The silver price has already shown this year how quickly dynamics in the precious metals market can change.
Apr 16, 2026 11:57[Guotai Haitong Securities: Multiple Automakers Shorten Payment Terms for Suppliers, Improvement Expected in the Automotive Parts Industry Landscape] According to a research report by Guotai Haitong Securities, if automakers can strictly shorten payment terms for parts suppliers, the price differences of parts will become more pronounced, which will be beneficial for the improvement of the competitive landscape in the long run. The firm maintains an "overweight" rating for the industry and recommends high-quality parts companies that are expected to benefit from the improvement in the industry landscape. (Cailian Press) [Leap Motor's Zhu Jiangming: Least Favors and Hopes to Avoid "Price Wars"] On June 11, Zhu Jiangming, Chairman and CEO of Leap Motor, shared his views on the recent "price wars" in the automotive industry during a media interview: "In fact, the so-called price wars are not as intense as everyone imagines. Many companies are simply combining various discounts that were previously offered separately. This is a promotional strategy aimed at attracting more attention. We cannot arbitrarily reduce prices. We are the least inclined and hope to avoid engaging in 'price wars'." Li Tengfei, Vice President of Leap Motor, added: "Firstly, we do not participate in (price wars), nor do we initiate them; secondly, our cost control capabilities enable us to respond to such market changes, ensuring sustained profitability while maintaining product competitiveness." [Zhongtong Bus: Expected to Continue Positive Growth Trend in 2025] Zhongtong Bus (000957) stated during an institutional survey on June 12 that, based on industry and company operations, 2025 is expected to align with the initial forecasts and continue a positive growth trend, though there will be no significant changes compared to 2024. There will be certain adjustments in the product mix. In 2025, the domestic trade-in subsidy policy will continue with increased subsidy amounts. The integration of urban and rural areas will continue to drive the growth in demand for passenger, freight, and postal services, and the domestic bus market will continue to release incremental demand. After experiencing explosive growth in the previous year, the tourist bus segment will undergo adjustments. The proportion of new energy vehicle sales in exports is expected to increase significantly. [Guangxi: Intensifies and Expands Support for Trade-in Subsidies for Automobiles, Home Appliances, Home Furnishings, Kitchen and Bathroom Products, E-bikes, as Well as Purchase Subsidies for New 3C Digital Products] The General Office of the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region recently issued the "Implementation Plan for Special Actions to Boost Consumption in Guangxi." The plan mentions intensifying and expanding support for trade-in subsidies for automobiles, home appliances, home furnishings, kitchen and bathroom products, and e-bikes, as well as purchase subsidies for new 3C digital products. The scope of subsidies for vehicle scrappage and renewal will be expanded to include eligible China IV vehicle emission standards fuel-powered passenger vehicles. The categories of subsidized home appliances and home furnishings, kitchen and bathroom products will be expanded to 24 and 48 categories, respectively, and the process for subsidy application and review will be optimized. In 2025, the sales of key commodities are expected to be boosted to exceed RMB 38 billion, driving the scrappage and renewal of 4,700 old commercial freight vehicles, the renewal of 400 new energy urban buses, the replacement of power batteries in 700 new energy urban buses, and the scrappage and renewal of 2,500 sets of old agricultural machinery. [Xinhongye: Early payments from downstream automakers will have a positive impact on the company] Xinhongye stated on an interactive platform that early payments from downstream automakers will have multiple positive impacts on the company, such as improving cash flow, reducing financial costs, and enhancing financial flexibility. While ensuring the provision of high-quality products and services, the company will explore win-win payment arrangements with customers. [Chervon Auto: No material information that should be disclosed but has not been disclosed] Chervon Auto (603982.SH) announced that the cumulative deviation in the closing prices of its shares over two consecutive trading days on June 11 and June 12, 2025, reached 20%, constituting abnormal fluctuations in stock trading. After self-inspection and written inquiries to its controlling shareholder, Chervon Precision Technology Holdings Co., Ltd., and the actual controller, Pan Longquan, the company confirmed as of the disclosure date of this announcement that there was no material information that should be disclosed but had not been disclosed. The company's production and operation are proceeding normally and orderly, and there have been no significant changes in its internal and external operating environments, except for the information already disclosed. (Finance News) Related Reading: Weekly Summary of the LFP Market in June [SMM Lithium Battery Market Analysis] [SMM Analysis] Behind the 60-Day Payment Commitment: Suppliers' Wry Smiles and Anticipation Quotations for cobalt-based products continue to fall, with Co3O4 prices dropping by RMB 7,650 in a single week. Will the decline stop next week? [Weekly Observation] [SMM Analysis] Rio Tinto and Codelco Join Forces to Enter the Lithium Triangle, Investing $900 Million to Develop a World-Class Salt Lake Project [SMM Analysis] Separator Prices