[CleanTech Is About to Sign a 40-Year Operating Contract With the Chilean Government for the Laguna Verde Lithium Project] CleanTech Lithium, an Anglo-Australian company, is about to sign a 40-year contract with the Chilean government to develop the Laguna Verde lithium project in the Atacama Region, enabling it to advance extraction of this mineral at one of the salt lakes opened to the private sector. After reaching agreement with the Ministry of Mining on the terms of the Special Lithium Operating Contract (CEOL), Chile’s Office of the Comptroller General is now expected to approve the document in Q2 2026. CleanTech, its subsidiary Atacama Salt Lakes, and minority shareholders that are among the consortium members established to advance the Laguna Verde project have begun celebrating this new phase, as it provides greater certainty for their investment. [Rio Tinto Begins Commercial Lithium Exports From the Rincon Project] Rio Tinto’s milestone achievement in commencing commercial lithium exports from the Rincon project marked a pivotal moment for the global lithium market. Miners are currently contending with the complex interplay of resource scarcity, geopolitical tensions, and the accelerating popularization of EVs. The traditional supply-chain dependencies that have defined battery materials sourcing for decades are being reshaped by new producers launching commercial operations in previously underexplored regions. These developments signify not merely a slight increase in capacity, but a fundamental shift in how critical minerals move from extraction sites to manufacturing hubs, with implications far beyond quarterly production data. Rio Tinto’s commercial lithium exports from the Rincon project reflected its prudent positioning in one of the world’s most fiercely contested mining regions for this mineral. Following the suspension of the Jadar project in Serbia in 2025, the company shipped 200 mt of battery-grade lithium carbonate from Buenos Aires to Shanghai in March 2026, marking the official start of operations at its core South American lithium asset. The timing of this market entry reflected broader industry dynamics across the Lithium Triangle. Argentina’s regulatory environment has increasingly favoured large-scale international mining operations. In addition, the Rincon project is located in Salta Province, placing Rio Tinto within a geographic cluster that contains significant global lithium resources across Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. [The Geothermal Plant Behind Europe’s Lithium Push] The town of Landau in der Pfalz, near the French-German border, has long been at the heart of the local winemaking industry. The region is also home to the Upper Rhine Valley brine fields, which contain Europe’s largest lithium resources and have now made it a hub for Europe’s push to advance EV development. The planned integrated geothermal-lithium extraction plant forms part of renewable energy producer Vulcan Energy’s ambition to build a carbon-neutral EV supply chain in Europe. The project will use geothermal wells to extract lithium-rich brine from depths of up to 5 kilometers. The high-temperature brine will be pumped to the surface, where lithium will be extracted before being transported to a plant. There, the lithium will be converted through electrolysis into lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). The brine will then be reinjected underground, while LHM will be delivered to offtakers, including automaker Stellantis, which owns automotive brands such as Citroen and Peugeot. [Liontown's Interim Loss Widens as It Bets on a Recovery in Lithium Prices] Australia's Liontown said on Thursday that its loss widened in H1 due to a non-cash accounting charge, and added that it is evaluating potential expansion options for its Kathleen Valley mine as lithium prices are expected to rise. The miner of this raw material used in EV batteries has been seeing an initial price recovery after nearly two years of weakness. Previously, EV adoption was slower than generally expected, resulting in oversupply. Liontown said in its December quarter report that prices improved, with the selling price reaching $900/mt, up 28% from the previous quarter. As its flagship project transitioned to underground mining, the company sold 190,000 mt of spodumene, a lithium raw material, in H1. Source: https://www.investing.com

【SMM Steel】Bosnia's trade ministry proposed a 200-day, 30% duty on steel imports following a complaint by Nova Željezara Zenica. In 2025, reinforcing mesh imports surged 192.87% above the 4-year avg, with Serbian and Italian supply up 408.45% and 105.7%. Turkish coiled ribbed bar imports jumped 885.2%, Serbian 113.2%. The ministry warns of idle capacity and import dependency. The measure aims to prevent job losses and damage to local industry.

The EU has recently selected 13 overseas strategic raw material projects as a key initiative under its plan to secure the supply chain of critical minerals. For these 13 newly added overseas projects, the EU is expected to require a total capital investment of 5.5 billion euros (approximately 45.05 billion yuan). Specifically, the new projects cover 13 countries: Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, and the UK.

