It is worth noting that with the gradual ramp-up of large cylindrical battery production, the share of 9-series materials is rising rapidly both domestically and internationally.

The 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference in 2025 was successfully held. At the conference, 10 new car models were unveiled, along with the Southeast Asia brand strategies of three automakers and SMM's Thailand domestic steel prices. It facilitated efficient negotiations between over 12 buyers and over 60 suppliers, initially establishing an exchange platform for the entire automotive industry chain in Southeast Asia. Currently, Southeast Asia's NEV industry has entered a critical development phase. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam have each made strategic moves and breakthroughs, while the industry also faces challenges such as supply chain restructuring, technology route competition, and localization compliance. Fortunately, with support from all parties, SMM's Thailand and Indonesia domestic price systems have been launched and adopted by core enterprises, establishing a credible cost benchmark for the industry. The 3rd conference in 2026 will focus on three core areas: exploring the sales potential of NEVs in Southeast Asia, bridging the last mile of the supply chain and integrating regional industrial resources, upgrading SMM's Southeast Asia metal quotations from price references to transaction benchmarks, and implementing the procurement application of electrification materials and establishing an actionable pricing system. We firmly believe that real progress comes from turning consensus into action. At this conference, cordially invites you to gather again in Bangkok to jointly transform strategic blueprints into market competitive advantages, to witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, and to create a brilliant new chapter together! Click the to register immediately. Booth No.: B06 Tianjin CIMC Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. is located in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. It mainly designs, develops and manufactures logistics equipment, trolleys, storage racks and special containers, etc. It currently has three production bases in Tianjin, Wuhu (Anhui) and Chuzhou (Anhui), and has obtained certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14000, IATF 16949, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management system standards. Since 2000, we have designed and manufactured various general-purpose pallets, boxes, racks and other line-side equipment as well as precise material racks for automakers in Japan, Europe and the United States, and China. We provide customized products and services based on customer needs, offering integrated logistics solutions for the automotive industry. The company has its own product R&D and design team, has cumulatively developed over 2,000 product categories, and ships 700,000 sets of products annually. Tianjin CIMC Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. is located in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area. The company specializes in the design, development and manufacture of logistics containers, trolleys, storage racks and special containers. It currently operates three production bases in Tianjin, Wuhu (Anhui) and Chuzhou (Anhui), and has obtained certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management system standards. Since 2000, we have designed and manufactured general-purpose pallets, bins, racks, inline tooling and precision part racks for automotive manufacturers in Japan, Europe, the United States and domestic China. We provide customized products and services tailored to client requirements, and deliver comprehensive logistics solutions for the automotive industry. We have our in-house product R&D and design team, with more than 2,000 product varieties developed with an annual shipment volume of 700,000 sets. Contact Information Contact Lian Hao +86-13820657998（English） Wu Xiaoshan +86-15822677128（Japanese） Contact Us Zhang Jingjie zhangjingjie@smm.cn