Remain Stable [SMM Analysis] Raw Material Prices Drag Down Overall Prices, with Potential for a Bottom-Out Rebound During the Policy Window Period The battery and solid-state battery sectors strengthen again, with multiple automakers announcing the latest progress. Lopal shares hit the daily limit for nearly six consecutive trading days. [Hot Stocks] [SMM Analysis] Cathode Material Production Increased MoM in May, with Sluggish Growth in Downstream End-Use Demand [SMM Analysis] Anode Material Production Increased in May Due to Rising Demand [SMM Analysis] Co3O4 Production Increased MoM in May, with Most Industry Players Adopting a Cautious Wait-and-See Attitude Quotations for cobalt-based products collectively "fall," while cobalt chloride smelters maintain firm quotations. Will prices remain high and volatile in the future? [Weekly Observation] [SMM Analysis] The Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - An Exploration of Three Methods: "Direct Export from China, Re-Export via Malaysia, and US Domestic Production" (Part I) [SMM Analysis] The Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - An Exploration of Three Methods: "Direct Export from China, Re-Export via Malaysia, and US Domestic Production" (Part II) [SMM Analysis] The Impact of US Tariffs on China on the Export Methods and Prices of Chinese ESS Battery Cells to the US - An Exploration of Three Methods: "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 the sluggishest period of the year [SMM Analysis] In May, the production of ternary cathode material increased by 3.52% MoM [SMM Analysis] In May, the production of ternary cathode precursor decreased by 3.99% MoM
Jun 13, 2025 09:34On Wednesday local time, the US Fed released the minutes of its May monetary policy meeting on its official website. The minutes showed that Fed officials believed they might face a "difficult trade-off" in the coming months, with both inflation and unemployment rising, and increased economic uncertainty justifying a cautious monetary policy stance. The meeting minutes indicated that policymakers judged that the risks of both rising unemployment and inflation had increased since the March resolution, primarily due to the impact of Trump's tariff policies. This situation could create a conflict between the Fed's goals of price stability and full employment, forcing members to decide whether to prioritize tightening monetary policy to combat inflation or to support economic growth and employment by cutting interest rates. Participants agreed that, given the continued solidity of economic growth and the labour market, along with the current moderately tight monetary policy, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) had the flexibility to wait for greater clarity on the outlook for inflation and economic activity. However, it was evident that uncertainty about the economic outlook had further increased, and thus officials believed it was appropriate to adopt a cautious stance until the economic impacts of the Trump administration's series of policy changes became clearer. The meeting minutes highlighted the willingness of Fed officials to maintain interest rates unchanged for a period, as policy changes in Washington cast a shadow over the economic outlook. At the May meeting, the FOMC kept the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25%-4.5% for the third consecutive time. Following the interest rate decision this month, Trump made progress in trade negotiations with other countries. On May 8, Trump announced the outline of a new trade agreement with the UK. Subsequently, China and the US also agreed to significantly reduce tariffs on each other's goods. Despite this, US tariff rates remained at historically high levels, forcing many companies to put hiring and investment decisions on hold. Therefore, as the US economy adjusted to the higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration, nearly all participants indicated that inflation might be more persistent than expected. The US Fed projected that, due to the impact of tariffs, inflation would rise "significantly" this year, while the job market was "expected to weaken substantially." Economists generally expected that tariffs would push up inflation and drag down economic growth, though they also lowered their expectations for a recession following the easing of trade tensions. The meeting minutes mentioned that Fed staff's forecasts for real GDP growth in 2025 and 2026 were lower than those presented at the March meeting, as the announced trade policies implied a greater drag on real economic activity relative to the policies assumed in staff's previous forecasts. It is expected that trade policies will also lead to a slowdown in productivity growth, thereby reducing potential GDP growth in the coming years. As of early May, officials also noted that the volatility in the US bond market in the weeks preceding the meeting was "worthy of attention," and pointed out that changes in the US dollar's safe-haven status, along with rising US Treasury yields, could have long-term impacts on the economy. The meeting also discussed the US Fed's five-year policy framework. Fed Chairman Powell stated that officials agreed on the need to reassess the key factors surrounding employment and inflation in the current monetary policy approach. The Fed's next meeting will be held from June 17 to 18, at which time the Fed will release policymakers' new forecasts for inflation, employment, and economic growth prospects over the coming period, as well as their expectations for interest rates that they deem appropriate. The market currently expects that the likelihood of an interest rate cut before the September meeting is almost zero.
