Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has officially released the benchmark mineral price (HMA) for the second half of August 2026. The HMA for this period is as follows: nickel price at US$16,960/tonne, rise from US$16,646/tonne in the first half of August 2026, representing an increase of US$314.00/tonne, or 1.89%. Meanwhile, the benchmark prices for other minerals are: cobalt at US$55,869.00/tonne, iron ore at US$1.41/tonne, and chromite ore at US$6.37/tonne. According to SMM's internal calculation model, based on simulations for pyrometallurgical ore (20% Fe, 1% Cr, 0.05% Co) and hydrometallurgical ore (45% Fe, 2% Cr, 0.10% Co), the benchmark nickel ore prices (HPM) for different grades have changed as follows: - Ni 1.2%: US$46.12/wmt (increase US$0.64) - Ni 1.3%: US$50.42/wmt (increase US$0.72) - Ni 1.4%: US$54.57/wmt (increase US$0.68) - Ni 1.5%: US$59.31/wmt (increase US$0.77) - Ni 1.6%: US$64.28/wmt (increase US$0.86)

According to a post on CATL’s Weibo account, today, at the 2026 CATL Core Operations Carbon Neutrality Launch Conference, Huang Bin, Director of CATL’s Procurement Center and Director of the Planning and Materials Control Department, said that more than 80% of carbon emissions across the full life cycle of lithium batteries come from various links in the supply chain. In the next phase, CATL’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across the entire value chain—from mineral resources to finished batteries—by 2035. To achieve this goal, the key lies in coordinated efforts across the supply chain. From accurately accounting for its carbon footprint to the end-to-end process of targeted emissions reduction, CATL broke down the goals in detail and formulated a specific action plan.

Today, at the 2026 CATL Core Operations Carbon Neutrality Launch Event, Huang Bin, Director of CATL’s Procurement Center and Director of the Planning and Material Control Department, stated that more than 80% of carbon emissions across the entire lithium battery life cycle come from various stages of the supply chain. In the next phase, CATL’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality across the full value chain—from mineral resources to finished batteries—by 2035. To achieve this goal, the key lies in coordinated efforts across the supply chain. From accurately accounting for its carbon footprint to the end-to-end process of targeted emissions reduction, CATL broke down the goals in detail and developed a specific action plan.

[8.17 Morning Meeting Minutes] The overall increase in the US Producer Price Index (PPI) in July remained mild, indicating a further easing of inflationary pressures, and expectations for a US Fed interest rate hike in September cooled further. The most-traded SHFE nickel 2609 contract plunged sharply in early trading, closing the morning session at 127,300 yuan/mt, down 1.12%. The Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI) recommended keeping the 2026 nickel ore RKAB at 270 million wmt and additionally setting a 30 million wmt strategic buffer, bringing the potential total quota to 300 million wmt. With expectations for looser RKAB quotas, nickel prices are expected to remain in the doldrums in the short term, and the trading range for the most-traded SHFE nickel contract is 125,000-130,000 yuan/mt.

Sweden has rejected appeals against Boliden’s mining concession for the Laver copper project in northern Sweden, allowing the company to advance one of Europe’s potentially significant new sources of domestic copper supply toward the environmental permitting stage. The mining concession, originally granted by Sweden’s Chief Mining Inspector in September 2025, provides the right to extract copper, gold, silver and molybdenum from the Laver deposit. The Swedish government’s August 12 decision rejected two appeals against the concession, removing an important regulatory hurdle for the proposed mine. Laver contains an indicated Mineral Resource of approximately **849.5 million tonnes grading 0.24% copper**, according to Boliden’s 2025 resource statement. The company estimates that development of the project could **roughly double Sweden’s copper production** and increase Europe’s copper self-sufficiency by approximately **10%**. The project is not yet approved for construction or production. Boliden will now proceed with its application for an environmental permit, while additional technical and regulatory work will be required before an investment decision can be made. From a longer-term supply perspective, progress at Laver is significant as Europe seeks to increase domestic production of critical raw materials and reduce its reliance on imported copper. Although production remains several years away, removal of the concession appeals improves the project’s development pathway and could ultimately support a meaningful increase in European mined copper supply.