[Standard Lithium and Telescope Innovations Collaborate to Produce Next-Generation Solid-State Battery Materials] Standard Lithium Ltd. announced that, as part of its collaboration with Telescope Innovations, it has successfully produced battery-grade lithium sulfide. As previously mentioned, Standard Lithium has been working with its R&D partner, Telescope Innovations, to develop new and innovative conversion technologies for manufacturing next-generation battery materials. This new conversion process has now been successfully applied to convert lithium hydroxide, produced by Standard Lithium at its demonstration plant in southern Arkansas, into battery-grade lithium sulfide (Li(2)S). Samples of lithium sulfide have been shipped to solid-state battery companies in Asia and North America for ongoing testing and validation purposes. Lithium sulfide is a critical raw material required for many next-generation solid-state battery chemistries. However, despite its importance in next-generation battery technologies, lithium sulfide can only be produced commercially in very small quantities and at very high costs. The technological collaboration between the two teams has resulted in a novel, low-temperature, patented process with the following advantages: Raw material flexibility – Both lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are viable raw materials; Impurity tolerance – Allows the use of technical-grade raw materials; Lower processing temperature (<100 °C) – Reduces equipment complexity and operating costs; and Enhanced manufacturing safety – Avoids high-temperature conditions and associated thermal risks. Source: juniorminingnetwork.com [Bolivian Court Suspends Sino-Russian Lithium Deal] It has been reported that Bolivia's plans to become a major lithium producer have hit a snag after a local court ordered the suspension of two major mining deals worth over $2 billion signed last year. These contracts were signed in 2023 and 2024 with China's CBC consortium (which includes battery manufacturer CATL) and Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, respectively. The deals were aimed at establishing direct lithium extraction (DLE) facilities at the Salar de Uyuni in southwestern Bolivia. This salt flat, which holds one of the world's largest lithium reserves, is part of a larger lithium triangle shared with Chile and Argentina. Last week, a mixed court in the village of Colcha K, located in the Potosí region, issued the suspension order following legal complaints from indigenous groups who argued that the projects violated their environmental rights and were allowed to proceed without formal consultation. Neither project has yet received legislative approval, but preliminary activities have already commenced on-site, which local groups claim were carried out without proper authorization or environmental assessments. Bolivia's state-owned lithium company, Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), holds a 51% stake in both enterprises. Omar Alarcon, the head of YLB, stated at a press conference last year that the proposed plant is expected to produce 35,000 mt of lithium carbonate annually. According to the Argentine newspaper Infobae , the court ruling will prohibit YLB and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy from taking any administrative or operational steps related to the contract until the judicial process is concluded. However, the Bolivian government insists that it has not yet officially received notification of the court ruling and maintains that the legislative process surrounding the contract will continue until official notification is received. Source: mining.com [Gabon Plans to Ban Manganese Ore Exports, Leading to a Decline in Eramet's Share Price] Eramet's shares plummeted on Monday after Gabon announced a ban on the export of unrefined manganese starting from 2029, which could disrupt the production of large-scale export-oriented steel raw materials by the French mining group in this West African country. The Gabon government announced the plan in a statement over the weekend, which comes as several African countries—including Guinea , with bauxite, Zimbabwe , with lithium, as well as Mali and Tanzania—are seeking to shift from raw material exports to local processing. Global demand for manganese, used in steel production and increasingly in EV batteries, has been growing. Eramet is the majority shareholder of Comilog, a Gabon-based manganese mining company whose Moanda mine is the largest in the world. In a statement, Eramet said it had taken note of the Gabon government's intention to ban the export of crude manganese starting from January 1, 2029, and would continue to cooperate with the authorities "in a spirit of constructive partnership and mutual respect." The group added that it is committed to safeguarding the 10,460 Gabon jobs maintained by Comilog and Setrag, Comilog's railway transport unit. Eramet's share price fell nearly 5.5% before recovering, ending the day down about 4% as of 0800 GMT. President Brice Oligui Nguema , who overthrew former President Ali Bongo in a coup in 2023 and was elected last month, is seeking to revive Gabon's beleaguered economy . This West African oil-exporting country holds some of the world's richest manganese deposits, primarily operated by Comilog and Chinese companies that export to China, Europe, and the US. Comilog, in which Gabon holds a minority stake, processes some manganese locally but primarily exports ore. In recent years, the Moanda mine and the Weda Bay nickel mine in Indonesia have driven Eramet's growth, while its historical nickel mining operations in New Caledonia have dried up due to losses and social unrest. In Indonesia, where nickel ore exports were previously banned to develop the local industry, Eramet signed a memorandum of understanding with sovereign fund Danatama last week to explore potential investments in nickel processing. Source: reuters.com [Rio Tinto revises costs