May 29, 2025 08:19William Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), called out to Fed Chairman Powell on social media: "It's time to resume interest rate cuts!" "Really, enough is enough! Stop it already! Powell needs to lower interest rates. President Trump has crushed Biden's inflation, and there's no reason not to lower interest rates. If Chairman Powell does so, the real estate market will be in much better shape." He wrote. Pulte's latest remarks echo the "long-held wish" of US President Trump since taking office. Since assuming office, Trump has been continuously pressuring Powell to cut interest rates promptly, especially against the backdrop of indiscriminate use of "tariff sticks." However, can an interest rate cut really "cure all ills"? Many analysts' answer is no, and it is precisely because of Trump's economic policies that US home prices have been difficult to cool down. Some experts have pointed out that the US housing inventory remains limited, and this issue is unlikely to ease this year. Moreover, due to tariffs driving up US material prices and immigration policies leading to labor shortages, US builders lack the motivation to construct. Many companies and business groups have frequently warned that Trump's tariff policies will force them to raise prices. According to the US Fed's latest Beige Book, retailers generally expect to raise prices in the near future in response to tariffs. In early April, Trump stated, "This would be the best time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut interest rates. He's always 'late,' but he can now quickly change his image. Lower interest rates, Jerome, and stop playing politics." Since cutting interest rates by 100 basis points in the second half of last year, the US Fed has remained inactive, maintaining the target range for the federal funds rate at 4.25%-4.5%. As of the interest rate-setting meeting in May this year, it was the third consecutive meeting where the Fed kept interest rates unchanged. At the press conference after the May interest rate meeting, Powell stated that the Fed does not need to rush to adjust interest rates, and the current policy is moderately restrictive. Trump's calls for interest rate cuts will not affect the Fed's work. He also pointed out that the White House's intermittent trade wars have created an environment of economic uncertainty. Currently, high home prices are one of the most stubborn areas of US inflation. Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, recently warned that Trump's policies on immigration, tariffs, etc., have kept US home prices high, which has increased the risk of rising US inflation and also led to greater resistance to interest rate cuts by the Fed. Economists generally expect that inflation in the US will rise—at least in the short term—which could lead the US Fed to maintain high interest rates for a longer period.
