.

[SMM Silver Market Flash] In May 2025, SMM's domestic silver production increased by 3.81% MoM, primarily due to the resumption of production at smelters in north-west China and east China following maintenance. Looking ahead to June, the supply side of spot silver ingots is expected to see a mix of maintenance and resumption, with production anticipated to remain flat or increase slightly compared to May.

The 2025 SMM (3rd) Wire and Cable Industry Development Conference & Wire and Cable Industry Exhibition has successfully concluded! SMM reported on May 24: Metal Market: Overnight, metals in both domestic and overseas markets generally rose, with only SHFE zinc, SHFE tin, and SHFE nickel in the domestic market falling. SHFE zinc dropped by 0.09%, SHFE tin by 0.1%, and SHFE nickel by 0.26%. The rest of the metals rose, with LME copper and LME lead increasing by over 1%, specifically, LME copper rose by 1.19% and LME lead by 1.22%. The remaining increases were all within 1%. Most ferrous metals series declined, except for stainless steel, which rose by 0.27%. Iron ore fell by 0.76%, HRC by 0.91%. In the coking coal and coke sector, coking coal dropped by 1.59% and coke by 1.32%. In the precious metals sector, as of the overnight close, COMEX gold rose by 1.9%, with a weekly gain of 5.35%, marking its best performance in six weeks. Investors sought refuge in gold amid renewed tariff threats from US President Trump and a weaker US dollar. COMEX silver rose by 1.27%. Domestically, SHFE gold rose by 1.27%, with a weekly gain of 3.76%. SHFE silver rose by 0.62%, with a weekly gain of 1.95%. Independent metal analyst Tai Wong stated, "Trump has been very active in the past 24 hours. He threatened to impose a 50% tariff on the EU starting June 1, while also pressuring Apple and launching an offensive against Harvard University. This has sent the stock market into a slump but has been positive for the gold market." Overnight closing prices as of 8:46 AM on May 24 》Click to view SMM Futures Data Dashboard Macro Front Domestic Aspects: [PBOC and SAFE: Funds raised from overseas listings, share reductions, or transfers should, in principle, be repatriated to China] ① The notice proposes that funds raised from overseas listings, share reductions, or transfers can be repatriated in foreign currency or RMB, and relevant funds can be remitted in and out using capital account settlement accounts. ② The use of raised funds within China and foreign exchange risk management for enterprises have become more flexible and convenient. Listed entities can independently choose foreign exchange risk management channels, conducting spot foreign exchange settlement and sales, as well as hedging transactions through banks or securities firms. [MOFCOM: Online sales of digital products increased by 8.4% from January to April, with smart robots and smart home systems growing by 87.6% and 16%, respectively] The head of the Department of E-commerce at the Ministry of Commerce introduced the development of China's e-commerce sector from January to April 2025. Digital consumption growth accelerated, with online sales of digital products increasing by 8.4% according to MOFCOM big data monitoring. Among them, smart robots and smart home systems grew by 87.6% and 16%, respectively. Trade-in products have seen rapid growth, with online sales of 15 categories of home appliances and digital products increasing by 11.5%. Among them, three expanded categories of digital products, including mobile phones, grew by 18.5%. Service consumption has led the growth, driven by factors such as policy efforts, supply optimization, and holiday economy. The monitored online service consumption increased by 12.1%, with online entertainment and online tourism growing by 31.9% and 25.4%, respectively. US dollar: The overnight US dollar index fell by 0.84% to close at 99.1, touching an intraday low of 99.04, the lowest in nearly three weeks. The US dollar's weekly line fell by 1.84% this week, marking the largest weekly decline since April 11. Earlier, the US once again threatened to escalate trade conflicts, proposing to impose a 50% tariff on the EU starting from June 1, prompting investors to sell off the US dollar. This has once again raised concerns about the impact of tariffs on the world economy and global trade. After Moody's downgraded the US debt rating last week, investors' attention has focused on the US's $36 trillion debt and the tax cut bill, which could increase the US debt by several trillion dollars. The bill narrowly passed in the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives and is now submitted to the Senate, where senators may engage in weeks of debate, keeping investor sentiment fragile in the short term. Other currencies: In afternoon trading, the US dollar fell by 1% against the safe-haven Japanese yen to 142.48 yen, after earlier hitting a two-week low. The US dollar fell by 2.2% against the yen this week, on track for its largest weekly decline since April 7. Meanwhile, the yen received a boost. Earlier, Japan announced that its core