On July 24, LiDAR technology company Hesai Technology announced its recent partnership with intelligent new energy solution provider Westwell.

Currently, talks are underway over Q4 Australian spodumene pricing.

IGO announced on the morning of January 29th that the long-term off-take pricing model for Greenbushes has been changed.

For the week ending November 2, the decrease in CIF prices for spodumene concentrate slowed compared to the prior week.

Australian lithium mining company IGO announced changes to the long-term off-take pricing model for the world's largest lithium mine, Greenbushes, owned by the company, Tianqi Lithium, and Albemarle. The new settlement method will use the average lithium salt price of the previous month of shipment, with a 5% discount, compared to the previous method of using the average lithium salt price of the previous quarter. The production guidance for FY24 lithium spodumene concentrate has also been lowered. This change reflects the current trend of lowering prices in the lithium mining industry, as prices for lithium spodumene concentrate have been declining. Various mining companies are focusing on reducing production costs, and if the prices continue to drop, there is still room for further decline in the import price of lithium spodumene concentrate.

Recently, the collaborative efforts of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group (IDG) and Geely Auto have come to fruition with the successful mass production of an AI conversational product embedded in the ...

In the week ending November 23, lithium carbonate prices experienced a notable decrease.

Q: What is the current distribution of primary magnesium production capacity at home and abroad? How is the export situation of domestic magnesium products? A: In 2024, the global primary magnesium production reached 1.12 million mt, up 12% YoY. In 2024, China's primary magnesium production capacity was 1.4875 million mt, up 9.29% YoY; primary magnesium production was 1.0258 million mt, up 24.73% YoY; and magnesium alloy production was 396,800 mt, up 14.95% YoY. According to statistics from China Customs, from January to December 2024, China exported a cumulative total of 459,800 mt of various magnesium products, a 13.62% increase from 404,700 mt in 2023. Q: Could you please introduce the company's operating performance in 2024? A: In 2024, the company achieved operating revenue of 28.12 billion yuan, up 17.39% compared to the same period last year. Net profit attributable to shareholders of publicly listed firms was 159.628962 million yuan, down 47.91% compared to the same period last year. This was mainly due to the decline in magnesium prices, which led to a decrease in the gross profit margin of magnesium materials and die-casting products, resulting in a year-on-year decline in the company's performance. Q: What progress has been made in downstream magnesium deep-processing products in the automotive sector? A: In 2024, the company achieved over 20% growth in the number of steering wheel products, CCB products, and seat products compared to 2023. It strengthened strategic cooperation with top-tier enterprises in the industry and achieved business reserves for multiple new products. Q: How does the company view the relationship between magnesium and aluminum prices? A: As magnesium prices fall below aluminum prices, it presents a good opportunity for the magnesium industry. It is more conducive to expanding the application of magnesium in downstream sectors such as large automotive components, integrated die-casting of automotive magnesium alloy large components, robots, and construction templates, which will further enhance the enthusiasm of downstream customers to use magnesium. Previously, we promoted the application of magnesium from a performance perspective, but now we can also promote it from a cost perspective. Q: What is the company's ore reserve situation? A: The company's subsidiaries, Chaohu Baomei and Wutai Baomei, hold dolomite ore reserves of 88.6425 million mt and 578.95 million mt, respectively. The company's equity-accounted company, Anhui Baomei, holds dolomite ore reserves of 1.3197813 billion mt. Gansu Mining holds 1.6889 million mt of proven reserves in the Zhongliangzi quartzite mine in Yongdeng County and 1.26 million mt of proven reserves in the Zhongliangzi Nangou quartzite mine in Yongdeng County. The resource guarantee has further consolidated the stability of raw material supply for the company in the production of primary magnesium and magnesium alloys, laying a foundation for the development of the entire industry chain. During the reception process, sufficient exchanges and communications were conducted with investors, and the company strictly adhered to regulations such as the "Information Disclosure Management System" to ensure the truthfulness, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and fairness of information disclosure. There were no cases of undisclosed material information leakage, and the company had signed the "Letter of Commitment" for surveys as required by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. According to the record of the survey conducted with specific targets on March 13, as announced by Baowu Magnesium Industry: Q: Could you please introduce Baowu Magnesium Industry? Baowu Magnesium Industry