for Serbian lithium project] Chad Blewitt, Managing Director of Rio Tinto's Jadar lithium mine, said on Wednesday that the company is revising the costs for its Serbian lithium project, which has been identified by the European Commission as one of 13 strategic new critical raw materials projects . The project has been questioned by environmental groups and many Serbs on environmental grounds and sparked massive street protests in 2022, leading to the government revoking all of Rio Tinto's exploration licenses. The Constitutional Court overturned this decision last year and restored the licenses. Rio Tinto is the only major mining company betting on lithium (used in EV batteries), accelerating its development pace through three new deals in the past six months: acquiring US-based Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion and two projects in Chile for over $1 billion. The lithium market has slumped as a wave of new supply overwhelms weaker-than-expected demand for EV batteries. While demand forecasts for the metal are more optimistic over the next decade, it will take years to know whether this bet will pay off. If implemented, Rio Tinto's Jadar project could meet 90% of Europe's current lithium demand. But protesters in Serbia have threatened to block highways and railways if the project proceeds. "Whatever happens next will involve multiple stages of review and public consultation," Blewitt said. "It (the project) will place Serbia at the forefront of the green and digital revolution." Source: reuters.com

[EU Selects 13 Foreign Strategic Raw Material Support Projects, Including a Graphite Mine in Greenland] To ensure access to critical raw materials, the European Commission has selected 13 strategic projects located outside the EU, including a graphite mine in southern Greenland. In a statement, the European Commission said that these projects will receive "coordinated support" from the Commission, member states, and financial institutions, facilitating financing and connections with relevant buyers. The Commission estimates that a total capital investment of €5.5 billion will be required to launch and operate these 13 projects. These projects involve strategic raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and rare earths. Other projects are located in Canada, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, and the UK. The newly selected projects will complement the list of 47 strategic projects already adopted within the EU on March 25.

[Rio Tinto Reevaluates Investment Costs for Serbian Lithium Mine Project] Rio Tinto announced on Wednesday that the company is reevaluating the investment costs for the Jadar lithium mine project in Serbia. The person in charge stated, "Our budget during the last market survey exceeded €2.55 billion (approximately $2.91 billion), and we are currently updating the investment cost data. After obtaining the status of an EU strategic project, we must comply with EU environmental protection and human rights standards, which will be reflected in the final investment costs.

[Initiation of the Formulation of "Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems in Intelligent Connected Vehicles"] The National Standards Information Public Service Platform has issued a notice soliciting opinions on the proposed mandatory national standard project "Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems in Intelligent Connected Vehicles". The national standard plan "Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems in Intelligent Connected Vehicles" was proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and entrusted to the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Branch of the National Technical Committee of Auto Standardization for execution. The main drafting units include China Automotive Technology & Research Center Co., Ltd., Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., among others. The project duration is 22 months, and it was submitted for approval on March 22, 2024. The public consultation period began on June 4, 2025, and will end on July 4, 2025. (Caijing) [EU Selects 13 Foreign Strategic Raw Material Support Projects, Including a Graphite Mine in Greenland] To ensure access to critical raw materials, the European Commission has selected 13 strategic projects located outside the EU, including a graphite mine in southern Greenland. The European Commission stated in a declaration that these projects will receive "coordinated support" from the Commission, member states, and financial institutions, facilitating financing and connections with relevant buyers. The Commission estimates that a total capital investment of 5.5 billion euros will be required to initiate and operate these 13 projects. These projects involve strategic raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, and rare earths. Other projects are located in Canada, Kazakhstan, Norway, Serbia, Ukraine, Zambia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, and the UK. The newly selected projects will complement the list of 47 strategic projects already approved within the EU on March 25. (Caijing) [US EV Company Lucid Signs Graphite Contracts in Succession, Securing Mines to Build Local Supply Chain] US electric vehicle company Lucid announced on its official website on Wednesday local time that it has reached a multi-year supply agreement with Graphite One to source natural graphite from within the US. According to the agreement, Graphite One is expected to commence production in 2028, supplying natural graphite to Lucid and its battery suppliers. The press release mentioned that Graphite One's natural graphite comes from the Graphite Creek deposit north of Nome, Alaska, US. This agreement builds on the contract signed by both parties in 2024, with Graphite One having already committed to supplying Lucid with artificial graphite for future car models from its proposed anode active material (AAM) factory in Warren, Ohio. (Caijing) [AESC's