From June 3 to June 5, the Indonesia Critical Minerals 2026 was held at the Pullman Jakarta Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia. The conference was organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) and co-organized by the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia , the National Economic Council of Indonesia , and MMR , in a strategic partnership with the Jakarta Futures Exchange . The conference featured six dedicated forums: the main forum, the nickel and cobalt forum, the tin forum, the coal & energy transition forum, the aluminum forum, and dedicated sub-forums, attracting more than 3,500+ attendees from 45 countries and regions worldwide, featuring more than 150+ speakers sharing insights on market prices, supply-demand patterns, industry policies, low-carbon development, and ESG development, etc. Conference Background In the process of global industrial upgrading, the strategic value of critical metals has become increasingly prominent, and Southeast Asia has gradually emerged as a highly dynamic segment of the global mining landscape. As a major regional mineral producer, Indonesia has successively introduced multiple industrial policies for critical metals such as nickel, tin, aluminum, and copper, adjusting and optimizing areas including mining quotas, pricing mechanisms, tax policies, export management, and domestic market obligation over recent years. These efforts are guided by the goals of strengthening the regulatory framework, enhancing industrial added value, and optimizing resource revenues, and have had a significant impact on the global metal supply chain and market dynamics. As Indonesia’s premier flagship event for the mineral industry, this conference focuses on supply chain security of critical minerals including nickel, cobalt and tin, and adopts a dual-driven model of mining and energy. It commits to promoting Indonesia’s industrial upgrading from raw material export to high-value industrial chain development, while providing solid resource support and practical cooperation paradigms for regional and global energy transition. 》Click to view the photo gallery of the conference June 3: Main Forum Opening Ceremony Adam Fan, Chairman, Shanghai Metals Market Nanan Soekarna, Chairman, APNI Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) Sherly Tjoanda, Governor of North Maluku, North Maluku Government Todotua Pasaribu, Vice Minister, Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry of Indonesia Drum Performance & Dance Show Opening Address Speaker: Adam Fan, Chairman of SMM Adam stated that this year marks the 4th year of the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference. This flagship industry event is dedicated to building a global platform connecting Indonesia with the world. Empowering mineral resources through technology, the conference links producers and consumers to facilitate industrial chain and business cooperation. Boasting a record-high attendance, this year’s event gathers 3,500+ participants and 150+ speakers. The growing participation of global countries, enterprises and industry professionals demonstrates rising international trust and confidence in Indonesia’s critical mineral ecosystem. As cross-border collaboration is essential for building a robust global critical minerals supply chain, the conference strives to enhance supply chain transparency, interconnectivity and in-depth global industrial cooperation by bringing together industry insights and resources. Speaker: Nanan Soekarna, Chairman of APNI Nanan Soekarna stated in his remarks that the 4th Indonesia Critical Minerals was the largest to date in terms of attendance, demonstrating the global industry’s full confidence in Indonesia’s minerals industry, cross-border cooperation models, and Indonesia’s roadmap for sustainable mining development, and he extended his sincere gratitude to all participating partners. He noted that the core of development in the critical minerals sector has shifted from a simple contest of resources and capacity to the transformation of the sustainable value of natural resources, balancing diverse economic, social, and environmental benefits. By deepening downstream industry chain expansion, Indonesia aims both to enhance industrial value-added and to strengthen Indonesia's industrial positioning international and credibility in the global market. In the future, the core of global mining competition will not lie in resource reserves, but in transparent, responsible, and sustainable resource governance capabilities. Relying on global partners, Indonesia will uphold the philosophy of sustainable mining development and, through high-quality cooperation and shared value principles, work together to build the future of the critical minerals industry that balances ecology, benefits, and long-term development. Speaker: Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno mentioned that critical minerals are increasingly becoming a focal point of global geopolitical competition, with elements such as energy, minerals, and trade and economic rules being instrumentalized from time to time. Leveraging its domestic resource endowments, Indonesia is vigorously advancing downstream deep processing of minerals; this strategy is not limited to industrial upgrading, but is also a comprehensive development initiative that boosts employment, consolidates science and technology innovation capabilities, enhances industry chain resilience, and delivers inclusive gains from green development. In response to procurement demands from multiple parties, Indonesia adheres to a diversified cooperation approach by expanding a diverse range of procurement partners and promoting deeper participation by resource countries in technology R&D and industry chain value-added, thereby avoiding the risks of dependence on a single partnership. He also noted that for the future governance of critical minerals, ESG should truly become a competitive advantage for enterprises rather than a trade barrier, with its original purpose being to optimize environmental management, improve social responsibility, and empower enterprises to enhance quality and efficiency. In the face of a new round of industrial transformation, critical minerals serve as the core raw materials for energy transition, the digital economy, and the development of high-tech industries. Based on its resource endowment, Indonesia is determined to transform from a mineral resource producer into a reliable partner in the global industry chain and a co-builder of industry rules. It invites global investors, industry chain producers, and resource-producing countries to join hands, uphold the spirit of partnership, reject unreasonable additional conditions, and jointly build a new global pattern for critical minerals that is inclusive and universally beneficial. Keynote Speech: Investing in Critical Minerals Downstreaming: Unlocking the Full Value of Indonesia's Resources Guest Speaker: Todotua Pasaribu, Vice Minister, Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry of Indonesia Todotua Pasaribu stated that against the backdrop of climbing global demand for critical minerals and concentrated resource origins, the strategic attributes of this category continue to stand out. Indonesia, leveraging its resource endowment, vigorously promotes the downstream transformation of the entire industry chain, which is a core national policy to boost the economy and optimize supply chain structures. Under the president's policy deployment, Indonesia has designated mineral deep processing as a pillar of industrial upgrading. The authorities have delineated 28 categories of strategic minerals across eight major sectors and estimated potential investment in related tracks at approximately $618 billion, which is expected to create 3 million new jobs annually upon implementation. The country has set investment attraction targets from 2024 to 2029, accompanied by annual implementation plans. The 2026 target is clear, and investment implementation progress in the first quarter has been steady. In recent years, downstream industry investment has accounted for nearly 30% of national fixed asset investment, becoming a key driver to boost the economy and helping the country sprint toward the 8% economic growth target by 2029. He further explained that Indonesia has already established downstream layouts in multiple critical mineral tracks, including nickel, tin, aluminum, copper, PV raw materials, and semiconductor raw materials. The nickel industry has extended from stainless steel production to the entire power battery industry chain, while the tin, aluminum, and copper sectors continue to expand into deep processing, electronic materials, and other high-value-added categories, synchronously deploying supporting industry chains for PV and semiconductors. To solidify the conditions for industrial implementation, Indonesia has optimized the business environment in three aspects: accelerating approval processes, providing infrastructure support, and offering policy incentives. It has shortened project approval cycles, improved supporting facilities for hydropower, ports, and transportation, and implemented supportive measures such as tax reductions and tariff preferences, continuously attracting global capital and technological cooperation. This drives the country's transformation from a raw material exporter to a high-value-added product manufacturer, relying on multi-party collaboration to convert local mineral resources into sustainable industrial benefits. Guest Speaker: Ciyong Zou, Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) Zou Ciyong said global demand for critical minerals continues to rise along with the rapid development of clean energy and digital industries, and the role of resource countries in ensuring stable mineral supply is becoming increasingly critical. Indonesia's transformation path from raw material extraction to deep processing can provide reference for resource countries in the Global South. Currently, mining development still faces multiple challenges such as environmental protection, carbon emissions, and livelihood supporting facilities. Sustainable development has become an imperative for the industry, which needs to balance economic benefits, green development and social inclusion. Leveraging its multilateral platform advantages, UNIDO empowers its member states in multiple dimensions, including industrial policy, technology transfer, investment and financing, and capacity building, promotes the establishment of a Global Green Mining Cooperation Alliance, and has implemented a demonstration project of the Indonesia Nickel Industry Eco-Industrial Park, using the project as a model to explore a sustainable development path for global mining. He pointed out that the long-term development of the critical minerals industry cannot be separated from in-depth international cooperation, and it is necessary to establish transparent public-private partnerships, build resilient supply chains, and uniformly implement common industry standards. Indonesia intends to join forces with partners from all sectors to tap the development potential of the industry, while insisting on placing environmental protection and sustainability at the forefront of industrial development. In the future, UNIDO will continue to engage with governments, industries and capital from multiple parties, working together to achieve coordinated economic, social and environmental benefits from mineral resources. Keynote Speeches Keynote Speech: Beyond Volume: How North Maluku Can Lead Indonesia’s Next Phase of Sustainable Downstream Growth? Guest Speaker: Sherly Tjoanda, Governor of North Maluku Province Sherly Tjoanda elaborated on how North Maluku can lead Indonesia's next phase of sustainable downstream development from the perspectives of geographical location, transportation advantages, skilled talent reserves, and the fact that North Maluku's nickel ore is high-grade ore. Keynote Speech: Two Decades of Critical Minerals: 2016-2036 - How Supply Structures Shape Market Dynamics Guest Speaker: Shirley Wang, VP, Shanghai Metals Market The Rule —Why resource-rich nations must process, not just mine A 1931 Question: Mine Today, or Wait? Hotelling gave mining a theoretical anchor. It was elegant — and incomplete. A rational resource-based country should ensure the rate of price increase is exactly equal to the return on investment (Interest rate) Four Reasons the Real World Departs from the Formula Substitution, policy shifts, demand surprises, and costs — each bends the expected path The Quiet Force Behind All of This Ore grades decline everywhere. Building downstream is not ambition. It is adaptation. Shirley analyzed this by comparing ore grades for nickel, tin, copper, alumina, and others for the years 2016, 2026, and 2036. ► Strategic Insight: Why Low-Grade Ore Is Changing the Rules • Continuously declining grades are forcing industrial upgrading and iteration. Deteriorating raw ore quality is driving mines and smelters to optimize production, increasing the utilization of low-grade ore, the application of new processes, and the recycling of secondary resources. • Pricing power is gradually shifting from trading markets to resource-rich governments. As high-grade mineral deposits are depleted, the impact of short-term supply and demand on prices weakens, and the pace at which resource-rich nations release supply becomes the core variable. Industry Mainline: Commonalities in Two Decades of Development Across Five Metals Nickel: Where One Country Anchors the Market Indonesia influences marginal incremental nickel supply, and the commissioning pace of its domestic industry dominates global nickel price movements. The analysis incorporated the global distribution