May 28, 2025 13:17As trade tensions eased, the US Consumer Confidence Index rebounded sharply in May from a nearly five-year low, ending a streak of consecutive declines. Data released by The Conference Board on Tuesday showed that the US Consumer Confidence Index rose by 12.3 points to 98 in May, significantly surpassing the expected value of 87 and the previous value of 86. This marked the first monthly increase since November last year and the largest monthly gain since March 2021. The report also indicated that the index measuring Americans' short-term expectations for income, business, and the job market surged by 17.4 points to 72.8, though it remained below the 80 threshold, which typically signals an impending recession. Over the past few months, a series of policies introduced by US President Trump had triggered a global trade war and dealt a severe blow to American confidence. Last month, consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, this month, Trump made progress in trade negotiations with other countries. On May 8, Trump announced the outline of a new trade agreement with the UK. Most UK goods will still be subject to a 10% benchmark tariff. However, UK steel and aluminum will be exempt from the 25% tariff imposed by the US, while tariffs on the first 100,000 UK cars exported to the US will be reduced from 25% to 10%. Subsequently, China and the US also agreed to significantly reduce tariffs on each other's goods, representing an unexpected breakthrough for the market. Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist for Global Indicators at The Conference Board, stated, "The Consumer Confidence Index improved in May after five consecutive months of decline. This rebound showed signs before the China-US trade agreement was reached on May 12 and has since gained momentum." The monthly improvement was primarily driven by consumer expectations, as all three components of the Expectations Index—business conditions, job prospects, and future income—rebounded from their April lows. Consumers' pessimism about business conditions and job opportunities over the next six months eased, and they regained optimism about future income prospects. Consumers' assessments of the current situation also improved. Guichard added, "As the US stock market continued to rebound in May, consumers' outlook on stock prices improved. Forty-four percent of consumers expect stock prices to rise over the next 12 months (up from 37.6% in April), while 37.7% expect them to fall (down from 47.2% in April)." Perceptions of the labour market also improved, with 19.2% of respondents expecting more job opportunities in the next six months, up from 13.9% in April. Meanwhile, 26.6% of respondents expected job losses, down from 32.4% previously. Nevertheless, tensions remain. If countries fail to negotiate trade agreements with the US, by early July, the Trump administration will still have over 100 trade agreements to discuss, at which point his reciprocal tariffs will be re-imposed. Therefore, uncertainty remains high, raising the question: what does this mean for consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of the US economy? Robert Frick, corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, commented, "Consumer confidence may have soared, and Americans have reason to be happy given the reduction in tariffs, especially those on China. But when prices start to rise again in a month or two, it will be a sobering reminder that a new inflation battle has just begun." Many companies have already warned of raising the selling prices of their goods, with Walmart being the most prominent. The world's largest retailer recently stated that it would not be immune to the impact of Trump's tariffs and planned to raise prices on some items later this month as the trade war drives up costs.
May 28, 2025 09:13Against the backdrop of the evolving global PV industry landscape, the US's newly introduced tariff policy on solar products from Southeast Asia is triggering a major transformation in the industry chain.
May 26, 2025 15:21Many Wall Street strategists believe that as the economic outlook for Europe improves, European stock markets are poised for their best annual performance relative to the US market in two decades. According to the average forecast of 20 strategists surveyed by the media, the STOXX Europe 600 Index is expected to climb to around 554 points this year. As of Monday's (May 19) close, the STOXX 600 Index stood at 549 points, implying a potential further climb of about 1% for the year. Notably, the index has already risen by more than 8% year-to-date. In contrast, strategists are far less optimistic about the outlook for the US market. Another media survey found that strategists, on average, forecast the S&P 500 Index to close at 6,001 points this year, basically flat with its Monday closing price, while the index has only risen by 1.6% year-to-date. Among them, JPMorgan Chase has set a target of 580 points for the STOXX 600 Index, one of the highest targets in the survey. Citigroup, on the other hand, expects the index to rise by 4% to 570 points this year as analysts' pessimism about corporate earnings eases. Both banks predict that the US benchmark index will decline for the remainder of the year. Citigroup strategist Beata Manthey, commenting on European stock markets, said, "We have moved past earnings uncertainty, which could lay the groundwork for further gains and potential re-rating, especially in those hard-hit cyclical sectors." Shift in European Stock Market Forecasts This forecast also marks a shift from expectations at the beginning of the year, when strategists anticipated that European stock markets would significantly lag behind the US market. However, as Germany's historic fiscal reforms and strong corporate earnings attracted investors seeking substitutes for US assets, sentiment towards European benchmark indices has rebounded. A survey released by Bank of America a week ago showed that 35% of global fund managers are currently overweight European stocks, while net exposure to US stocks has fallen to its lowest level in two years. According to data compiled by the media, earnings for MSCI Europe constituents grew by 5.3% in Q1, far exceeding analysts' expectations of a 1.5% decline. Underlying Concerns Admittedly, the STOXX 600 Index's year-to-date gain of over 8% has also sparked concerns about its valuation. The benchmark index currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 14.6 times, above the 20-year median of 13.5 times, though still below the S&P 500 Index's P/E ratio of nearly 22 times. Of course, some investment bank strategists in the aforementioned surveys remain hesitant about the outlook for European stocks. For example, Societe Generale strategist Roland Kaloyan said he needs to see stronger earnings trends and a further reduction in tariff-related risks before betting on further gains for the Stoxx 600. His year-end target is 530, which implies a 3.5% decline from Monday's closing price. "Uncertainty around tariffs further complicates the outlook, as many companies are reluctant to provide clear guidance, suggesting that the full impact of these tariffs may not yet be reflected in earnings forecasts," Kaloyan said. UBS strategist Gerry Fowler, on the other hand, said that with expectations for stronger economic growth over the next two years, valuations have risen as expected. "To achieve further growth, we must navigate a period of uncertainty that could keep corporate earnings-per-share growth at or slightly below zero this year," he said.