Gigafactory in France Commences Production with an Initial Capacity of 10 GWh] AESC announced that its battery gigafactory in Douai, France, has officially commenced production. It is reported that the initial 10 GWh capacity of the factory will supply power batteries to leading international automakers such as Renault, meeting the demand for 200,000 EVs. (Financial Associated Press) [CITIC Securities: The Singularity of Autonomous Driving in Automobiles Has Arrived, Accelerating Commercial Implementation] CITIC Securities' research report points out that L4-level autonomous driving is showing positive changes in multiple scenarios: 1) Robotaxi: Benefiting from the expansion of operational areas and vehicle deployment, the weekly orders of Robotaxi for leading companies have increased to 250,000 by early May this year (a 400% YoY increase), accelerating commercialization; Tesla plans to launch Robotaxi operations in Austin in June this year, expected to lead technological changes in the industry; 2) Robovan: Leading companies are demonstrating cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement capabilities in the express delivery industry, accelerating order acquisition and product delivery; 3) Robotruck: The most clearly defined implementation scenario for unmanned operations, with autonomous driving operational efficiency gradually approaching human efficiency, driving product application. We believe that under these trends, various links in the industry chain are expected to accelerate technological R&D and product deployment, and the automotive intelligence industry chain is expected to benefit. (Financial Associated Press) [China Rare Earth Magnesium Industry: Plans to Invest No More Than 8 Billion Yuan in Building an Integrated Base Project for Lithium-ion Battery Anode Materials] China Rare Earth Magnesium Industry (300035.SZ) announced that the company plans to establish a project company in Oman through its wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, Zhongke Shinzoom (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of its controlling subsidiary Hunan Zhongke Shinzoom Graphite Co., Ltd., to implement an annual production capacity of 200,000 mt of an integrated base project for lithium-ion battery anode materials, with a total investment of no more than 8 billion yuan. The project will be constructed in two phases, each with a planned capacity of 100,000 mt per year, and the construction period for each phase is expected to be 36 months. This project aims to meet overseas market demand and enhance the company's global market share, but there are risks associated with project construction and approval, fundraising, price fluctuations, market demand, operational management, policies and laws, and exchange rates. (Financial Associated Press) Related Readings: Battery and Solid-State Battery Sectors Strengthen Again, Multiple Automakers Announce Latest Progress, Lopal Shares Surge with Nearly Six Consecutive Daily Limit Ups [Hot Stock] [SMM Analysis] Cathode Material Production in May Increased MoM, While Downstream End-Use Demand Growth Was Sluggish [SMM Analysis] Demand Rose, Anode Material Production in May Increased [SMM Analysis] Co3O4 Production in May Increased MoM, with Most Industry Players Maintaining a Cautious Wait-and-See Attitude Cobalt-Based Product Quotations Collectively "Fell", While Cobalt Chloride Smelter Quotations Remained Firm, Likely to Maintain High-Level Volatility in the Future? [Weekly Observation] [SMM Analysis] Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - Exploration in Three Ways: "Direct Export from China, Re-export via Malaysia, and US Domestic Production" (Part I) [SMM Analysis] Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - Exploration in Three Ways: "Direct Export from China, Re-export via Malaysia, and US Domestic Production" (Part II) [SMM Analysis] Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - Exploration in Three Ways: "Direct Export from China, Re-export via Malaysia, and US Domestic Production" (Part III) [SMM Analysis] New Breakthrough in Lithium Battery Technology: Can a Single Injection Extend Battery Life? [SMM Analysis] Lithium battery recycling procurement continued to decline in May, potentially marking it as the sluggishest month of the year [SMM Analysis] Ternary cathode material production in May increased by 3.52% MoM [SMM Analysis] Ternary cathode precursor production in May decreased by 3.99% MoM Summary of China's LFP Market in May and Outlook for June [SMM Lithium Battery Market Analysis] [SMM Analysis] In May 2025, SMM's total domestic lithium carbonate production decreased by 2% MoM and increased by 15% YoY [SMM Analysis] Lithium hydroxide production in May remained stable with a slight upward trend MoM, and the expected flat trend in June remains unchanged [SMM Analysis] Ternary cathode precursor production in May decreased by 3.99% MoM [SMM Analysis] Supply and demand for iron phosphate remained stable in May, with potential price adjustments in June as production volumes surge [SMM News] Grenergy to invest 3.5 billion euros in BESS solar and ESS by 2027 Officially fell below 60,000 yuan/mt! Lithium carbonate futures hit a new historic low. When will prices bottom out? [SMM Flash News] The automotive and parts sectors surged, with the parts sector experiencing a significant "limit-up" rally, with nearly 10 stocks hitting their daily limits [Hot Stocks] [SMM Analysis] REPT Battero and Hyosung Heavy Industries reached a 2.5 GWh ESS strategic cooperation agreement [SMM Weekly Review] Weekly Market Trends for Lithium Ore from May 26 to May 29 [SMM Weekly Review] The lithium carbonate market remained weak, with supply-demand imbalance and weakening costs leading to continued price declines

According to customs data, China's aluminum extrusion (HS codes 76041010，76041090，76042100，76042910，76042990) exports reached 70,800 mt in April 2025, down 18.39% YoY and slightly down 1.47% MoM.