of nickel mine capacity. Cost Structures Are Moving Apart RKEF costs face the steepest climb. Scale mattered yesterday. Cost discipline matters tomorrow. The Ore Base Is Quietly Shifting Looking at changes in the global nickel production cost structure, the primary low-cost raw material was high-grade primary nickel ore before 2015. From 2016 to 2026, the share of low-grade ore and laterite nickel ore mining has been climbing steadily. Currently, laterite nickel ore stands as the most cost-competitive raw material. As laterite nickel ore grades decline, future nickel production based on sulphide ore may increase. Keynote Speech: Indonesia's Green Nickel: From Us To The Next Generation Guest Speaker: Joseph Hong, President Commissioner, Neo Energy Keynote Speech: AI is NOT optional! Guest Speaker: Adam Fan, Chairman of SMM Adam noted that AI has become an essential requirement for the digital upgrade of the commodity industry. Leveraging a new AI technology system, SMM integrates macro and micro data, market intelligence, and industrial information through full-process intelligent processing, and with human-machine collaboration automatically generates in-depth industry reports — surpassing traditional manual approaches comprehensively in terms of timeliness, coverage, personalization, and depth of analysis. SMM has now deployed a mature industry AI solution: leveraging SMM’s massive database and customized AI capabilities, enterprises can enable intelligent inquiries, interactive reviews, and dynamic strategy simulations, accurately serving transaction analysis, production planning, and inventory strategies for non-ferrous metals such as cobalt, nickel, and copper. SMM AI Data Services offer a three-tier progressive intelligent solution for the metals industry: Instant Inquiry → Xiao Jin (Metrix): access real-time price trends and market insights, with data sourced from a premium subscription-grade database and insights calibrated by senior analysts; In-depth Research → Deep Report: a chapter-by-chapter analysis by product and region, featuring traceable charts and citations, and continuously updated as market conditions evolve; System Integration → MCP Data Services: covering over 200,000 real-time data indicators and more than 60 products across the entire industry chain, a single integration embeds the service into the enterprise AI framework. Keynote Speech: Indonesia's Post-Election Economy: Can the Country Sustain 5–6% Growth Amid Fiscal Pressures, Weak Export Prices and Heavy Industrial Power Subsidies? Speaker: Andre Simangunsong, Head of Mandiri Institute, Office of Chief Economist, Bank Mandiri Andre Simangunsong said Indonesia’s GDP grew by 5.6% in Q1 2026, with a full-year baseline forecast of 5.2%. The strong Q1 growth was primarily driven by a low base effect from delayed fiscal spending in 2025 and the front-loading of this year’s fiscal disbursements. The full year faces uncertainties from rising crude oil prices, geopolitical fluctuations, and a widening fiscal deficit. The 2026 fiscal budget is approximately IDR 2,000 trillion, focusing on eight key areas such as education and food security; 19 major industrial projects have already commenced, with nickel smelting and industry chain parks accelerating establishment, propelling the mineral sector’s transformation from raw resource exports to high-value-added deep processing. Indonesia has revised nickel ore royalty rules, introducing progressive royalty rates, promoting the upgrade of nickel products from nickel pig iron (NPI) to MHP and nickel sulphate, and laying out hydrometallurgical processing for low-grade ores; the outlook for the tin industry is positive. The banking sector’s loan-to-deposit ratio remains stable at 85%, and Bank Mandiri is advancing digital transformation and ESG-compliant lending to empower downstream industry projects. By combining industrial, fiscal, and financial strengths, Indonesia is expected to maintain a growth range of 5%–6% in the medium and long term. CXO Panel: Senior Executives' Roadmaps to Overcome Resource, Cost, Technology & ESG Challenges Moderator: Laksmi Kusumawati, Director of Downstream Planning and International Economic Cooperation, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Panelists: Bernardus Irmanto, President Director, PT Vale Indonesia Alex Sun, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, Integrated Energy Service and Carbon Management, Envision Group Marvin R. Reinhart, Portfolio Management Department Head, Indonesia Battery Corporation Ilhamsyah Mahendra, Production & Commercial Director, PT Timah Tbk Keynote Speech: Breaking the Diesel Dependency: Reliable, Affordable Energy for Island Mines Speaker: Mr. Fred Ge, C&I BESS Technical Solution Manager in Asia-Pacific, Sungrow Panel Discussion: The "Green Premium" Myth vs. Reality: Who Will Pay for Decarbonization in the Critical Minerals Supply Chain? Moderator： MARCO KAMIYA， UNIDO Representative, Regional Office in Jakarta for Indonesia, Timor Leste and the Philippines UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) Panelists: Ary Sudijanto, Deputy for Climate Change Control and Carbon Economic Value Governance, Ministry of Environment, Government of Indonesia Antti Koulumies, CEO, Terrafame Anna Stancher, Senior Project Manager, Responsible Minerals Initiative Yumo Li, Head of ESG Office in Tsingshan Board, Tsingshan Holding Group Lihui Sun, Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, Huayou Cobalt From June 3 to June 5, Indonesia Critical Minerals 2026 was held at the Pullman Jakarta Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia. The conference was organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) and co-organized by the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia , the National Economic Council of Indonesia , and MMR , in a strategic partnership with the Jakarta Futures Exchange . The conference featured six dedicated forums: the main forum, the nickel and cobalt forum, the tin forum, the coal & energy transition forum, the aluminum forum, and dedicated sub-forums, attracting 3,500+ attendees from 45 countries and regions worldwide, featuring more than 120+ speakers sharing insights on market prices, supply-demand patterns, industry policies, low-carbon development, and ESG development, etc. Additionally, SMM has also meticulously arranged two rounds of panel discussions: Senior Executives' Roadmaps to Overcome Resource, Cost, Technology & ESG Challenges The "Green Premium" Myth vs. Reality: Who Will Pay for Decarbonization in the Critical Minerals Supply Chain? Conference Background In recent years, global nickel and cobalt raw material supply has frequently encountered various disruptions: Indonesia significantly lowered its nickel ore mining quota to 260–270 million mt, tightening nickel resource release at the source; the DRC continuously reduced cobalt ore export quotas, leading to a marked contraction in tradable cobalt raw materials worldwide. Multiple supply variables continued to roil nickel and cobalt commodity futures. Meanwhile, Indonesia is not only the core hub of the global nickel industry chain but also a key production area for global new cobalt supply at this stage. Its industrial control policies, commissioning pace of capacity, and industry chain layout changes directly shape the evolution of the global nickel-cobalt supply-demand pattern. Currently, the global nickel and cobalt industry is at a critical development stage featuring supply-demand restructuring, policy innovation, and value reassessment. To accurately forecast the nickel and cobalt market trends in 2026, deeply analyze the latest industrial control details in Indonesia, and help upstream and downstream players across the industry chain break down collaboration barriers, the Nickel and Cobalt Forum was launched. The forum brought together global mines, smelters, trading firms, downstream end-users, and investment and financing institutions to conduct in-depth discussions on key topics such as market supply and demand trends, policies and regulations, production technology iteration, and cross-border industrial cooperation, jointly exploring new growth drivers for high-quality industry development. Ni & Co Forum Keynote Speech: Mining Regulatory Outlook: RKAB Quota Planning and Indonesia's Next-Phase Downstream Mineral Expansion Path Guest Speaker: Totoh Abdul Fatah, Secretary General of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Totoh Abdul Fatah noted that RKAB is the key policy instrument for Indonesia to regulate mineral output, coordinate the orderly rollout of industries, and align with the nation's downstream industrialization priorities. Indonesia is endowed with exceptional mineral and coal resources, with significant reserves and capacity in several key strategic commodities including nickel, cobalt, copper, tin, bauxite, gold and silver, and iron ore. Leveraging these unique resource advantages, Indonesia holds a critical strategic position in the global mineral supply chain, and its value is especially prominent in the energy transition wave, providing strong support for the development of power batteries, renewable energy equipment, and high-end manufacturing. The next phase of downstream mineral development is not about curbing growth, but about improving development quality, clarifying development direction, strengthening regulatory management, and reinforcing the sustainability of growth. Future smelter layout must match ore supply capability, be aligned with resource conservation, and coordinate multiple factors including energy infrastructure readiness, environmental protection access standards, and domestic industry value addition. In light of these considerations, the Indonesian government is promoting an industrial logic shift from pure capacity expansion to strategic optimization of resource allocation, ensuring that mineral resources are precisely directed to industry segments that can maximize national economic benefits. Indonesia's downstream mineral industrialization has made concrete progress. Currently, 14 smelters are in operation, primarily producing products such as nickel oxide, pig iron, and copper cathode. Covering both existing operating plants and new projects under construction, the entire industry chain has attracted a total realized investment of $7.849 billion. Breakdown: nickel sector investment of $2.535 billion, aluminum sector $2.181 billion, iron ore projects $47 million, and copper sector $3.084 billion. This is continuously improving the supporting system of the domestic mineral industry chain. This progress demonstrates that Indonesia's downstream mineral policy has achieved tangible results. However, challenges remain for the industry: not only must new smelting projects be completed and commissioned on schedule, but they also require stable supporting supply to achieve efficient operations, green and low-carbon production, and deep integration into the domestic industry chain value system. Indonesia's development direction is very clear: the downstream transformation of minerals will continue to advance, and during the implementation process, policy enforcement constraints and top-level strategic guidance will be further strengthened. The RKAB management system and ore source allocation control rules are key to building a robust and more resilient industrial ecosystem. Future smelting project planning needs to coordinate four key dimensions: sustainable resource development, supply-demand market equilibrium, ESG compliance implementation, and enhancement of national value added. Indonesia has always been open to quality investment, especially high-quality investment, relying on foreign capital to achieve technology transfer and localization, expand local employment, and support long-term economic growth. In other words, Indonesia's industrial development not only pursues growth, but is committed to achieving high-quality growth that is compliant, sustainable, and globally competitive. Keynote Speech: Nickel at a Crossroads：A Five-Year Outlook on Global Nickel — Navigating Policy, Supply, and Demand Shifts Speaker: Thomas Feng, Head of Industry Research, Shanghai Metals Market Feng projects that the global primary nickel market will show a supply deficit in 2026, continue the oversupply trend in 2027, and shift to a tight balance in 2029. Regarding refined nickel prices, on the cost side, global sulfur supply and demand will face a persistent deficit in the next 2–3 years. In the case of short-term strait blockades, sulfur prices remain high, strengthening the cost support for the sulfur-MHP-refined nickel chain. From a macro perspective, the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has triggered wild swings in energy prices, pushing up inflation expectations. In the short term, global commodity prices will face considerable fluctuations. In the long term, global geopolitical uncertainty may become the new normal in the future, increasing the volatility of refined nickel prices. Nickel Ore Upstream Repricing: Indonesia's Benchmark Price Raise, Quota Tightening, and Increased Dependence on the Philippines Indonesia Nickel Ore RKAB Quotas: Tight Balance Emerges as the 2026 Main Theme According to SMM analysis, following the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' (ESDM) official denial of market rumors that RKAB production quotas would be raised across the board by 25%–30%, the government will handle supplementary quotas under strict case-by-case reviews starting from H2 2026, evaluating each miner's compliance, capacity, and resource reserves. At its core, this constitutes a routine and orderly optimisation of the existing 260–270 million wmt quota cap, paving the way for a more stable and sustainable market environment. Supply RKAB Approval