2026-06-10 15:25PM UTC While markets have been focused on the recent sharp decline in gold prices, the broader precious metals sector has also experienced significant selling pressure, with platinum-group metals suffering some of the steepest losses, according to a report from Bank of America. Both platinum and palladium recently fell to their lowest levels of the year amid continued pressure from the global economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions. Global economic weakness and Middle East tensions weigh on platinum-group metals Commodity analysts at the bank said the rally in platinum-group metals lost momentum since late January, largely due to gold’s price action and persistent economic headwinds linked to the conflict in the Middle East, which continue to weigh on industrial metals demand. Despite the recent weakness, the bank maintained its positive long-term outlook for the sector, noting that it remains constructive on gold heading into the fourth quarter. A renewed gold rally could attract investors back into platinum-group metals and help support prices. Spot platinum fell to around $1,711 per ounce, down more than 2% during the session, while palladium traded near $1,203 per ounce, up roughly 0.5%. Since the sharp selloff on Friday, platinum has lost more than 9% of its value, while palladium has fallen over 6%. Higher price targets despite weak industrial and jewelry demand Despite current pressures, Bank of America still expects platinum to average around $3,000 per ounce by the fourth quarter of 2026 through the first half of 2027. Palladium is expected to average around $2,200 per ounce during the final three months of the year. Platinum-group metals delivered strong gains during 2025 as global trade tensions and threats of tariffs on precious metals created significant disruptions in physical market liquidity. However, analysts noted that most of those concerns eased after tariff threats failed to translate into broad implementation. According to the report, the absence of tariffs resulted in more than 200,000 ounces of platinum leaving NYMEX warehouses, roughly half of the inflows recorded during the second half of 2025. Palladium, meanwhile, saw outflows in late January before flows reversed after the US Department of Commerce imposed final anti-dumping duties of 133% and countervailing duties of 109% on Russian palladium. Structural shifts in demand The bank also highlighted structural changes in demand for platinum-group metals. Platinum is expected to record a modest supply deficit this year, while palladium is forecast to remain in a slight surplus. Analysts pointed to China’s accelerating transition toward electric vehicles as a major source of market volatility, given the reduced demand for internal combustion engine vehicles that rely heavily on platinum-group metals in catalytic converters. Electric vehicles are expected to account for roughly 40% of China’s light-vehicle production this year, surpassing conventional combustion-engine vehicles for the first time. Traditional vehicles are projected to represent 36% of production, while hybrids account for 24%. Production of internal combustion vehicles in China has already fallen to approximately 14 million units in 2025, down from 21 million in 2020. By contrast, the transition to electric vehicles remains slower in Europe and the United States, particularly after Washington scaled back some of its earlier electrification initiatives. Weak jewelry demand in China Demand for platinum jewelry has also slowed, especially in China, where elevated inventories accumulated during the manufacturing boom of mid-2025 continue to pressure the market. Although some of those inventories have already been recycled, retailers still hold large stockpiles while consumer demand remains weak, raising the risk of a significant contraction in Chinese jewelry manufacturing volumes this year. Energy costs threaten South African production Despite uncertainty surrounding global demand, Bank of America believes supply-side risks could become increasingly important. The bank noted that ongoing Middle East tensions, higher energy prices, and inflationary pressures could negatively affect production, particularly in South Africa, one of the world's largest producers of platinum-group metals. South Africa relies heavily on imported oil, has limited domestic production capacity, and faces ongoing refining constraints, leaving its mining sector highly exposed to rising fuel costs. Diesel remains widely used across mining operations, transportation networks, and backup power generation, especially given the country's persistent electricity shortages. Diesel prices have surged since the conflict began, while state utility Eskom raised electricity tariffs by 8.76% beginning in April 2026, significantly increasing mining costs. In this context, Sibanye-Stillwater reported a 13% year-over-year increase in unit operating costs during the first quarter, citing persistent inflationary pressures, including higher labor and energy expenses. In trading on Wednesday, spot palladium rose 1.5% to $1,249 per ounce as of 16:14 GMT. Source： https://www.economies.com/commodities/palladium-news/palladium-attempts-to-recover-losses-as-bank-of-america-maintains-a-bullish-outlook-49044

POSCO Holdings will become the first South Korean company to demonstrate direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology in the United States. The company announced on June 10 that it signed a cooperation agreement with Australian resource development company Anson Resources to build and operate a DLE demonstration plant in the Green River region of Utah, the United States. The demonstration plant is scheduled to be completed and begin operations in 2027. POSCO Holdings plans to complete technology validation using actual brine by 2028 and establish a foundation for commercialization.

