UK-based Eqonic Group has confirmed aluminum as the core material for its next-generation battery technology and is moving towards industrial validation and commercial production. The battery chemistry uses no lithium, sodium or rare earth materials, with material costs targeted at around 30% of conventional lithium-metal batteries. At scale, Eqonic aims to achieve manufacturing costs of around GBP 50/kWh (US$67/kWh). The company says its aluminum-based chemistry is non-flammable, reducing thermal runaway risks. Eqonic has also been selected for the UK government's GBP 452 million Battery Innovation Programme, supporting its progress towards industrial-scale manufacturing.

Recently, Gokin Solar joined hands with its Australian local partner OSW to successfully complete a roadshow in the Australian market, discussing market trends, cutting-edge technologies, and cooperation opportunities with local channel dealers, system integrators, and PV engineering practitioners. At the roadshow, Gokin showcased the iteration journey of its full-spectrum BC products. Driven by a record-setting innovation pace of four iterations per year, Gokin has completed the series upgrades from BC1.0 Standard, BC1.1 Classic, BC2.0 Full-Cell, to BC2.1 Full-Screen. As one of the only two enterprises worldwide to achieve mass production of BC full-screen modules, Gokin leverages hidden busbar technology to create an integrated all-black aesthetic design that balances efficient light absorption with Australian rooftop architectural aesthetics, suitable for diverse application scenarios including Australian residential, commercial, and industrial rooftops, which garnered attention from attending clients.

In Q2 2026, the solid‑state battery industry reached a critical policy and standards inflection point. China’s MIIT designated all‑solid‑state batteries as a key R&D priority, and the world’s first national standard for automotive solid‑state batteries (GB/T 43568‑2026) took effect on July 1.

【SMM Tungsten Express】Masan High-Tech Materials has signed a partnership with Korea's GB Innovation for tungsten concentrate processing. Masan will process and supply ammonium paratungstate products for the semiconductor industry to GB Innovation. The cooperation marks a direct connection between a Vietnamese company and Korea's high-tech industrial chain, carrying strategic significance amid the global semiconductor and rare metals supply chain restructuring.

UK precision aluminium sand casting specialist Grainger & Worrall has secured more than GBP 30 million (USD 38.4 million) in new orders during the first half of 2026, driven by demand from aerospace, defence and energy industries. The company is leveraging its expertise in complex aluminium sand casting to supply components for light aircraft engines, specialist vehicle transmissions and data centre applications. To offset weaker demand in its traditional automotive business, Grainger & Worrall launched a diversification strategy 18 months ago, which is now generating significant results. Following the strong order intake, the company approved a GBP 1 million investment programme and plans to recruit 30 additional employees across manufacturing, maintenance and quality departments. The company also intends to further invest in digital sand-printing, metallurgy and advanced engineering capabilities to strengthen its position in high-value aluminium casting markets.

The ex-China rare earth market this week exhibited a trend of "falling prices amid tight supply," with Pr-Nd oxide and metal prices generally marked down by approximately $5-10/kg. However, due to export controls and tightening supply, the premium on Chinese products outside China remained significant. Meanwhile, geopolitical rivalry and supply chain restructuring accelerated, with G7 finance ministers calling for urgent reduction of dependence on China and the establishment of recycling quota systems. On the capital front, Greenland Resources spent $35 million to acquire the high-grade Sarfartoq project to strengthen its magnetic material rare earth portfolio. Australia's Arafura officially finalised the final investment decision for the Nolans project. Combined with Brazil's launch of an antitrust investigation and Germany's Heraeus divesting its recycling business, these developments underscored the urgency of global decoupling and localization efforts.

[SMM Rare Earth News Flash] The Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB) recently conducted rare earth exploration potential assessments in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, achieving notable preliminary results, with total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades exceeding 0.8% in multiple samples. Brazil currently holds the world's second-largest rare earth reserves, with major projects concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás. Against the backdrop of surging global interest in rare earths and record-high mergers and acquisitions (such as the $2.8 billion acquisition of Serra Verde by American Rare Earths), SGB is actively expanding into new mineralization areas, with the next step being assessments of areas including Sete Barras in the state of São Paulo.

As global interest in rare earth surges, Brazil is seeking new areas that could increase its rare earth reserves. The Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB) recently promoted the evaluation of new mineralization zones with rare earth potential in the country. The SGB, under Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy, studied the rare earth exploration potential in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina. Fieldwork was conducted in the following locations: Itupeva, Alumínio, Morungaba, Capão Bonito, Juquiá, Jacupiranga, Cajati, Itapirapuã Paulista, and Cananéia in the state of São Paulo; Cerro Azul, Castro, Carambeí, and Tijucas do Sul in the state of Paraná; and Joinville and Garuva in the state of Santa Catarina.

【SMM Steel】Jingye Huaxi Special Steel has successfully developed Q355ND medium-heavy plate, with thicknesses from 12-50 mm and widths of 2000-2500 mm. It meets GB/T1591-2018 standards, with some properties exceeding international counterparts. Through microalloying and optimized rolling, the plate achieves a strong balance of strength and toughness. It offers excellent impact resistance from -40°C to 500°C, good weldability, and formability, suitable for construction, bridges, offshore platforms, and rail.

[SHFE: Proposed Introduction of Secondary Lead as an Alternative Delivery Brand for Lead Futures] It was reported that the Shanghai Futures Exchange issued a notice today soliciting public comments on the revision of the "Shanghai Futures Exchange Lead Futures Contract" and the "Shanghai Futures Exchange Lead Futures Business Rules." The notice stated that the Shanghai Futures Exchange plans to revise the "Shanghai Futures Exchange Lead Futures Contract" and the "Shanghai Futures Exchange Lead Futures Business Rules" and is now seeking public input, with the deadline for feedback set for February 6, 2026. The main points of the revision proposal are as follows: In recent years, as secondary lead has gradually become a major product in the global lead market, to support the green and low-carbon transformation of the non-ferrous metals industry and the development of a circular economy, enhance the functionality of lead futures, and optimize deliverable resources, the Shanghai Futures Exchange, based on the national recommended standard for secondary lead ingots GB/T 21181-2025 jointly issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China, conducted in-depth surveys and extensive communication with industry enterprises and proposes to introduce secondary lead as an alternative delivery brand.