On August 14, Xingye Silver&Tin's share price fell. As of 10:24 on August 14, Xingye Silver&Tin was down 1.58% at RMB37.28/share. In response to the question "What is the construction progress of Atlantic Tin?", Xingye Silver&Tin said on the interactive platform on August 13 when answering an investor's question, the Atlantic Tin project is currently advancing preliminary work such as construction of the explosives magazine, engineering surveys and preparations for equipment transportation. Construction teams have entered the site for preliminary preparations, and the project is expected to officially start construction in Q4. When asked "I have repeatedly suggested that the company's underground mining use tunnel boring machines to transform them into mineral excavation equipment. Does the company have any ideas or plans in this regard? Why has it not logged in on the interactive platform? Thank you!", Xingye Silver&Tin said on the interactive platform on August 13 that the company had carried out early-stage evaluation and feasibility studies on the application of tunnel boring machines and currently has no relevant implementation plan. On August 6, Xingye Silver&Tin said on the interactive platform in response to investor questions that the company takes deeply cultivating its main business and steady operations to consolidate intrinsic value as the foundation of its market value management, continues to optimize internal control and standardize information disclosure, carries out regular public opinion monitoring and responses to market concerns, promptly clarifies false rumors, keeps online and offline investor communication channels open, objectively conveys the company's long-term development value, and protects the right to information and legitimate rights and interests of minority shareholders in all respects. On August 6, Xingye Silver&Tin said on the interactive platform in response to investor questions that the company always adheres to a prudent cash dividend policy, continues to reward all shareholders with stable cash returns, and effectively safeguards the long-term interests of minority shareholders. On August 6, Xingye Silver&Tin said on the interactive platform in response to investor questions that the company will strictly implement its primary responsibility for production safety, strengthen the defense line for safe development, improve its inherent safety level, and address shortcomings in safety management. A progress announcement issued by Xingye Silver&Tin on July 31 regarding a safety incident at its subsidiary showed that on July 30, 2026, Yinman Mining received the On-site Handling Measures Decision ((Xi) Emergency On-site Decision (2026) No. 260) issued by the West Ujimqin Banner Emergency Management Bureau, requiring the simultaneous suspension of Yinman Mining's mineral processing and tailings systems. As of the disclosure of this announcement, both Yinman Mining's mining system and its mineral processing and tailings systems had been suspended. The specific circumstances of the incident disclosed by Xingye Silver&Tin showed that at about 15:30 on July 26, 2026, an accident occurred during underground production and construction at the mine of the company's wholly owned subsidiary, West Ujimqin Banner Yinman Mining Co., Ltd., causing one death and no injuries. After the accident, Yinman Mining suspended production in the underground mining area in accordance with the On-site Handling Measures Decision ((Xi) Emergency On-site Decision (2026) No. 257) issued by the West Ujimqin Banner Emergency Management Bureau. Regarding the impact on the company's production, operations and results: Yinman Mining is mainly engaged in the mining, processing and sale of nonferrous metals including silver, tin, copper, lead and zinc, with a production scale of 1.65 million mt/year. In 2025, Yinman Mining recorded operating revenue of RMB3,062.0434 million, accounting for 55.12% of the company's consolidated operating revenue, and net profit of RMB1,346.2785 million. In Q1 2026, Yinman Mining recorded operating revenue of RMB961.5985 million, accounting for 45.15% of the company's consolidated operating revenue, and net profit of RMB474.7488 million. The cause of the accident and the cause of the death are still under investigation, and Yinman Mining will fully cooperate with the accident investigation and subsequent work. Since the duration of Yinman Mining's production suspension cannot be determined at present, the impact of the suspension on the company's current-period and full-year results cannot be accurately estimated for the time being. The company will perform its information disclosure obligations in a timely manner according to the progress of the accident investigation and relevant regulations, and investors are reminded to pay attention to investment risks. In terms of results, Xingye Silver&Tin earlier disclosed its semi-annual results forecast in the evening, showing that it expects net profit attributable to the parent company of RMB2.14 billion to RMB2.37 billion in H1 2026, up 168.95%-197.86% YoY. Regarding the reasons for the change in results, Xingye Silver&Tin said: 1. Yubang Mining's capacity was gradually released, and ore-derived silver production and sales increased significantly YoY. 2. During the reporting period, affected by factors such as the macroeconomic environment and changes in market demand for products, the selling prices of the company's main mineral products such as silver and tin rose from the year-earlier period. 3. During the reporting period, the company transferred a 60% equity interest in Shuangyuan Nonferrous Metals; the equity transfer resulted in non-recurring gains of RMB454 million. The company realized investment income of RMB321 million. Since Shuangyuan Nonferrous Metals was originally a loss-making enterprise with excessive losses, the equity transfer increased the parent company's deductible losses, which in turn reduced income tax expense by RMB133 million. Xingye Silver&Tin's 2025 annual report showed that in 2025, the company recorded operating revenue of RMB5,555.2536 million, up 30.09% YoY; total profit of RMB2,096.2370 million, up 18.75% YoY; and net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company of RMB1,704.2393 million, up 11.40% YoY. An announcement by Xingye Silver&Tin showed that in 2025, the proportions of the company's main mineral product revenue in total operating revenue were as follows: ore-derived silver RMB2,175.7825 million, accounting for 39.17%; ore-derived tin RMB1,649.6398 million, accounting for 29.70%; ore-derived zinc RMB975.8673 million, accounting for 17.57%; ore-derived lead RMB220.9450 million, accounting for 3.98%; ore-derived iron RMB180.3799 million, accounting for 3.25%; ore-derived copper RMB133.0043 million, accounting for 2.39%; ore-derived antimony RMB100.3568 million, accounting for 1.81%; ore-derived gold RMB82.3402 million, accounting for 1.48%; ore-derived bismuth RMB16.6744 million, accounting for 0.30%. Of these, combined revenue from ore-derived tin and ore-derived silver accounted for 68.86%. Regarding the company's main business and key performance drivers, Xingye Silver&Tin stated in its 2025 annual report that the company is a large mining group mainly engaged in the exploration, mining and mineral processing of nonferrous and precious metals. As of the disclosure date of this report, the company has more than 20 subsidiaries, including eight operating mining companies: Yinman Mining, Qianjinda Mining, Yubang Mining, Rongguan Mining, Xilin Mining, Rongbang Mining, Ruineng Mining and Bosheng Mining. The Achmmach tin mine of AtlasTinSAS under Atlantic Tin is in the construction phase; Tanghe Shidai Mining is in a construction suspension phase; and Yitong Mining and Yunnan Xigui are in the exploration phase. Hainan Fund is mainly engaged in equity investment management. Xingye Gold (Hong Kong) is mainly engaged in metals and mining trade and corporate acquisitions, and is responsible for expanding overseas markets and acquiring high-quality overseas mineral resources. Hainan International Trade and Tianjin International Trade are mainly engaged in the sale of nonferrous metal ore products and the procurement of some raw materials. Xingye Ruijin mainly carries out process research, technology development and upgrading for exploration, mining and mineral processing, and comprehensive recovery and utilization of tailings. Tibet Shannan Antimony-Gold, Tibet Xinda Mining and Xing'an League Fuxingtun Mining serve as the company's regional resource integration platforms. During the reporting period, the company successfully acquired an 85% equity interest in Yubang Mining. According to data from the Silver Institute as of the end of 2023, Yubang Mining's single silver mine ranked first in Asia and fifth globally. The acquisition further strengthened the company's resource advantages and laid a solid resource foundation for its sustainable development. Meanwhile, the company, through its subsidiary Xingye Gold (Hong Kong) as the investment vehicle, increased investment in overseas mineral resources and successfully acquired a 100% equity interest in Atlantic Tin. The acquisition was an important step in implementing the company's "going global" strategy. According to the large tin mine classification criteria in the Standards for Classification of Mineral Resource Reserves (DZ/T0400-2022), the Achmmach tin mine held by Atlantic Tin is currently equivalent to five large deposits. Through the integration of overseas tin resources, the company further improved its international tin layout and reserved important strategic resources for its long-term development. The company's main results come from its nonferrous metal mining and processing business. During the reporting period, revenue from the nonferrous metal mining and processing business accounted for 99.64% of total operating revenue in 2025. The main factors affecting the operating results of the mining and processing segment include production and sales volumes of major products, market prices, and costs of the nonferrous and precious metal mining and processing business. Regarding its operating plan, Xingye Silver&Tin stated in its 2025 annual report that 2026 is the closing year of the company's "Second Three-Year" plan. The board will focus closely on high-quality development, fully implement the established objectives, continue to deepen the philosophy of trust and collaboration, and make every effort to achieve the final goals of the "Second Three-Year" plan, with the following priorities: 1. Hold the bottom line for safety and environmental protection. With 2026 as the "Year of Implementing Safety Management," comprehensively strengthen safety responsibilities, consolidate the achievements of the "Year of Collective Calm in Safety," enhance risk anticipation and process control, and resolutely prevent all kinds of safety and environmental accidents to achieve safe, stable, green and low-carbon development. 2. Make every effort to advance key project construction; strengthen full-process management of project budgets, schedules and quality; coordinate the implementation of projects such as the 2.97 million mt expansion at Yinman Mining, the 8.25 million mt expansion at Yubang Mining, the Morocco project, and the Budun Yin'gen Mining (trusteeship) project; and ensure they are completed and reach full production on schedule to release capacity benefits. 3. Continue to strengthen exploration and reserve expansion; properly balance production and geological exploration; steadily advance exploration at existing mines and surrounding areas; accelerate the conversion and upgrading of resources into reserves; and steadily strengthen the resource base. 4. Deepen industrial synergy and resource integration; leverage the advantages of the core region of Inner Mongolia; steadily expand the overseas resource layout; maintain silver and tin as the main business direction and enrich and optimize resource types. Solidly advance the follow-up acquisition and integration of Weiling Co., and actively track high-quality mineral project opportunities at home and abroad to enhance overall competitiveness through synergistic industrial M&A. 5. Further strengthen institutional enforcement and internal control management; ensure all systems, processes and control requirements are effectively implemented; improve the company's refined management; strengthen enforcement capacity; ensure production plans, comprehensive budgets and all work arrangements are fully implemented; and promote deep integration of corporate culture and business management. 6. Make every effort to advance preparations for the Hong Kong listing; accelerate the establishment of dual capital market platforms at home and abroad; enhance cross-border capital operation capabilities; provide stronger funding support for the company's resource integration and strategy implementation; and push the company's high-quality sustainable development to a new level. A research report from Huaxin Securities on August 7 showed that key performance drivers included the official start of Yinman Phase II and steady progress in capacity expansion, and a dual-track layout of domestic acquisitions and overseas expansion with the resource map steadily expanding. Silver and tin prices remain high, and the company's long-term capacity growth is expected, so the rating is maintained at "Buy." Risk warnings: 1) downstream demand falls short of expectations; 2) metal price downside risk; 3) the company's expanded capacity is released less than expected; 4) the company's acquisition progress falls short of expectations. A research report from Huaxi Securities on July 25 said that the macro logic for silver is similar to that for gold, while silver has stronger industrial attributes, and its price is driven by the resonance of fundamentals, policy and trading. From the perspective of core support, silver has been included in the US "critical minerals" list, which has triggered sustained attention from funds and a stockpiling effect, serving as an important policy catalyst for price increases. Although short-term demand has pulled back somewhat, the supply-side gap remains prominent, providing the core fundamental support for silver prices. The supply-demand gap for silver is expected to continue widening in the coming years. Coupled with demand improvement from the industrial recovery during the easing cycle, silver's price elasticity is significantly higher than gold's, and silver is expected to rise under the resonance of a loose environment and industrial demand, with a favorable long-term silver price trend. The silver sector is currently in a stage of consolidation at lows after a pullback. Although it is pressured in the short term by a stronger US dollar and delayed interest rate cut expectations, it still has medium and long-term allocation value. Beneficiaries of silver include: [Shengda Resources] and [Xingye Silver&Tin].