5 June 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00) The global gold market is currently navigating a fascinating paradox that challenges conventional financial logic. For several months, the precious metal has experienced a downward price trajectory, sparking intense debate among analysts and market observers about its near-term direction. At first glance, a prolonged decline might suggest a waning interest in the asset or a fundamental shift away from its historic role in global finance. However, scratching beneath the surface of this downward trend reveals an entirely different underlying dynamic. The temporary softening of gold prices is not a sign of terminal weakness; rather, it represents a structural consolidation that, under the right conditions, is laying the groundwork for a substantial and potentially rapid upward reversal. To understand why a reversal is highly probable, one must look at the unprecedented level of institutional support currently stabilizing the market. As revealed in recent reports by the World Gold Council, sovereign banking institutions around the world are aggressively utilizing this period of depressed prices to expand their physical reserves. Specifically, global central banks net purchased 17 tons of gold in April 2026, registering the highest monthly purchasing pace since December 2024. When major institutional buyers like the central banks of Poland, China, and the Czech Republic consistently step into the market during price dips, they establish what technical analysts refer to as a hard price floor. This institutional baseline aligns with a broader multi-year trend, as central banks in Eastern Europe and Asia have demonstrated sustained dynamics over the last three years, purchasing a steady average of 12 and 11 tons of the precious metal per month, respectively. This massive, coordinated buying power absorbs excess supply and prevents a broader market collapse. In essence, these institutions are treating the current multi-month decline as a premium commercial window, accumulating significant volume at a discount. This steady institutional accumulation ensures that the structural demand for the metal remains exceptionally tight, meaning that any sudden shift in broader investor sentiment could quickly trigger a supply squeeze, driving prices sharply upward. Beyond the physical supply-and-demand mechanics, the future trajectory of gold is intimately tied to the evolving monetary policy of global financial hubs, particularly the United States Federal Reserve. The primary catalyst behind the recent months of downward pressure has been the resilience of global interest rates and the accompanying strength of major fiat currencies. Because gold is a non-yielding asset—meaning it does not pay a monthly dividend or fixed interest—high-yielding government bonds naturally become more attractive to short-term investors when interest rates remain elevated. However, this macroeconomic pressure is cyclical, not permanent. As global inflationary pressures eventually cool or as economic growth indicators begin to signal a broader slowdown, central banks will inevitably face mounting pressure to pivot toward rate cuts. The moment the monetary tide turns and borrowing costs begin to decrease, the opportunity cost of holding physical assets falls away. This shift historically causes a rapid capital reallocation, as institutional funds migrate out of cooling fixed-income securities and back into hard assets, driving a powerful upward rally. Simultaneously, the global landscape is defined by an accumulation of systemic vulnerabilities and geopolitical friction points that cannot be ignored. From complex supply chain vulnerabilities to shifting energy corridors and regional trade disputes, the modern global economy is operating under a cloud of persistent uncertainty. In periods of structural calm, investors frequently favor riskier, high-yielding equity markets, causing defensive assets to drift downward. Yet, history demonstrates that this calm can be deceptive. A sudden escalation in regional conflicts, an unexpected corporate debt default, or a sharp contraction in global manufacturing figures can instantly shift market psychology from optimism to extreme risk aversion. When these systemic shocks occur, the broader investing public quickly remembers the unique risk-mitigation properties of physical metals, leading to a surge in safe-haven buying that can reverse months of price declines in a matter of days. From a technical and psychological standpoint, a multi-month decline is also a healthy and necessary phase within a long-term cyclical market. No financial asset moves upward in a straight line indefinitely. After reaching historic peaks in previous cycles, a period of profit-taking and price correction is standard market behavior. This cooling-off period flushes out speculative, short-term leverage and transfers ownership into the hands of disciplined, long-term investors who are less likely to sell during bouts of volatility. Major international investment banking firms continue to maintain a highly constructive long-term outlook on the metal precisely because they recognize this healthy structural resetting. The longer the price consolidates within this current lower range, the more energy it gathers for its next directional move. Crucially, if the current buying process persists—whereby global central banks maintain their recent momentum of adding 17 tons of gold monthly, echoing the strongest purchasing pace since December 2024, alongside Eastern European and Asian central banks sustaining their three-year average of 12 and 11 tons per month—this relentless institutional drain on global supply makes a decisive upward price breakout highly probable rather than just speculative. Therefore, if the current downward trend continues to persist, it should not be viewed as a sign of permanent decay but rather as a coiled spring, building the fundamental momentum necessary to launch a powerful and sustained upward breakout once the macroeconomic catalysts align. Source： https://www.azernews.az/analysis/259317.html

As resource security and decarbonization become increasingly important, major economies are strengthening efforts to retain aluminum scrap. From the EU's review of export controls and the U.S. strategic asset proposal to Japan's circular economy initiatives and policies in the UAE and South Africa, these developments could reshape global scrap flows and affect secondary aluminum markets.

Consumer battery cell manufacturers are generally adopting a wait-and-see attitude, expecting further declines in raw material prices. A few manufacturers have made small-batch restocking purchases, while most are waiting for prices to drop further.

Aluminum associations from the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan highlighted OECD data showing that global aluminum-sector subsidies totaled USD118.3 billion during 2005-2024, with China accounting for USD101.4 billion, or 86% of the total. In 2024 alone, China received USD10.2 billion of the sector’s USD11.1 billion global subsidies. Industry groups noted that China’s share of global primary aluminum output has risen from 11% to 61% over the past two decades, with subsidy-supported growth extending into downstream processing and recycling. The associations called for coordinated measures, including import monitoring systems, tariff alignment and potential scrap export restrictions, to strengthen supply-chain security and support fair competition.

Amidst the backdrop of the Trump administration's increased tariffs on aluminum imports and disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies, global mining giant Rio Tinto's Canadian aluminum business is experiencing an unexpected boost. The company stated that its aluminum exports to the United States have recovered to pre-tariff levels, making the US once again the primary market for Canadian aluminum products. Last year, the Trump administration raised aluminum import tariffs to 50%, forcing Rio Tinto to divert more Canadian aluminum sales to Europe. However, due to continued tight domestic aluminum supplies in the US, coupled with the shutdown of some Gulf smelters due to the Middle East wars and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, US aluminum prices surged.

As the United States continues to strengthen critical minerals security, domestic manufacturing, and copper supply chain resilience, limited smelting capacity is increasingly emerging as a key challenge. The country currently operates only a handful of primary copper smelters, while low treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) and rising environmental compliance costs continue to pressure profitability. Alongside efforts to expand domestic mining and manufacturing capacity, maintaining existing smelting operations and securing refined copper supply will remain critical to the long-term success of U.S. copper supply chain strategy. Continued pressure on the smelting sector could limit the country's ability to reduce reliance on imported refined copper in the near term.