Nigerian officials have announced the country’s most significant critical minerals discovery in recent years, as Africa’s largest oil producer seeks to diversify its economy and position itself as a key supplier of materials needed for the global energy transition. Last week, at the African Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, Nigeria announced the discovery of a new polymetallic ore field in Kaduna State, including high-grade deposits of platinum group metals, gold, nickel, lithium, and rare earths. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, described Kaduna as a “world-class” metallogenic province and one of the most significant advances in the country’s mining sector in recent years. The discovery was jointly made by private company Steron Mining and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), and was later confirmed by NGSA.

On June 30, JL MAG Rare-Earth's stock price rose. As of the close on June 30, JL MAG gained 4.83%, closing at 30.85 yuan per share. On the news front: An announcement released by JL MAG Rare-Earth earlier showed that, in order to implement the company's development strategy and enhance its comprehensive competitiveness, it plans to acquire a 9.24% equity stake in Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange Co., Ltd. held by China Northern Rare Earth (Group) High-Tech Co., Ltd. through a public listing and transfer on the Inner Mongolia Property Rights Exchange Center. According to the appraisal report issued by North Asia Asset Appraisal Co., Ltd., as of the appraisal base date of December 31, 2025, the total equity value of the Exchange appraised using the market approach was 239 million yuan, representing an increase of 27.8551 million yuan over the net asset book value of 211.1449 million yuan on the base date, reflecting a value-added rate of 13.19%. The expected transaction price for the target equity is 22.0836 million yuan. In accordance with relevant provisions such as the Rules Governing the Listing of Stocks on the ChiNext Board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Articles of Association, this external investment falls within the approval authority of the company's CEO. This investment does not constitute a related-party transaction, nor does it constitute a major asset restructuring as defined by the Administrative Measures for the Material Asset Restructurings of Listed Companies. Discussing the purpose of the investment and its impact on the company, the JL MAG announcement stated: Rare earths are the core raw material for producing NdFeB permanent magnet materials. The Exchange serves as a specialized trading platform for rare earth (metal) resources. If this equity acquisition is successfully completed, it will further enhance the company's ability to secure rare earth raw material supply, strengthen its overall competitiveness, and consolidate its market position in the rare earth permanent magnet industry. In line with the principles of cooperative, co-construction, and mutual benefit, the company will fully leverage and utilize its own advantages to support the Exchange's efforts to build a national-level rare earth (metal) resource trading platform. Funds for this acquisition of the Exchange's equity will come from the company's own funds and will not have a material adverse impact on the company's financial condition and operating results. It is conducive to achieving the company's strategic objectives and does not compromise the interests of the company and its shareholders. In its announcement, JL MAG Rare-Earth also highlighted existing risks: 1. The company's planned acquisition of a partial stake in the Exchange constitutes a transfer of state-owned assets, requiring strict compliance with statutory procedures such as state-owned asset transaction approvals and public listings. There is uncertainty as to whether this equity transfer will be implemented smoothly. 2. As a domestic spot exchange specializing in various rare earth products, the Exchange provides services to upstream and downstream enterprises in the rare earth industry chain, and its operations will be subject to various factors including macroeconomic conditions, industry cycles, and the market environment. Regarding the main risks of the investment, the company will promptly follow up on and cooperate with the approval process for this state-owned asset transfer, while leveraging its own industrial strengths to strengthen collaborative development with the Rare Earth Exchange and manage post-investment and risk control effectively to mitigate investment risks. The company will fulfill its information disclosure obligations in strict compliance with relevant regulations based on subsequent progress of this equity transfer. Investors are advised to exercise caution regarding investment risks. In terms of performance, JL MAG Rare-Earth’s previously disclosed Q1 2026 report showed that during the quarter, the company achieved total revenue of RMB 2.036 billion, up 16.05% YoY, with a net profit attributable to the parent company of RMB 193 million, up 20.09% YoY. JL MAG Rare-Earth’s Q1 2026 report revealed: In Q1 2026, facing a complex landscape where total NEV