Futures: Overnight, LME lead opened at $1,965/mt, fluctuating downward during the Asian session; it dipped to $1,948.5/mt upon entering the European session, but then rose due to a weakening US dollar index, touching a high of $1,976.5/mt before finally settling at $1,974.5/mt. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE lead 2603 contract opened at 16,665 yuan/mt, briefly touched a low of 16,560 yuan/mt early in the session, then rebounded as bears reduced positions, reaching a high of 16,680 yuan/mt before finally settling at 16,665 yuan/mt, up 0.48%, forming a doji star. On the macro front: As markets awaited a series of US economic data, a weaker US dollar made dollar-denominated commodities more attractive to overseas buyers; spot gold extended gains. The White House's Hassett predicted worsening employment: AI boosts productivity, reduces labor demand. Alphabet planned to raise about $15 billion by issuing US dollar bonds. China's Ministry of Commerce held a symposium with automakers: Multiple measures to promote the expansion and quality improvement of auto consumption. The Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing Stock Exchanges announced a package of measures to optimize refinancing. Seven departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security provided administrative guidance on employment to leading platform companies and courier firms. Three departments including the Ministry of Finance issued an announcement on tax incentives for re-exported cross-border e-commerce goods. : SHFE lead stopped falling and stabilized, but as the Chinese New Year holiday approached, logistics vehicles halted in some regions, leading to reduced shipments and quotations from suppliers. Only some cargoes self-picked up from primary lead smelters were quoted at premiums of 0-50 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price ex-works. In the secondary lead sector, more smelters were on holiday and reluctant to sell at low prices, with most enterprises suspending quotations; a few secondary refined lead offers were at discounts of 25 yuan/mt to premiums of 50 yuan/mt against the SMM #1 lead average price ex-works. Downstream enterprises generally entered the year-end wrap-up phase, with minimal inquiries, resulting in thin trading in the spot market. Inventory: On February 9, LME lead inventory decreased by 100 mt to 232,750 mt. As of February 9, SMM lead ingot social inventory across five regions rose to a five-month high. Today's lead price forecast: With previously in-transit lead ingots by rail concentratedly arriving at warehouses, social inventory of lead ingots increased significantly, mainly reflected in Jiangsu and Zhejiang region warehouses. Last week, lead prices fell, prompting lead-acid battery enterprises to conduct relatively concentrated stockpiling of lead ingots, leading to a noticeable decline in lead smelters' in-factory inventory. This week being the last before the Chinese New Year, the final batch of lead-acid battery enterprises will enter the holiday state, further weakening lead consumption. Meanwhile, with the start of the Spring Festival travel season, migrant workers have returned to their hometowns, and the number of vehicles in operation has gradually decreased. Currently, some regions no longer support road transportation. It is expected that the growth momentum of social inventory for lead ingots will slow down, and the inventory buildup of lead ingots is anticipated to be more reflected in the smelters' plant inventories. Overall, lead prices are in the doldrums ahead of the holiday. Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, other data are processed by SMM based on public information, market communication, and SMM's internal database model, for reference only and do not constitute decision-making advice.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's WeChat update, on February 13, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a plenary meeting of the Leading Group for the Development of the Low-Altitude Industry. The meeting focused on thoroughly studying and implementing the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and discussed and arranged key tasks to promote the safe, orderly, and healthy development of the low-altitude industry. Li Lecheng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry, and Head of the Leading Group for the Development of the Low-Altitude Industry, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Xin Guobin, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister, and Xie Shaofeng, Chief Engineer, attended the meeting. The meeting noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's low-altitude industry has achieved positive results, with accelerated breakthroughs in technology and equipment, and diversified expansion in application scenarios. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, it is essential to earnestly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, fully recognize the new situation facing the development of China's low-altitude industry, balance development and security, adhere to both policy support and reform innovation, promote the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, strengthen the leading role of enterprises in innovation, accelerate the cultivation of industrial clusters, and build an intelligent, green, and integrated industrial system, to steadily advance the safe, orderly, and healthy development of the low-altitude industry. The meeting emphasized the need to effectively strengthen top-level planning, carry out planning formulation work well, increase policy support for the innovative development of the low-altitude industry, accelerate preliminary research on standards, and establish a sound industrial standard system. Efforts should be made to firmly build a security foundation, strengthen management in the manufacturing sector, attach great importance to low-altitude radio security, cybersecurity, and data security, and establish a test and verification systems for low-altitude equipment. It is necessary to actively promote integrated innovation, strengthen research on fundamental and common technologies in the industry, deepen the synergy between low-altitude equipment and industries such as new energy and new-generation information technology, and accelerate the empowerment of artificial intelligence. A favorable environment should be vigorously fostered, with orderly expansion of application scenarios, strengthening scenario-driven upgrades of equipment, deepening high-level international cooperation, and consolidating the talent foundation for the industry, to provide strong support for the development of the low-altitude economy as a strategic emerging industry. Heads of relevant departments, subordinate units, and affiliated universities of the Ministry attended the meeting and delivered exchange speeches.