Tertiary Minerals Plc has completed its Phase 4 drilling programme at Target A1 within the Mushima North Project in Zambia, with early portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) results identifying further copper mineralisation and supporting previously identified higher-grade zones.​ The Phase 4 programme comprised 3,639 m of drilling across 39 holes. Early results included an intersection of 15 m grading 0.53% copper from 100 m depth, including 7 m at 0.77% copper. Additional intersections included 4 m at 0.68% copper and 8 m at 0.62% copper, while broader infill intersections returned 65 m at 0.23% copperand 83 m at 0.16% copper.​ Mushima North is a polymetallic silver-copper-zinc prospect located within Zambia’s prospective Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold region, approximately 28 km east of the historic Kalengwa copper-silver mine. The latest drilling supports the previously identified near-surface Exploration Target of 15–30 million tonnes grading 40–60 g/t silver equivalent, while also providing further indications of higher-grade copper and silver mineralisation within the target area.​ Samples from the drilling programme have been submitted for independent laboratory testing, with certified results expected to be released as they become available. Remaining pXRF results from the final nine holes are also expected, covering additional infill drilling at Target A1 and exploration of mineralisation west of Target A1 and at Target A2.​ With Phase 4 drilling now complete, the project is moving into its next stage of technical evaluation. Initial metallurgical testwork is expected to commence shortly, followed by data compilation and resource modelling. Tertiary Minerals is targeting the delivery of a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for Mushima North before the end of 2026, which would provide a clearer assessment of the scale and grade distribution of the mineralised system following the latest drilling campaign.