responded: Baowu Magnesium Industry Technology Co., Ltd., formerly known as Nanjing Yunhai Special Metals Co., Ltd., was established in 1993 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2007. After more than three decades of development, the company has become a high-tech enterprise integrating mining, non-ferrous metal smelting, and recycling processing. Its main business is the production, deep processing, and sales of magnesium and aluminum alloy materials. Its main products include magnesium alloy, magnesium alloy die-castings, aluminum alloy, aluminum extruded micro-air conditioner flat tubes, aluminum extruded automotive structural parts, master alloys, and metal strontium, among others. These products are mainly applied in fields such as automobiles, lightweight e-bikes, consumer electronics, and construction. The company possesses a complete "dolomite mining - crude magnesium smelting - magnesium alloy melting - precision casting and deformation processing of magnesium alloy - magnesium alloy recycling" industry chain. The optimization of the entire industry chain enhances the company's product cost structure and risk resistance capabilities, enabling it to steadily provide customers with various products. Q: What are the company's plans for the overall expansion of downstream deep processing? Baowu Magnesium Industry responded: The company has six die-casting bases nationwide, providing customers with a full set of lightweight solutions. It owns over 200 die-casting units and nearly a thousand machining centers, with surface treatment capabilities for components. It also has the ability to independently develop, design, and manufacture molds, and possesses a strong R&D and design team to meet customers' varying design needs. The company's magnesium alloy deep-processed products primarily focus on automotive components, e-bike components, robot components, and magnesium building templates. Automotive components include small parts such as steering wheels and steering components, as well as medium-to-large parts like instrument panel brackets, seat brackets, center console brackets, display back panels, and side door inner panels. Magnesium alloy is applied in components such as e-bike wheel hubs and front forks. Robot components include covers, bases, control arms, and other parts. Magnesium building templates include ceiling panels and wall panels. Magnesium alloy deep-processed products also include magnesium hydrogen storage materials and integrated die-castings. Aluminum alloy deep-processed parts mainly expand into automotive extruded structural parts and micro-channel flat tubes. Q: How does the company view the application of magnesium alloy in robots? Baowu Magnesium Industry responded: The company has always attached great importance to the promotion and application of magnesium materials in the robotics field. Magnesium alloy empowers the robotics industry with four major advantages: "lightness, speed, stability, and cost-effectiveness," aiming to demonstrate stronger competitiveness and bring lightweight, efficient, and responsive new solutions to the industrial automation field. The use of magnesium alloy materials can meet the requirements of efficient transmission, reliability, and stability in robots. Additionally, magnesium alloy has good recyclability, reducing environmental pressure and meeting environmental protection requirements. Q: Could you introduce the company's strontium metal products? Baowu Magnesium responded: Strontium is a silvery-white metal with a yellowish tinge, belonging to the alkaline earth metals. It is the least abundant alkaline earth metal (excluding beryllium) and exists in nature in a combined state. Strontium can be added to metals such as aluminum and magnesium to form alloys, enhancing their strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance. Additionally, adding a small amount of strontium during the processing of some metal materials can refine the grain structure. Currently, the company has a production capacity of 3,000 mt/year of strontium metal, with an annual production of approximately 2,500 mt. Q: What is the company's future development strategy? Baowu Magnesium responded: The company places great emphasis on R&D innovation and technological accumulation. It always regards technological innovation and new product development as the core development strategy, with technological innovation as the primary driving force for development. The company continuously increases its R&D efforts in new technologies and new products. After years of technological accumulation, the company has independently developed a complete set of magnesium reduction and magnesium alloy production and processing equipment and processes, as well as a direct magnesium liquid supply system. Its energy-saving and consumption-reduction levels in primary magnesium production are among the best in the industry. The company has also independently developed large-tank vertical-tank magnesium smelting technology, magnesium alloy melting and purification technology, and magnesium alloy forming technology, all of which are at the leading level in the industry. Leveraging its existing R&D and production platforms, the company has undertaken and completed multiple scientific research projects at the national and provincial levels