Last week, the overseas rare earth market exhibited distinct characteristics, including accelerated exploration of futures financialization, diversified development of global resource projects, deepened supply chain strategies in major consumer countries, progress in alternative technology R&D, and continuous expansion of international cooperation networks. Next week, as China enters the Chinese New Year holiday, overseas markets will maintain this pace of advancement.

Utah paid $30 million for a bankrupt magnesium plant—but not the $100 million cleanup. Its toxic legacy seeps toward the Great Salt Lake, unpaid. Across the Atlantic, Austria’s LKR cracked magnesium’s code: alloy ZAX210 now shapes into wire for medical implants and 3D printing. Two faces of the same metal: one buried in liability, the other alight with possibility.

According to CMOC's official WeChat: Recently, after CMOC completed the acquisition of the Brazilian gold mine project, four gold mines located in Maranhão, Bahia, and Minas Gerais states immediately entered full operation. In January this year, except for the RDM gold mine which had its crusher maintenance, originally scheduled for February, moved up to January, affecting production, the Aurizona, Santa Luz, and Fazenda gold mines all exceeded their monthly production targets. Previously, to smoothly take over the Brazilian gold mine project, CMOC Brazil promptly initiated preparations, working with the project team to systematically review comprehensive, technical, operational, and financial aspects, advancing work handover, process integration, and system alignment according to a list, while simultaneously conducting cultural promotion and ideological communication for front-line employees. The handover was not simply about "changing the sign." Through the niobium and phosphate sector employees, CMOC Brazil conveyed the company's corporate culture, management philosophy and model, and strategic development vision to the original team, allowing them to familiarize themselves and integrate into the new work environment early, enhancing understanding and trust, and welcoming the new phase with a more positive and composed mindset. This approach of "preparing in advance and stabilizing hearts first" helped the gold mine project employees maintain a stable mindset and normal work pace during the transition period. Their quick recognition of the company's management philosophy naturally followed. After completing the handover, the company's management and technical teams conducted a two-week systematic survey of the four gold mines, thoroughly understanding the current status of each production and operation link. The four gold mines taken over span three major states in Brazil, with the farthest mine being over 2,100 kilometers apart in a straight line, geographically dispersed, with inconvenient transportation and significant climate differences. Facing these objective challenges, the company, through on-site surveys, discussions, and specialized seminars, quickly grasped the frontline demands and critical issues needing urgent resolution. Based on this, five main tasks for 2026 were identified: in production organization, ensuring safe and stable operations at all mines to meet monthly and annual plans, while also preparing for resource succession; in exploration and reserve increase, scientifically and reasonably arranging geological exploration, seizing opportunities to expand and upgrade, providing technical support for extending the service life and expanding the scale of the mines, and systematically exploring greenfield projects to lay the foundation for long-term development; in capital expenditure, systematically planning and prioritizing key projects such as tailings dam safety upgrades; additionally, strengthening financial and asset management to ensure compliant operations; optimizing contract and service procurement management systems, initiating tenders for key projects, and achieving a smooth transition in management processes. Through comprehensive takeover and stable production and operation in January, the Brazilian gold mines have entered a new phase of autonomous operation. In the future, based on the development philosophy of safety, greenness, harmony, and sharing, Brazil's gold mines will continue to optimize management in addressing local challenges, laying a solid foundation for sustainable development.

As of February 12, 2026, LME zinc ingot inventory continued to decline to 103,500 mt, while the LME Cash-3M contango narrowed from over $40/mt in January to below $20/mt. At the same time, due to the Chinese New Year holiday, many downstream zinc enterprises suspended operations, leading to a continued buildup in domestic zinc ingot inventory to over 160,000 mt.

SMM February 13: The most-traded SHFE lead 2604 contract opened at 16,700 yuan/mt during the day, fluctuating around the daily average line. Due to the dual decline in supply and demand in the spot market, lead prices lacked sufficient support, causing SHFE lead to fluctuate downward and hit a low of 16,640 yuan/mt. It finally closed at 16,700 yuan/mt, forming a doji with a decline of 0.33%. Trading volume was 46,911, and open interest was 69,507. As the Chinese New Year approaches, most participants in the lead industry chain have entered the holiday period, coupled with a decline in capital activity. SMM expects SHFE lead to be in the doldrums before the holiday. Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, other data are processed by SMM based on public information, market communication, and SMM's internal database model, for reference only and do not constitute decision-making advice.