With the further escalation of the US "reciprocal tariffs," Shanghai-listed companies have formulated corresponding measures based on their respective situations. By optimizing global layouts, promoting supply chain autonomy, and strengthening technological innovation, they have adopted flexible strategies to address the uncertainties brought by tariff policies, demonstrating strong development resilience. By industry, China's key foundational sectors, such as petroleum, coal, steel, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, primarily focus on domestic operations. Their international businesses are mainly located in "Belt and Road" countries or African nations, with relatively small direct trade volumes with the US, resulting in limited overall impact. Industries such as electronics manufacturing, tires, and logistics, which have significant direct import and export volumes with the US or require raw material imports from China for US-based factories, have been affected to some extent. However, relevant listed companies have taken proactive actions to flexibly respond to US tariff measures. Energy industry: Tariff policies have not significantly impacted commodity-related industries in the short term. Yongzhen Co., Ltd. (603381.SH) stated that steel, aluminum, and their derivatives, as well as automobiles and parts, which are already subject to Section 232 tariffs, are exempt from "reciprocal tariffs." Therefore, the US reciprocal tariff policy currently has no impact on the company's Vietnam base. China Railway Group (601390.SH) reported that overseas mines are operating well. The country's export controls on molybdenum and Trump's tariff policies on copper have instead driven up molybdenum and copper prices, increasing the company's profits. Dingsheng New Energy Materials (603876.SH) stated that the volume of aluminum foil exported to the US is small, and the company does not bear the tariffs, so there is currently no impact. The company will actively respond by adjusting its supply chain and negotiating with customers, leveraging its global industrial layout. In the pharmaceutical industry, the proportion of sales of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and medical devices to the US is low. Overall, relevant pharmaceutical companies generally believe that the tariff policies have limited impact on them. Among them, Aurisco (605116.SH) mainly sells APIs to Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, with a small proportion of US business, and its pharmaceutical products are exempt from tariffs; East Asia Pharmaceutical (605177.SH) has a wide range of product exports but has not directly sold to the US in recent years, with a self-controlled supply chain, ensuring stability despite tariff hikes; Aokang Medical (688613.SH) sources raw and auxiliary materials and equipment domestically, achieving self-sufficiency in raw materials and remaining unaffected by US tariff risks. In the chemical industry, on the import side, sub-sectors such as chemical fibers and polyurethane have low dependence on US imports; on the export side, previous adjustments in sales regions and reductions in US export shares have proven effective, resulting in limited overall impact from the tariff hikes. Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd. (603867.SH) has a small proportion of products directly sold to the US market, and some products are exclusive, resulting in limited direct impact; Qianjiang Biochemical (600796.SH) sells bio-pesticides globally, with a very low proportion of US export revenue, making the impact of trade policy changes minimal on its operations. In industries such as electronics manufacturing, tires, and logistics, multiple companies stated that they are actively responding through global layouts, supply chain adjustments, and market diversification. The tariff hikes have had limited impact on them, and they will continue to closely monitor relevant policy changes. CosMX Battery (688772.SH) stated that there are few direct exports of consumer batteries to the US. If end products equipped with its batteries are subject to tariffs, it will negotiate with end customers. Meanwhile, the company has planned an overseas production site in Malaysia to enhance its global layout and mitigate tariff impacts. Hitec New Energy (688677.SH) initiated its overseas layout several years ago and completed the construction of US and Thailand factories before the implementation of "reciprocal tariffs." Currently, most products are produced and shipped locally, effectively reducing tariff impacts through the division of labor between domestic and overseas factories. Sailun Tire (601058.SH) adheres to a global strategy, with production sites in multiple locations in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, and is building sites in Mexico and Indonesia. Its products are sold in over 180 countries and regions, and the company's controlling shareholder has repeatedly increased holdings, demonstrating confidence; Linglong Tire (601966.SH) has bases in Thailand and Serbia, enhancing competitiveness by flexibly adjusting order flows, optimizing costs and product structures, accelerating international layouts, and driving innovation, while actively communicating with overseas customers to address trade friction risks. Some economists believe that, given the proactive deployment of China's macro policies, both the central fiscal authorities and the central bank have reserved "ample reserve tools and policy space" to effectively hedge at critical moments, ensuring stable growth of the Chinese economy.