through industry-university-research cooperation. The company continues to promote the technological transformation and upgrading of its industries, driving the transformation of its industries towards high-end, intelligent, and green development. With the steady advancement of automotive lightweighting, the company's automotive product business continues to grow, and the demand for medium-to-large magnesium alloy components increases year by year. The company is expanding its deep-processing business to ensure the supply of medium-to-large automotive parts, achieving product structure adjustment and business transformation and upgrading, improving resource utilization efficiency, and optimizing the industrial structure. On the basis of stabilizing the supply of basic magnesium alloy materials, the company focuses on expanding downstream deep-processing businesses such as magnesium alloy automotive die-casting parts. On March 12, Baowu Magnesium stated on the investor interaction platform that the company currently cooperates with companies producing industrial robots. Magnesium alloy empowers the robotics industry, aiming to demonstrate stronger competitiveness with its four major advantages of "lightness, speed, stability, and cost-effectiveness," bringing lightweight, high-efficiency, and fast-responding new solutions to the field of industrial automation. Recently, Autoliv (China) Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the automotive safety systems industry, reached a strategic cooperation agreement with Baowu Magnesium Technology Co., Ltd. The two parties will engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as automotive lightweighting and safety performance enhancement, jointly driving technological innovation and sustainable development in the automotive industry. In this strategic collaboration, both parties will leverage their respective strengths in technology, resources, and markets to jointly explore the application of magnesium alloy materials in automotive safety systems. Baowu Magnesium announced on the evening of March 5 that the company had recently received the "Mining License" issued by Xinzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau. The mine is named as the Dolomite Mine in Dapu Village, Dongzhi Town, Wutai County, with the mining species being metallurgical dolomite, refractory dolomite, and construction dolomite. The production scale is 10 million mt/year, with a validity period from March 4, 2025, to March 4, 2055. The announcement revealed that Wutai Yunhai Magnesium Industry Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the company, participated in the auction for the "Mining Right of Dolomite Mine in Dapu Village, Dongzhi Town, Wutai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province" conducted by Xinzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau to ensure a stable supply of raw materials for primary magnesium and magnesium alloy production, and successfully won the mining right at a price of 1.168 billion yuan on November 3, 2023. Given that Baowu Magnesium has not yet released information on its 2024 corporate performance, a review of its Q3 report shows that in the first three quarters, the company achieved operating revenue of 6.347 billion yuan, up 14.09% YoY; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 154 million yuan, down 25.88% YoY. During the reporting period, Baowu Magnesium's basic earnings per share was 0.155 yuan, with a weighted average return on net assets of 2.88%. Baowu Magnesium's Q3 report indicates that the increase in operating revenue was mainly due to higher sales of deep-processed products compared to the same period last year. Regarding the decrease in net profit, Baowu Magnesium stated that it was due to a decline in magnesium prices and a decrease in the gross profit margin of magnesium alloy products. Magnesium prices experienced multiple rounds of increases last week. In addition to the effective alleviation of magnesium ingot supply issues due to factory rectifications, which restored market confidence, there was also an increase in foreign trade container freight rates, further stimulating downstream demand. Domestic downstream restocking followed suit, and market trading volume continued to improve, driving magnesium prices higher. 》Click to view SMM magnesium spot prices 》Subscribe to view historical price trends of SMM metal spot prices According to SMM quotes, on March 17, SMM magnesium ingot 9990 (Fugu, Shenmu) was quoted at 15,550-15,650 yuan/mt, with an average price of 15,600 yuan/mt. This average price fell by 50 yuan/mt from the previous trading day and rose by 550 yuan/mt from the early low of 15,050 yuan/mt on March 7, representing a 3.65% increase. SMM analysis suggests that, based on current market performance, as inventory in the main production areas continues to destock, bearish sentiment in the magnesium market has been alleviated. However, considering the general acceptance of high prices by downstream buyers, there is limited support for magnesium prices to fluctuate at highs in the future. SMM will continue to monitor changes in spot transactions. Business Matchmaking for Magnesium Industry Companies Registration for the 2025 Magnesium Industry Chain and Magnesium Market Forum is Now Open Please contact: 13162929454 (Jiaxin Lu)

