SMM 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.

SMM will launch two new price points for Indonesia 316L stainless steel, "Indonesia 316L/NO.1 Coil Mill Edge" and "Indonesia 316L/2B Coil Mill Edge," effective March 13, 2026.

Discontinuation of Iron Ore Data Points in the SMM Database

SMM is delisting 11 price points for various automotive steels, effective February 6, 2026, due to market changes.

Dear users, As the core raw material for the steel industry, the price fluctuations of iron ore directly determine the cost and profit stability of the steel industry chain. In recent years, the endowment of global iron ore resources has shown significant changes, with the proportion of high-grade ore production continuously declining. To actively respond to market changes, enhance the guiding significance of the index for the Spot Market, and improve market information transparency, SMM has decided to launch the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI)" and the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI)" from 5th January 2026. The specific price point details are as follows: Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: FOT Qingdao Port, VAT included. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: RMB/wet tonnes Quantity: min 5,000 tonnes Timing: within 1 week Payment Terms: Payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: CFR Qingdao Port. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: USD/dry tonnes Quantity: min 50,000 tonnes Timing: within 2 months Payment Terms: L/C or payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time SMM Iron Ore Research January 5, 2026

Dear User, During the development of the automotive steel market, changes have occurred in some mainstream brands, materials, and specifications. As a result, certain prices in the SMM Automotive Section currently deviate from the actual market situation. SMM has decided to discontinue the price points for certain materials/specifications of alloy structural steel, spring steel, cold heading steel, carbon round steel, and mold steel, effective from February 13, 2026. Customers who use the relevant prices for settlement should pay attention to the time period and adjust their price usage promptly to avoid any impact on your business due to the discontinuation of these price updates. A total of 10 price points are being discontinued, with details as follows: Spring Steel 65Mn Φ6.5-20 (Nationwide) Cold Heading Steel 35K Φ6.5-20 (Nationwide) Alloy Structural Steel 20CrMo Φ16-200 (Nationwide) Alloy Structural Steel 35CrMo Φ16-200 (Nationwide) Alloy Structural Steel 40MnBH Φ29-250 (Nationwide) Carbon Round Steel 45# Φ16-18 (Nationwide) Carbon Round Steel 45# Φ131-180 (Nationwide) Mold Steel 1.2311 21-120*1800-2200 (Nationwide) Mold Steel 4Cr13 Φ20-130 (Nationwide) Mold Steel W6Mo5Cr4V2Co5/M35 Φ20-80 (Nationwide) https://car.smm.cn/price Recommended new prices for use are as follows: Specialty Wire Rod: https://car.smm.cn/price?type_id=19&item_id=115&goods_id=0 Specialty Bar: https://car.smm.cn/price?type_id=19&item_id=114&goods_id=0 Mold Steel: https://car.smm.cn/price?type_id=19&item_id=117&goods_id=0

In recent years, with the steady development of Malaysia's manufacturing and stainless steel processing industries, the local stainless steel scrap recycling system has become increasingly mature. The number of recyclers, sorting facilities, and reprocessing enterprises has grown significantly, and the proportion of locally recycled scrap in the circular economy continues to rise, providing strong support for regional stainless steel raw material supply. Meanwhile, Malaysia has become one of the main sources of stainless steel scrap imported by India. According to trade statistics, Malaysia exported approximately 107,000 tons of stainless steel scrap to India in 2024, reflecting strong linkage between the two countries in raw material recycling. Large domestic recycling and processing enterprises possess advanced sorting and reprocessing capabilities, enabling them to classify and process regional scrap and steadily supply high-quality materials to major Asian stainless steel producers in Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere. Against the backdrop of a diversified regional raw material structure and growing value of recycled resources, Malaysia's domestic ex-works stainless steel scrap prices have become an important reference indicator for the Southeast Asian stainless steel industry. To meet market demand, enhance price transparency, and help industry participants stay informed of regional price trends, SMM announces that effective October 30, 2025 , it will officially launch: Malaysia 304 SS Scrap,Ex-works Malaysia,USD/tonne Price specifications: Description: Malaysia 304 SS Scrap,Ex-works Malaysia,USD/tonne Quality: Commercial practice standard. Approx. Ni 8%, Cr 18%, non-magnetic, clean scrap, free from oil, coating, and visible impurities. No radioactive or hazardous waste. Definition: Ex-works Malaysia Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Minimum 10 tonnes Timing: Prompt Publication: 11:30 a.m. Kuala Lumpur time Payment Terms: Cash on same day，other payment terms normalized SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department October 29, 2025