May 21, 2025 08:58US President Trump has once again urged the US Fed to cut interest rates, but Nick Timiraos, a seasoned Fed reporter known as the "Fed's Wall Street Journal," has poured cold water on the idea. He believes that the impact of tariffs on pushing up inflation has not yet been reflected in the recently released CPI data, suggesting that the Fed should wait and observe changes in upward inflationary pressures as new data becomes available. On Tuesday, May 13, Eastern Time, Trump posted on his social media platform calling for the Fed to cut interest rates, reiterating that there is no inflation. Trump's post read: "No inflation, and prices for gasoline, energy, groceries, and almost all other goods are falling! The Fed must lower interest rates," just as central banks in Europe and elsewhere have already done. He once again singled out Fed Chairman Powell, who has been dubbed "too late," asking what went wrong. Also on Tuesday, a report co-authored by Timiraos began by stating, that inflation in April was mild, but economists believe that tariffs will end the recent period of low inflation and push up prices in the coming months. The report emphasized the complexity and uncertainty in April's CPI inflation data, arguing that while current inflation data is relatively mild, the full impact of tariff policies has yet to be felt. This uncertainty will have implications for businesses, consumers, and policymakers. Businesses need to carefully assess the increased costs due to tariff policies and develop response strategies. Consumers may face upward pressure on prices. The Fed, on the other hand, needs to find a balance between inflation and economic growth, carefully formulating monetary policy. The report used an analogy: "For the Fed, April's inflation data will be seen as observing clear skies before an impending storm, with the amount of rainfall still highly uncertain." April's Inflation Performance Moderate; Tariff Impact May Surface in Coming Months April's inflation data showed some positive signals. As mentioned earlier, the CPI rose 0.2% MoM in April, in line with market expectations. More optimistically, the annual inflation rate fell to 2.3%, lower than the 2.4% previously predicted by economists. The significant YoY decline in gasoline prices also played a positive role in controlling inflation. These data undoubtedly brought some relief to the market. However, behind the optimism lies concern. As Andy Schneider, a US economist at BNP Paribas, said: "You can't be too optimistic about this report." Timiraos's report quoted Oliver Allen, a US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, as commenting that the tariffs announced by the Trump administration in April made it difficult to notice that the YoY growth rate of CPI in April had fallen to its lowest level since February 2021. "It's not entirely insignificant, but the massive (tariff) shock is coming, we just haven't felt it yet." In summary, although inflation data has been moderate so far, the impact of tariffs may gradually emerge in the coming months. Tariff Policy "Rollercoaster": The US Fed Has Little Reason Not to Wait and See April was a month of extreme instability in the Trump administration's tariff policy. The White House's erratic policies forced companies to scramble to adjust their response strategies. This "rollercoaster" tariff policy has brought great uncertainty to businesses. Many companies find it difficult to formulate long-term business plans. Michael Gapen, chief US economist at Morgan Stanley, said, "The goods on store shelves today are based on agreements made two to three months ago." According to Timiraos' report: "April's inflation data gave Fed officials little reason to change their wait-and-see stance as they brace for cost increases or distortions with tariffs fully in effect." Market Reaction: Wait-and-See Approach In response to April's inflation data and the uncertainty surrounding tariff policies, the market reacted cautiously. The Dow Jones fell slightly, while the S&P 500 rose. Reports suggest that this indicates investors believe it is too early to assess the full impact of the Trump administration's tariff policies. The day before, on Monday, US stocks surged after China and the US announced a consensus to reduce tariffs during high-level economic and trade talks. According to Xinhua News Agency, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that substantial progress was made during the high-level economic and trade talks between China and the US, with a significant reduction in bilateral tariff levels. The US side canceled tariffs imposed on 91% of goods, and China correspondingly canceled retaliatory tariffs on 91% of goods. The US side suspended the implementation of 24% "reciprocal tariffs," and China also suspended the implementation of 24% retaliatory tariffs accordingly. Timiraos' report suggests that for the US Fed, April's inflation data does not prompt a change in its "wait-and-see" stance. Fed officials are preparing for the impact of tariffs, which are expected to lead to cost increases or market distortions. Uncertainty Looms Over the Future The trajectory of inflation remains uncertain in the coming months. Timiraos' report suggests that "if the Trump administration had not implemented widespread tariff measures in April, the current inflation data might have been sufficient to prompt the Fed to resume interest rate cuts . Costs may rise in the coming months, potentially keeping the Fed on the sidelines until officials are confident that businesses will not continue to raise prices." The report also mentioned that prices of some tariff-related goods have already started to rise, such as furniture, car parts, and audio equipment. Meanwhile, the drop in airfare prices may suggest that consumers are postponing their vacation plans. Many businesses are still trying to avoid passing on tariff costs to consumers, partly because they are uncertain about the final tariff levels that Trump will implement. Economists expect that the peak impact of tariffs may not arrive until summer. Economists at Goldman Sachs recently wrote in a report, "The early stockpiling of inventory this time may moderately delay the transmission of higher prices to consumers."
May 14, 2025 08:43[SMM Analysis: 10,000 mt Production Lines of NFPP Successively Put into Operation: Innovation in Sodium-ion Battery Cathode Materials and Reshaping of Market Landscape] SMM reported on May 13: On May 8, 2025, Huzhou Yingna New Energy put its 10,000 mt-scale production line for sodium iron iron(II) phosphate (NFPP) cathode materials into operation, marking a new stage in the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries...
May 13, 2025 17:50The humanoid robot craze continues, with upstream parts producers taking the lead in cashing in on the industry's dividends. Today, robotics concept stocks surged, with Tuosida and others hitting the daily limit. Wuzhou Xinchun, Saifutian, and Baoxin Technology also hit the daily limit in the afternoon, while Taier Shares, Keli'er, Wanxiang Qianchao, Chunguang Technology, and Tuosida had previously hit the daily limit. Effort, Weiergao, Tongxin Transmission, and Mannst among others rose by more than 10%. Recently, Wang Xingxing revealed during a speech at the 6th Shanghai Innovation and Entrepreneurship Youth 50 Forum that humanoid robot companies, including Unitree, are currently in good shape. "Many companies are swamped with orders," Wang said. He also mentioned that Unitree Technology is currently short-staffed across all positions. Hot money is pouring into the primary market, with new startups emerging one after another. In the secondary market, concept stock companies are seeing their share prices soar. Humanoid robots are undoubtedly the most iconic emerging industry in 2025. As robots gradually transition from dancing and somersaulting in labs to industrial applications, the greater challenge lies in achieving mass production to form a commercial closed loop. What customers need are robots that can truly create value, with a focus on return on investment, rather than mere showmanship or performance. Previously, Tesla founder Elon Musk stated that in 2025, over 1,000 humanoid robots, Optimus, will be produced and trial-run in Tesla's own factories to prepare for full-scale mass production. An industry insider told the *Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily* that currently, Zhiyuan Robotics and Leju Robotics are among the top in terms of industry shipments. In a previous interview with the *Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily*, Yao Maoqing, partner of Zhiyuan Robotics and president of the Embodied Intelligence Business Unit, introduced that Zhiyuan plans to maintain robot shipments in the thousands this year, with revenue expected to grow severalfold. Leju also aims to deliver over 1,000 humanoid robots this year, with a minimum guaranteed delivery of 500 units. Unitree Robotics, on the other hand, has been inundated with orders, with a typical delivery date of two months. The *Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily* learned from Fourier Intelligence that, as of Q1 2025, Fourier Intelligence had delivered over 10,000 robots in total. The overall shipment and delivery target for 2025 is in the thousands, with a goal of delivering 300 bipedal humanoid robots. Recently, Fourier Intelligence and the Shanghai International Medical Center officially unveiled the "Embodied Intelligence Rehabilitation Hub." The two sides will engage in comprehensive cooperation around the construction of application standards for embodied intelligent robots in rehabilitation medical scenarios, the co-creation of rehabilitation programs, and scientific research, jointly building the first domestic demonstration base for embodied intelligent rehabilitation. At the same time, Fourier Intelligence signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Tongji University. The two sides will leverage their respective strengths to carry out joint R&D, talent cultivation, and scenario co-construction, accelerating the transformation of advanced technologies from theory to