【Trump: 25% Tariff on Cars to Take Effect on April 3】 US President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported cars on April 2 local time. Trump stated that the 25% tariff on cars will take effect on April 3. Trump's car tariffs will cover passenger cars, light trucks, engines, transmissions, lithium-ion batteries, and small components including tires, shock absorbers, and spark plug wires. 【PBOC Shanghai Branch: Increase Consumer Credit Supply, Deepen Financial Services for Major Consumption Such as Cars, Home Decoration, and Home Appliances】 The People's Bank of China Shanghai Branch issued the "2025 Shanghai Credit Policy Guidelines," guiding financial institutions in Shanghai to effectively implement a moderately loose monetary policy, maintain reasonable growth in credit volume, and focus on the "Five Major Financial Articles," supporting the expansion of domestic demand and boosting consumption. The guidelines emphasize increasing financial support for major strategies, key areas, and weak links, contributing to the construction of Shanghai's "Five Centers" and high-quality economic and social development. The guidelines require actively leveraging financial support to promote consumption, increasing consumer credit supply, deepening the integration of consumption scenarios and consumer credit, and enhancing financial services for major consumption such as cars, home decoration, and home appliances. They also call for increased credit support for the upgrade and renovation of local commercial districts, cultural and tourism projects, and other high-quality consumption scenarios. The guidelines also emphasize promoting the expansion of stock repurchase and share buyback loan businesses, strengthening the linkage between commercial and investment banks, and continuously improving comprehensive financial services for listed companies and major shareholders. They encourage active participation in supporting the construction of the Pudong Leading Area, Free Trade Zone, Lingang New Area, "Five New Cities," G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, and the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Green Integration, strengthening long-term credit supply for major projects, and actively exploring financial product and service innovations in the free trade zone. The guidelines also call for increasing financial support to stabilize foreign investment and trade, utilizing the "Cross-Border Trade Refinancing" pilot policy, and providing comprehensive financial support for foreign trade enterprises to stabilize orders, expand markets, and participate in overseas exhibitions. 【Jinlongyu: Plans to Invest 1.2 Billion Yuan in Solid-State Battery Material Project】 Jinlongyu (002882.SZ) announced that its subsidiary, Jinlongyu New Energy (Huidong) Co., Ltd., plans to invest in the construction of a solid-state battery key material production line project in the Huizhou New Materials Industrial Park, with a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan. Jinlongyu also released its 2024 annual report on the same day, showing that the company's operating revenue was 3.675 billion yuan, down 6.53% YoY, and net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 140 million yuan, down 14.14% YoY. The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 3 yuan per 10 shares (tax included). 【CATL: The Xiaomi SU7 Car Involved in a Recent Accident Did Not Use CATL Batteries】 An investor asked on the interactive platform whether the Xiaomi SU7 car involved in a recent accident, which is the standard version, used CATL batteries, as the standard version has two battery suppliers, BYD and CATL. CATL responded that, according to the company's investigation, the car did not use CATL batteries. 【China's First Industry Standard for Lithium Battery Maritime Safety Technology Released】 China's first industry standard for lithium battery maritime safety technology, "Safety Technical Requirements for Ship Carriage of Lithium Batteries" (JT/T 1543—2025), was released in Xiamen on the 2nd and will take effect on May 1 this year. This marks a new chapter in the standardization and internationalization of China's lithium battery maritime safety management. The standard, combining international rules and domestic practices, for the first time specifies the classification and numbering of lithium batteries carried by ships, the requirements for lithium batteries, and the safety technical requirements for packaging, cargo transport units, consignment, loading and unloading, carriage, and emergency response, providing a scientific, convenient, and unified basis for safety management in the industry. It not only fills the gap in domestic lithium battery maritime safety standards but also aligns closely with relevant international conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), offering professional guidance for the safe export of lithium batteries. 