As the NEV market develops, Malaysia is accelerating the establishment of a power battery recycling system. MARii estimates that by 2050, the country will need to recycle or dispose of 870,000 EV batteries. Currently, Malaysia has established a relevant regulatory framework and introduced the first EV battery passport standard in ASEAN (MS 2818). Meanwhile, Econili Battery New Energy has completed construction of a 24,000 mt/year power battery recycling project and plans to further expand its recycling capacity.

Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology, stated at the International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicle Conference: "By the end of 2025, cumulative sales of fuel cell vehicles in China reached 39,000 units, and over 590 hydrogen refueling stations are now in operation across the country. The cost of fuel cell systems has dropped significantly, from the previous 15,000 yuan/kW to 3,000 yuan/kW, while system power density has increased from 250 watts/kg to 750 watts/kg," Wan noted.

【SMM Steel】On June 9 2026, Vallourec and Ultra Corpotech Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy VAM threading capabilities near Mumbai, India. A dedicated threading cell is scheduled for implementation in late 2026 with commissioning in early 2027, aiming to provide premium thread protection and related services for the Indian oilfield services sector. The asset-light cooperation allows both parties to respond quickly to regional demand with minimal capital footprint. Vallourec will license its VAM threading and inspection technology along with quality control system support. The agreement reflects a strategic shift for Vallourec as the company expands access to its premium connection technology through local partners in Asia, following similar agreements with Vietnam Process Equipment and Technology Joint Stock Company in March 2025 and Saudi Arabia's Industrial Investment Company in November 2025.

【SMM Steel】Vietnam's Trade Remedies Authority has validated a complete application from local manufacturers seeking an anti-dumping investigation on prestressed steel bars imported from China. The petition aims to evaluate whether these imports cause material injury or impede the establishment of a domestic industry. The investigating authority has 45 days to review legal representation and injury evidence before making a final recommendation to the Minister of Industry and Trade on case initiation. Vietnam imposed AD duties of 9.79-28% on prestressed steel strand from Malaysia Thailand and China in January 2025 and initiated a first review on January 21 2026. A new probe on steel bars would expand Vietnam's trade remedy scope against Chinese steel products.

The US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission (USITC) have announced the full continuation of existing anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) imported from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. This extension follows a formal sunset review initiated on December 1, 2025, where the agencies determined that revoking the duties would directly lead to a recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a short-term timeframe. The existing duty rates, which include restrictive punitive customs margins varying by origin, will remain in force for an additional five-year period. The market impact outlines a prolonged protective environment for North American structural wire and long product manufacturers. By maintaining these strict trade friction barriers, the US continues to insulate its domestic construction supply chain from non-FTA competitive inflows, compelling global PC strand producers to redirect their surplus capacities to more accessible regional markets.

According to the Brazil Steel Institute (Aço Brasil), Brazil's finished steel trade deficit compressed sharply by 59.2% year-on-year during the first five months of 2026, dropping to 503,000 metric tons (mt) from 1.23 million mt in the same period of 2025. Cumulative finished steel imports for January-May 2026 fell by 21.6% year-on-year to 1.41 million mt, while domestic sales by Brazilian mills advanced by 6.7% year-on-year to 8.08 million mt, elevating total apparent domestic consumption to 9.07 million mt. Crude steel production for the period registered a 4.7% increase to 14.15 million mt, whereas total exports contracted slightly by 1.8% to 906,000 mt. The market impact highlights the immediate protective efficiency of Brazil’s newly deployed 25% tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system and anti-dumping measures. By successfully turning back low-priced import volumes, these trade blocks have redirected bulk procurement back to domestic mills, allowing local steelmakers to secure their home market share and stabilize regional pricing baselines despite challenging global demand headwinds.

Dongfeng’s new-generation solid-state battery (oxide-polymer composite) to start mass production in 2H 2026; demo vehicles logged >3.2 million km safely. Dongchi Energy’s semi-solid device shipped to Djibouti (offshore oil platform application). Aviation solid-state battery energy density exceeds 480Wh/kg, boosting eVTOL range by 65%+. Sun Xueliang’s team achieved low-cost Li₂S (cutting sulfide electrolyte cost by >86%) and Li-Te battery with 13,000+ cycles.

The 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference in 2025 was successfully held. At the conference, 10 new car models were unveiled, along with the Southeast Asia brand strategies of three automakers and SMM's Thailand domestic steel prices. It facilitated efficient negotiations between over 12 buyers and over 60 suppliers, initially establishing an exchange platform for the entire automotive industry chain in Southeast Asia. Currently, Southeast Asia's NEV industry has entered a critical development phase. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam have each made strategic moves and breakthroughs, while the industry also faces challenges such as supply chain restructuring, technology route competition, and localization compliance. Fortunately, with support from all parties, SMM's Thailand and Indonesia domestic price systems have been launched and adopted by core enterprises, establishing a credible cost benchmark for the industry. The 3rd conference in 2026 will focus on three core areas: exploring the sales potential of NEVs in Southeast Asia, bridging the last mile of the supply chain and integrating regional industrial resources, upgrading SMM's Southeast Asia metal quotations from price references to transaction benchmarks, and implementing the procurement application of electrification materials and establishing an actionable pricing system. We firmly believe that real progress comes from turning consensus into action. At this conference, cordially invites you to gather again in Bangkok to jointly transform strategic blueprints into market competitive advantages, to witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, and to create a brilliant new chapter together! Click the to register immediately. Booth No.: B06 Tianjin CIMC Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. is located in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. It mainly designs, develops and manufactures logistics equipment, trolleys, storage racks and special containers, etc. It currently has three production bases in Tianjin, Wuhu (Anhui) and Chuzhou (Anhui), and has obtained certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14000, IATF 16949, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management system standards. Since 2000, we have designed and manufactured various general-purpose pallets, boxes, racks and other line-side equipment as well as precise material racks for automakers in Japan, Europe and the United States, and China. We provide customized products and services based on customer needs, offering integrated logistics solutions for the automotive industry. The company has its own product R&D and design team, has cumulatively developed over 2,000 product categories, and ships 700,000 sets of products annually. Tianjin CIMC Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. is located in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. The company specializes in the design, development and manufacture of logistics containers, trolleys, storage racks and special containers. It currently operates three production bases in Tianjin, Wuhu (Anhui) and Chuzhou (Anhui), and has obtained certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management system standards. Since 2000, we have designed and manufactured general-purpose pallets, bins, racks, inline tooling and precision part racks for automotive manufacturers in Japan, Europe, the United States and domestic China. We provide customized products and services tailored to client requirements, and deliver comprehensive logistics solutions for the automotive industry. We have our in-house product R&D and design team, with more than 2,000 product varieties developed with an annual shipment volume of 700,000 sets. Contact Information Contact Lian Hao +86-13820657998（English） Wu Xiaoshan +86-15822677128（Japanese） Contact Us Zhang Jingjie zhangjingjie@smm.cn

Semi-Annual Review and Outlook: Capacity Expansion Continues to Suppress Prices, Non-oriented Struggles to Shake Off Downturn Shadow

Tang Eng Iron Works distributed approximately 159,000 tons of stainless steel products in 2025, down 13.1% YoY and falling short of its 216,000-ton budget target. Cold-rolled and hot-rolled output declined 14.9% YoY to around 159,000 tons, despite raw steel production rising 6.3% to 31,285 tons. The company attributed the declines to US tariffs, exchange rate fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, and oversupply from cheap Chinese steel exports. To improve performance, Tang Eng plans to stabilize core business profits, leverage land assets for non-operating income, and introduce sustainability programs tied to its core operations.