In recent years, Indonesia has solidified its position as a global supply and export hub for the stainless steel industry. With the continuous upgrade of local production capabilities, the export volume of 304L series stainless steel has seen significant growth. Due to its superior intergranular corrosion resistance and weldability, 304L is increasingly demanded in the chemical, energy, and high-end manufacturing sectors across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. To better reflect the supply-demand fundamentals of the low-carbon stainless steel market and to provide global traders and downstream users with more precise settlement references and risk management tools, SMM has decided to expand its overseas price assessment portfolio. Effective December 26, 2025 , SMM will officially launch the following two new price points: "304L/NO.1 Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt" and "304L/2B Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt" . The details of the new price points are as follows: 1. Product Name: 304L/NO.1 Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt Quality: Standard thickness 4mm, thickness range 4.0-8.0mm, width 1520mm, Mill Edge, conforming to ASTM A480/A480M. Brand Listing: ITSS, GCNS, OSS Definition: FOB Indonesia main ports Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Min 20 tonnes Timing: 1-3 Months Publication Time: Daily, by 11:00 am Jakarta Time (Working Days) Payment Terms: L/C / TT at sight in USD, or other payments normalized. 2. Product Name: 304L/2B Coil-ME, FOB Indonesia, USD/mt Quality: Standard thickness 2mm, thickness range 1.5-2.0mm, width 1240mm, Mill Edge, conforming to ASTM A480/A480M. Brand Listing: Yongwang, Ruipu, IMR ARC Steel Definition: FOB Indonesia main ports Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Min 20 tonnes Timing: 1-3 Months Publication Time: Daily, by 11:00 am Jakarta Time (Working Days) Payment Terms: L/C / TT at sight in USD, or other payments normalized. For any inquiries, please contact the SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department. SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department December 18, 2025

Dear Industry Peers, Hello! Electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) is a key raw material for manufacturing products such as stainless steel, specialty alloys, and battery materials. Europe, as a major global hub for stainless steel production, high-end manufacturing, and the new energy industry, is also one of the core consumer markets for EMM. Its price dynamics significantly influence the global market structure and pricing. Based on Rotterdam’s status as Europe’s largest port, which aggregates raw materials from major production regions worldwide and facilitates the circulation of spot cargo within the region, it has developed a mature storage, logistics, and trading network. The prices there accurately reflect the arrival costs in the European market, the supply-demand balance, and regional premiums, providing market participants with a critical benchmark for price reference. To proactively address market shifts, meet the ​​pressing need for price discovery​​ of Rotterdam warehouse electrolytic manganese metal, and enhance market transparency, SMM has decided: Commencing December 23, 2025, SMM will officially launch a new price: SMM Electrolytic Manganese Metal, in-whs Rotterdam, USD/mt Details of this price point are as follows: Description:SMM Electrolytic Manganese Metal, in-whs Rotterdam, USD/mt Quality:Mn99.7% Quantity:Minimum 25 tonnes Definition: In-warehouse Rotterdam,duty-unpaid, customs uncleared Brand Listing:Tianyuan Manganese Industry, CITIC Dameng, Wuling Manganese Industry,etc Timing:1Months Unit:USD/mt Payment Terms:Cash, other payment terms normalized Pulication:Daily, by 11am Beijing Time (i.e., before 4:00 AM London Summer Time before 3:00 AM London Winter Time) SMM Nickel Industry Research Departmen December 16, 2025