Baowu Magnesium Industry responded: As the price of magnesium falls below that of aluminum, it presents a great opportunity for the magnesium industry. It is more favorable for the expansion of downstream applications such as large components in vehicles, integrated die-cast magnesium alloy components for automobiles, robots, and construction templates. This will further enhance the enthusiasm of downstream customers to use magnesium. Previously, we promoted the application of magnesium from a performance perspective, but now we can also promote its application from a cost perspective.

The 2025 Shanghai Auto Show is about to open, with companies gearing up and vying to hold new product launch events. On April 21, CATL held its first Super Tech Day and released three power battery products – Sodium-Ion Passenger NEV Battery, Shenyao Dual-Core Battery, and the second-generation Shenxing Ultra-Charge Battery – as well as a storage battery product, the 24V Heavy Truck Start-Stop Integrated Sodium-Ion Battery. Among the new products, CATL's dual-core architecture (including high-voltage dual-core, low-voltage dual-core, structural dual-core, thermal runaway safety protection dual-core, and thermal management dual-core), self-generated anode battery technology (which no longer uses traditional graphite anode material but allows elements to deposit on the current collector in metallic form, increasing volumetric energy density by 60% and gravimetric energy density by 50%), and "electric range extension" technology (which intelligently regulates the distribution strategy of two energy zones based on vehicle driving status and user habits) were involved. After the conclusion of CATL's first Super Tech Day on April 21, in the evening, Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, Huan Gao, Chief Technology Officer for Domestic Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, and Jian Luo, General Manager of Marketing, gave interviews to The STAR Market Daily and other media, introducing and answering questions about the newly launched products and related technologies. How Does Self-Generated Anode Technology Affect Cathode and Anode Materials The STAR Market Daily noticed that the industry is highly interested in CATL's self-generated anode technology. "The concept of anode-free has been around for a while, even in the lithium battery field, but it's indeed challenging," an industry insider told The STAR Market Daily. According to the introduction, in the self-generated anode technology, CATL no longer uses traditional graphite anode materials but allows elements to deposit on the current collector in metallic form, which can increase the volumetric energy density by 60% and the gravimetric energy density by 50%, allowing more power to be configured in the same battery pack space, supporting longer driving ranges. Additionally, CATL's self-generated anode technology can be adapted to multiple material systems. For example, when paired with sodium-ion systems, the energy density can reach 350Wh/L; with phosphate systems, it can reach 680-780Wh/L; and with ternary systems, it can exceed 1000Wh/L. Below is the interview transcript, with some content omitted: Q: Can you provide more details about the self-generated anode battery technology? Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: The self-generated anode battery technology we released is actually quite simple, aiming to solve the core issue of how metals can be stably applied, though this poses significant technical challenges. From a timeline perspective, we have already resolved many core technical issues at the technological level. Q: Since the self-generated anode technology abandons traditional graphite anode materials, what are the initial costs? Will there be changes in cathode usage? Will this technology significantly impact traditional graphite anode material producers? Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: The ultimate goal of self-generated anode technology is to reduce costs by eliminating the use of traditional graphite anode materials, but this will take some time to achieve. Currently, to realize self-generated anodes, we need to do extra work (such as using special materials and additives), which may increase costs. As for cathode usage, there is currently not much impact; it only changes the anode strategy and makes some adjustments to the entire chemical system. The cathode might require some additional components to simplify the process, and corresponding complex measures might also be needed. Therefore, it cannot be simply stated that there is a significant impact. The impact on traditional graphite anode material producers depends on the development speed of self-generated anode technology. If it develops rapidly, the impact could be relatively large, but the overall impact is not yet very clear. Sodium-Ion Power Batteries to Begin Mass Production in December Currently, sodium-ion batteries, along with ternary lithium and LFP batteries, constitute the mainstream categories of power batteries. At CATL's first Super Tech Day, the company launched a new sodium-ion battery brand, CATL Sodium New, covering passenger NEV batteries and heavy truck storage batteries. The CATL Sodium New - 24V Heavy Truck Start-Stop Integrated Battery will begin mass production in June, debuting in FAW Jiefang models; in the passenger vehicle sector, CATL Sodium New power batteries will officially start mass production in December 2025, debuting in the chocolate battery swap model. In December last year, at CATL's battery swapping strategy conference, the company announced collaborations with Changan, GAC, BAIC, Wuling, and FAW, jointly launching ten battery swap models. Below is the interview transcript, with some content omitted: Q: With the price of lithium carbonate now relatively stable, why introduce a new sodium-ion battery product considering cost factors? Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: When lithium prices were at their peak a few years ago, the industry paid more attention to sodium-ion batteries. However, many companies were already working on sodium-ion batteries, which promoted the maturation of the related supply chain. On the other hand, with technological advancements, the cost of sodium-ion batteries can continue to decrease. As to when sodium-ion batteries will become cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, this requires further technological progress and the continuous growth of the supply chain. At some point in the future, it will definitely be achievable. Q: Which models will the Sodium New battery be applied to first? What is CATL's commercial strategy for market promotion? Huan Gao, Chief Technology Officer for Domestic Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, CATL: From the data presented at the launch, the energy density of the Sodium New battery is slightly lower compared to current LFP, but it excels in low-temperature performance. The CATL Sodium New - 24V Heavy Truck Start-Stop Integrated Battery will begin mass production in June, debuting in FAW Jiefang models. In the passenger NEV battery sector, we will prioritize promoting it within our chocolate battery swap system, meaning all models collaborating with our chocolate battery swap system have the opportunity to be equipped with our Sodium New battery. Additionally, other automakers are individually discussing customized battery packs with us, tailored to their specific models. Therefore, from a medium and long-term perspective, as the maturity and commercialization of sodium-ion batteries increase, they have the potential to replace half of the current LFP battery market. Customized Battery Performance: From "Dual-Core" to "Multi-Core" The Shenyao Dual-Core Battery combines CATL's dual-core architecture and self-generated anode technology. The dual-core architecture means the battery pack has two "independent energy zones" and possesses five dual-core functions, including high-voltage dual-core, low-voltage dual-core, structural dual-core, thermal management dual-core, and thermal runaway safety protection dual-core. This dual-core design and intelligent software collaboration will provide power for vehicles in the future L3 and L4 autonomous driving era. At the end of CATL's Super Tech Day on April 21, Chairman Zeng Yuqun took the stage and said, "The breakthrough in the sodium-ion battery system is significant, opening up resource boundaries. The maturation of sodium-ion batteries accelerates the arrival of the 'multi-core era,' and the application of multi-core technology means accelerating the industrialization of new energy across all scenarios." The STAR Market Daily learned that CATL's innovation from dual-core to multi-core will not be limited to the NEV passenger vehicle sector but will also be implemented in electric buses, heavy trucks, aircraft, ships, and commercial and industrial fields. It will also accelerate the application of cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state batteries. Below is the interview transcript, with some content omitted: Q: How should the Shenyao Dual-Core Battery be understood? How does it differ from the previously launched Kirin and Shenxing batteries? Jian Luo, General Manager of Marketing, CATL: In the past, our Kirin and Shenxing batteries were more focused on product and performance. The dual-core battery, however, is primarily centered on customer needs. The second half of the new energy competition is about who better understands consumers and can define products that truly meet their needs, and that will be the ultimate winner. Q: How does CATL's dual-core architecture address thermal management and BMS (Battery Management System) algorithm issues to ensure the stability of a complex system? Huan Gao, Chief Technology Officer for Domestic Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, CATL: CATL has been laying out the thermal management and BMS algorithms for dual-core batteries for a long time, and we have sufficient technical reserves. The dual-core architecture can be understood as two different chemical systems, meaning their sensitivity to heat is different. Therefore, we operate them through a method similar to independent zone control air conditioning in a car. The two energy fields can switch in milliseconds under various conditions. Q: Will the dual-core battery be more expensive? Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: The dual-core battery is a combination of multiple technologies, so it might be more expensive or cheaper. Jian Luo, General Manager of Marketing, CATL: In the hexagon, one side is absolute cost. That means, with the same cost, you can get a product with better hexagonal performance. Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: If I have the same amount of money, I can definitely buy a better product, and that can be said. Q: The Shenyao Dual-Core Battery essentially belongs to the range extender series. Is the introduction of the dual-core and multi-core "stimulus policy package" aimed at disrupting the range-extended hybrid technology route, or what is the idea behind it? Chuying Ouyang, Co-President of R&D System and President of 21C Institute, CATL: We believe that whether it's dual-core or multi-core, it represents the ultimate direction for the future, solving different needs in various scenarios. Strictly speaking, the multi-core battery of Shenyao does not conflict with plug-in hybrids and range extenders; it is a diverse power supply. Q: What is the timeline for the mass production and vehicle integration of the new products launched at the first Super Tech Day? Huan Gao, Chief Technology Officer for Domestic Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, CATL: The mass production timeline for each product is different. We will soon see the release of smart driving-compatible power batteries based on CATL's dual-core architecture. For the sodium-iron dual-core battery, we are currently in the early stages of communicating with automakers to sort out their requirements. For the LFP dual-core, we plan to start communicating with customers about their needs and compliance plans next year.