【European Commission Proposes Relaxing Carbon Emission Rules for Automakers】 The European Commission proposed a regulatory amendment on April 1, suggesting more flexible emission compliance options for European automakers in meeting new CO2 reduction targets for passenger cars and vans. The proposal would allow automakers to measure their compliance with emission reduction targets based on the average CO2 emission levels over the three years from 2025 to 2027, rather than annual reviews. The proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Related Reading: 【SMM Analysis】Affected by the DRC Export Ban, Co3O4 Production in March Showed a Significant Increase 【SMM Analysis】Demand for Separators in March Showed a Significant Rebound 【SMM Analysis】Lithium Battery Material Supply Increased MoM in March, NEV Market Gradually Recovered 【SMM Analysis】Demand for Separators in March Showed a Significant Rebound 【SMM Analysis】Iron Phosphate Market Gradually Recovered in March, Production Increased Significantly MoM China's LFP Market Production Rebounded in March, but Overall Growth Did Not Meet Expectations, Demand Growth Slowed in April【SMM Analysis】 【SMM Analysis】Downstream Demand Increased, Anode Material Production Rose in March 【SMM Data】LiPF6 Production Increased MoM in March 2025, Output Expected to Continue Rising Next Month 【SMM Data】Electrolyte Production Increased MoM in March 2025, Output Expected to Continue Rising Next Month 【SMM Analysis】SMM Lithium Carbonate Total Production Increased 23% MoM and 85% YoY in March 2025, Reaching a Record High 【SMM Analysis】Lithium Hydroxide Production Showed a Significant Increase in March, with a MoM Growth Rate of Over 25% 【SMM Analysis】Ternary Material Production Increased 20% MoM in March 【SMM Analysis】Ternary Precursor Production Increased 19.75% MoM in March Cobalt Product Prices Showed Mixed Performance, Refined Cobalt Smelters Continued to Stand Firm on Quotes, How Is Downstream Sentiment?【Weekly Observation】 【SMM Analysis】Ministry of Finance 2024 Implementation Report: Analysis of Renewable Energy and NEV Policies 【SMM Analysis】Hunan Province's Consumer Boosting Campaign Boosts the NEV Industry 【SMM Analysis】Analysis of the Cancellation of Mandatory Energy Storage Allocation Policy and Interpretation of Document No. 136 【SMM Analysis】National Passenger Car Market Retail Sales Reached 1.154 Million Units from March 1 to 23, Up 25% MoM 【SMM Analysis】Looking at Chinese NEV Manufacturers' Global Strategy from the 2025 Thailand Auto Show: Why Is Thailand the First Stop? 【SMM Analysis】A Review of This Week's Waste Spot Price Trends (March 24-28, 2025) 【SMM Analysis】Overseas Lithium News from March 24-28 US Car Tariffs "Treat Everyone Equally"! Countries Quickly Respond, How Many Hearts Did Trump Break?【Hot Topic】 【SMM Analysis】Spot Prices for Refined Cobalt Slightly Increased During the Week, Supply and Demand Situation Remained Unchanged Cobalt Intermediate Product Spot Prices Slightly Increased This Week【SMM Analysis】 【SMM Analysis】Serbia's Vucic Claims EU Will Designate Jadar Lithium Mine Project as a Strategic Project, Activists Vow to Appeal 【SMM Analysis】Lithium Mine Weekly Market from March 24-27 【SMM Analysis】Lithium Hydroxide Weekly Market from March 24-27 【SMM Analysis】A Review of This Week's Waste Battery for Cascade Utilization Price Trends (March 24-27, 2025) 【SMM Analysis】Ternary Precursor Prices Remain Firm, May Continue to Fluctuate Next Week China's LFP Exports Surged in January!【SMM Analysis】 【SMM Analysis】Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Temporarily Stabilized, Market Activity Weakened but Still Supported by Rigid Demand Changes in the LFP Market at the End of March【SMM Analysis】 【SMM Analysis】Separator Prices Remained Stable This Week