sales declined YoY while the price of the key raw material Pr-Nd experienced short-term wild swings, the company’s management upheld the annual operating policy of "adhering to legal and regulatory compliance, maintaining a client-centric approach, focusing on the core magnetic materials business, constructing 20,000 mt of new capacity on schedule, actively deploying embodied robot motor rotors, and scaling new heights." By driving technological innovation, organizational optimization, digital transformation, and lean management initiatives, the company mobilized employee initiative to ensure contract fulfillment and on-time delivery to clients while achieving steady business performance growth. In Q1 2026, the company recorded revenue of RMB 2.036 billion, up 16.05% YoY; net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm of RMB 193 million, up 20.09% YoY; and non-recurring gain/loss-adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm of RMB 176 million, up 65.95% YoY. The income statement included equity incentive-related share-based payment expenses of RMB 49.9682 million. Net profit excluding the share-based payment impact was RMB 235 million, up 44.57% YoY, and non-recurring gain/loss-adjusted net profit excluding the share-based payment impact was RMB 219 million, up 106.82% YoY. Robots liberate human productivity and represent a critical direction in the next wave of technological transformation, with broad industry growth prospects. In Q1 2026, the company’s robotics and industrial servo motor segment generated revenue of RMB 118 million, up 81.84% YoY, serving clients that include multiple global industrial robot and servo motor producers. The company is actively collaborating with a world-renowned tech firm on the R&D of embodied robot motor rotors and has delivered small-batch products. Additionally, through direct investments and participation in industry funds, the company is making strategic moves in key nodes of the industry chain to accelerate industrial synergy and commercialization. After the introduction of export control measures on medium-heavy rare earth-related items, the company carried out export declaration work in accordance with relevant national regulations, has successively obtained export licenses issued by the national competent authority, and became one of the first enterprises granted a general license by the state. The company's export business was basically stable. During the reporting period, export sales revenue reached 381 million yuan, accounting for 18.7% of operating revenue, up 22.16% YoY. The company has established long-term strategic partnerships with major rare earth raw material suppliers, including China Northern Rare Earth Group and China Rare Earth Group, and fully leverages the advantage of its controlled subsidiary Yinhai New Materials' upstream rare earth recycling business to build a diversified rare earth resource supply system. In Q1 2026, the company achieved a consolidated gross margin of 21.83%, an increase of 6.13 percentage points YoY; net cash flow from operating activities was 358 million yuan, a significant improvement from -350 million yuan in the same period last year, with overall operating cash flow remaining healthy; as of the end of the reporting period, the company held cash and cash equivalents of 3.298 billion yuan, certificates of deposit maturing within one year of 860 million yuan, and certificates of deposit maturing beyond one year of 571 million yuan, reflecting a strong cash reserve. In addition, JL MAG Rare-Earth's 2025 annual report shows: In 2025, the company achieved total operating revenue of 7.718 billion yuan and core business revenue of 7.028 billion yuan, up 14.11% and 19.00% YoY, respectively, both hitting record highs. Of this, domestic sales revenue was 6.447 billion yuan, up 16.36% YoY; overseas sales revenue was 1.27 billion yuan, up 3.92% YoY, of which export sales to the US were 501 million yuan, up 39.80% YoY. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm was 706 million yuan, up 142.44% YoY; net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm after deducting non-recurring gains and losses was 620 million yuan, up 264.00% YoY. The consolidated gross margin reached 21.18%, up 10.05 percentage points from 11.13% in the previous year. The income statement included share-based payment expenses from equity incentives and financial expenses for convertible bonds recognized using the effective interest method, totaling approximately 107 million yuan, of which only 5.11 million yuan will require actual cash outflow in the future. Overall operating cash flow remained healthy. Regarding the company's main businesses and product applications, JL MAG Rare-Earth's 2025 annual report describes: The company is a high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, production, and sales of high-performance NdFeB permanent magnet materials, magnetic assemblies, motor rotors for embodied robots, and comprehensive rare earth recycling. It is a leading supplier of rare earth permanent magnet materials in the new energy and energy-saving and environmental protection sectors. The company's products are widely used in NEVs and automotive