annual inflation rate in April hit the highest in more than two years, increasing the likelihood of another interest rate hike before the end of the year. This data highlights the dilemma faced by the Bank of Japan, which must address price pressures from rising food prices and economic headwinds from Trump's tariffs. The euro rose by 0.8% against the US dollar to $1.1363. Earlier, the euro touched a two-week high against the US dollar and is on track for its largest weekly gain in six weeks. The British pound rose by 0.9% against the US dollar to $1.3533, after earlier climbing to its highest in more than three years. This week, the pound rose by 1%, marking its largest weekly gain in five weeks. Data: Next week, in China, the year-on-year profit data for industrial enterprises above designated size in April (single month) will be released. In the US, data such as initial jobless claims for the week ending May 24, the preliminary monthly rate of durable goods orders in April, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index for May, the revised annualized quarterly rate of real GDP for Q1, the revised annualized quarterly rate of core PCE price index for Q1, the revised annualized quarterly rate of consumer spending for Q1, the revised seasonally adjusted quarterly rate of the implicit GDP deflator for Q1, the monthly rate of the seasonally adjusted pending home sales index for April, the monthly rate of personal spending for April, the annual rate of the PCE price index for April, the annual rate of the core PCE price index for April, the preliminary monthly rate of wholesale inventories for April, the final value of the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for May, and the Chicago PMI for May will be released. In the Eurozone, data such as the final value of the consumer confidence index for May, the industrial and economic sentiment indices for May, and the annual rate of seasonally adjusted M3 money supply for April will be released. In Germany, data such as the Gfk consumer confidence index for June, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May, the change in the seasonally adjusted number of unemployed persons for May, the annual rate of actual retail sales for April, the monthly rate of actual retail sales for April, and the preliminary annual rate of CPI for May will be released. In Canada, data such as the annualized quarterly rate of GDP for Q1, the seasonally adjusted quarterly rate of GDP for Q1, and the annual rate of seasonally adjusted GDP for March will be released. In addition, the CBI retail sales balance for May in the UK, the ANZ consumer confidence index for the week ending May 25 in Australia, the official cash rate decision for May 28 in New Zealand, the final value of the annual GDP rate for Q1 in France, the official reserve assets for April in Switzerland, the annual rate of Tokyo CPI for May in Japan, and the unemployment rate for April in Japan will all be released. Additionally, the US Fed released the minutes of its May monetary policy meeting. Fed Chairman Powell will deliver a commencement speech at Princeton University's graduation ceremony. European Central Bank President Lagarde will speak at the Hertie School in Berlin. FOMC permanent voter and New York Fed President Williams will participate in a panel discussion at the Bank of Japan Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies conference. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will announce its interest rate decision and monetary policy statement, and Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Orr will hold a monetary policy press conference. On May 30, the Taiwan Stock Exchange in China was closed for the day due to the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The Shanghai Gold Exchange, SHFE, Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, and DCE did not have night session trading on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival. Crude Oil: As of the overnight close, oil prices in both markets rose together, each gaining 0.92%. International oil prices increased as US buyers covered positions ahead of the three-day Memorial Day long weekend, while concerns about Iran's supply outlook also lingered. The Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the US summer driving season, which is also the period of highest demand for automotive fuels. Next Monday (May 26) is Memorial Day in the US, and US financial markets will be closed. According to Xinhua News Agency, the US and Iran held their fifth round of indirect talks in Rome, the capital of Italy, on the 23rd. The Omani side, which chaired the talks, said that some progress had been made, but no decisive results had been achieved. Flynn said that if the talks failed to reach an agreement, traders were concerned that crude oil supplies might be affected. OPEC, which consists of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Russia-led allies, will hold a meeting next week and is expected to increase production by another 411,000 barrels per day in July. Media reports this month indicated that the group might lift the remaining portion of its voluntary production cut plan of 2.2 million barrels per day by the end of October, after having already raised its daily production targets for April, May, and June by about 1 million barrels. US energy services company Baker Hughes said in its closely watched report on Friday that the number of oil and natural gas rigs operated by US energy companies fell for the fourth consecutive week this week to the lowest level since November 2021. (Comprehensive report from Wenhua)

》Check SMM aluminum product quotes, data, and market analysis 》Subscribe to view historical spot prices of SMM metals SMM News on May 22: Domestic Bauxite Market: This week, the domestic bauxite market remained relatively calm, with stable operations prevailing. As of today, in Shanxi, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.0 and 60% alumina content, excluding VAT, for self pick-up at the crushing plant, was approximately 580-620 yuan/mt. In Henan, the transaction price for bauxite with the same Al/Si ratio and alumina content, excluding VAT, for self pick-up at the crushing plant, was around 550-590 yuan/mt. In Guizhou, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.5 and 58% alumina content, excluding VAT, for self pick-up at the crushing plant, was 410-450 yuan/mt. In Guangxi, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 6.0 and 53% alumina content, excluding VAT, for self pick-up at the crushing plant, was 320-335 yuan/mt. Imported Bauxite Market: According to data from May 16, the total weekly bauxite arrivals at domestic ports were 3.7844 million mt, a decrease of 440,300 mt from the previous week. The total weekly bauxite port departures from main ports in Guinea were 3.5938 million mt, a decrease of 35,400 mt from the previous week. The total weekly bauxite port departures from main ports in Australia were 971,900 mt, an increase of 119,000 mt from the previous week. Price Trends: Recently, the Guinea bauxite market has experienced significant fluctuations. Unexpected events have impacted the supply outlook for bauxite, causing bauxite prices to stop falling and begin to rebound. The specific timeline is as follows: On May 14 (Guinea time), the Guinean authorities ordered the revocation of industrial and semi-industrial mining licenses for over 40 mining companies, including "Axis Minérales." On May 16 (Beijing time), it was learned that the mining rights involved some projects that were actively mining and exporting bauxite. Relevant projects received notices to suspend production, involving significant capacity, which raised market concerns about the supply of bauxite raw materials. On May 17 (Guinea time), the Guinean Minister of Mines and Geology issued an order revoking licenses for over 100 additional mining companies, but this did not significantly impact other active bauxite enterprises. On May 19 (Beijing time), some companies that received suspension notices declared force majeure to shipping companies. On the evening of May 20 (Guinea time), in an order read on Guinean national television, the transitional authorities decided to classify several mining concessions as strategic reserve zones, including concessions, industrial and semi-industrial mining licenses, as well as exploration licenses for bauxite, iron, gold, diamonds, and graphite. "In accordance with the provisions of Decree No. D/2025-065/PRG-CNRD-SGG dated May 9, 2025, Decree No. D/2025-066/PRG-CNRD-SGG dated May 9, 2025, and Article 2 of Decree No. D/2025-067/PRG-CNRD-SGG dated May 14, 2025, the industrial and semi-industrial mining concessions and licenses for bauxite, iron, gold, diamonds, and graphite are revoked. In accordance with Article 5 of the Mining Code, the relevant concessions and licenses are now placed in strategic reserve zones."The decree states that the exploration licenses for bauxite, iron, gold, diamonds, base metals, gemstones, black sand, and manganese, which were revoked under Order A/2025-480/MMG-SGG dated May 16, 2025, are also classified as strategic reserve areas under Article 5 of the Mining Law. This incident has sparked market concerns over the supply of bauxite raw materials, with low-priced offers disappearing from the market and a small number of offers hovering around $75/mt. On Thursday, it was inquired that the transaction price of Guinea bauxite had risen to around $74/mt, driving up the SMM imported bauxite prices in succession. As of Thursday this week, the SMM imported bauxite index was reported at $72.14/mt, up $1.73/mt from last Thursday; the Guinea bauxite price was reported at $72/mt, up $72/mt from last Thursday. SMM Commentary: Due to the impact of the Guinea bauxite incident, Guinea bauxite prices have stopped falling and rebounded. In the short term, sellers are holding firm on their quotes, and prices are expected to maintain a slight upward trend. Continuous attention should be paid to the development of the Guinea incident for subsequent price changes. 》Click to view the SMM Aluminum Industry Chain Database