SMM Clarification Statement SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SMM" or "the Company"), as a professional spot market price reporting agency and information provider, has recently noticed the circulation of false information regarding the fairness of SMM's price assessment. To avoid market misunderstandings, maintain a healthy and transparent market environment, and protect the Company's legitimate rights and interests, SMM hereby makes the following solemn clarification and statement: I. The Difference Between Spot Prices and Futures Prices is a Normal Reflection of Market Mechanisms According to basic economic principles, spot prices reflect the immediate supply-demand relationship and deliverable transaction conditions of the underlying asset, while futures prices reflect market expectations for future supply and demand, including factors such as capital cost and carrying costs. Both follow the principle of "convergence at maturity," meaning that futures prices gradually converge towards spot prices as the contract expiration date approaches. Therefore, during the life of the contract, the difference between spot prices and futures prices, especially with far-month contracts, is a normal phenomenon under the market pricing mechanism. II. Historical Data Proves the Rationality of the Price Spread Structure To objectively present the facts, SMM has made a price spread analysis chart based on publicly available market data: The chart clearly shows that from September 2023 to 2025, the monthly price spread between the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate average price and the GFEX lithium carbonate futures contract prices fluctuated between positive and negative territory, always remaining within a reasonable range, and exhibited a significant convergence trend as the contract expiration date approached. This fully aligns with the market rule of futures and spot price convergence. Comparing a certain periods' futures prices (especially those of far-month most-traded contracts) with spot assessment prices and concluding that there is a "consistent significant deviation" is fundamentally flawed in methodology and can easily mislead market judgment. Any behavior that selectively highlights short-term trends in the price spread without considering the broader context is partial and irresponsible, failing to reflect the overall market situation. III. Recent Market Risk Control Measures Recently, to maintain the stable operation of the lithium carbonate futures market and prevent potential risks, the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, in accordance with its risk management rules, issued multiple notifications consecutively between November and December 2025, implementing a series of risk control measures for relevant contracts, including adjustments to transaction fee standards and trading limits. These measures represent the exchange's commitment to fulfill its self-regulatory duties in accordance with the law during specific market periods, aiming to promote the steady development of the market. IV. The Emergence, Nature, and Harm of False Information It is noteworthy that during this sensitive period, when the aforementioned risk control measures were being intensively implemented, a significant amount of false information began circulating on the Internet. While such information varies in content, it shares an identical core narrative: False claims have been made that SMM’s prices "consistently and significantly deviate from fair value and futures prices" and that "there are illegal benefit-related connections with certain institutions". These claims are entirely groundless. The timing and manner of their dissemination indicate that their purpose is not professional discussion but rather an attempt to exert improper pressure on SMM by confusing the price logic of spot and futures markets, interfere with the neutrality of spot price assessments, and consequently potentially mislead market expectations and disrupt the normal relationship between futures and spot prices. SMM hereby solemnly declares that SMM is always committed to price discovery in the spot market, does not participate in any futures market trading operations, and resolutely maintains market order. V. The Compliance, Neutrality, and Supervision Mechanisms of SMM's Price Assessment As a professional market price assessment agency, SMM always adheres to the principles of neutrality, objectivity, and fairness. SMM's price assessment methodology strictly follows the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) "Principles for Financial Benchmarks" and is subject to audits by independent third-party audit firms. In terms of internal governance, SMM has established a comprehensive firewall system to ensure that personnel and management involved in the price assessment process do not hold any related futures or spot positions, thereby eliminating conflicts of interest at an institutional level. SMM also has no history of any penalties from securities regulatory authorities for violations. We consistently maintain an open attitude towards market supervision based on facts. VI. Appeal to the Public SMM strongly condemns the recent malicious fabrication and dissemination of false information in the market, which damages SMM's commercial reputation and attempts to disrupt the order of the futures and spot markets, and has initiated legal proceedings to protect its rights. Currently, SMM is comprehensively and continuously collecting and preserving evidence related to the infringements. For suspected infringing acts, the Company will take all legal measures, including but not limited to reporting to relevant regulatory authorities and filing complaints with relevant online platforms, to resolutely pursue the legal liability of the infringing parties. SMM reserves the right to pursue all legal consequences against the relevant responsible parties. We once again call on all market participants to enhance their legal awareness and professional discernment capabilities, obtain information from authoritative channels, analyze the market rationally, resolutely resist and refuse to spread any unverified and unfounded rumors, and jointly maintain a fair, orderly, and healthy development environment for the industry chain. SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Dec 26, 2025