SMM News: As of March 20, 2026, the market price for Praseodymium-Neodymium (Pr-Nd) metal in China stabilized temporarily at 890,000–910,000 RMB/ton. This article utilizes the SMM Pr-Nd Terminal Demand Calculation Model to dissect the demand logic for 2026 across three core sectors—New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, and Wind Power—explaining the current supply-demand dilemma facing the NdFeB magnet and broader Pr-Nd markets.

The National Development and Reform Commission recently launched a new batch of 13 landmark major foreign-invested projects, with planned investment totaling $13.4 billion. The newly selected projects are mainly concentrated in manufacturing, including electronics manufacturing, chemicals, automobiles, machinery, and other sectors, accelerating the development of industrial clusters. This year marks the ninth time that the National Development and Reform Commission has updated the list of landmark major foreign-invested projects. Landmark major foreign-invested projects are characterized by large investment scale, strong industrial spillover effects, and prominent technological leadership.

On the evening of March 18, 2026, at Chery Automobile Battery Night 2026 in Wuhu, Anhui, Chery unveiled its Rhino all-solid-state battery technology. It had completed the development and pilot production of a 60Ah, 400Wh/kg all-solid-state battery cell and was advancing toward an ultra-high energy density of 600Wh/kg.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Fluctuated Downward After Opening in the Night Session, and Spot Transactions Were Relatively Sluggish]

This week (March 13, 2026–March 19, 2026), multiple enterprises in the solid-state battery sector were active: Dali Times commenced construction of a 2 GWh specialized semi-solid-state battery base; EVE’s Longquan Phase III/IV all-solid-state batteries rolled off the line in Chengdu; Chery released its 600 Wh/kg Rhino all-solid-state battery technology。

According to EFDA, the CBAM is severely penalizing importers of screws, nuts, and other fasteners, with costs reportedly surging by 30% to 50% since the mechanism took full effect in January 2026. The EFDA attributes this drastic cost increase to structural failures by the European Commission, specifically the absence of a functioning verification system that forces importers to rely on exorbitantly high default emissions values rather than actual data. This issue is heavily compounded by a severe shortage of certified verifiers, whose accreditation is delayed until summer 2027. Warning that these bureaucratic complexities are threatening the global competitiveness of European end products like automobiles and machinery.

National crude steel demand decreased from 1.05 billion mt in 2020 to 910 million mt in 2025, with the steel consumption in manufacturing (machinery, automobiles, home appliances, and ships) increasing from 242 million mt to 280 million mt, a rise of 15.7%, and its share rising from 23% to 31%, becoming a key force in boosting the upgrade of crude steel demand structure. In contrast, construction demand fell from 631 million mt to 440 million mt, with its share dropping from 60% to 49%.

According to the data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), domestic sales of automobile in June 2023 were 2.51 million vehicles, a rise of 5.22% from the previous month and a year-on-year increase of 0.14%.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM shows that in May, the production and sales of automobiles were 2.333 million and 2.382 million respectively, an increase of 9.4% and 10.3% month-on-month, and a year-on-year increase 21.1% and 27.9%.

According to data released by the China Automobile Association, in November, domestic sales of automobiles were 2.488 million units, a month-on-month increase of 5.2%, and a year-on-year increase of 24.3%.