[SMM Analysis: The "Key Anchor Point" in Great Power Rivalry: The US "Treasury Plan" and the Resource Reshuffle in Latin America] As the second phase of the Mirador copper mine project in Ecuador, developed by a Chinese enterprise, remains stuck in a "built but awaiting approval" deadlock, ten thousand kilometers away in Washington, the US Export-Import Bank, together with the President, is announcing a historic supply chain security initiative called the "Treasury Plan." In the pause and the start, a global covert battle over critical minerals such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and gallium is moving from behind the scenes to the forefront.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Pulled Back After Fluctuating During the Night Session, Trading Was Sluggish as Most Downstream Enterprises Had Already Suspended Production for the Chinese New Year Holiday]

Capacity side, the domestic alkaline electrolyzer market maintained at 43.77 GW, and the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity added. No offline public delivery information was available this week. Electrolyzer project updates: Yulin Institute of Clean Energy Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences : The institute issued a tender for the procurement of megawatt-scale alkaline electrolyzers and hydrogen-oxygen separation and purification modules. The procurement includes megawatt-scale alkaline electrolyzers and hydrogen-oxygen separation and purification equipment, with a budget of 3.18 million yuan. The equipment will be used for a hydrogen production project from coal chemical wastewater coupled with freshwater production. It is understood that Dalian Chemical Engineering Design Institute Co., Ltd. previously won the bid for the project design. Inner Mongolia Green Hydrogen Steel Union Technology Co., Ltd.: The company announced the winning bidder for the civil engineering part of Sections 1 and 2 of the construction project for the full green steel production line integrating green electricity-green hydrogen shaft furnace reduction-electric furnace short process. It is understood that both sections were won by China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Fourth Engineering Co., Ltd. (including consortium partner: Tianjin Tianhengda Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd.). Shanghai Reshaping Energy Group Co., Ltd. : Reshaping Energy and China MCC5 Group Corp., Ltd. recently formally partnered by signing a cooperation agreement, establishing a comprehensive partnership. Additionally, both parties jointly signed a cooperation memorandum for the Ningxia Sun Mountain Integrated Wind-Solar-Hydrogen-Methanol Project. Moving forward, the two parties will collaborate to promote the construction of hydrogen production projects using wind and solar renewable energy, and coordinate with relevant parties to advance the construction of green methanol synthesis projects, aiming to create a benchmark "green electricity-green hydrogen-green methanol" industry chain project in north-west China. SPIC : The list of prospective winning bidders for the 99th centralized tender in 2025 (Jilin Power Share Lishu Wind-Solar Green Hydrogen Production and Biomass Coupled Green Methanol Project PEM Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Equipment) was announced. The first prospective winning bidder: Changchun Green Dynamic Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 30.88 million yuan; the second prospective winning bidder: Shaanxi Xingran Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 36.4265 million yuan. It is understood that the Jilin Power Share Lishu Wind-Solar Green Hydrogen Production and Biomass Coupled Green Methanol Project is located in Siping City, Jilin Province, and plans to construct one set of 2000 Nm³/h PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production system, with a PEM hydrogen production scale of 2000 Nm³/h. The project is scheduled to start construction in August 2025, with a total planned duration of 22 months. The tender scope includes the PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production system and auxiliary systems, including but not limited to 4 PEM hydrogen production electrolyzers each with a measured hydrogen production rate of 500 Nm³/h under rated conditions, one set of 2000 Nm³/h hydrogen purification skid, and 4 sets of IGBT rectifiers. Windey Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd.: The tender for the biomass gasification process package and technical services for the first phase of the Handan Biomass Green Methanol Project was released. The project's main entity is Windey Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd. It is understood that the project primarily adopts the biomass pressurized bubbling fluidized bed gasification process. The scope of the process package extends from the atmospheric raw material receiving hopper of the gasification framework to the outlet of the syngas scrubber, includes the ash and slag discharge unit, and involves the discharge of wastewater after ammonia stripping treatment. Goldwind Green Chemical (Xing'an League) Co., Ltd.: The acceptance of the environmental impact assessment documents for the Goldwind Xing'an League Green Hydrogen to Green Methanol (Phase II) Project was announced. It is understood that the project has a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan, with a planned construction period from December 2025 to December 2027. The construction scale and content include primarily