parts, energy-saving inverter air conditioners, wind power generation, robots and industrial servo motors, 3C, low-altitude aircraft, energy-saving elevators, rail transit, and other fields, and it has established long-term, stable cooperative relationships with industry leaders both in and outside China in each field. The company has actively deployed in the robotics field: on the one hand, it cooperates with internationally renowned technology companies to conduct R&D on motor rotors for embodied robots and capacity building, with small-batch product deliveries already achieved; on the other hand, through direct investments or participation in industry funds, it strategically deploys in key links of the relevant industry chain, accelerating industry synergy and commercialization. JL MAG Rare-Earth, in its annual report, discussed its industry situation during the reporting period and touched on rare earth price trends: In 2025, Pr-Nd alloy prices fluctuated upward overall. According to data from the China Rare Earth Industry Association, the average price of Pr-Nd alloy in 2025 was 601,300 yuan/mt, a YoY increase of 23.8%. Rare earth prices are generally determined by the interplay of multiple factors, including supply, demand, policies, inventory, and market expectations. Meanwhile, compared to short-term fluctuations in rare earth prices, the industry places greater emphasis on medium- and long-term changes, as relatively stable rare earth prices are conducive to the industry's high-quality development. Regarding its outlook for future development, JL MAG Rare-Earth stated: (1) Corporate Development Strategy The company will continue to uphold its vision of "becoming a global leader in the rare earth permanent magnet industry" and its development strategy of "providing clients with full-category magnetic material solutions," centered on rare earth permanent magnets, focusing on application scenarios related to new energy and energy conservation and emission reduction, to continuously enhance product performance and cost efficiency. At the same time, the company adheres to group-oriented operations and collaborative industry chain deployment, guided by client needs and the principle of long-termism, steadily advancing capacity construction and technological upgrades. 1. Commitment to Stable Operations: The company steadfastly upholds intrinsic safety bottom lines, strictly implements national regulations in areas such as export permits, production safety, and environmental protection, solidly pursues compliant operations and comprehensive risk control, and always maintains a prudent financial strategy. It remains focused on its core business, making technological innovation and process improvement long-term core investment priorities, continuously strengthening the automation, digitalization, and intelligent construction of production operations, and gradually building sustainable capabilities for product iteration and lean cost optimization. 2. Collaborative Industry Chain Deployment: The company follows an industry chain layout approach of "upstream recycling collaboration, midstream product diversification, and downstream component extension," comprehensively enhancing collaborative operational efficiency in the industry chain and strengthening its resistance to market fluctuations. Upstream, the company will build a recycling system and deepen resource synergy cooperation, promote the diversification of raw material supply sources, and continuously optimize procurement and inventory management efficiency. Midstream, leveraging existing areas of strength, it will closely target the differentiated needs for magnetic materials across various application scenarios, continuously improve its product portfolio and optimize product structure, steadily transforming from a “single-product supplier” to a “comprehensive solution provider.” Downstream, deeply aligning with core client needs, the company will steadily advance R&D and production capacity building for magnetic assemblies, motor rotors, and other products, continuously enhancing assembly precision and full-process quality control, effectively increasing client stickiness and product added value. 3. Synergistic Strategic Investments In terms of strategic investments, the company will carry out prudent equity investments or partnerships around client needs and key links in the industry chain, adhering to the principle of mutual empowerment between investments and the company’s principal operations. Leveraging industrial funds established in collaboration with professional investment institutions, it will focus on strategic tracks such as high-end manufacturing, embodied AI, and new energy, deepen project layout and value cultivation, and promote industry resource synergy and long-term value enhancement. (II) 2026 Annual Operating Plan The company’s operating policy for 2026: “Adhere to legal and compliant operations, uphold client orientation, focus on the magnetic materials main business, build the 20,000 mt new capacity on schedule, actively position in motor rotors for embodied robots, and reach new heights.” In line with this policy and on the premise of legal and compliant operations, the company will prioritize the following work: 1. Orderly Release of Capacity under Construction In 2026, some of the company’s projects under construction will gradually release capacity. The specific release progress will comprehensively consider factors such as equipment commissioning and market demand, advancing the commissioning and ramp-up of new capacity in an orderly manner. 