According to foreign media reports, step-out drilling at the Nyungu Central deposit within Zambia’s Mumbezhi Copper Project has returned further copper intersections, extending a newly identified mineralised zone southeast beyond the boundaries of the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).​ Recent drilling returned 65.8 m grading 0.42% copper from 226 m, including higher-grade intervals of 17.0 m at 0.58% copper and 13.2 m at 0.82% copper. A separate intersection returned 29.6 m grading 0.34% copper from 237 m, including 5.2 m at 0.80% copper. The results extend the known copper system outside the current resource estimate and provide additional targets for continued exploration.​ A total of 16 Phase 3 diamond drill holes covering 4,723 m have so far been completed at the southern end of Nyungu Central, while priority assay results remain pending for seven holes. In addition, a 6,200 m infill diamond drilling programme commenced at Nyungu Central in late July, supported by an additional drill rig now on site.​ Exploration is also continuing across the wider Mumbezhi Project, with four diamond drill rigs currently operating. Three are focused on Nyungu Central, while another is drilling at the regional Sharamba prospect, where exploration is targeting shallow copper mineralisation associated with a strong airborne electromagnetic anomaly. Visual copper mineralisation has been observed in five holes drilled along approximately 700 m of strike on the western side of the anomaly.​ The latest intersections further extend the known copper mineralisation beyond the existing Nyungu Central resource boundaries, while several priority assay results remain outstanding. Continued step-out and infill drilling will provide further indications of the scale and continuity of the mineralised system and its potential to support future resource expansion at Mumbezhi.