practical application.Fourier Intelligence also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the National-Local Joint Humanoid Robot Innovation Center to jointly promote the innovative application of embodied intelligence technology in the fields of rehabilitation healthcare and industrial services. This also marked Fourier Intelligence's first step in exploring embodied intelligence + elderly care in collaboration with industry partners. A reporter from the *China Securities Journal* learned from UBTECH Robotics that today, Huawei and UBTECH Robotics officially signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in Shenzhen. The two parties will carry out innovative cooperation in the fields of embodied intelligence and humanoid robots, covering product R&D, scenario applications, and industrial systems. The agreement stipulates that the two parties will leverage Huawei's capabilities, including Ascend, Kunpeng, Huawei Cloud, and large models, as well as Huawei's experience in R&D, production, and supply, and combine them with UBTECH Robotics' full-stack humanoid robot technology to drive the transition of humanoid robots from laboratory innovation to efficiency improvements and scalable deployment in industrial, home, and other scenarios. Huawei will rely on its full-stack AI infrastructure capabilities to support UBTECH Robotics in establishing an embodied intelligence innovation center. The two parties will also collaborate on developing joint demonstration solutions for "humanoid robots + smart factories" based on specific scenarios, as well as on developing home service humanoid robots (including bipedal and wheeled humanoid robots). In late April, UBTECH Robotics officially signed a large-scale procurement contract for bipedal humanoid robots with the purchasing party. The products involved are mainly the industrial humanoid robot Walker S1 and the commercial version humanoid robot Walker C. The relevant products will be used in production and manufacturing processes at automotive factories, as well as in commercial reception and other areas. This is the first time globally that a humanoid robot enterprise has signed a small-batch procurement contract for humanoid robots in a factory manufacturing scenario. However, due to limited capacity, it is difficult to replicate demand scenarios on a large scale, making it challenging to form a viable business loop. As a result, many industry insiders remain cautious about the current shipment situation of humanoid robots. A CFO of a humanoid robot company in Shanghai told a reporter from the *China Securities Journal* that currently, the company already has a backlog of orders for several hundred units. However, due to capacity constraints, the CFO remains cautiously optimistic about shipments. "On the one hand, the company's own capacity is insufficient, and on the other hand, there are issues with the stability of parts. Therefore, shipments are relatively cautious," the CFO also mentioned that the vast majority of humanoid robot enterprises do not ship their products to real, valuable application scenarios. Since it is difficult for scenarios to meet customer value needs, it is also challenging to form a viable business loop for humanoid robot shipments. He Bin, Dean of the School of Electronic and Information Engineering at Tongji University, believes that embodied intelligence drives AI development towards physical space projects through human behavior, enabling information interaction in the physical space.AI technology integrates physics with technology, with numerous cutting-edge fields that are highly popular. From the perspectives of AI and personnel, enterprises face challenges ranging from foundational models to practical key data technologies, data acquisition, and algorithm applications. Driven by capital and integrated with various scenarios, especially the application of special mechanical products, there is potential for breakthrough development in the future. Li Jing, a professor and doctoral supervisor at the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing and Robotics, Shanghai University, stated that embodied intelligent operation models differ from general large models. The large model represents a new paradigm for embodied intelligence, encompassing environmental perception, decision-making, and enforcement. Humanoid robots have become a hot topic due to their generalization capabilities, enabling them to achieve more functions based on model data foundations and strong enforcement. Li Jing believes that from a robotics professional perspective, motion control of humanoid robots is a key focus. Currently, there are shortcomings in this area both domestically and overseas. For instance, while the improvement of cerebellar functions and the ability to stand and walk are important, enhancing generalization capabilities in unstructured environments, including breakthroughs in safety under human-robot functional binding and flexible control of whole-body motion, is a long-term process that also limits application scenarios.
May 13, 2025 10:37