In 2026, the correction in lithium carbonate prices drove up lithium battery production costs. Coupled with uncertainties in lithium resources supply, cost pressure across the new energy industry became increasingly prominent. Leveraging the advantages of abundant sodium resources, balanced distribution, and controllable costs, sodium-ion batteries have leapt from being a “backup option” for lithium batteries to a key direction for industry breakthrough...

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 Aluminum Flash News] The Guangxi Qiangqiang Carbon-Based New Materials prebaked anode project, with an annual capacity of 600,000 mt, officially commenced construction in April 2025 and is expected to begin trial production in July 2026. The first calcining furnace is estimated to start production by the end of March; the roasting furnace is expected to start production by the end of May, with the forming workshop producing the first green anode, marking the project’s full integration; and the first baked anode is expected to be produced by the end of July.

Overall, supply in China’s petroleum coke market continued to tighten, while downstream demand remained generally stable with support, and supply and demand fundamentals provided two-way support to the market. Coupled with recent fluctuations in crude oil prices and intensified cost-side bargaining, SMM expected that in the short term, the petroleum coke market would mainly remain in consolidation, with prices of different categories continuing to diverge.

[SMM Analysis] On March 12, 2026, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against imposing tariffs on Chinese graphite imports. Below is the complete timeline of the US anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigations into active anode material (graphite anode) from China, the duty rates at each stage, and the latest results as of March 12, 2026.

In Q1 2026, China’s spot silver ingot market underwent a marked shift from extreme frenzy to a rational return. As investment enthusiasm cooled significantly and large volumes of imported silver ingots flowed in, the structure of spot premiums underwent a fundamental adjustment, while the market’s supply-demand pattern continued to be reshaped.

At the start of the year, there was plenty of excitement around silver. The precious metal was soaring and reaching record highs along the way. However, it has declined from the highs it reached in January.

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Recently, the Ecological Environment Branch of the Guangyuan Economic Development Zone released the first public notice for public participation in the environmental impact assessment of the “Guangyuan Hongchangsheng Aluminum Co., Ltd. 115,000 mt Aluminum Energy-Saving, Carbon-Reduction Upgrade and Renovation Project.” The project will adopt SY400 prebaked anode electrolysis cells and supporting technologies to upgrade and renovate the existing 115,000 mt 200 kA electrolysis cell production line.

Ouyang Minggao pointed out that large-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries will still require 3–5 years, with test vehicles expected to appear by the end of 2026. Sulphide electrolyte has fallen from 20 million/mt to the million-level range. However, he stressed that the technical difficulty is extremely high and advised consumers that they “need not wait,” as LFP batteries remain the “ballast stone” at present.

[SMM Aluminum Express] According to SMM, the base selling price for prebaked anode at a major domestic prebaked anode sales company for March 2026 dropped by 56 yuan/mt MoM. Regional selling prices were as follows: north-west China: 5,222 yuan/mt; north China: 5,172 yuan/mt; south-west China: 5,222 yuan/mt; south China: 5,222 yuan/mt.