2. Continuous Enhancement of R&D Capabilities. 3. Continuous Optimization of Product Structure The company will continue to enrich its product matrix for different application scenarios based on client needs, enhancing product structure resilience and client stickiness. At the same time, it will steadily advance the layout of projects such as magnetic assemblies and motor rotors for embodied robots, equip dedicated production lines and specialized teams, and upgrade small-batch production lines to large-scale, standardized manufacturing and quality systems. 4. Continuous Improvement of Operational Capabilities. 5. Strengthening Capital Expenditure Efficiency. 6. Improving Incentive Mechanisms and Shareholder Returns. 7. Advancing the ESG System. Regarding risks the company may face, JL MAG Rare-Earth noted when describing the risk of rare earth raw material price fluctuations: Rare earth metals are the main raw materials for producing NdFeB magnets. China is an important global supplier of rare earth raw materials. Wild swings in rare earth raw material prices will, in the short term, adversely affect the company’s production and sales. Countermeasures: The company has built production plants in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, a major heavy rare earth production area, and Baotou, Inner Mongolia, a major light rare earth production area. It has established long-term cooperative relationships with major rare earth raw material suppliers, including China Northern Rare Earth Group and China Rare Earth Group. At the same time, through measures such as purchasing rare earth raw materials in advance based on orders on hand, setting up price adjustment mechanisms with major clients, optimizing formulations, and improving processes, the company strives to mitigate the adverse impact of rare earth raw material price fluctuations on its business performance. Looking back at the price performance of Pr-Nd alloy in 2025, : The average price of Pr-Nd alloy on December 31, 2025, was 735,000 yuan/mt, compared with the average price of 489,000 yuan/mt on December 31, 2024, representing a 2025 increase of 50.31%. The annual daily average price of Pr-Nd alloy in 2025 was 602,181.07 yuan/mt, compared with the annual daily average of 484,704.55 yuan/mt in 2024, increasing by 117,476.52 yuan/mt, a YoY increase of 24.24%. According to SMM's quotation display: on June 30, the Pr-Nd alloy price was 900,000~910,000 yuan/mt, with an average price of 905,000 yuan/mt, down 0.56% from the previous trading day. Focusing on the Pr-Nd market, on June 30, the increase in Pr-Nd oxide futures prices drove a synchronized rise in suppliers’ spot offer prices, making low-priced oxide hard to find in the market. However, metal enterprises showed a cautious purchasing attitude due to unsatisfactory metal inquiries, resulting in generally moderate overall trading activity. In the metal market, inquiry activity picked up somewhat in the afternoon of the 30th, mainly driven by tender purchases from large magnetic material enterprises. However, most magnetic material enterprises remained on the sidelines, and overall transaction performance was poor. In the short term, given the lack of significant improvement in downstream demand, Pr-Nd product prices are expected to move sideways. Recommended reading:

Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube revealed during the World Economic Forum in Dalian that the country is actively considering using its abundant mineral resources as collateral through "resource‑linked debt instruments" to finance road and railway construction projects in cooperation with China. This model aims to leverage future revenue from natural resources as loan guarantees to address the huge funding gap for infrastructure development. Ncube said Zimbabwe has held preliminary discussions with China Railway Group regarding such financing arrangements. He told reporters: "We have discussed resource‑linked debt instruments and hope to use them in the future to support infrastructure development, particularly in the road and railway sectors." Under the envisaged plan, Zimbabwe would assess project costs, toll revenue potential, and the return cycle of required resource investments to determine the scale of resource collateral and the repayment path. As Africa's largest lithium producer, Zimbabwe possesses rich mineral resources, but years of economic mismanagement and political instability have left its infrastructure severely lagging. The African Development Bank estimates that the country needs approximately US$34 billion to modernise its transport and logistics network. The proposed resource‑for‑infrastructure plan resembles the model of the US$7 billion Sicomines copper‑cobalt joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo with Chinese companies. As early as September 2025, Zimbabwe's President, during a meeting in Beijing with senior executives of China Railway Group, promoted a railway rehabilitation cooperation plan totalling US$533 million. The project is to be implemented by Chuantie International, a subsidiary of China Railway Group with extensive experience in African projects. The scope of work includes repair and reinforcement of existing lines and bridges, modernisation of signal systems, procurement of 17 locomotives and 209 freight wagons, construction of five new stations, and the key trunk line connecting Beitbridge and Harare – a strategic corridor leading directly to South Africa, which is vital to Zimbabwe's foreign trade. Currently, the project's financing method and formal signing date are still under final negotiation. Zimbabwe's railway network was built during the colonial era and carried up to 12 million tonnes of freight annually in the 1990s. However, decades of underinvestment, equipment obsolescence, and foreign exchange shortages have caused the railway infrastructure to deteriorate continuously. Current annual freight volume has fallen to less than 3 million tonnes – only 15% of its historical peak. Many lines are overgrown with weeds, and a large number of locomotives and rolling stock have been taken out of service, directly weakening the capacity to transport bulk commodities such as lithium, chrome ore, and coal to the ports of Mozambique and South Africa. Consequently, Chinese mining enterprises operating in Zimbabwe – including Tsingshan Holding Group, Sinosteel Corporation, and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt – all face export bottlenecks for their products. The decline of the railway system has forced a large volume of freight onto roads, leading to a surge in heavy trucks, which in turn exacerbates road congestion, traffic accidents, and pavement damage, forming a vicious cycle. In response, the National Railways of Zimbabwe has incorporated this railway rehabilitation into a broader modernisation framework and has engaged in cooperation with 11 private enterprises. Among them, South Africa's Grindrod, through its subsidiary Beitbridge‑Bulawayo Railway Company, has already deployed three locomotives and 150 freight wagons to alleviate current transport pressures. At the same time, Zimbabwe is exploring collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe to leverage the university's innovation centre for localised railway technology R&D and talent training, building capacity for long‑term operations. Analysts point out that if this railway rehabilitation is successfully implemented, it will not only fully restore Zimbabwe's deteriorated railway network, but also provide critical logistics support for the country's US$12 billion mining target, while further deepening the strategic presence of Chinese enterprises in Zimbabwe's mining and infrastructure sectors. According to market dynamics, in recent years – and especially since the beginning of this year – lithium ore shipments from Zimbabwe have been persistently delayed at ports, with insufficient inland transport capacity being one of the main bottlenecks hindering smooth cargo arrivals. As the relevant logistics system upgrades are put into effect, this situation is expected to be significantly alleviated, and the transport efficiency of lithium materials will be notably improved, thereby injecting solid momentum into the stabilisation of global lithium supply. Sources: Mining.com , Azure Track Rail, and SMM

Toyota Motor's global sales declined for the fourth consecutive month in May, weighed down by business disruptions in the Middle East and intense competition in the Chinese market. The Japanese automaker said on Monday that worldwide sales fell 7.4% year‑on‑year to 885,207 units in May, including those of its subsidiary Daihatsu. Global production also dropped 5.8% to 857,765 vehicles.

On June 29, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. (CSTC), named and delivered the first 10,800-vehicle dual-fuel car carrier built for Seaspan Corporation. The vessel is of the same design as “Glovis Pioneer,” the world’s first 10,800-vehicle pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), previously built and delivered by GSI for South Korea’s HMM. After delivery, the vessel will be leased to South Korea’s GLOVIS, Hyundai Glovis, for operation, serving automobile trade routes between Asia, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

[SMM Flash] CCTV News: The world's first and largest single-unit capacity tension leg floating wind power platform, "Haiyou Anlan", departed from Zhuhai Gaolan Port on June 27, heading to the sea area of the Lufeng Oilfields in eastern Guangdong. The platform has a total height of over 307 meters and a total weight of nearly 8,000 mt. After operation, it will generate an annual average of 54 million kWh, reduce carbon emissions by about 35,000 mt, and save approximately 15,000 m³ of fuel oil, marking China's transition of deep-sea floating wind power from demonstration to scale and commercialization, and pioneering a new path for collaborative carbon reduction with "deep-sea wind power + oilfield development".