Silver is once again at the center of global financial markets, with prices moving in the range of $80 to $90 per troy ounce. For many investors, this already sounds extreme. However, while the majority of investors focus primarily on price and charts, professional investors are looking at something entirely different: the structure of the market.
Mar 12, 2026 15:02The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has launched a new IA91 grade aluminium alloy ingot on 24th February. IA91 grade aluminium alloy ingot is a high-profile, silicon-based aluminium casting alloy. It is manufactured in ingot form (metal that has been cast into a solid, standardised bar shape) for use in metal casting processes. The main usage of the alloy ingot is in automotive components, electrical power equipment, industrial machinery and foundry applications.
Feb 26, 2026 15:55TBS Foundation Executive Director Anugraha Dezmercoledi is pushing for the "second life usage" of electric vehicle batteries in Indonesia to strengthen the circular economy. He argues that batteries with less than 70% health, while unfit for cars, are ideal for stationary energy storage in solar power and rural electricity. Given that domestic recycling currently lacks the scale to be cost-effective, he urged for regulatory clarity—specifically regarding hazardous waste (B3) classifications—and a robust tracking system to create an efficient, closed-loop battery ecosystem that lowers costs and emissions.
Feb 25, 2026 20:45Currently, the aluminum industry is at a critical juncture of profound transformation and rapid development. From an industrial dynamics perspective, the global aluminum industry is actively responding to the call for green development, accelerating the transition to cleaner production. From an industrial status perspective, China holds a dominant position in the global aluminum supply chain. However, China's dependence on bauxite imports remains high. Against this backdrop, US tariff policies have had a significant impact on the global aluminum industry. Facing the challenges posed by US tariffs, Chinese aluminum companies are actively seeking countermeasures. On one hand, they are accelerating their layout in the high-end aluminum sector, increasing R&D investment, and driving product transformation towards higher value-added products, such as aviation plates and power battery foils, whose exports are gradually increasing. On the other hand, they are vigorously developing the secondary aluminum industry, as the energy consumption of secondary aluminum is only 5% of that of primary aluminum, aligning with green development needs. Some companies are using transshipment trade through third countries like Malaysia and Thailand to reduce tariff costs. Others are actively applying for green certifications, reducing export costs through digital carbon management systems, and establishing hydropower aluminum bases in the southwest to increase the proportion of green electricity usage, thereby meeting international market demand for green aluminum products. From April 16-18, the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Service Co., Ltd., was grandly held at Halls E3-F3 of the Suzhou International Expo Center in Jiangsu, Suzhou! This summit will delve into and exchange views on hot topics such as the development trends of the global aluminum market, aluminum price forecasts, supply-demand balance, business opportunities, and technical exchanges. At the same time, it will explore how to drive the aluminum industry towards a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable direction, jointly addressing global climate change and environmental challenges! The conference includes nine forums: the Alumina and Aluminum Raw Materials Forum, Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum, Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum, Supply and Demand Exchange - Domestic and Foreign Aluminum Scrap Supply and Demand Speech Forum, Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip and Foil Industry Development Forum, Main Forum, Aluminum Industry Chain Sustainable Development Forum, Global Secondary Aluminum Industry Development Forum, and Industrial Aluminum Extrusion Forum. The conference also features guest speeches, SMM Price Seminars, roundtable forums, conference dinners, and award ceremonies! This article is a live text broadcast of the Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum and the Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum. Additionally, SMM will also provide live photo and video broadcasts. Please refresh to view~ Click to view the summit's live video broadcast Click to view the summit's live photo broadcast View the summit's text report April 16 Conference Registration & Networking Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum Speech Topic: Research on Cracking Behavior of Super-Sized 2024 Aluminum Alloy Flat Ingots Guest Speaker: Chief Expert and Secretary General of the Advanced Aluminum Alloy Collaborative Innovation Alliance, Chalco Group (09:00-09:30) Speech Topic: Common Knowledge of Melting and Casting Guest Speaker: Li Lei, General Manager of Shangli County Keyuan Metallurgical Materials Co., Ltd. (09:30-10:00) Speech Topic: Thoughts on the Development of Melting and Casting Technology in the Secondary Aluminum Industry Guest Speaker: Professor Zhang Bolin, Nanchang University (10:00-10:30) Speech Topic: Causes and Prevention of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Semi-Continuous (Deep Well) Casting Molten Aluminum Water Explosion Accidents Guest Speaker: Zhou Yingquan, Senior Engineer and Resident Expert of Suzhou Emergency Management Bureau (10:30-11:00) Speech Topic: Research and Application of High-Efficiency Dust Removal and Energy-Saving Systems in the Aluminum Industry Guest Speaker: Ni Yongchun, Chairman of Zhejiang Lanwei Environmental Technology Equipment Co., Ltd. (11:00-11:30) Speech Topic: Common Problems and Solutions in Metal Liquid Refining Treatment in Aluminum Melting and Casting Guest Speaker: Xue Yueteng, China Product Line Manager - Non-Ferrous Metal Liquid Treatment, Vesuvius Foundry Technology (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (13:30-14:00) Speech Topic: Safety Hazards in Aluminum Processing and Dual Prevention Mechanisms Guest Speaker: Ying Zhiqiang, Certified Expert of China Nonferrous Metals Think Tank, Chief Engineer and Senior Engineer of Anhui Guangsheng Meichen New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (14:00-14:30) Speech Topic: Technical Challenges and Solutions for Lining of Different Types of Secondary Aluminum Dual-Chamber Furnaces - Promoting Green and Efficient Industry Development Guest Speaker: Song Xuebin, Chairman and President of the Enterprise Research Institute, Jiangsu Ruifuda High-Temperature New Materials Co., Ltd. (14:20-14:50) Speech Topic: Innovation and Application of Short Process Technology in Aluminum Processing Guest Speaker: He Xiangwen, Chief Engineer of the Process Department, China Nonferrous Metals Processing Technology Co., Ltd. (15:00-15:30) Speech Topic: Production Practices in the Melting, Casting, and Homogenization Process of 3003 Alloy Guest Speaker: Lu Jianjun, Chief Engineer of Shaanxi Xincai Disu Technology Co., Ltd. (15:30-16:00) Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum Speech Topic: Exploration of Integrated Die Casting Process under Industry-University-Research Cooperation Guest Speaker: Han Jiantang, Project Director of Shandong Hongcan Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (09:30-10:00) Speech Topic: Complementarity and Application of Aluminum Alloy Integrated Die Casting and Magnesium Semi-Solid Die Casting Guest Speaker: Zhou Lianjun, Senior Application Expert of Ningbo Free Trade Zone Haitian Zhisheng Metal Forming Equipment Co., Ltd. (10:00-10:30) Roundtable Discussion: New Models of Integrated Die Casting Cooperation from a Supply Chain Perspective Moderator: Zhang Shangen, Executive President of Suzhou Die Casting Association Interviewees: Chongqing Yujiang Die Casting Co., Ltd. Liu Huachu, Metal Materials Expert of NIO Zhang Yuebo, Technical Vice President of CSMET Group (10:30-11:30) Speech Topic: The Development of China's New Energy Vehicles and Traditional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles in the Next Decade and Aluminum Usage Trends Guest Speaker: Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Automobile Dealers Association Automobile Market Research Branch (13:30-14:00) Speech Topic: Difficulties and Solutions in the Die Casting Process of New Energy Vehicle Electric Drive Housings Guest Speaker: Peng Liang, Lightweight Process Manager/Senior Engineer of Schaeffler (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. (14:00-14:30) Roundtable Discussion: The Path to Replacing Magnesium Die Casting with Aluminum Die Casting Interviewees: Qin Xianyue, Technical Director of Baowu Magnesium Products Division, Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Boao Zhang Xiaoyan, Chairman of Ningbo Tianzheng Mould Co., Ltd. (14:30-15:30) Speech Topic: Comparison and Pros and Cons of Low-Pressure Casting and High-Pressure Die Casting Processes Guest Speaker: Zhu Wenping, Global Aluminum Alloy Casting Expert, Special Expert/Director, and Senior Die Casting Engineer Certification Training Instructor of Eaton (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (15:30-16:00) Click to view the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo Special Report
Apr 16, 2025 08:45The Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, owned by Rio Tinto and the Sumitomo Group, has decided to reduce its power consumption by 185 megawatts, which is about 4 per cent of the country's energy usage.
Jul 23, 2024 09:46
According to the statistics of SNE Research, the market share of the CATL's global power battery usage in 2022 was 37.0%, an increase of 4.0 percentage point from 2021, ranking first in the world for six consecutive years.
Mar 27, 2023 17:44SMM will delist 14 price points for various steel types from specific mills effective April 1, 2026, due to prolonged stockouts. Clients should adjust their price usage to avoid business disruptions.
PriceMar 17, 2026 14:14Dear Users, To optimize the data structure and enhance your data retrieval and analysis efficiency, we will adjust the classification hierarchy of "Magnesium" data in our Database Pro, effective from February 1, 2026. Before Adjustment: After Adjustment: Reason for Adjustment: Sustained Growth in User Attention: We have observed that in recent years, user query frequency, analysis depth, and attention to magnesium-related data have significantly increased. This adjustment aims to respond to your needs, making the classification structure more aligned with your usage habits and enabling easier access and retrieval of relevant data. Impact and Recommendations for You: • Change in Data Access Path: After the adjustment, you can directly locate the "Magnesium" category under the Minor & Precious Metals classification directory in the database, without needing to access it through the "Minor Metal" category. • This adjustment will not result in any loss of historical data, nor will it affect data usage permissions it only changes the classification hierarchy. We believe this adjustment will provide you with a clearer and more efficient data service experience. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this adjustment and greatly appreciate your understanding and support. SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. January 22, 2026
DataJan 22, 2026 13:54Dear users, On August 29, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China jointly issued the "Secondary Lead Ingot (GB/T 21181-2025)" (hereinafter referred to as the "new national standard"), which will officially take effect on March 1, 2026. Compared to the "Secondary Lead and Lead Alloy Ingot (GB/T 21181-2017)" (hereinafter referred to as the "old national standard"), the new national standard revised the scope. It changed from "This standard applies to secondary lead and its alloy ingots produced by smelting and processing using lead-containing scrap as raw material, mainly used in batteries, alloys, chemical industry, and other fields" to "This document applies to secondary lead ingots produced by pyrometallurgical smelting and processing using waste lead-acid batteries and recycled lead and lead alloy materials as raw materials, mainly used in lead-acid batteries, alloys, chemical industry, and other fields." Regarding secondary lead grades, the ZSPb99.994 and ZSPb99.992 secondary lead ingot grades were deleted the ZSPb99.990, ZSPb99.986, and ZSPb99.983 secondary lead ingot grades were added. Details are as follows: With the development and changes in the secondary lead industry, the actual production and use of secondary lead in the market in recent years have already diverged significantly from the old national standard. In addition to changes in the main element lead content, the bismuth (Bi) content has also undergone substantial changes. According to SMM's understanding of major producers and users of secondary lead, the distribution by bismuth content usage is as follows: enterprises using bismuth content ≤0.008% account for about 15% those using ≤0.012% account for about 60% and those using ≤0.015% account for about 25%. Furthermore, based on its price assessment methodology, SMM solicited market suggestions on the specifications for the secondary refined lead price. Market feedback recommended that the price collection standard for SMM's secondary refined lead price reference the new national standard for secondary lead, with grade ZSPb99.99 accounting for 24%, grade ZSPb99.986 for 66%, and grade ZSPb99.983 for 10%. Considering that the current actual usage in the secondary lead market covers the three grades specified in the new national standard for secondary lead, SMM will define the specifications for the national and regional prices of secondary refined lead as ZSPb99.983-99.99%, based on real market transaction conditions. The new standard will be officially implemented from January 1, 2026, serving as the reference standard for SMM's price assessments. During this period, SMM will continue to collect suggestions and feedback from all parties, closely follow changes in the lead industry chain market, and identify and optimize SMM prices to better serve the industry! For any questions regarding prices, please contact lead analyst Wenming Xia at 021-51666839. SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Lead and Zinc Research Division December 25, 2025
PriceDec 25, 2025 09:41