Metalsource Mining has started a new drilling phase at its Silver Hill Project in North Carolina, targeting strike and down-plunge extensions of polymetallic mineralisation intersected in Hole SH26-07. The hole previously returned 12.62m grading 3,786g/t silver equivalent, including 6.95m at 6,730g/t silver equivalent and 2.74m at 16,604g/t silver equivalent; the latter interval included 209.1g/t gold. The company said the results also showed notable silver, lead and zinc concentrations. New drill platforms west of the current drilling area will test the interpreted deep extension of the polymetallic system and mineralisation along strike and at depth. Drilling will also shift temporarily to the eastern area to test the up-dip extension of gold-rich mineralisation between SH26-07, SH26-05 and SH25-02. Metalsource is working toward a first mineral resource estimate planned for early 2027, while stressing that the current data are preliminary, insufficient to define a mineral resource, and subject to further drilling and pending analytical results.

[Phosphorus Chemical: Egypt's $930 Million Integrated Phosphate Ore Project Officially Launched] On July 30, 2026, Egypt's Mineral Resources and Mining Industry Authority (MRMIA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Genesis Mining to launch an integrated phosphate ore entire industry chain project with a total investment of approximately $930 million in the New Valley Governorate, to be implemented in phases. The project is expected to reach an annual capacity of up to 20 million mt of phosphate ore, associated with a 4 million mt capacity of phosphate ore concentrates, and produce 500,000 mt of phosphoric acid and 500,000 mt of phosphorus chemical products per year. The project also carried out large-scale geological drilling to improve the mineral reserves database. Egypt holds the world's third-largest phosphate ore reserves, with proven reserves of approximately 2.8 billion mt. Several Chinese phosphorus chemical enterprises, including Chuan Jinnuo, Xingfa Group, and China State Construction, have already made early moves in the Egyptian market.