Progress: As of April, Indonesia's cumulative approved RKAB quotas stand at 240 million wmt. SMM expects that, under expectations of continued nickel ore supply tightening, supplementary quotas around mid-year 2026 will be approximately 15%. Philippine Import Driver: SMM expects that this year, Indonesia's nickel ore imports from the Philippines will rise from approximately 15 million in 2025 to 22 million. Tightness in the domestic trade nickel ore supply will accelerate supplementation through imports from the Philippines. Demand Affected by the tight sulfur supply, MHP output has fallen short of earlier expectations. As a result, Indonesia's nickel ore demand for full-year 2026 is expected to be reduced to 303 million wmt. In 2026, actual nickel ore production will remain constrained by factors such as the rainy season and the pace of RKAB quota approvals, leaving overall output below theoretical supply levels. Panel Discussion: Upstream Opportunities & Challenges for Nickel Mine Owners Moderator: Enzo Brooklyn, Senior Nickel Analyst, SMM Panelists: Luca Maiotti, Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Aldo Namora, President Director, PT Ceria Metalindo Prima Jerome Baudelet, CEO, Eramet Indonesia Patrick Lim, Country Head, HyperStrong Indonesia Keynote Speech: Achieving Energy Efficiency and Operational Success: The MMD Approach at Mah Moe Speaker: Fuad Budidarma Pratama, General Manager, MMD Mining Machinery Indonesia Keynote Speech: Global Nickel Market Outlook Speaker: Ricardo Ferreira, Director of Market Research and Statistics, International Nickel Study Group (INSG) Ricardo Ferreira noted that global primary nickel production is estimated to have declined by approximately 4% YoY, measured across the full chain from raw ore mining to finished primary nickel products. Most of this decrease originated from Indonesia, while expectations also pointed to a pullback in Chinese nickel output. According to the monthly bulletin released earlier, global primary nickel already edged down by about 1% in Q1, with Indonesia down roughly 3% and China down about 1%. Keynote Speech: New Refining Technologies for Laterite Nickel and Spent Batteries Speaker: Dr. Chunwei Liu, Managing Director of Resource Extraction, Botree Recycling Technologies Distribution of Laterite Nickel Ore Resources Laterite nickel ore accounts for 55% of global nickel resources and is the main source of nickel for industrial production worldwide. With the continuous development and promotion of high-nickel batteries, market demand for nickel—and consequently for laterite nickel ore processing—has grown significantly. Geographic concentration: Mainly distributed in tropical countries within 30° north and south of the equator. Three core regions: Southeast Asia: Indonesia, the Philippines (major laterite nickel ore producing areas). Americas: Cuba, Brazil. Oceania: Australia, New Caledonia. Panel Discussion: Nickel Price Volatility, Product Spreads, and Policy Shifts: What Will Define the Market in the next 5 years? Moderator: Slupek Kamila, Secretary-General, INSG Panelists: Jim Lennon, Analyst, Macquarie Septian Hario Seto, Member, National Economic Council Republic of Indonesia Denis Sharypin, Strategic Marketing Director, Norilsk Nickel Edric Koh, Head of Corporate Sales, Asia, London Metal Exchange Mark Selby, CEO & Director, Canada Nickel Company Keynote Speech: Korean Battery Supply Chain Strategy and Indonesia's Role Speaker: James (IKHWAN) Choi, Country Manager, Korea Office, SMM Korea Office Keynote Speech: Retreat or Evolve? The Counter-Attack of High-Nickel Batteries under the LFP Siege: Solid State, 4680, and the "Range Anxiety" Premium Speaker: Jared Zhu, Head of Consulting, Renewable Energy & Non-ferrous Metals, Shanghai Metals Market Jared noted that LFP batteries have steadily increased their market share in power battery and energy storage markets in recent years. With the rapid development of emerging sectors such as humanoid robots, industrial robots, and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL), ternary batteries, leveraging their performance advantages, are more competitive than LFP batteries. Solid-state batteries are regarded by the industry as a must-win field for future competition, but it is worth noting that this new technology, capable of rewriting industry rules, still has a long development cycle before full commercialization. Positioning in the LFP Era LFP Accelerates Replacement of Ni-Co-Mn in Energy Storage and EVs, Leading in Scale and Growth SMM forecasts the global share of EV power battery types from 2026 to 2027, expecting LFP batteries to account for around 68% in 2026, with that ratio rising to about 70% in 2027. For ESS battery types, from 2022 to 2025, the share of LFP batteries in global ESS batteries continued to rise, and in 2026, it is expected to increase to around 99%. Keynote Speech: QMAG - Market Leader of Calcined Magnesia for Nickel/Cobalt MHP Production Speaker: Christoph Beyer, Managing Director of Queensland Magnesia (QMAG) Dr. Keynote Speech: Cobalt in Focus: Powering the Next Chapter of Critical Minerals Speaker: Dinah McLeod, Director General, Cobalt Institute June 5: Nickel and Cobalt Forum Keynote Speeches Keynote Speech: Balancing Risk and Reward: Investing in Indonesia's Nickel and Cobalt Value Chain Speaker: Izzie Huo, Senior Research Fellow, Shanghai Metals Market Panel Discussion: Too Much Nickel? Balancing Oversupply Risks with Long-Term Investment in Indonesia Moderator: Jean Tang, Commercial Director, Shanghai Metals Market Panelists: Ali Safdar, Managing Director & Partner, BCG (Boston Consulting Group) Arif Perdana Kusumah, Chairman, Forum Industri Nikel Indonesia (FINI) Ditya Maharhani Harninda, Senior Vice President Corporate Banking 2, PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (Persero) Keynote Speech: Valve Solutions for Severe Service in HPAL Speaker: Changsong Deng, President of International Business Division, ANTIWEAR Keynote Speech: Breaking the Import Dependency: Economics and Feasibility of Pyrite-based Acid Production for Indonesia's HPAL Supply Chain Speaker: Bede Beresford Evans, President Director, PT Sumbawa Timur Mining Keynote Speech: Key Technology and Economic Analysis of AI Power Microgrid Solutions in Mining Speaker: Frank Qi, CEO, Ai Power (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. Keynote Speech: Value of Analytical Solutions in Mining Processes Speaker: Toh Tiong Yen, Sales Manager, Malvern Panalytical Keynote Speech: New Caledonia's Nickel Landscape Speaker: Gabriel Bensimon, Special Advisor to the President of the Government on Nickel and Mining-Related Matters, The Government of New Caledonia Keynote Speech: Global Flow of Nickel from Mining to End-Use Speaker: Dr. Steukers Veronique, President, Nickel Institute Primary nickel production is now dominated by Indonesia. In 2025, Indonesia produced around 50% of the world's primary nickel, compared to just 6% a decade earlier. Primary nickel production in the rest of the world declined. In 2025, primary nickel production in the rest of the world, excluding Indonesia and China, accounted for just over 20% of the global total, down from 65% a decade earlier. Indonesia and China are the core driving forces shaping the global nickel supply chain landscape. From the perspective of nickel product circulation structure, NPI, backed by Indonesia's capacity advantage, firmly dominates the circulation mainstream; in terms of global nickel raw material supply by grade, Class 2 nickel accounts for approximately 58%, Class 1 nickel for just under 30%, and nickel chemical products for the remaining around 13%. Panel Discussion: Meet the Future of ESG: Standard, Challenges and Opportunities in Mining and Processing Moderator: Katz Benjamin, Policy Analyst, OECD Panelists: Dr. Chris Schlekat, Executive Director of NIPERA, Nickel Institute Ning Wang, Manager, Sustainable Development Department, China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters Yumo Li, Head of ESG Office in Tsingshan Board, Tsingshan Holding Group Vinícius Mendes Ferreira, Executive Advisor for Nickel Downstreaming, PT Vale Indonesia Fan Li, Sustainability and ESG Services Manager, dss+ Tom Fairlie, Senior Sustainability Manager, Cobalt Institute Tin Forum June 4 Visit to the Association of Indonesian Tin Exporters (AETI) Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) is pleased to announce that an SMM-led delegation, headed by SMM Copper & Tin Overseas Marketing Manager Jenny Wu and made up of delegates from the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026 , conducted a formal visit to the Association of Indonesian Tin Exporters (AETI) on June 4. The event was organized by SMM and co-organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Economic Council, Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), and MMR, with the Jakarta Futures Exchange as the strategic partner. This visit underscores SMM’s commitment to fostering long-term, win-win partnerships between Indonesia’s top mineral exporters and global metals industry stakeholders. Supply and Demand Exchange Session June 5 Opening Remarks Speaker: Adam Fan, Chairman of SMM Keynote Speech Keynote Speech: DRC Tin Ore: Current Supply Status and Market Dynamics Insights Speaker: Raj Chug, General Manager, Mining Mineral Resources Keynote Speech: African Tin Ore: Resource Potential and Supply Chain Breakthrough Paths Amid Supply Shortages Speaker: Egyul Mamoko， Metallurgist Expert， CTCPM (Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière) [Panel Discussion] Global Tin Mine Supply Seminar: Current Status, Opportunities, and Future Challenges Moderator: Vicky Qiao, Senior Analyst at SMM Panelists: Egyul Mamoko, Metallurgist Expert, CTCPM (Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière) Erwin Setyawan, Head of Trading & Operation, Jakarta Futures Exchange Joseph G. Miller Esq, Strategic & Defense Metals Specialist/Director, Mission Critical Metals, Mission Critical Metals Keynote Speech: The Development Trend of the Tin Market in China Speaker: Zheyu Zhang, Tin Market Analyst, Marketing Department, Yuntin (Honghe) Investment Development Co., Ltd. Keynote Speech: Opportunities and Challenges for Smelters Under Indonesia's New Tin Industry Policies Speaker: Yazid Kanca Surya, Chief Executive Officer, Jakarta Futures Exchange Fragmented Global Supply Chain System Reshaping of the Geopolitical Landscape : Trade disputes and geopolitical tensions are profoundly altering traditional commodity trade patterns. Industrial Security :Countries are increasingly prioritizing long-term stable supply of strategic resources over short-term price advantages. Focus on Critical Minerals : Tin’s industry role is no longer isolated; it has become a core issue in the global energy transition and high-end manufacturing sectors. Evolution of the Tin Market The industry is entering a new phase where credibility is as important as capacity. Promoting Downstream Industrialisation (Hilirisasi) •Historical Development Background: Indonesia has long been dominated by the supply of primary processed products, with most downstream value addition achieved outside China. • Strategic Goals : Indonesia is adjusting export policies, trade management, and supply chain oversight to retain high-value-added industries within the country. Strengthening regulation and cracking down on illegal mining are not punitive measures, but rather efforts to build a transparent system to help the local area vigorously promote the development of downstream industries. Smelters Under Pressure Upstream uncertainties: Illegal mining disrupts the market, raw material supply fluctuates, and price trends are difficult to predict. Downstream market requirements: Strict compliance standards, full transparency in raw material traceability, and continuously rising screening thresholds for buyers. Market Volatility Intensifies The uncertainty in the current operating environment has increased significantly. Enterprises must not only cope with production risks, but also simultaneously address the multiple pressures arising from external shocks and rising operating costs. Investment Barriers in Deep Processing Keynote Speech: Deepening Downstream Diversification, Joining Hands to Foster Long-term Prosperity Guest Speaker: HARRY BUDI SIDHARTA, S.T, MM., Vice President Director, PT Timah (Persero) Tbk Keynote Speech: Challenges and Opportunities for China's Tin Industry amid Global Tin Ore Supply Changes Guest Speaker: Huanbo Qin, Market Analyst, International Tin Association China Keynote Speech: Analysis of Global Tin Price Trends and Future Outlook Speaker: Vicky Qiao, Senior Analyst, Shanghai Metals Market Price Trend Overview Price Review: Amid macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions, market fundamentals have provided structural support Key Points: Tight mine-side supply has established a long-term price floor, while macro liquidity has primarily driven price fluctuations. Tin Resources and Mine Supply Landscape Supply elasticity is limited, accompanied by a high geographic concentration of reserves; the global static mine life is less than 15 years. Rising mine production alongside shrinking global resources has accelerated reserve depletion in producing countries. DRC: Output from major mines remained stable; however, M23 militant activities increased market uncertainty. ►Risks 1. The M23 armed conflict has spread to the Masisi region east of the Bisie mine and the Goma border crossing between the DRC and Rwanda, directly disrupting the original tin ore transportation route via Goma to Dar es Salaam. 2. To mitigate conflict risks, security at the Bisie mine has been reinforced, and freight routes have been adjusted northward to reroute through Uganda, ultimately destined for the port of Mombasa in Kenya. Nevertheless, market concerns persist that further spread of the M23 conflict could disrupt normal production operations at the mine. 3. The DRC recently experienced an Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases concentrated in Beni and Bunia, areas adjacent to Uganda. Strict disease prevention measures have been implemented at both the mine and along transportation links; Bisie's mining and freight activities have yet to be affected by the pandemic impact. However, the market remains apprehensive about the local mineral supply outlook. Myanmar's Man Maw Tin Mine: Production Resumptions Hindered • 90% of Myanmar's tin ore production is concentrated in Wa State. To ensure rational resource extraction and stable regional development, Wa State suspended all tin ore mining starting in 2023, with new mining permits only reissued in July 2025. Due to the local rainy climate, the mine pits accumulated significant water during the suspension, making drainage the primary challenge upon work resumption. As the water accumulation issue affected multiple pits, the cost-sharing arrangements for drainage among mining enterprises were long delayed and never finalized. The resulting obstruction of drainage work has directly constrained the mine's production resumption progress. •In February 2026, the local government issued detailed rules clarifying the cost-sharing standards for drainage, and the Wa State tin mine immediately began resuming production. •Currently, strict approval and control of civilian explosives in Myanmar, compounded by disruptions to mining and logistics caused by the rainy season, have led to progress in local production resumptions falling short of expectations. Full resumption is expected only by 2027. The number of new tin mine projects globally is scarce, with generally low ore grades and lengthy development-to-production cycles. New projects generally have low ore grades, posing upside risks to future mining costs and increasing operational difficulty. Only three new projects have grades above 1%. Lower ore grades mean that more raw ore must be processed to produce the same amount of tin metal. The future supply landscape will be markedly differentiated, with total planned and under-construction projects reaching 173.5 kt in capacity, and just four major projects accounting for over 67%. Global supply will be highly dependent on these core mine projects, while five new projects in Australia can only bring a small incremental increase with limited impact. Global Tin Ingot Supply The high concentration of primary tin smelting capacity limits the global supply elasticity of tin ingots. Keynote Speech: Achieving the Trading and Risk Hedging of Pure Tin Ingots Through the Standardized Trading Mechanism of the Futures Market – Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Authority Guest Speaker: Ima Siti Fatimah, Head of the Commodity Futures Trading Development Bureau, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia Keynote Speech: Under the Drive of Geopolitical Policies: Global Strategic Metal Tin Trade Restructuring, Breakthroughs in North American Secondary Production, and New Logic in Solder Consumption Guest Speaker: Joseph G. Miller Esq, Strategic & Defense Metals Specialist/Director, Mission Critical Metals, Mission Critical Metals ► Securing Supply: US Plan to Reshore Critical Metal (Tin) Capacity • Lessons drawn from COVID-19 and World War II. • No primary tin capacity currently exists in North America: no tin ore mining operations, no tin ore smelting capacity. • The US secondary tin market is regionally fragmented. • The US government supports the Nathan Trotter primary/secondary tin smelter. • The Trump administration has made multiple investments in the critical metals sector. • Security situation in the DRC and surrounding regions. ► Data Center Tin Consumption Estimates How much tin is consumed per gigawatt of installed data center capacity? • Servers, GPUs, network systems: 500–1,500 mt. • Power systems, switchgear: 100–400 mt. • Control devices, communication equipment, cooling systems: 50–200 mt. • Tin usage per gigawatt of installed AI data center capacity is approximately 1,200–1,500 mt. Additionally, the speaker noted: the PV industry's annual tin consumption is about 25,000 mt, with average annual new installations of around 30 GW, corresponding to tin demand of 36,000–45,000 mt. Keynote Speech: Due Diligence in the Indonesian Tin Sector: A Tradition of Early Adoption and Pathways for ESG Leadership Guest Speaker: Josue Ruiz, Director of Facility Engagement, Responsible Minerals Initiative Keynote Speech: Malaysian Tin Mine: Market Breakthrough and Global Expansion from the Perspective of Critical Minerals Guest Speaker: DATO DEREK TENG, Director of the SETARA JELITA SDN BHD, President of the MALAYSIA MARITIME SILK ROUTE RESEARCH SOCIETY Critical Minerals in the New Era Strategic Positioning and Core Applications of Tin National Strategic Cornerstone: Listed in the “Critical Minerals List” by many countries, it holds an irreplaceable core position in securing national resource security and maintaining the resilience of global supply chains. Modern Industrial Lifeline: The core raw material for electronic solder manufacturing, it supports semiconductor packaging, PCB circuit boards, and other electronic information industries, serving as the “industrial monosodium glutamate” of modern manufacturing. Frontier Technology Engine: Empowering emerging technologies such as 5G communications, NEV batteries, PV modules, and AI chips, it drives the dual transformation of the digital economy and green transition. Tin: The “Industrial MSG” Driving High-Tech Industries ► A Core Member of the Global Critical Minerals System U.S. Official Designation: According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) “2025 Critical Minerals List,” tin is formally listed as a critical mineral, regarded as a strategic resource vital to national economic development and national security. Global Industry Consensus: In the mineral assessment systems of the EU and other developed economies, tin also occupies a core position. It is an indispensable “emerging cornerstone mineral” supporting the global digital economic transformation and the upgrade of the new energy industry. The global tin application structure in 2025 is very clear: 53% is used in semiconductors and high-end electronic solder, 16% in fine tin chemical new materials, 11% in food-grade tinplate and tin cans, and 8% directly in the PV green new energy industry. Tin Applications in High-Growth Sectors Currently, three major high-growth tracks worldwide are continuously driving rigid incremental demand for tin. First, AI computing power and hyperscale data centers: The tin consumption per unit of high-end AI servers is 3–13 times that of ordinary servers. With the explosive growth of global AI computing power demand, the demand for high-end solder will continue to grow rapidly. Second, new energy vehicles: Tin consumption per vehicle is about three times that of internal combustion engine vehicles, and for intelligent car models, it can reach up to 1.5 kg per vehicle. Third, advanced packaging: The solder ball usage of advanced packaging technologies such as HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) is more than five times that of traditional DRAM. Malaysia at a Crossroads The Decline of a Former Empire and Opportunities for Transformation ► Glorious History · Tin Empire: In the 1960s, Malaysia was the world's veritable "Tin Empire." Its tin production once accounted for one-third of the global total, and revenue from tin exports represented as much as 60% of the country's total export revenue, dominating the global tin trade landscape. ► Current Situation · Dual Challenges: However, after industrial iteration, its share of global production was only 0.2% in 2023, with annual output falling to 6,100 mt, marking a sharp decline. Malaysia still holds considerable secondary resource reserves of 780,000 tonnes, with native ore depleted but tailings holding significant potential. ► Future · Reshaping Value Strategic Empowerment: Leverage the new strategic identity of “critical minerals” to enhance discourse power and bargaining power in the international supply chain. Industrial Leap: Shift away from dependence on primary tin ingot exports and move towards high value-added deep processing manufacturing and the establishment of a circular economy system. Core Challenges Faced Currently, Malaysia’s tin industry faces four core structural challenges. Market Breakthrough: Reshaping Value Embrace the New Identity and Extend into Downstream High Value-Added Sectors Build a Regional Circular Economy Center Core Strategy: Fully leverage Malaysia’s industrial advantage as a global electronics manufacturing center, turning the large amount of tin-containing scrap generated during production—including solder dross, waste circuit boards, etc.—into valuable recycled tin resources, and establish an “urban mining” resource recycling system. Keynote Speech: From Waste to Value: How Smelters and Recycling Enterprises Uncover Hidden Treasures in Tin Ore By-Products Guest Speaker: Justin Wang, Director of Marketing and Technology, Stannum Solutions(Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Coal & Energy Transition Forum June 4 Keynote Speeches Keynote Speech: The Future of Renewable Energy for Mining Contractors in Indonesia Guest Speaker: Bambang Tjahjono, Executive Director of ASPINDO Panel Discussion: The Indonesia 2060 Net-Zero Roadmap: The Role and Transition Pathway for the Mining Sector Moderator: Verena Streitferdt, Director, Tri Hita Consulting Panelists: Alfonsius Ariawan, Mining & Metals Lead, Indonesia, dss+ Yan Yan Muhammad Achdiansyah, Innovative Project Manager for Asia Pacific, HDF Energy Ardhi Ishak, Chairman of Industry Relations & Industry Associations, PERHAPI (Association of Indonesian Mining Professionals) Keynote Speech: Banking on the Transition: Sustainable Finance Solutions for Indonesia’s Mining and Energy Sector Guest Speaker: Dendi Ramdani, Vice President for Industry and Regional Research, PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk. [Panel Discussion] Reshaping the Role of Coal: Balancing Indonesia's Energy Security and Just Transition Moderator: Muhammad Saly Putra, Head of Marketing, MMS Resources Panelists: Putra Adhiguna, Managing Director, Energy Shift Institute Anton Frian Yohanes Reynaldo, Global Relations Team, Badan Pengaturan Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BP BUMN) Gita Mahyarani, Executive Director, APBI-ICMA Emmanuel Jefferson Kuesar, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Energy Ardhi Ishak, Chairman of Industry Relations & Industry Associations, PERHAPI (Association of Indonesian Mining Professionals) Keynote Speech: Shifting Global Demand: Capturing Emerging Markets in South Asia Guest Speaker: Vasudev Pamnani, Director, iEnergy Natural Resources Limited Executive Roundtable – Margin Protection Strategies: Managing High Production Costs, Royalty Hikes, and Domestic Pricing Caps Moderator: Kevin Triadi Gunawan, Country BD Manager, Argus Panelists: Suryo Suwignjo, CEO, PT Titan Infra Sejatera Ashok Mitra, Senior Advisor, Bakrie Capital Indonesia FH Kristiono, CEO, UCoal Keynote Speech: The Cost of Compliance: Balancing Cash Flow and Strategic Investment Amidst RKAB Quota Cuts and DMO Burdens Speaker: Subhashish Datta, CFO, Kaltim Prima Coal June 5 Coal & Energy Transition Forum Keynote Speeches Panel Discussion: Vision to Leverage 100GW of Solar - What are the Opportunities and Challenges Moderator: Tengku Zulchairi P., Indonesia Sales Manager, LONGi Solar Panelists: Dr. Farid Wijaya, Manager of Sectoral Decarbonization Research, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Eka Himawan, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Xurya Daya Indonesia Johan Hadi Wardoyo, Chief Commercial Officer, PT Trina Mas Agra Indonesia Keynote Speech: Navigating the Cycles: The Evolution of Global PV Supply Chains and Its Strategic Impact on Indonesia Speaker: Ryan Tey Tze Yang, PV Analyst, Shanghai Metals Market Keynote Speech: From Ambition to Action: AESI's Roadmap for Solar deployment in Indonesia's Critical Minerals Sector Speaker: I Made Aditya Suryawidya, Vice Chairman of Research and Technology, Asosiasi Energi Surya Indonesia (AESI) Panel Discussion: Hybrid Energy Systems: Designing the Optimal Mix of Solar, Storage, and Diesel for Mega-Mines Moderator: Ryan Tey Tze Yang, PV Analyst, Shanghai Metals Market Panelists: Eka Satria, CEO, Medco Power Indonesia Ricky Cahya Andrian, Vice President of Decarbonization Business Development and Energy Management, PT PLN (Persero) Karina Darmawan, Chief Executive Officer, SUN Mobility Muchtazar, Head of Sustainability, Nickel Industries Limited Nian Gao, Director, Microgrid Solution Department, Sungrow Keynote Speech: EV Infrastructure & Energy Storage: The Final Piece of the Mining Decarbonization Puzzle Speaker: Christopher Marvel, Country Business Development Manager - Indonesia, StarCharge Mining carbon emissions are typical operational emissions, with emission sources spanning the entire operational chain of a mine. Mine decarbonization cannot be achieved solely through carbon disclosure, carbon offsets, or green procurement. Daily production activities such as transportation and turnaround, captive power supply, crushing and grinding, mine ventilation, and process electricity are the core carriers of carbon emissions. The core challenge for the industry today is to steadily reduce carbon emission intensity against a backdrop of growing demand for minerals. This requires a systematic restructuring of the mine’s overall energy system, rather than simply replacing fuels for individual equipment. Diesel-powered transport is the key battleground for carbon reduction in mines Various types of mobile equipment are the key targets for carbon emission monitoring. The average annual fuel consumption of a single mining truck is close to one million liters. For open-pit mines, fuel consumption is closely linked to haul distance, road gradient, payload, dispatch management, and vehicle idling. Therefore, the transport phase becomes the optimal breakthrough point that balances carbon reduction and production efficiency. The electrification of mining trucks is not a technical bottleneck; the real key lies in whether the supporting core infrastructure, such as charging and energy storage, can enable the equipment to operate at full capacity and ensure that production is not affected. The global fleet of large mining haul trucks numbers about 28,000 units, and is still predominantly diesel-powered. According to RMI estimates, the average annual diesel consumption of a single truck reaches 900,000 liters; energy consumption by haul vehicles accounts for 30%–50% of total mine energy use, corresponding to annual CO2 emissions from the global fleet of approximately 68 million mt. Keynote Speech: From Blueprint to Site: Engineering Practices for High-Availability PV-Storage Microgrids in Indonesia’s Tropical Rainforests Guest Speaker: Frank Qi, CEO, AI Power (Suzhou) Tech. Co., Ltd. Suryawan Teddy, Director of ATW Solar Panel Discussion: What Will Drive the Next Wave of Industrial Solar in Indonesia? Moderator: Eric C. Listyosuputro, Partner, EY-Parthenon Indonesia Panelists: Jannata (Egi) Giwangkara, Country Lead – Indonesia, Climateworks Zidny Ilman, Associate Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations, Suryanesia Aluminum Forum June 4 Guest Speeches Keynote Speech: Aluminum Market — Looking Ahead from Today's Supply Chain Squeeze Speaker: Duncan Hobbs, Research Director, Concord Resources Ltd Duncan Hobbs noted that while the aluminum market currently appears to face a significant supply deficit, the inventory available to fill that gap is limited. We have lowered our forecast for global aluminum production in 2026, expecting total output of around 73.8 million mt, basically flat YoY, whereas our January forecast projected a 2.8% YoY increase. At the same time, the global aluminum consumption growth forecast has been revised down from 2.3% to 1.9%. After these adjustments, the estimated nominal market deficit expands to roughly 2.1 million mt, a substantial increase from the 300,000 mt projected in January. Absorbing this deficit depends heavily on accessible inventories; if inventory draws prove insufficient, the supply-demand balance will have to rely on price mechanisms to curb demand, ultimately bringing consumption in line with actual production. Currently, freely circulating market inventory may struggle to cover the 2.1 million mt deficit, providing upward momentum for aluminum prices. Keynote Speech: Updated Downstream Development of Minerals and Energy in Indonesia Speaker: Novi Muharam, Acting Head of Division Downstream Strategy, Research & Process Engineering, MIND ID Panel Discussion: Navigating Change: Resilience Strategies for the Global Bauxite, Alumina and Primary Aluminum Market Moderator: Sibyl Yang, Senior Aluminum Analyst, Shanghai Metals Market Panelists: Mark Roggensinger, Head of Market Analysis - Hydro Bauxite & Alumina, Hydro Dinesh Raj, P. Global Head – Supply Chain Due Diligence, Siemens Energy Ken Permana, CFO, PT Indonesia Asahan Alumunium Mahmood Dailami, Secretary General, Gulf Aluminium Council Ilham Iskandar Siregar, SVP - Base Metals Commercial, PT ANTAM Tbk Keynote Speech: Expansion of India’s Upstream Aluminum Sector: New Projects and the Rise of Alumina Capacity Speaker: Dr. Ashok Nandi, President, IBAAS-International Bauxite Alumina & Aluminium Society ► Currently, India's alumina capacity is approximately 11.3 million mt/year, and through brownfield and greenfield expansions, it is expected to increase to 15 million mt/year by 2030. ► Although the country has abundant bauxite resources, the main issue is that deposits are often located in ecologically sensitive areas, such as tribal lands and dense forests, and environmental clearances face delays. ► Refineries like Lanjigarh Vedanta, Hindalco Belgavi, and Pioneer struggle to secure local ore supply and primarily import bauxite from Guinea. Global Alumina Landscape China is the global leader in alumina production. Australia trails far behind, followed by India, Brazil, Russia, and other countries. Keynote Speech: Restructuring the Aluminum Industry in the Low-Carbon Era: China-Driven Transformation of Global Bauxite Supply Chain Rules and Redistribution of Power Speaker: Linda Shan, Deputy Secretary-General & Director of the International Department of the United Nations Mining Consultative Expert Committee, ZHONGUANCUN Green Mine Industry Alliance The global aluminum industry stands at a historic turning point. This is not a simple adjustment of price cycles or supply-demand relationships, but a deep restructuring jointly driven by the low-carbon transition, industrial upgrading, resource security, and international cooperation. The theme of this paper is to analyze how China is driving the rule transformation in the global bauxite supply chain and to reveal the profound implications of power redistribution therein. The Variables Have Changed: From Old Cycles to New Rules The variables shaping the industry's direction have fundamentally changed. In the past, the market focused on the supply-demand gap, energy prices, and inventory cycles. But today, low-carbon rules, geopolitics, industrial policies, and supply chain risks have become the new dominant forces. One key data point is that in March 2026, China's primary aluminum production accounted for 60.2% of the global total. This indicates that the global aluminum industry is shifting from being purely cost-driven to a more complex rule-driven era. Why did this transformation occur? Because the three major fundamental assumptions on which the industry relied for decades are being broken. Previously, it was widely believed that resources could flow freely, energy prices would remain stable in the long term, and the global trade environment was relatively open. But the reality now is that logistics security is no longer taken for granted, energy costs are experiencing wild swings, and trade rules are constantly being rewritten. In one sentence: The old era was about competing on cost, while the new era is about the competitiveness of the system. Keynote Speech: Innovative Technologies for Energy Saving and Emission Reduction in Primary Aluminum Smelting Speaker: Yanfeng Lu, Deputy General Manager of Overseas Business Center, Shenyang Aluminum and Magnesium Engineeringand Research Institute Company Limited (SAMI) He stated that the company has always focused on energy savings, high efficiency, and environmental protection as core objectives, and has planned three major paths: enhancing magnetohydrodynamic stability, maintaining a good thermal balance, and systematically saving energy and reducing consumption. By optimizing the cathode assembly’s conduction path using interface fluctuation theory, the horizontal current in the aluminum liquid is reduced by over 30%, reducing pot deformation caused by electromagnetic force disturbances. Cathode voltage drop is reduced by 50 mV, and service life is extended by 20%. Breakthrough in Magnetohydrodynamic Stability: The company has adopted the most advanced physical field simulation technology for the R&D and design of pots, among which the magnetohydrodynamic simulation design provides technical assurance for the pots to achieve high efficiency and low consumption targets. Developed loop compensation external busbar technology and networked self-balancing busbar technology, enabling the pots to operate stably at low voltage, with a voltage reduction of 10%-15% compared to conventional pots, and improving current efficiency by 2%-3%. Through precise gas collection technology from dual-sided upper flues and a new ventilation structure for the plant, the working environment has been improved and environmental protection indicators have been enhanced. Additionally, the plug-in rectangular pot shell technology can significantly extend the lining life and improve equipment operational efficiency. Keynote Speech: High-Temperature Anti-Oxidation Functional Ceramic Coating Technology and Application for Prebaked Anodes Speaker: Guojing Hu, Technical Director, Jiangsu Green Harmony Energy and Environment Conservation Technology Co., Ltd. Keynote Speech: Linking the World: Nanshan's Localization Practice in Indonesia and the Aluminum Industry's Collaborative Future Speaker: Zhu Jiahui, Deputy General Manager, Bintan Alumina Indonesia He noted that China's aluminum capacity has approached the ceiling of 45 million mt, with extremely limited room for new additions, intensifying market competition. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia is undergoing rapid industrialization, and aluminum consumption demand remains robust. Indonesia, in particular, with its abundant bauxite resources, has become a hot spot for the global aluminum industry's relocation. It was based on this assessment that Nanshan made the strategic decision to break out of the domestic red ocean and set sail for the blue ocean overseas. Panel Discussion: Indonesia as the Global Focal Point of the Aluminum Industry: Investment, Technology and Cooperation Moderator: Jordan Janesputra, Senior Aluminum Analyst, SMM Indonesia Panelists: Mr. Eddy Permata Purba, Commercial and Business Development Director, PT Borneo Alumina Indonesia Dr. Beni Bevly Director PT Supreme Alumina Indonesia Esther Rodriguez, Critical Minerals Lead Responsible Sourcing, Ericsson AB Winston Ng, Director, PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry June 5 Aluminum Forum Keynote Speeches Keynote Speech: The production practice of Borneo Alumina Indonesia Refinery and the future development direction of alumina technology Guest Speaker: Chuan Li, Deputy Director of Alumina Department, Shenyang Aluminum and Magnesium Engineeringand Research Institute Company Limited (SAMI) He stated that the BAI alumina refinery in Indonesia is a successful application of SAMI technology in the country, utilizing local bauxite and meeting international standards. Looking ahead, alumina technology is expected to develop towards large-scale, low-carbon, green, high-quality products, and intelligentization. SAMI will be committed to providing advanced, reliable, and customized alumina solutions to clients worldwide. Keynote Speech: Global Aluminum Market Outlook 2027: Key Variables and Uncertainties Guest Speaker: Sibyl Yang, Senior Aluminum Analyst, SMM She noted that from 2021 to 2024, the global aluminum market experienced a persistent supply deficit. The year 2025 became a pivotal turning point for the industry, with the aluminum market showing a tight supply-demand balance and a slight easing of the tight supply situation. In 2026, escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have continued to unfold, and the unexpected developments have become a black swan event impacting the global aluminum industry chain, significantly affecting global aluminum supply. SMM conducted scenario-based forecasts for the primary aluminum market's supply-demand situation in 2026. Overall, SMM expects the global primary aluminum market to be in a supply deficit in 2026, shifting to a surplus in 2027. Aluminum Market Review According to SMM supply-demand balance data, from 2021 to 2024, the global aluminum market was in a persistent supply deficit. 2025 became a pivotal turning point for the industry, with the aluminum market showing a tight supply-demand balance and a slight easing of the tight supply situation. 2026 Middle East Geopolitical Escalation: A Black Swan Event for the Global Aluminum Industry Chain In 2026, escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have continued to unfold, and the unexpected developments have become a black swan event impacting the global aluminum industry chain, significantly affecting global aluminum supply. [Panel Discussion] Future Aluminium Price Drivers (2026–2030): Market Fundamental Evolution Under Middle East Supply Risks and Expanding Capacity in Other Nations Moderator: Dr. Beni Bevly, Director, PT Supreme Alumina Indonesia Panelists: Winston Ng, Director, PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry Joyce Li, Commodity Strategist, Macquarie Jordan Janesputra, Senior Aluminum Analyst, SMM Indonesia Check-in & Networking Cocktail Party We extend our sincere gratitude to the global logistics leader Access World for its exclusive sponsorship of the cocktail party at this conference. Founded in 1933, Access World has grown from a family business into an international logistics organization operating in 25 countries, with a strategically located network of ports and warehousing facilities in prime locations, ensuring the efficient daily handling and flow of goods. As an end-to-end logistics service provider, Access World has long been committed to simplifying global supply chains and enhancing the efficiency of commodity circulation. It is worth noting that this marks the second consecutive year Access World has generously sponsored the cocktail dinner at the Indonesia Mining Conference & Critical Minerals Conference. For this steadfast commitment and dedication to deeply cultivating the industry and continuously empowering industry exchanges, the organizing committee and all attendees express our deep respect and gratitude. ICM Dinner This is the end of the Indonesia Critical Minerals 2026. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again next year!

From June 3 to June 5, Indonesia Critical Minerals 2026 was held at the Pullman Jakarta Central Park in Jakarta, Indonesia. The conference was organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) and co-organized by the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia , the National Economic Council of Indonesia , and MMR , in a strategic partnership with the Jakarta Futures Exchange . The conference featured six dedicated forums: the main forum, the nickel and cobalt forum, the tin forum, the coal & energy transition forum, the aluminum forum, and dedicated sub-forums, attracting 3,500+ attendees from 45 countries and regions worldwide, featuring more than 120+ speakers sharing insights on market prices, supply-demand patterns, industry policies, low-carbon development, and ESG development, etc. Conference Background of Tin Forum In 2022, both LME and SHFE tin annual prices closed lower, and the market at the time may not have anticipated that this would serve as the prelude to a three-year upward cycle. From 2023 to 2025, tin prices recorded three consecutive years of gains, with both LME and SHFE tin surging over 30% in 2025. Entering 2026, the upward trend has continued, with tin prices hitting a new record high and becoming one of the most closely watched metals in the industrial metals market. However, this rally has not been smooth. In the past two years, tin prices have fluctuated significantly within an upward channel, driven by deep adjustments in global supply-demand patterns, especially multiple disruptions on the supply side. On the demand side, emerging sectors such as AI servers, PV welding strips, and NEVs have rapidly risen, coupled with a recovery in consumer electronics, continuously highlighting tin's strategic value in high-end manufacturing and steadily expanding rigid demand. On the supply side, global tin resources are highly concentrated, production resumptions in Myanmar have fallen short of expectations, some ex-China mining areas have been disrupted by geopolitical factors, and Indonesia—a key link in global refined tin supply—has seen its industrial policy adjustments become a critical variable affecting market expectations. Reviewing Indonesia's tin industry policy, the past two years have shown a clear trajectory of "standardizing and regulating, tightening exports, and promoting downstream development." In 2024, the Mining Work Plan (RKAB) was adjusted from an annual to a three-year basis, and exports experienced temporary fluctuations during the policy transition. In 2025, Indonesia further strengthened governance over illegal mining, shutting down some illegal tin mines, cracking down on smuggling activities, and adjusting tin ore royalty fees, leading to higher production costs. Entering 2026, the policy direction has become clearer, with studies on restricting refined tin exports, lowering export quotas, and plans to raise tin royalty tax rates, promoting the transition from resource exports to high value-added processing. These adjustments are reshaping the rhythm and trade patterns of the global tin supply chain. As an important platform connecting the global tin industry chain with the Indonesian resource market, the Tin Forum focuses on the latest developments in Indonesia's tin policies, the evolution of the global tin supply-demand pattern, price trend analysis, and industrial cooperation opportunities. It brings together government officials, industry experts, miners, smelters, and downstream end-user representatives to jointly explore new opportunities in the global supply chain amid the transformation of Indonesia's tin industry. Click to view photo gallery of tin forum Tin Forum June 4 Visit to the Association of Indonesian Tin Exporters (AETI) Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) is pleased to announce that an SMM-led delegation, headed by SMM Copper & Tin Overseas Marketing Manager Jenny Wu and made up of delegates from the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2026 , conducted a formal visit to the Association of Indonesian Tin Exporters (AETI) on June 4. The event was organized by SMM and co-organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Economic Council, Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), and MMR, with the Jakarta Futures Exchange as the strategic partner. This visit underscores SMM’s commitment to fostering long-term, win-win partnerships between Indonesia’s top mineral exporters and global metals industry stakeholders. Supply and Demand Exchange Session June 5 Opening Remarks Speaker: Adam Fan, Chairman of SMM Keynote Speech Keynote Speech: DRC Tin Ore: Current Supply Status and Market Dynamics Insights Speaker: Raj Chug, General Manager, Mining Mineral Resources Keynote Speech: African Tin Ore: Resource Potential and Supply Chain Breakthrough Paths Amid Supply Shortages Speaker: Egyul Mamoko， Metallurgist Expert， CTCPM (Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière) [Panel Discussion] Global Tin Mine Supply Seminar: Current Status, Opportunities, and Future Challenges Moderator: Vicky Qiao, Senior Analyst at SMM Panelists: Egyul Mamoko, Metallurgist Expert, CTCPM (Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière) Erwin Setyawan, Head of Trading & Operation, Jakarta Futures Exchange Joseph G. Miller Esq, Strategic & Defense Metals Specialist/Director, Mission Critical Metals, Mission Critical Metals Keynote Speech: The Development Trend of the Tin Market in China Speaker: Zheyu Zhang, Tin Market Analyst, Marketing Department, Yuntin (Honghe) Investment Development Co., Ltd. Keynote Speech: Opportunities and Challenges for Smelters Under Indonesia's New Tin Industry Policies Speaker: Yazid Kanca Surya, Chief Executive Officer, Jakarta Futures Exchange Fragmented Global Supply Chain System Reshaping of the Geopolitical Landscape : Trade disputes and geopolitical tensions are profoundly altering traditional commodity trade patterns. Industrial Security :Countries are increasingly prioritizing long-term stable supply of strategic resources over short-term price advantages. Focus on Critical Minerals : Tin’s industry role is no longer isolated; it has become a core issue in the global energy transition and high-end manufacturing sectors. Evolution of the Tin Market The industry is entering a new phase where credibility is as important as capacity. Promoting Downstream Industrialisation (Hilirisasi) •Historical Development Background: Indonesia has long been dominated by the supply of primary processed products, with most downstream value addition achieved outside China. • Strategic Goals : Indonesia is adjusting export policies, trade management, and supply chain oversight to retain high-value-added industries within the country. Strengthening regulation and cracking down on illegal mining are not punitive measures, but rather efforts to build a transparent system to help the local area vigorously promote the development of downstream industries. Smelters Under Pressure Upstream uncertainties: Illegal mining disrupts the market, raw material supply fluctuates, and price trends are difficult to predict. Downstream market requirements: Strict compliance standards, full transparency in raw material traceability, and continuously rising screening thresholds for buyers. Market Volatility Intensifies The uncertainty in the current operating environment has increased significantly. Enterprises must not only cope with production risks, but also simultaneously address the multiple pressures arising from external shocks and rising operating costs. Investment Barriers in Deep Processing Keynote Speech: Deepening Downstream Diversification, Joining Hands to Foster Long-term Prosperity Guest Speaker: HARRY BUDI SIDHARTA, S.T, MM., Vice President Director, PT Timah (Persero) Tbk Keynote Speech: Challenges and Opportunities for China's Tin Industry amid Global Tin Ore Supply Changes Guest Speaker: Huanbo Qin, Market Analyst, International Tin Association China Keynote Speech: Analysis of Global Tin Price Trends and Future Outlook Speaker: Vicky Qiao, Senior Analyst, Shanghai Metals Market Price Trend Overview Price Review: Amid macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions, market fundamentals have provided structural support Key Points: Tight mine-side supply has established a long-term price floor, while macro liquidity has primarily driven price fluctuations. Tin Resources and Mine Supply Landscape Supply elasticity is limited, accompanied by a high geographic concentration of reserves; the global static mine life is less than 15 years. Rising mine production alongside shrinking global resources has accelerated reserve depletion in producing countries. DRC: Output from major mines remained stable; however, M23 militant activities increased market uncertainty. ►Risks 1. The M23 armed conflict has spread to the Masisi region east of the Bisie mine and the Goma border crossing between the DRC and Rwanda, directly disrupting the original tin ore transportation route via Goma to Dar es Salaam. 2. To mitigate conflict risks, security at the Bisie mine has been reinforced, and freight routes have been adjusted northward to reroute through Uganda, ultimately destined for the port of Mombasa in Kenya. Nevertheless, market concerns persist that further spread of the M23 conflict could disrupt normal production operations at the mine. 3. The DRC recently experienced an Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases concentrated in Beni and Bunia, areas adjacent to Uganda. Strict disease prevention measures have been implemented at both the mine and along transportation links; Bisie's mining and freight activities have yet to be affected by the pandemic impact. However, the market remains apprehensive about the local mineral supply outlook. Myanmar's Man Maw Tin Mine: Production Resumptions Hindered • 90% of Myanmar's tin ore production is concentrated in Wa State. To ensure rational resource extraction and stable regional development, Wa State suspended all tin ore mining starting in 2023, with new mining permits only reissued in July 2025. Due to the local rainy climate, the mine pits accumulated significant water during the suspension, making drainage the primary challenge upon work resumption. As the water accumulation issue affected multiple pits, the cost-sharing arrangements for drainage among mining enterprises were long delayed and never finalized. The resulting obstruction of drainage work has directly constrained the mine's production resumption progress. •In February 2026, the local government issued detailed rules clarifying the cost-sharing standards for drainage, and the Wa State tin mine immediately began resuming production. •Currently, strict approval and control of civilian explosives in Myanmar, compounded by disruptions to mining and logistics caused by the rainy season, have led to progress in local production resumptions falling short of expectations. Full resumption is expected only by 2027. The number of new tin mine projects globally is scarce, with generally low ore grades and lengthy development-to-production cycles. New projects generally have low ore grades, posing upside risks to future mining costs and increasing operational difficulty. Only three new projects have grades above 1%. Lower ore grades mean that more raw ore must be processed to produce the same amount of tin metal. The future supply landscape will be markedly differentiated, with total planned and under-construction projects reaching 173.5 kt in capacity, and just four major projects accounting for over 67%. Global supply will be highly dependent on these core mine projects, while five new projects in Australia can only bring a small incremental increase with limited impact. Global Tin Ingot Supply The high concentration of primary tin smelting capacity limits the global supply elasticity of tin ingots. Keynote Speech: Achieving the Trading and Risk Hedging of Pure Tin Ingots Through the Standardized Trading Mechanism of the Futures Market – Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Authority Guest Speaker: Ima Siti Fatimah, Head of the Commodity Futures Trading Development Bureau, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia Keynote Speech: Under the Drive of Geopolitical Policies: Global Strategic Metal Tin Trade Restructuring, Breakthroughs in North American Secondary Production, and New Logic in Solder Consumption Guest Speaker: Joseph G. Miller Esq, Strategic & Defense Metals Specialist/Director, Mission Critical Metals, Mission Critical Metals ► Securing Supply: US Plan to Reshore Critical Metal (Tin) Capacity • Lessons drawn from COVID-19 and World War II. • No primary tin capacity currently exists in North America: no tin ore mining operations, no tin ore smelting capacity. • The US secondary tin market is regionally fragmented. • The US government supports the Nathan Trotter primary/secondary tin smelter. • The Trump administration has made multiple investments in the critical metals sector. • Security situation in the DRC and surrounding regions. ► Data Center Tin Consumption Estimates How much tin is consumed per gigawatt of installed data center capacity? • Servers, GPUs, network systems: 500–1,500 mt. • Power systems, switchgear: 100–400 mt. • Control devices, communication equipment, cooling systems: 50–200 mt. • Tin usage per gigawatt of installed AI data center capacity is approximately 1,200–1,500 mt. Additionally, the speaker noted: the PV industry's annual tin consumption is about 25,000 mt, with average annual new installations of around 30 GW, corresponding to tin demand of 36,000–45,000 mt. Keynote Speech: Due Diligence in the Indonesian Tin Sector: A Tradition of Early Adoption and Pathways for ESG Leadership Guest Speaker: Josue Ruiz, Director of Facility Engagement, Responsible Minerals Initiative Keynote Speech: Malaysian Tin Mine: Market Breakthrough and Global Expansion from the Perspective of Critical Minerals Guest Speaker: DATO DEREK TENG, Director of the SETARA JELITA SDN BHD, President of the MALAYSIA MARITIME SILK ROUTE RESEARCH SOCIETY Critical Minerals in the New Era Strategic Positioning and Core Applications of Tin National Strategic Cornerstone: Listed in the “Critical Minerals List” by many countries, it holds an irreplaceable core position in securing national resource security and maintaining the resilience of global supply chains. Modern Industrial Lifeline: The core raw material for electronic solder manufacturing, it supports semiconductor packaging, PCB circuit boards, and other electronic information industries, serving as the “industrial monosodium glutamate” of modern manufacturing. Frontier Technology Engine: Empowering emerging technologies such as 5G communications, NEV batteries, PV modules, and AI chips, it drives the dual transformation of the digital economy and green transition. Tin: The “Industrial MSG” Driving High-Tech Industries ► A Core Member of the Global Critical Minerals System U.S. Official Designation: According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) “2025 Critical Minerals List,” tin is formally listed as a critical mineral, regarded as a strategic resource vital to national economic development and national security. Global Industry Consensus: In the mineral assessment systems of the EU and other developed economies, tin also occupies a core position. It is an indispensable “emerging cornerstone mineral” supporting the global digital economic transformation and the upgrade of the new energy industry. The global tin application structure in 2025 is very clear: 53% is used in semiconductors and high-end electronic solder, 16% in fine tin chemical new materials, 11% in food-grade tinplate and tin cans, and 8% directly in the PV green new energy industry. Tin Applications in High-Growth Sectors Currently, three major high-growth tracks worldwide are continuously driving rigid incremental demand for tin. First, AI computing power and hyperscale data centers: The tin consumption per unit of high-end AI servers is 3–13 times that of ordinary servers. With the explosive growth of global AI computing power demand, the demand for high-end solder will continue to grow rapidly. Second, new energy vehicles: Tin consumption per vehicle is about three times that of internal combustion engine vehicles, and for intelligent car models, it can reach up to 1.5 kg per vehicle. Third, advanced packaging: The solder ball usage of advanced packaging technologies such as HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) is more than five times that of traditional DRAM. Malaysia at a Crossroads The Decline of a Former Empire and Opportunities for Transformation ► Glorious History · Tin Empire: In the 1960s, Malaysia was the world's veritable "Tin Empire." Its tin production once accounted for one-third of the global total, and revenue from tin exports represented as much as 60% of the country's total export revenue, dominating the global tin trade landscape. ► Current Situation · Dual Challenges: However, after industrial iteration, its share of global production was only 0.2% in 2023, with annual output falling to 6,100 mt, marking a sharp decline. Malaysia still holds considerable secondary resource reserves of 780,000 tonnes, with native ore depleted but tailings holding significant potential. ► Future · Reshaping Value Strategic Empowerment: Leverage the new strategic identity of “critical minerals” to enhance discourse power and bargaining power in the international supply chain. Industrial Leap: Shift away from dependence on primary tin ingot exports and move towards high value-added deep processing manufacturing and the establishment of a circular economy system. Core Challenges Faced Currently, Malaysia’s tin industry faces four core structural challenges. Market Breakthrough: Reshaping Value Embrace the New Identity and Extend into Downstream High Value-Added Sectors Build a Regional Circular Economy Center Core Strategy: Fully leverage Malaysia’s industrial advantage as a global electronics manufacturing center, turning the large amount of tin-containing scrap generated during production—including solder dross, waste circuit boards, etc.—into valuable recycled tin resources, and establish an “urban mining” resource recycling system. Keynote Speech: From Waste to Value: How Smelters and Recycling Enterprises Uncover Hidden Treasures in Tin Ore By-Products Guest Speaker: Justin Wang, Director of Marketing and Technology, Stannum Solutions(Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

SMM understands that Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has raised its June 2026 official selling price (OSP) for sulphur to $860/t FOB Ruwais for the Indian subcontinent market, up by $100/t from May. This marks the highest OSP on record, surpassing the previous peak seen in Q2 2008. The extreme supply tightness in the Middle East, driven by ongoing geopolitical disruptions, continues to underpin the bullish market sentiment. Other Middle East suppliers‘ June contract prices: QatarEnergy at $805/t FOB; Kuwait KPC at $805/t FOB.

The current surge in shipping prices is mainly driven by rising shipping costs due to Middle East geopolitical disruptions, sustained restocking demand fueled by finer global division of labor and geopolitical risk aversion, and the concentrated release of stockpiling demand outside China, as Europe and the US kick off their H2 stock-up-in-advance cycle for the peak consumption season. The sharp increase in cargo volume has rapidly tightened the supply-demand balance for shipping capacity. However, the trend of shipping prices in H2 remains unclear.

Today, the most-traded BC copper 2607 contract opened at 93,960 yuan/mt, dipped to 93,310 yuan/mt early in the session, then fluctuated upward. After the day session opened, it swung wildly while trending higher to touch 94,980 yuan/mt, then moved sideways, ultimately closing at 94,810 yuan/mt, up 2.07%. Open interest stood at 10,943 lots, an increase of 597 lots from the previous trading day, and trading volume reached 9,901 lots, indicating bulls adding positions. On the macro front, Iran halted US-Iran negotiations, attributing the decision to Israel's military operations in Lebanon, and plans to fully blockade the Strait of Hormuz. Market risk sentiment heated up. Additionally, the US White House further adjusted import tariff policies on aluminum, steel, and copper, intensifying market concerns over tariff policies. Moreover, the recent widening of the COMEX-LME price spread raised market concerns about supply in non-US regions, providing upward momentum for copper prices. On the fundamentals front, supply side, high-quality copper sources were scarce, while standard-quality copper and non-registered copper supply was relatively sufficient; overall supply tightened marginally, with notable structural divergence. Demand side, copper prices rose significantly, severely suppressing downstream purchasing sentiment, and demand remained sluggish. SHFE copper 2607 contract closed at 106,620 yuan/mt. Based on the BC copper 2607 contract at 94,810 yuan/mt, its after-tax price was 107,135 yuan/mt. The price spread between the SHFE copper 2607 contract and BC copper was -515, with the price spread remaining inverted and widening notably from the previous day.

Around May 23, 2026, import and export data for cobalt and lithium battery industry chain-related products in April were released in a concentrated manner. Data showed that China's spodumene imports in April reached 758,000 mt in physical content, down 9.5% MoM and up 21.7% YoY. Lithium carbonate imports, China imported 32,650 mt of lithium carbonate in April, up 9% MoM and up 15% YoY.......SMM compiled the import and export data for battery materials, as detailed below: Upstream Lithium Concentrates In April 2026, China's spodumene imports reached 758,000 mt in physical content, down 9.5% MoM and up 21.7% YoY, equivalent to approximately 63,000 mt of LCE. Customs data showed that April spodumene imports pulled back MoM from March, reaching 758,000 mt in physical content. By source country, Australian ore port arrivals returned to a relatively normal level, with over 350,000 mt arriving this month, up 38.9% MoM; Zimbabwe's earlier shipments arrived at port this month at 102,000 mt, down 9.2% MoM; South Africa and Nigeria saw some contraction in monthly port arrivals, while ore from Mali had almost no notable port arrivals this month due to shipping schedule impacts. Notably, spodumene powder sold by Brazil in early 2026 arrived at port this month, driving a significant increase in port arrivals from this country. Additionally, after SMM screening, the month's incoming ore was equivalent to 63,000 mt of LCE. Among the incoming ore, lithium concentrates accounted for 67%, edging down MoM, mainly because apart from Australia , ore from other source countries contained some relatively low-grade ore. Source: China Customs, compiled by SMM Spodumene concentrates (CIF China) spot pricing, according to SMM spot pricing, spodumene concentrates (CIF China) spot prices fluctuated upward in April. As of April 30, spodumene concentrates (CIF China) spot prices rose to $2,540/mt, up $221/mt from the month-end price of $2,313/mt in March, a gain of 9.81%. According to SMM, lithium carbonate prices continued to rise in April, and spodumene concentrates prices rose in tandem with salt prices, with gains exceeding those of lithium carbonate itself, causing non-integrated enterprises that purchase externally spodumene concentrates to suffer losses, with spot profitability remaining in deficit. In April, spot circulation of lepidolite concentrates relatively eased. Meanwhile, as lithium carbonate prices rose, processing fees for non-integrated enterprises also increased accordingly, preserving a certain profit margin for their processing operations and enabling these enterprises to achieve spot profitability. However, recently, spodumene concentrates prices adjusted in tandem with lithium carbonate price fluctuations, and the price center shifted downward. According to SMM's latest findings, disrupted by rumors of production resumptions at Jiangxi mines this week, lithium carbonate futures and spot prices declined, further dragging down the overall price center. Currently, lithium mines showed a weak willingness to make shipments, and transactions were mostly concentrated between traders and buyers. Port lithium ore inventory continued to decline. Going forward, attention should still be paid to the potential tight lithium ore supply triggered by high operating rates in the lithium chemicals industry. Lithium ore prices were expected to continue to hold up well. Lithium Carbonate According to customs data, China imported 32,650 mt of lithium carbonate in April, up 9% MoM and up 15% YoY. Of this, 21,000 mt was imported from Chile (65% of total imports), 9,555 mt from Argentina (29%), and 1,100 mt from Indonesia (3%). From January to April, China's cumulative lithium carbonate imports reached 116,000 mt, up 47% YoY cumulatively. In April, China exported 370 mt of lithium carbonate, down 17% MoM and down 50% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative lithium carbonate exports totaled 1,886 mt, up 7% YoY cumulatively. In April, China imported 17,942 mt of lithium sulfate, up 9% MoM and up 296% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative lithium sulfate imports reached 58,900 mt, up 121% YoY cumulatively. According to SMM spot quotes, spot lithium carbonate prices generally trended upward in April. As of April 30, the spot lithium carbonate price rose to 177,000 yuan/mt, up 14,000 yuan/mt from 163,000 yuan/mt on March 31, a gain of 8.59%. According to SMM analysis, China's lithium carbonate prices followed a "V-shaped" trend in April, first declining then rising, with the monthly average price up 6% MoM. In the first ten days, geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East intensified global risk-averse sentiment, causing non-ferrous metals and lithium carbonate prices to fluctuate downward. In the mid-to-late period, driven by Zimbabwe's export ban, Jiangxi mine license renewals, and rising costs, prices began to rebound and fluctuate upward, with the price center shifting notably higher by month-end. Upstream and downstream purchasing remained stagnant, with the psychological price spread widening week by week. Upstream producers held prices firm and held back from selling, maintaining high offer prices, while downstream buyers made just-in-time procurement only, with psychological price levels concentrated at 155,000-175,000 yuan/mt, restocking on dips only when prices fell rapidly. In April, spot battery-grade lithium carbonate prices dropped to around 155,500 yuan/mt in the first ten days, then rallied all the way to 177,000 yuan/mt by month-end. As of May 29, domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate was quoted at 174,000-181,000 yuan/mt, with an average price of 177,500 yuan/mt. Lithium Hydroxide According to customs data, in April 2026, China imported 6,689 mt of lithium hydroxide, up 9% MoM and up four times YoY. Of this, 2,252 mt were imported from South Korea, accounting for 34% of total imports; 1,706 mt came from Indonesia, accounting for approximately 25% of imports; and the remaining 40% came from Australia and Chile. In April, China exported 5,535 mt of lithium hydroxide, up 76% MoM and up 31% YoY, of which 3,915 mt were exported to South Korea and 864 mt to Japan. Continued sluggish ternary cathode material output outside China limited the absorption capacity for lithium hydroxide in markets outside China, resulting in a slight surplus in markets outside China, which in turn widened the price spread between domestic and overseas markets. Meanwhile, as suppliers outside China had previously signed long-term supply agreements with domestic traders, they were able to continuously dump lithium hydroxide into the Chinese market. Under the combined effect of these factors, the trade pattern of lithium hydroxide continued to reverse (shifting from net exports to net imports). Source: China Customs, compiled by SMM Battery Materials LiPF6 According to China Customs data, in April 2026, China's cumulative LiPF6 exports totaled approximately 868 mt, down approximately 80.9% MoM, while cumulative imports were approximately 96 mt. Export side, China's LiPF6 exports in April 2026 were approximately 868 mt, down approximately 80.9% MoM from March and down approximately 33.2% YoY. Specifically, as the LiPF6 export VAT rebate policy was officially abolished starting April 1, 2026, enterprises rushed to export in advance in March, and electrolyte enterprises outside China built up certain inventory, leading to MoM declines in China's exports to multiple major destination countries in April. Exports to Poland were 337.5 mt (down approximately 80.4% MoM), South Korea 81.804 mt (down approximately 92.56% MoM), Czech Republic 150 mt (down approximately 67.43% MoM), and the US 101.908 mt (down approximately 61.7% MoM). Only exports to Japan increased — 191.37 mt (up approximately 50.77% MoM). Artificial Graphite In April 2026, China's artificial graphite imports were 757 mt, up 12.4% MoM and down 32.9% YoY. Average import price side, in April 2026, the average import price of artificial graphite in China was 75,941 yuan/mt, up 23.1% MoM and up 14.6% YoY. In April 2026, China's artificial graphite exports totaled 45,895 mt, up 22.3% MoM but down 21% YoY. In terms of average export price, in April 2026, the average export price of China's artificial graphite was 9,214 yuan/mt, down 6.6% MoM but up 0.26% YoY. Exports from the top five exporting provinces rose 21% MoM from the previous month, with two provinces seeing export volume increases of over 35% MoM, and another province recording a 20% MoM increase. Import market, orders from downstream power battery enterprises in China gradually recovered in April. Combined with the phased tightness in spot capacity of leading anode enterprises, restocking demand was released, boosting artificial graphite imports to rebound from weakness on a MoM basis. However, import volumes remained down YoY, primarily because China's anode industry had ample overall capacity with supply still in surplus, domestic self-sufficiency continued to strengthen, and the industry's reliance on imported raw materials and finished products steadily declined. Flake Graphite In April 2026, China's flake graphite imports totaled 3,178 mt, down 19% MoM and down 45% YoY. Data source: China Customs, SMM In April 2026, China's flake graphite exports totaled 4,093 mt, down 50% MoM and down 54% YoY. Export market, the flake graphite export tax rebate policy was officially canceled this month, directly squeezing profit margins for foreign trade enterprises and significantly dampening overall export willingness. Meanwhile, the approval pace for flake graphite export licenses slowed down, hindering foreign trade shipments processes. Coupled with weak ex-China end-use demand, multiple bearish factors combined to directly drive a sharp decline in industry export volumes. The import market also continued to weaken. Goods originally intended for exports shifted to domestic sales circulation, with increasingly abundant local supply sources in China. Market enthusiasm for import procurement was insufficient, ultimately causing imports to decline in tandem this month. Phosphate Ore On May 20, 2026, according to customs data, China's phosphate ore imports totaled 207,000 mt in April 2026. April imports rose 13.5% from 182,000 mt in March. Total import value in April was $19.741 million, up 35.7% MoM from $14.552 million in March. The average unit price was $95.5/mt, up 19.6% from $79.9/mt in March. Import commentary: In May, Egypt's phosphate ore exports faced "policy tightening and weakening demand."On May 13, Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that it would no longer sign any new phosphate ore export contracts. Previously, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly stated clearly at a meeting on May 10 that the government was pushing for a transition from raw material exports to the manufacturing of high-value-added products such as phosphate fertiliser. Already signed long-term contracts would not be affected. This is expected to push up import prices and may affect imports. Cobalt Cobalt Hydrometallurgy Intermediate Products In April 2026, China's cobalt hydrometallurgy intermediate products imports were approximately 1,247 mt in physical content, down 26% MoM and down 98% YoY. Among them, imports from the DRC were approximately 945 mt in physical content, down 43% MoM and down 98% YoY. In April 2026, the average import price of China's cobalt hydrometallurgy intermediate products was $17,187/mt in physical content, up 2.63% MoM. It was learned that most miners had completed the Q4 2025 quota approvals, but the Q1 2026 quota approvals slowed down again due to sampling, detection and other procedural issues. In addition, transportation capacity in the DRC was tight. Fleets, driven by economic considerations, prioritised the transport of oil products and chemicals that were in production shortage, followed by other metals with shorter turnover cycles, and cobalt among non-ferrous metals came last, meaning cobalt faced significant transportation capacity issues. Constrained by the above factors, miners mainly focused on building in-transit inventory and had not yet arranged concentrated vessel bookings, and the arrival of large batches of intermediate products at ports may continue to be delayed. Unwrought Cobalt In April 2026, China's unwrought cobalt imports were approximately 1,334 mt, up 39% MoM and up 59% YoY. In April, refined cobalt imports mainly came from Indonesia, Russia, and Madagascar, with imports of 462 mt, 457 mt, and 182 mt respectively. The main reason for the increase this month was that domestic smelters lacked intermediate product raw materials and imported cobalt slabs and cobalt briquettes for re-dissolution to ensure normal production. In terms of average import prices, the average import price of China's unwrought cobalt in April 2026 was $52,724/mt, up 4.72% MoM. Cumulative imports from January to April 2026 totalled 5,916 mt, up 153% YoY cumulatively. Export side, China's unwrought cobalt exports in April 2026 were approximately 218 mt, down 47% MoM and down 95% YoY. By country, China's exports to the US dropped significantly, with April exports to the US at 35 mt, down 87.5% MoM. The main reason was that demand for alloy-grade refined cobalt in the US pulled back in April, and ex-China branded refined cobalt was already sufficient to meet regional demand, with some refined cobalt traders redirecting their destinations from the US back to China. Average export price, the average export price of China's unwrought cobalt in April 2026 was $54,590/mt, up 5.80% MoM. Cumulative exports from January to April 2026 totaled 1,792 mt, down 76% YoY.