building main production facilities such as biomass gasification and methanol synthesis and distillation, along with supporting public and auxiliary utilities, aiming for an annual production of 600,000 mt of green methanol. Zhongneng Yida (Hebei) New Energy Co., Ltd.: The EPC general contracting tender announcement (second call) for the new 400,000 mt/year sustainable aviation fuel hydrogenation project. It is understood that the project covers an area of approximately 230 mu. The construction project includes a 400,000 mt/year sustainable aviation fuel hydrogenation unit, supporting hydrogen production facilities with a capacity of 30,000 Nm³/h, a sulfur recovery combined unit, and main supporting utilities. The primary raw materials are gutter oil, acidified oil, fatty acid methyl ester, and waste animal and vegetable oils, used to produce biodiesel, bio-naphtha, bio-jet fuel, and other products, with by-products including dry gas, bio-liquefied petroleum gas, and sulfur. The annual production volumes are bio-jet fuel (315,700 mt), bio-naphtha (21,000 mt), biodiesel (maximum daily production of 340,800 mt), and other by-products: dry gas (7,900 mt), bio-liquefied petroleum gas (19,500 mt), and sulfur (72 mt). Inner Mongolia Hydroelectric Technology Co., Ltd.: Its Dalad Banner Grid-Side (Incremental Distribution Network) Standalone Energy Storage Demonstration Project has completed the modification filing. The project construction content is now modified as follows: The total project investment is 153.332 million yuan, funded from two sources: self-owned funds of 45.9996 million yuan and a bank loan of 107.3324 million yuan. Regarding construction content and scale, the total energy storage capacity is set at 2 MW/4 MWh, adopting a pure hydrogen energy storage solution. Specifically, the hydrogen energy storage system encompasses three major segments: water electrolysis for hydrogen production, energy storage, and hydrogen fuel cell power generation. It is configured with 12 sets of 1,000 Nm³ alkaline electrolyzers, 2 sets of 1 MW hydrogen fuel cell power generation systems, and a 90,000 Nm³ hydrogen storage system. Each electrolyzer unit consists of the electrolyzer body, purification framework, gas-liquid separation device, and power supply and electrical control system. Each 1MW hydrogen fuel cell power generation system uses 16 proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules, each with a rated power of 100KW, as the core energy supply units. The hydrogen storage system comprises a spherical tank hydrogen storage system with a capacity of 2,000 cubic meters and a pressure of 1.6 MPa, requiring a total of three hydrogen storage tanks. Jinfeng Green Energy Chemical (Xing'an League) Co., Ltd. : Jinfeng Xing'an League Green Hydrogen to Green Methanol (Phase III) Project has been filed. Construction Location: Xing'an League - Ulanhot City - Xing'an League Economic and Technological Development Zone. Total Investment: 2.3 billion yuan, including self-owned funds: 460 million yuan, and bank loan application: 1.84 billion yuan. Planned Construction Period: May 2026 to May 2028. Construction Scale and Content: Mainly involves building key production facilities such as biomass gasification and methanol synthesis and distillation, along with supporting public and auxiliary facilities, with an annual output of 725,000 mt of green methanol. Shanghai Electric Power Station Group: Successfully won the bid for Section 1 of the EPC project for the Lanzhou New Area 100,000 mt/year Biomass Green Methanol Project (Phase I), and will provide key technologies, core equipment, and EPC turnkey services. Previously, Shanghai Electric had successfully verified its self-developed entire industry chain technology system for "green electricity coupled with biomass gasification to produce green methanol" in the Jilin Taonan Green Methanol Integrated Demonstration Project. Policy Review 1. The Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Gansu Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and Gansu Provincial Energy Bureau issued the "Gansu Provincial Zero-Carbon Park Construction Plan." The document points out that organic integration of solar, wind, geothermal, and air energy should be used for direct building energy supply; relying on technologies such as wind and solar power plus energy storage and hydrogen microgrids, heat pumps, and molten salt thermal storage, the park's multi-energy conversion and mutual utilization of "electricity, heat, cooling, steam, and hydrogen" should be enhanced. Vigorously develop green and low-carbon emerging industries. Promote breakthroughs in core technologies for wind, solar, and energy storage equipment, improve the localization rate of new energy equipment, and build a new energy equipment industry chain driven by a "high proportion of green electricity." Support the construction of projects for the wind and solar power coupled green hydrogen production and hydrogen energy storage industry chain, advance the integrated development of "green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization," and create a "wind-solar-hydrogen-methanol-ammonia" zero-carbon industry chain. Guide the coordinated development of computing power projects and clean energy layout, increase the proportion of green electricity supply for data centers, and build a "computing power + green electricity" digital economy industry chain. 