During the 48th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines on May 7, 2026, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia stated that Indonesia is open to cooperating with the Philippines on nickel supply to bolster the regional electric vehicle battery ecosystem. While Indonesia is not currently planning upstream investments in the Philippines, Bahlil emphasized that the Philippines could serve as a vital raw material supplier should Indonesian domestic supply face shortages, highlighting a strategic effort to build a unified energy strength within Southeast Asia.

EVelution Energy has secured a long-term cobalt offtake agreement worth $850 million with Mitsui. Under the deal, EVelution Energy will supply Mitsui with the vast majority of cobalt metal output from its under-development project in Yuma County, Arizona, with an annual contained cobalt supply capacity of up to 3,000 metric tons. Once commissioned, the new refining facility will have a maximum annual capacity of up to 7,000 metric tons of cobalt sulfate and cobalt metal, covering substantial cobalt demand across the U.S. aerospace, electric vehicle battery and advanced manufacturing sectors. The project is scheduled to start construction in early 2027 and be completed by the end of 2029.

On April 23, Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd. released its 2025 annual report. The report shows that the company achieved operating revenue of 63.246 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 12.90%. Consumer battery revenue was 31.406 billion yuan, accounting for 49.66% of total revenue, a year-on-year increase of 3.29%; electric vehicle battery revenue was 18.908 billion yuan, accounting for 29.90%, a year-on-year increase of 24.90%; energy storage system business revenue was 2.313 billion yuan, accounting for 3.66%, a year-on-year increase of 22.42%.

On Feb. 20 (local time), Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest lithium metal producer, reportedly began mass production of semi-solid-state batteries with an energy density of 650Wh/kg. The company has secured major electric vehicle battery material supply agreements with leading OEMs, including Tesla, Volkswagen, and Hyundai Motor.

China’s BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle and battery manufacturer, has begun construction of its first electric vehicle battery plant in Vietnam in partnership with local automaker Kim Long Motor. The battery plant project involves a total investment of USD 130 million and will be expanded in two phases. In the first phase, BYD will build a production line with an annual capacity of 3 GWh on a 4.4-hectare site. In the second phase, the site will be expanded to 10 hectares, increasing total annual capacity to 6 GWh, with plans to broaden the product portfolio to include batteries for passenger vehicles.

In the first quarter of 2025, PT Merdeka Battery Materials Tbk. (MBMA), a subsidiary of Merdeka Copper Gold, demonstrated strong performance in its nickel business despite ongoing low nickel prices. The SCM mine achieved year-on-year growth in ore production while significantly reducing costs. A major operational highlight was the AIM acid plant setting a quarterly production record of 168,738 tons of acid. MBMA also made two key advances in its downstream strategy: in December 2024, PT ESG New Energy Material produced its first batch of MHP nickel, marking Merdeka’s official entry into the battery-grade materials sector; in January 2025, construction began on the PT Sulawesi Nickel Cobalt (SLNC) HPAL plant, which is expected to produce 90,000 tons of MHP nickel annually and aims to begin operations within 18 months. PT ESG and PT SLNC together form the foundation of Merdeka’s integrated battery materials value chain, positioning the company as an emerging player in the global electric vehicle battery supply chain. However, unaudited quarterly revenue fell 7% year-on-year to USD 504 million, mainly due to a USD 79 million drop in nickel-related income.

Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, announced that investment in the nickel sector accounted for more than 62%—equivalent to IDR 153.2 trillion—of the total IDR 245.2 trillion invested in the mineral sector between January and December 2024. Within the mineral sector, the breakdown of investments includes IDR 153.2 trillion in nickel, IDR 68.5 trillion in copper, IDR 21.8 trillion in bauxite, and IDR 1.6 trillion in tin. In addition, other key sectors contributing significantly to national investment figures were the crude palm oil/oleochemical industry (IDR 67.1 trillion), the pulp and paper industry (IDR 64.0 trillion), the petrochemical sector (IDR 23.1 trillion), and electric vehicle battery manufacturing (IDR 8.4 trillion).

In 2024, the Southeast Asian automotive market demonstrated significant growth potential. From January to October, total vehicle sales in the region reached 2.5561 million units, indicating robust market demand. Among them, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia emerged as the countries with the highest sales, capturing a major share of the market. Meanwhile, as consumers increasingly prioritize environmental protection and energy efficiency, the adoption rate of electric vehicles (EVs) in Southeast Asia is surging. Government incentives, infrastructure development, and the growing participation of global industry players are collectively driving the rapid growth of the EV market. For instance, Thailand, with its well-established EV manufacturing industry, holds a leading position in Southeast Asia. Against this backdrop, the 2025 SMM 2nd Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference will be held in Bangkok. We sincerely invite industry elites to join us in exploring these challenges and opportunities, and to work together to promote the prosperity and development of the automotive industry in Southeast Asia and beyond. Scan the QR code for conference details Three Reasons to Attend the Southeast Asia Automotive Conference ·Explore Emerging Markets and Gain Insights into Future Trends Southeast Asia, a vibrant region, is emerging as a new blue ocean for the global automotive industry. Join the 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference to connect with industry elites, conduct in-depth field trips of the local market, and grasp the pulse of future mobility trends. ·Exchange Innovative Technologies and Share Development Achievements From intelligent driving to new energy vehicles, and from connected cars to smart manufacturing, the Southeast Asia Automotive Conference will gather the most cutting-edge technologies and products. Here, you will have the opportunity to engage in face-to-face exchanges with industry pioneers, share innovative achievements, and spark unlimited inspiration. ·Expand Business Cooperation and Build a Prosperous Industrial Ecosystem Every encounter has the potential to ignite the spark of collaboration. We provide a platform for you to connect with automotive enterprises in Southeast Asia and around the world, explore cooperation opportunities, and jointly build a more prosperous automotive industry ecosystem. Get a Sneak Peek at the Exciting Conference Agenda DAY 1 08:00-08:50 Registration and Morning Tea 08:50-09:00 Opening Ceremony and Welcome Address by SMM Leadership 09:00-09:20 Latest Policies in the Southeast Asia Automotive Industry 09:20-09:50 Automotive Brand Building and Differentiation Strategies in the Southeast Asia Market 09:50-10:15 Tea Break 10:15-11:15 Roundtable Discussion: Pathways to Building and Optimizing Localized Supply Chains in Southeast Asia Guest Speakers: ·Martin Knoss, Robert Bosch Automotive Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Regional President, Powertrain Solutions Division, ASEAN Market Segment for Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, and Off-Road Vehicles ·Harendra Saksena, Ather Energy - Chief Procurement Officer ·Peter Klöpfer, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH - Senior Manager ·Ma Ming, Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) - General Manager ·Yoshinobu Egawa, SIIX - Head of Greater China Region 11:15-12:00 Roundtable Discussion: Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain: Import Considerations (Services, Pricing, and Local Implementation Possibilities) Moderator: Yi Yanting, VP, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 12:00-13:30 Lunch + Networking Session 13:30-14:15 Roundtable Discussion: Research on the Acceleration of Electrification and Localization of Core Components in Thailand Guest Speakers: ·Xu Xiaolong, Inovance United Powertrain Systems (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Deputy General Manager ·Ross, Head of OEM Chip Division (Name withheld) 14:15-14:45 Silicon Steel for New Energy Motors Guest Speaker: Hunan Hongwang New Material Technology Co., Ltd. 14:45-15:10 Tea Break 15:00-15:55 Roundtable Discussion: "Charging Pile Infrastructure: Unlocking the Last Mile of Southeast Asia's New Energy Revolution" Guest Speaker: Soravis Sithicharoe Gentry, Head of Venture Capital (Charging Pile Business) 15:55-16:25 TBD Speaker 16:25-17:10 Roundtable Discussion: Selecting Investment and Factory Construction Models in Southeast Asia: Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Joint Ventures and Wholly-Owned Enterprises 17:10-17:40 TBD Speaker 19:00-21:00 Special Cocktail Reception DAY 2 09:00-09:30 TBD Speaker 09:30-10:20 Roundtable Discussion: Logic of Global Market Support Orders for Southeast Asia's Local Supply Chains 10:20-10:45 Tea Break 10:45-11:35 Roundtable Discussion: Battery Materials Supply Chain: Possibilities for Linking Battery Cell Chemical Materials in Southeast Asia Guest Speakers: ·Tony, SEVB (Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) - General Manager ·Liu Rui, Innowave (Malaysia) New Material Technology Co., Ltd. - Chairman ·Kim Chang-seok, Tinci Materials - Sales Director for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, Electrolyte Division 11:35-13:00 Lunch + Networking Session 13:30-17:30 Automaker Demand Matchmaking Session Scan the QR code for conference details Review of Past Conference Speakers Confirmed Guest Speakers Continuously Updated... Past Conference Guest Speakers Scan the QR code for conference details 2025 SMM 2nd Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference 【Date】June 16-17 【Venue】Bangkok, Thailand

The policy drive for the transition of the world in cleaner, renewable energy has really triggered an unbeatable surge in the demand for such metals as cobalt, lithium, and nickel. They are very important development factors in electric vehicle economies, batteries, energy-storage systems, and renewable energy technology in general. Indeed, technological development is creating demand for such metals on one hand, while there are major government policies that drive the demand much deeper: from tax breaks and subsidies given to green technologies down to rules covering imports and exports, numerous policy measures reach and set prices of such critical metals.

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