In May, China's aluminum fabrication industry recorded an overall PMI of 50.8%, barely staying above the 50 mark but pulling back significantly by 3.1 percentage points from April. Industry sentiment slid from the edge of expansion territory toward the critical threshold, with structural divergence intensifying further.

In April 2026, China's aluminum semis exports showed a strong rebound. According to customs data, April exports of aluminum semis (including aluminum extrusion, aluminum plate/sheet and strip, aluminum foil, etc.) reached 535,700 mt, up 20.9% MoM and up 9.8% YoY; exports of aluminum products (including aluminum wire, etc.) reached 318,000 mt, up 32.8% MoM and up 7.8% YoY. Cumulative aluminum semis exports from January to April totaled 1.1555 million mt, up 6.2% YoY cumulatively.

Imported Bauxite Prices As of May 25, 2026, SMM overseas bauxite prices were generally stable with slight upward movement. Supported by rising energy and seaborne freight costs, prices of some imported bauxite cargoes edged up. However, domestic alumina refineries maintained relatively high raw material inventories, while downstream acceptance of high-priced resources remained limited. Market transactions were mainly driven by rigid demand. Among them, the SMM Imported Bauxite CIF Index (converted to 45/3 grade) stood at $67.61/mt, up $0.09/mt MoM, with the monthly price range at $67.52-67.85/mt. By product, Guinea bauxite FOB price (converted to 45/3 grade) stood at $38/mt, flat MoM, with prices remaining largely stable since the beginning of May. Guinea bauxite CIF price (converted to 45/3 grade) stood at $68/mt, up $0.05/mt MoM, with the monthly price range at $67-68/mt. Australia bauxite CIF price (49-50/6-7 grade) stood at $62/mt, while Australia high-temperature bauxite CIF price (51-52/8-10 grade) stood at $56.50/mt, both flat MoM. Türkiye bauxite CFR price (54/6 grade) stood at $78.50/mt, up $2.50/mt MoM, rising from $76/mt to $78.50/mt during the month. Malaysia bauxite CIF price (37-41/5-6 grade) stood at $52/mt, Malaysia washed bauxite CIF price (37-41/5-6 grade) stood at $62.50/mt, and Ghana bauxite CIF price (47-51/5-6 grade) stood at $78/mt, with prices remaining stable during the month. Bauxite Imports and Exports According to customs data, China imported 19.743 million mt of bauxite in April 2026, down 9.4% MoM and 4.6% YoY. From January to April 2026, China’s cumulative bauxite imports reached 77.728 million mt, up 14.7% YoY. By country, China imported 16.423 million mt of bauxite from Guinea in April 2026, down 9.4% MoM and 1.9% YoY. From January to April 2026, China’s cumulative bauxite imports from Guinea reached 62.964 million mt, up 18.5% YoY. Guinea remained the major source of China’s bauxite imports. In terms of shipments, as of May 22, the average daily bauxite shipment volume from major Guinean ports fell to 559,000 mt/day, down around 21.8% MoM. Taking into account the shipping schedule transmission period, domestic bauxite arrivals are expected to gradually decline from late June, with a relatively significant decrease in domestic bauxite arrivals expected in July. Market Impact Factors In May 2026, overseas bauxite prices were mainly affected by three factors: expectations surrounding Guinea’s export policy, rising energy and seaborne freight costs, and the restraint on procurement appetite caused by high bauxite inventories at domestic alumina refineries. First, Guinea’s bauxite export quota policy remained a key market focus. Earlier, market rumours suggested that the Guinean government might implement a bauxite export quota policy around the May Day holiday, which could support Guinea bauxite prices by restricting shipment volumes. However, as the relevant policy has yet to be officially implemented, its marginal impact on market sentiment has weakened. Market participants have also become less active in pricing and stockpiling based on this factor. Second, rising energy and seaborne freight costs provided some support for overseas bauxite prices. Affected by geopolitical disruptions, international oil prices remained at high levels, pushing up mine land transportation, seaborne freight, and production operating costs. According to SMM survey, freight rates from Guinea to China rose from around $34/wmt in April to $36-37.5/wmt during May, significantly lifting shipment costs for mines and traders. Against the backdrop of increasing cost pressure, some mines and traders saw weaker shipment enthusiasm, while the market also observed a slowdown in shipment pace. Third, raw material inventories at domestic alumina refineries remained relatively high, limiting their acceptance of high-priced imported bauxite. Currently, bauxite inventories at domestic alumina refineries generally remain above three months. Downstream procurement is mainly based on rigid demand, while willingness to chase high-priced resources remains weak. Although some long-term contract prices for Guinea-to-China cargoes were around $70/mt in May, SMM survey showed that some downstream alumina refineries’ intended procurement prices for spot cargoes were still concentrated around $65-67/mt, indicating that the price gap between buyers and sellers remained significant. Price Outlook On the supply side, energy and seaborne freight costs remain high, providing certain support for overseas bauxite prices. Meanwhile, the phased decline in shipment volumes from major Guinean ports may gradually transmit to China’s arrival volume. On the demand side, bauxite inventories at domestic alumina refineries remain relatively sufficient, and the likelihood of a sharp increase in their procurement price expectations in the short term is limited. The price negotiation between buyers and sellers remains relatively evident. SMM expects overseas bauxite prices to fluctuate at high levels in the short term. Going forward, attention should be paid to changes in Guinea shipments, seaborne freight trends, the pace of inventory consumption at domestic alumina refineries, and changes in procurement sentiment.

Imported Bauxite Prices As of May 25, 2026, ex-China bauxite prices generally remained stable with a slight upward trend. Affected by rising energy and ocean freight costs, some imported ore prices edged up. However, raw material inventory at China's alumina refineries stayed high, and downstream acceptance of high-priced resources was limited, with market transactions still dominated by just-in-time procurement. Among them, the SMM imported bauxite CIF index (converted to 45/3 grade) was quoted at $67.61/mt, up $0.09/mt MoM, with the monthly price range at $67.52-67.85/mt. By variety, Guinea bauxite FOB prices (converted to 45/3 grade) were quoted at $38/mt, flat MoM, with prices remaining stable since May. Guinea bauxite CIF prices (converted to 45/3 grade) were quoted at $68/mt, up $0.05/mt MoM, with the monthly price range at $67-68/mt. Australia bauxite CIF prices (49-50/6-7 grade) were quoted at $62/mt, and Australia high-temperature bauxite CIF prices (51-52/8-10 grade) were quoted at $56.5/mt, both flat MoM. Turkey bauxite CFR prices (54/6 grade) were quoted at $78.5/mt, up $2.5/mt MoM, with prices rising from $76/mt to $78.5/mt within the month. Malaysia bauxite CIF prices (37-41/5-6 grade) were quoted at $52/mt, Malaysia washed bauxite CIF prices (37-41/5-6 grade) were quoted at $62.5/mt, and Ghana bauxite CIF prices (47-51/5-6 grade) were quoted at $78/mt, all remaining stable within the month. Bauxite Imports and Exports Customs data showed that in April 2026, China imported 19.743 million mt of bauxite, down 9.4% MoM and down 4.6% YoY. From January to April 2026, China's cumulative bauxite imports totalled 77.728 million mt, up 14.7% YoY. By country, in April 2026, China imported 16.423 million mt of bauxite from Guinea, down 9.4% MoM and down 1.9% YoY. From January to April 2026, China's cumulative bauxite imports from Guinea totalled 62.964 million mt, up 18.5% YoY. Guinea remained the primary source country for China's bauxite imports. Shipment side, as of May 22, daily average bauxite shipments from Guinea's main ports fell to 559,000 mt/day, down approximately 21.8% MoM. Considering the shipping schedule transmission cycle, China's bauxite port arrivals are expected to gradually pull back from late June, with a notable decline expected in July. Analysis of Market Influencing Factors In May 2026, ex-China bauxite prices were mainly affected by three factors: Guinea's export policy expectations, rising energy and ocean freight costs, and high inventory at China's alumina refineries suppressing purchase willingness. First, Guinea's bauxite export quota policy remained a market focus. Earlier, there were market rumours that the Guinean government might implement the bauxite export quota policy around the Labour Day holiday, driving up Guinea bauxite prices by restricting shipments. However, as the relevant policy had yet to be officially implemented, its marginal impact on market sentiment weakened, and market participants' enthusiasm for pricing and stockpiling based on this factor also declined. Second, rising energy and ocean freight costs provided some support for ex-China ore prices. Affected by geopolitical disruptions, international oil prices fluctuated at highs, and mine overland transport, ocean freight, and production operating costs all rose. According to an SMM survey, ocean freight rates from Guinea to China rose from approximately $34/wmt in April to $36-37.5/wmt in May, significantly pushing up shipping costs for mines and traders. Against the backdrop of increasing cost pressure, some mines and traders showed reduced enthusiasm for shipments, and the market also saw a slowdown in shipping pace. Third, raw material inventory at China's alumina refineries remained at a relatively high level, limiting acceptance of high-priced imported ore. Currently, bauxite inventory at China's alumina refineries stood at over 3 months, with downstream buyers mainly making just-in-time procurement and showing weak willingness to rush to buy amid continuous price rise. Although some long-term contract prices from Guinea to China were around $70/mt in May, an SMM survey found that some downstream alumina refineries' intended prices for spot bauxite purchases were still concentrated around $65-67/mt, with significant price divergence between buyers and sellers. Price Outlook Supply side, energy and ocean freight costs stayed high, providing some support for ex-China bauxite prices. Meanwhile, shipments from Guinea's main ports pulled back on a phased basis, which may gradually transmit to China's port arrival side. Demand side, bauxite inventory at China's alumina refineries remained relatively sufficient, with limited possibility of significantly raising procurement target prices in the short term, and notable bargaining between high- and low-priced resources persisted in the market. SMM expects that ex-China bauxite prices will hover at highs in the near term. Continued attention should be paid to changes in Guinea's shipments, ocean freight rate trends, the pace of inventory drawdown at China's alumina refineries, and shifts in procurement sentiment.