2. The Jilin Provincial Energy Bureau issued the "Jilin Province Green Electricity Direct Connection Project Development and Construction Implementation Plan (Trial)" (Draft for Comments).. The document indicates that new load projects can carry out green electricity direct connection, with key support for hydrogen-based green energy (green hydrogen, green hydrogen to green ammonia, green hydrogen to green methanol, green hydrogen to sustainable aviation fuel, etc.), steel metallurgy, computing (data) centers, automotive manufacturing, and other industries. Electricity consumption projects that have not been registered with the power grid enterprise (including expansion parts of existing loads), electricity consumption projects that have been registered but whose supporting power grid projects have not yet commenced construction, and existing projects agreed upon through consultation with the power grid enterprise are all considered as new loads. In principle, new loads (including expansion parts of existing loads) and existing loads should not establish direct electrical connections. 3. The European Commission approved a €4 billion special fund for electrolyzers, providing a 30% subsidy on equipment costs for projects with an annual capacity of ≥500 MW, and set a 2030 efficiency target for green hydrogen project electrolyzers of ≥60% (LHV basis). Enterprise Dynamics Shanghai Qingluan Energy Co., Ltd. : Shanghai Qingluan Energy Co., Ltd. was established, with legal representative Li Kun and registered capital of 5 million yuan. Its main business includes the manufacturing and sales of gas and liquid separation and purification equipment. The company is 100% owned by Shanghai Qingluan Technology Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Zhiling Hydrogen Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. : The launch ceremony for the delivery and experience event of hydrogen energy buses, jointly organized with Skywell New Energy Automobile Group Co., Ltd., was held at the Guangbao Guangzhou Technology Park in Huangpu District, Guangzhou. Following the successive winning of related projects in November and December last year, HTWO Guangzhou, in collaboration with Skywell Group, delivered 249 hydrogen fuel cell buses in bulk to Guangzhou Bus Group. Shaanxi Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Co., Ltd. : Signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Baoji Municipal Government. The Baoji Municipal Government will take this signing as an opportunity to provide comprehensive support for project construction, fully promote project implementation and effectiveness, and ensure smooth project advancement with high-quality services. Zhongtian Hua Hydrogen Co., Ltd.: Successfully won a bid for an overseas hydrogen valley project, achieving a "zero breakthrough" in overseas business, marking substantial progress in its internationalization strategy. Hubei Intelli Electric Co., Ltd. : Successfully delivered several sets of large containerized power supply systems, all of which will be used for a shore power project. HydrogenT Energy Group: Its "Fuel Cell Engine (TK-300)" project successfully passed the certification for Shanghai High-Tech Achievement Transformation Project and received an A-grade evaluation. Weishi Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: In collaboration with Yutong Light Truck, completed a series of multi-dimensional, complex working condition vehicle-level verifications, comprehensively validating the reliability and environmental adaptability of Weishi Energy's 80 kW hydrogen fuel cell system under complex environments such as low temperature, high altitude, transient load, emergency stop, and steep slopes. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas): Signed a memorandum of cooperation with Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited (Sinopec Hong Kong) and Sinopec Star Petroleum Co., Ltd. (Sinopec Star), establishing a strategic partnership to engage in in-depth cooperation on clean energy, including hydrogen, green methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) disclosed patent CN2025110028, developing ceramic-based anion exchange membranes with a laboratory test lifespan reaching 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing a Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity close to that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprints/Technical Specifications 1. The team led by Liu Qingju at Yunnan University constructed a superwetting Pt/NF@CF graded heterojunction electrocatalyst for low-energy, high-efficiency hydrogen production. 2. Hunan Normal University and Central South University's AM team revealed the compressive strain and oxygen vacancy effects of iridium oxide in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. 3. The relevant research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Electrical Engineering Materials at Xi’an Jiaotong University successfully developed a Ru/Ti3C2Ox@NF bifunctional seawater electrolysis electrocatalyst. 4. The group standard "Technical Specification for Wind and Solar Power Green Electricity Coupling Electrolysis Hydrogen Production" (No. T/CIEP 0272—2025) was released and implemented by the China Industrial Environmental Protection Promotion Association. Zhongneng Dayou Energy Technology Co., Ltd. successfully developed a 100kW-class PEM electrolyzer hydrogen production multi-field coupling test equipment. 5. GKN Powder Metallurgy announced the development of a new generation of high-performance, high-porosity, high-purity porous transport layers (HP-PTL) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis.