SMM June 9 News: In the metals market, as of the midday close, domestic base metals fell near across the board. SHFE lead dropped 1.86%, SHFE tin declined 1.86%, SHFE nickel lost 2.33%, SHFE copper edged down, SHFE aluminum fell 0.52%, and SHFE zinc shed 0.38%. Additionally, the most-traded cast aluminum futures contract dipped 0.41%, while the most-traded alumina contract edged down. The most-traded lithium carbonate contract rose 0.32%, the most-traded silicon metal contract slid 2.41%, and the most-traded polysilicon futures contract tumbled 4.04%. Ferrous metals all fell. Iron ore dipped 0.39%, rebar fell 0.47%, hot-rolled coil declined 0.71%, and stainless steel dropped 1.67%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract plunged 7.48%, hitting the limit-down price of 1,340.5 yuan/mt during the session; the most-traded coke contract slumped 4.31%. In the overseas base metals market, as of 11:46 am, LME metals moved lower across the board. LME copper edged down 0.19%, LME aluminum fell 0.65%, LME lead dropped 0.25%, LME zinc slipped 0.35%, LME tin shed 0.73%, and LME nickel lost 1.01%. In precious metals, as of 11:46 am, COMEX gold edged down 0.1% and COMEX silver fell 1.13%. Domestically, the most-traded SHFE gold contract dipped 0.2%, and the most-traded SHFE silver contract dropped 1.93%. Additionally, as of the midday close, the most-traded platinum futures contract fell 0.99%, and the most-traded palladium futures contract shed 0.33%. At the midday break, the most-traded container freight futures (Europe) contract rose 0.61% to 3,865 points. As of 11:46 am on June 9, selected futures midday quotes: Spot and Fundamentals Copper: Today, spot #1 copper cathode in Guangdong against the front-month contract: high-quality copper quoted at 110 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper quoted at a premium of 70 yuan/mt, up 80 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; SX-EW copper quoted at a premium of 10 yuan/mt, up 70 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average price of Guangdong #1 copper cathode was 104,275 yuan/mt, up 330 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, and the average price of SX-EW copper was 104,195 yuan/mt, up 335 yuan/mt. Spot market: Guangdong inventories continued to decline today, marking six consecutive sessions of draws... Macro Front China: [General Administration of Customs: China's Goods Trade Imports and Exports Grew 15.3% YoY in the First Five Months, with Electromechanical Product Exports Up 18.4%] According to customs statistics, in the first five months of 2026, China's total goods trade import and export value reached 20.68 trillion yuan, up 15.3% YoY (the same hereinafter). Specifically, exports reached 11.91 trillion yuan, up 11.8%; imports were 8.77 trillion yuan, up 20.5%. In May, China's total merchandise trade import and export value reached 4.45 trillion yuan, up 16.9%. Of this, exports were 2.59 trillion yuan, up 13.8%; imports were 1.86 trillion yuan, up 21.5%. In terms of key commodities, on the export side, in the first five months, China's exports of mechanical and electrical products amounted to 7.58 trillion yuan, up 18.4%; labour-intensive products reached 1.61 trillion yuan, down 3.1%; and agricultural products totalled 300.79 billion yuan, up 1.6%. On the import side, in the first five months, China imported 3.54 trillion yuan worth of mechanical and electrical products, up 25.3%; 218 million mt of crude oil, down 4.8%; and 618.16 billion yuan worth of agricultural products, up 7.6%. [Ministry of Commerce Holds Symposium on Solid Waste Recycling for PV, Lithium-ion Battery and NEV] On June 5, the Ministry of Commerce held a symposium on solid waste recycling for PV, lithium-ion battery and NEV. The meeting emphasized the need to align thoughts and actions with the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adopt multiple measures, and take concrete actions to advance the construction of the solid waste recycling system for PV, lithium-ion battery and NEV. It called for systematic advancement and synergy, accelerating the improvement of top-level institutional design, promoting the issuance of policy documents, and forming a working pattern featuring policy coordination, resource sharing, complementary advantages, and integrated progress. It urged targeted guidance and category-specific policies, adopting differentiated and precise measures based on the development stages and recycling characteristics of power batteries, PV modules, and wind turbine equipment, to effectively resolve dismantling issues in recycling. It stressed technology-led and technology-empowered approaches, actively promoting basic R&D on technologies related to solid waste recycling for PV, lithium-ion battery and NEV, and facilitating the integration and application of AI in the recycling process. It emphasized pilot exploration and encouraging pioneers, continuing pilot work on building a renewable resource recycling system, encouraging industrial clusters and industry leaders to take the lead in trials, improving recycling efficiency, enhancing sorting capacity, and promoting high-quality development of the recycling industry. (From Wall Street CN APP) [Two Departments Jointly Launch 2026 Humanoid Robot and Embodied AI Real-Scenario Training Special Action] The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council jointly launched the 2026 Humanoid Robot and Embodied AI Real-Scenario Training Special Action. Adhering to application-driven approaches, they will target key scenarios in industrial, special, and service fields, and promote key tasks such as the construction of real-scenario training spaces, cultivation of innovative application consortia, tackling of operational skills, and application deployment verification. Through real-scenario training, they will continuously optimize embodied AI model algorithms, accumulate high-quality real-machine data, improve the performance of key robot body components, and explore the establishment of full life-cycle management and assurance mechanisms for humanoid robots and embodied AI products. By the end of 2026, key products such as humanoid robots will have taken the lead in completing application verification and routine deployment across a range of representative scenarios, entering an "operational mode"; over 100 high-value application scenarios will be condensed and formed, further enriching the embodied AI application spectrum and driving the deployment capabilities on a scale of tens of thousands of units. (From Wall Street Insights app) [PBOC open market operations achieved a net injection of 152.8 billion yuan today.] PBOC conducted 153 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today, and as 200 million yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured today, a net injection of 152.8 billion yuan was achieved. (Gold Ten Data APP) On the dollar front: As of 11:46, the US dollar index fell 0.02% to 99.08. The market is waiting for the US inflation data to be released on Wednesday, which will affect expectations for the Fed's June rate decision. According to CME "FedWatch": the probability that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged in June is 98.1%, and the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate cut is 1.9%. For the July meeting, the probability of keeping rates unchanged is 84.7%, the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate hike is 13.6%, and the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate cut is 1.6%. (Gold Ten Data APP) Morgan Stanley strategists said in a report that if risk appetite rebounds and the Fed avoids raising rates, the US dollar could weaken in the coming months. They noted that in the absence of higher interest rates, positive risk sentiment is negative for the dollar. However, they said that if the US economy outperforms others, leading to larger rate hikes than in other countries, the dollar would fare better. "Given that both the ECB and the BOJ are expected to raise rates this month, narrowing rate differentials should fuel a rise in risk appetite, thereby putting pressure on the dollar." (Gold Ten Data APP) On the data front: Today will see the release of Germany's April seasonally adjusted industrial output m/m, Germany's April seasonally adjusted trade balance, the US May NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, the US weekly ADP employment change for the week ending May 23, the US April trade balance, the US May existing home sales annualized, and the US April wholesale sales m/m, among other data. In addition, attention should be paid to Apple's WWDC developer conference, which runs through June 13. On the crude oil front: As of 11:46, oil prices in both markets declined, with WTI down 1% and Brent down 0.83%. The phased easing of the Iran-Israel situation has pulled back oil prices, reflecting some relief in market concerns over Middle East supply risks. However, the market remains cautious in its assessment of the situation. Whether energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz can be substantially restored remains a key focus for traders. A small number of commercial vessels returned to the waterway last weekend, but risks persist, with some ships even sailing with their digital transponders turned off. (Wall Street CN) The US Department of Transportation said on Monday that rising jet fuel prices, driven by the Middle East situation, caused US airlines' fuel costs in April to surge 78% compared to the same period last year, reaching nearly $6.5 billion. In its monthly report, the department stated that airlines' fuel costs rose 26% from March, while fuel consumption in April fell 2.6% from March. The department added that the cost per gallon of fuel in April was $4.11, up $1.81 from April 2025, a trend that is already having an impact on the industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects airlines' fuel expenditure to jump from about $252 billion in 2025 to approximately $350 billion this year, with fuel costs accounting for nearly one-third of operating costs. (Jin10 Data APP) Spot Market at a Glance: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►

As resource security and decarbonization become increasingly important, major economies are strengthening efforts to retain aluminum scrap. From the EU's review of export controls and the U.S. strategic asset proposal to Japan's circular economy initiatives and policies in the UAE and South Africa, these developments could reshape global scrap flows and affect secondary aluminum markets.

SMM May 28 News:This week (May 22–29), China's waste lithium battery recycling sector witnessed a wave of project public announcements and launches, spanning more than ten provinces and cities including Guangdong, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Tianjin, Zhejiang, and Hubei.

This week (May 22–29), the scrap lithium battery recycling sector nationwide saw a wave of project announcements and implementations, involving more than ten provinces and cities including Guangdong, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Tianjin, Zhejiang, and Hubei. The newly added processing capacity totaled over 200,000 mt/year, covering multiple segments such as second-life application, dismantling and crushing, lithium extraction from black mass, and cathode material repair. The industry's capacity expansion entered an acceleration phase.

Material Recycling Association of India Voice of the Indian Recycling Industry Concept Note ONE DAY CONFERENCE ON CRITICAL MINERALS RECYCLING LANDSCAPE 1. Background & Context India’s transition towards clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced manufacturing is driving an unprecedented demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals. However, India remains highly import dependent (over 80–90%) for several critical minerals (Ministry of Mines, NITI Aayog), making supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions and price volatility. Recognizing this, the Government of India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to strengthen domestic capabilities across the value chain: from exploration and mining to processing and recycling. While mining is inherently capital-intensive and long-gestation, recycling of critical minerals offers a near-term, scalable, and sustainable pathway with significant economic and environmental benefits: Import Substitution: Estimates suggest recycling could contribute a meaningful share ( 30-40% ) of future demand, subject to collection efficiency and technology scale-up (NITI Aayog, CII) Carbon Emission Reduction: Recycling critical minerals can reduce emissions by 30–70% compared to primary mining, particularly for metals like aluminum, nickel, and cobalt (Global Studies) Energy Savings: Secondary production of metals can save up to 60–90% of energy compared to virgin extraction (IEA) Livelihood Generation: A formalized recycling ecosystem can generate large-scale employment , particularly by integrating India’s informal sector, which currently handles 80–90% of waste collection Climate & Net-Zero Goals: Recycling will play a critical role in supporting India’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070 and achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 In this context, there is a strong need for a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue to align government vision, technological capabilities, and industry realities, and to accelerate the development of a robust recycling ecosystem under NCMM. 2. Objective This conference is designed as a high-level stakeholder consultation platform to deliberate on the role of recycling within India’s critical mineral strategy and to identify actionable interventions across policy, technology, and market development. Key Objectives: Assess the role of recycling in achieving supply security under NCMM Evaluate the effectiveness of existing and proposed policy and incentive frameworks Identify gaps in regulatory frameworks and institutional coordination Examine challenges in technology development, commercialization, and scaling Capture industry perspectives on market mechanisms, feedstock availability, and financing Assess the current black mass landscape in India and pathways for domestic value recovery Develop a roadmap for building a resilient and competitive critical mineral recycling ecosystem 3. Conference Structure The conference is structured across three key pillars: 4. Expected Outcomes Development of a “ Conference Recommendations Report ” for submission to relevant ministries Identification of priority policy interventions to strengthen recycling under NCMM Recommendations on technology scaling, funding mechanisms, and industry support Actionable inputs for improving feedstock availability, market development, and regulatory alignment 5. Conclusion As India positions itself as a global leader in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, critical mineral security will be a defining factor in sustaining this growth. Recycling presents a strategic opportunity to complement primary resource development while advancing sustainability and circular economy objectives. This consultation aims to catalyze policy action, technological innovation, and industry alignment, enabling India to build a resilient, self-reliant, and circular critical mineral ecosystem.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the morning of May 15, the delegation visited Toyo Trading Co., Ltd. and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile Toyo Trading , officially established in 2009, has consistently upheld "resource recycling to promote sustainable development" as its core mission. Steadily cultivating its presence in Japan's metal recycling and trading sector over sixteen years, the Group has built a large-scale operation covering the entire industry chain. Today, it has developed an integrated full-chain service capability encompassing "collection — processing — sales — export," with its business footprint spanning all of Japan. The Group now owns over 20 specialized subsidiaries, each focusing on specific segments such as copper scrap and aluminum scrap recycling, refining, processing, and international trade. Meanwhile, the Group has assembled 300 professionals with extensive industry experience, ensuring efficient operations and consistent service quality across all aspects from supply chain management to international trade negotiations. Annual output includes copper (25,000 mt), aluminum (25,000 mt), iron (100,000 mt), and others (250,000 mt). Annual sales revenue reached 70 billion yen, making it one of the largest and most reputable enterprise groups in Japan's metal recycling industry. Toyo Trading has established a quality management system in strict accordance with international standards and has successfully obtained ISO9001 international quality management system certification. This signifies that the Group has reached internationally advanced levels in quality management, process control, and client service, providing clients with solid quality assurance. Looking ahead, Toyo Trading will continue to build on its core business of metal recycling and trading, further deepening its industry chain layout: on one hand, continuously optimizing its service network and processing technologies to enhance resource recovery efficiency and raw material quality; on the other hand, actively exploring green and low-carbon development pathways to drive the industry's transformation toward a greener, more efficient, and sustainable direction, enabling the infinite circulation of finite resources. Toyo Group will continue to uphold the philosophy of integrity-based management, deepen collaboration with clients and partners, and sincerely welcome business partners from around the world to discuss cooperation, pursue mutual development, achieve win-win collaboration, protect the planet, and co-create a sustainable future. This visit was an important practice of SMM's efforts to build an international recycled metals industry exchange platform, serving as a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face exchanges, attendees gained in-depth understanding of Toyo Trading's technological advantages, operational management experience, and market layout strategies in the recycled metals sector. They particularly benefited from insights into refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for Chinese enterprises to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Conference Background Driven by global sustainable development and circular economy initiatives, recycled metals and battery recycling have gained growing strategic importance. Facing rising metal demand and dwindling natural resources, recycling stands out as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative, backed by supportive policies and investment worldwide. As a major Asian recycling powerhouse, Japan boasts robust secondary metal output and sophisticated recycling technologies. It has also rolled out massive funding plans to expand e-waste recycling infrastructure and scale up relevant processing capacity. Centered on the theme "Low Carbon, Global Echoes", the 2026 GRMI gathered worldwide enterprises, experts and officials to exchange insights on circular economy trends, technological breakthroughs and industry policies. This event comprises three forums ( Main Forum, Recycling Forum, and Renewable Resources Equipment Forum ) and multiple panel sessions. Key Highlights Reshaping the Global Recycled Metal Market — Policy Drivers and New Hotspots in India, Pakistan, the Middle East & Japan Shifting Dynamics in Southeast Asia's Recycled Metals: The Malaysia-Thailand Trade Decline and Vietnam's Rising Recycling Economy Resource Contention in the Secondary Lead Market: Redefining the Global Supply Chain Interpreting Recycled Copper Policies in China, the US, Europe, and Japan and Strategies for Future Raw Material Competition Innovation Drives Green Recycling: the Technological Frontier of China's Flotation, Crushing and Sorting Equipment Breaking Through the Challenges of the Recycling Industry: Real-World Case Studies from High-Quality Suppliers Click to view photo gallery Main Forum Opening Remarks Adam Fan, Chairman, SMM Hao Qi Chairman, KINKI SANGYO CO.LTD. May 11 Main Forum Keynote Speeches [Keynote Speech] - Global Recycled Metals Industry Market Analysis: Policy Instruments, Corporate Responses, and Future Challenges Speaker: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Rock expects that aluminum scrap production will continue to grow in the future, and global aluminum scrap supply and demand will maintain a tight balance before 2030. Regarding the copper scrap market, SMM expects that from 2026 to 2030, global copper scrap market supply and demand will continue to grow, and the market will remain in a state of persistently tight supply. The global recycling industry faces challenges including shortages of recycled raw materials supply, rising resource protectionism, cross-border logistics and transportation restrictions, lack of unified global governance, bottlenecks in recycling technology, and incomplete recycling system development. [Keynote Speech] - From India to the World: Sustainable Growth and Responsibility of a Leading Recycler Speaker: Sanchit Jain, Executive Director, Jain Resource Recycling Limited Developed markets (North America, Europe) generate over 70% of the world's scrap; North America has a recycling input rate of 57%, and Europe's aluminum recycling rate reaches 81% — yet their demand growth has slowed down, with scrap becoming a surplus resource exported abroad; Developing countries are where demand is surging — yet collection rates remain below 5%, dominated by informal operators lacking traceability; Globally, policies and market initiatives promoting traceability of recycled resources and ESG disclosure are accelerating at an increasing pace. Scrap generation and consumption exhibit a regional mismatch, with the resource gap formed by supply-demand misalignment increasingly demonstrating strategic significance; Scrap is no longer simply surplus off-cuts, but a core strategic resource reshaping the global recycled resource trade landscape. Recycling Has Become a Core Pillar for Industrial Incremental Growth Why Does the Recycling Industry Hold Critical Strategic Value Today? Secondary resource supply can cover over 40% of future incremental metal demand; reducing dependence on highly volatile primary ore resources. Recycling is the optimal viable pathway for the industry to achieve sustainable and scalable development. [Keynote Speech] - URBAN MINING India's Non-Ferrous Recycling Decade Opportunities & Challenges from a Smelter's Perspective speaker: Pratik Gupta, Assistant Vice President - Operations, Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd Four Core Drivers in Resonance, Continuously Driving Steady Expansion of India's Non-Ferrous Metal Demand 1. Energy Transition Acceleration India has set a clear target of achieving 500GW of non-fossil energy installed capacity by 2030. Power grid expansion, power transmission line construction, and renewable energy integration infrastructure are advancing comprehensively—all of which are high-consumption areas for copper and aluminum, directly boosting rigid demand for both metals. 2. Accelerating EV Penetration India has set a development target of 30% new energy vehicle penetration rate by 2030. A single EV uses approximately 3–4 times the amount of copper compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Meanwhile, the development of the power battery industry will give rise to an independent scrap recycling system, further opening up incremental space for non-ferrous metals. 3. Large-Scale Infrastructure Investment Implementation Leveraging the 11.1 billion rupee National Infrastructure Pipeline plan, projects including galvanized steel, power infrastructure, and urban rail transit will continue to be implemented over the next decade, providing sustained long-term support for zinc, copper, and aluminum market demand. 4. Manufacturing PLI Policy Empowerment India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme covers 14 key industries, focusing on metal-intensive sectors such as electronics, automotive, power battery, and capital goods. With policy support, the share of domestic manufacturing continues to rise, driving steady growth in non-ferrous metal consumption. Panel Discussion: Reshaping the Global Recycled Metal Market — Policy Drivers and New Hotspots in India, Pakistan, the Middle East & Japan Moderator: Adam Fan, Chairman, SMM Panelists: Sanjeev Phadke, The Treasurer of BMR, Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR) Amar Singh, Secretary General, Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) Bin Zhang, Trade Director, TOUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. Jawed Ahmed, Founder and CEO, Al Qaryan International DMCC Recycling Forum Ketnoye Speech: Key Issues and Challenges Affecting the US Secondary Metals Industry Speaker: Adam Shaffer, Vice President of International Trade and Global Affairs, REMA Panel Discussion Shifting Dynamics in Southeast Asia's Recycled Metals: The Malaysia-Thailand Trade Decline and Vietnam's Rising Recycling Economy Moderator: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Panelists: Eric Tan, President, Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association Achirawat Thanasethatokul, Managing Director, Mahanakorn Metalscrap Co., Ltd. Jimin Choi, CEO/Founder, ETREE PTE LTD Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals and Mining Sustainability, Bloomberg Intelligence [Keynote Speech] - Analysis of Japan's Recycled Copper Market Speaker: AW YONG YI CHEONG, Senior Secondary Copper Analyst, SMM AW YONG YI CHEONG noted that the current Japanese copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a highly competitive "seller ecosystem." Trading models that rely solely on spot cargo procurement are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, enterprises purchasing externally from outside China need to move beyond traditional spot trading mindsets and establish structural cooperative relationships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity partnerships, in order to adapt to the persistently tight market landscape. Panel Discussion Resource Contention in the Secondary Lead Market: Redefining the Global Supply Chain Moderator: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Panelists: Pratik Gupta, Assistant Vice President - Operations, Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd Eric Tan, President, Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association Panel Discussion Interpreting Recycled Copper Policies in China, the US, Europe, and Japan and Strategies for Future Raw Material Competition Moderator: AW YONG YI CHEONG, Senior Secondary Copper Analyst, SMM Panelists: Allan Zhang, Head of the Recycled Copper Business Unit, Hailiang Group Co., Ltd. Mr. Vishal Jatia, CEO, GREENLAND AMERICA INC WENCESLAO MANZANO HERNANDEZ, Director, DIMEXA HOLDINGS PTE. LTD. Shunsuke Kuwada, Overseas Manager, Hirata Corporation Co.,Ltd Yoshimichi Murakami, Executive Director, Wakoh Metal Co., Ltd. [Keynote Speech] - Current Status of Lead-Acid Battery in Japan Speaker: Yuji Tanamachi, CEO, IRUNIVERSE The volume of lead-acid battery scrap generated in Japan continues to decline. The reason is the sharp decrease in the number of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) retired in China. Over a decade ago, the number of ELVs generated in Japan exceeded 5 million units, but now it is approximately 2.7 million units, nearly halved. The chart on the right shows the increase in the average service life of passenger vehicles. The significant decline in ELV numbers was mainly driven by two factors: first, continued decline in new car sales in Japan, directly driven by population decline; second, the climbing scale of used car exports. Since the auction model was popularized in Japan a decade ago, not only ordinary used cars but even retired vehicles could be traded through auctions. Logically, a decrease in total ELV numbers should lead to a corresponding reduction in the number of dismantling enterprises. However, the reality was quite the opposite: the number of dismantling enterprises backed by ex-China capital from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the Kurdish region, and China continued to grow. Award Ceremony SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Scrap Yards SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Traders SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Equipment Enterprises May 12 Renewable Resources Equipment Forum Panel Discussion Innovation Drives Green Recycling: the Technological Frontier of China's Flotation, Crushing and Sorting Equipment Moderator: Bo Zhou, EVP, SMM Panelists: Owen Liang, Deputy General Manager, Foshan GreenField Environmental Protection Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. Xian Lu, Chairman, Shandong Luyou renewable resources equipment Co., Ltd. Haihua Cheng, International Trade Minister, Jiangsu Huahong Technology Stock Co.,Ltd. [Keynote Speech] - Volatility Eats Margins for Breakfast Managing Risk Now That Tariffs, Geopolitics, And Supply Shocks Have Driven Base Metal Prices to Multi-year Extremes Speaker: Harsha Ramesh, CEO & Co-founder, Pillar Hedge Aluminum—Supply Shock From February to April 2026, aluminum prices surged by over 20% at their peak within just two months, driven by the following key factors: Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Iran conflict closes shipping lanes; approximately 9% of global supply at risk Gulf Production Hit: EGA flagship plant shut down for up to one year; Bahrain's ALBA halted Compounding Tariff Impact: US Midwest premiums widened significantly, tariffs reshaped physical trade flows Keynote Speech: Precision Sorting Green Future Speaker: Jianan Li, Overseas Sale, Zhejiang Tianli Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. [Panel Discussion] - Breaking Through the Challenges of the Recycling Industry: Real-World Case Studies from High-Quality Suppliers Networking among medium-to-large-scale scrap yards/traders Conference Check-in The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum has now come to a successful conclusion. We sincerely appreciate the strong support from all industry participants and partners. Looking forward to meeting you again next year!

At the hosted by SMM, Ouyang Yichang, SMM secondary copper industry research analyst, shared insights on the topic of "Analysis of Japan's Secondary Copper Market." He noted that, according to SMM, Japan's copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a fiercely competitive "seller ecosystem." Trade models that rely solely on spot cargo procurement are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, ex-China purchasing enterprises need to move beyond the traditional spot trading mindset and establish structural partnerships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity cooperation, in order to adapt to the persistently tight market landscape. Global Positioning of Japan's Copper Scrap Market Global Positioning of Japan's Copper Scrap Market Key Drivers Behind Japan's Leading Position in Asia 1 Precision Sorting: Exceptional classification accuracy ensures high-quality scrap output. 2 Well-Established Infrastructure: A mature "urban mine" system and advanced logistics provide a highly reliable supply foundation. 3 Strategic Geographical Advantage: Proximity to China (accelerating capital turnover), while serving as a key trans-Pacific logistics hub connecting the Americas and Asia. 4 Favorable Trade and Tax Policies: Zero export tariffs and transparent regulations ensure seamless global operations. 5 Commercial Reliability: High standards of packaging and business ethics minimize quality claims. Japan's Average Unit Price of Copper Scrap Significantly Leads the Top Five Global Exporters In 2025, Japan and Thailand each accounted for approximately 7% of global copper scrap exports. However, Japan commanded the highest average export price among major peers ($8,112/mt), thanks to a substantial quality premium. This price spread revealed fundamental differences in product mix. Thailand primarily served as a processing hub, with limited high-grade copper scrap output domestically. In contrast, Japan was organically driven by its mature "urban mine" ecosystem, consistently producing high-purity, high-grade materials. Flow of Japan's Copper Scrap Flow of Japan's Copper Scrap Rising Trade Volume and Shrinking Net Exports: A Shift Toward Domestic Retention Smelters Drove Copper Scrap Consumption Growth While Downstream Processing Enterprises Saw Declining Usage According to SMM, compared with 2021, processing enterprises' copper scrap usage declined by 8% in 2025. Processing enterprises: Weak downstream demand (automotive, construction) and fierce global competition for high-quality copper scrap severely squeezed domestic processing enterprises, resulting in a sustained 8% decline in their absolute usage. Smelters: Tightened environmental protection and export policies implemented since 2023 restricted the outflow of copper scrap, significantly accelerating this structural "reflux" toward smelters. Combined with the plunge in TC/RC, Japanese smelters were forced to rely on these raw materials to maintain production. Consequently, the share of copper scrap consumed by the smelting segment has maintained an overall upward trend in recent years. Japan's overall scrap supply is contracting; despite robust growth in domestic consumption, the structural decline in net exports is the primary driver. Since the 2021 peak, Japan's total apparent supply of copper scrap has been on an overall downward trend. This indicates structural tightening in domestic scrap generation and social recovery rates, with increasingly scarce available resources. Despite the overall supply contraction, domestic apparent consumption demonstrated strong resilience, as Japanese smelters actively secured local raw materials to maintain production amid plunging TC. This robust local demand is significantly squeezing exports. Net exports have consequently declined structurally to low levels. Japan is shifting from a "resource overflow" model to an "internal absorption" model, which will severely exacerbate raw material shortages for Southeast Asian and Chinese buyers. Bare bright copper payable indicator stays high: supply tightness and China's tax-driven demand outweigh the impact of recent copper price rebound Since early 2026, market copper prices have risen steadily overall; in March, copper prices experienced a periodic pullback, and copper scrap sellers held prices firm with strong willingness to defend price floors, directly driving the bare bright copper payable indicator passively higher. Entering April, futures copper prices rebounded and stabilized at highs, but the copper scrap payment ratio deviated from conventional pricing logic and did not pull back accordingly, remaining firmly in the 98.5%-99.0% range. The core supporting logic lies in: continued tightening of domestic tax regulation, with China's downstream processing enterprises increasingly relying on imported copper scrap to obtain compliant input tax deductions, forming rigid procurement demand; coupled with tight spot copper scrap supply, the dual support of supply and demand underpins the copper scrap payment ratio to stay high. Japan's Scrap Policies Japan's Scrap Policies Regulatory Shift: Building an "Invisible Wall" Although Japan has not explicitly imposed export bans, it strengthens its domestic closed-loop system through a strategic policy combination. For global buyers, this signals a structural shift in the Japanese market going forward: intensified competition, soaring procurement costs, and increasing difficulty in accessing high-quality scrap. Regulatory maturity and standardized transparency are the primary drivers of the "Japan premium." Policy Lag vs. Market Reality: Although the EU Waste Shipment Regulation and potential US export restrictions have not yet been formally enacted, the market has already priced in expectations of future supply contraction, compelling downstream buyers to proactively pivot toward trade hubs with higher compliance and transparency. "Reliability Premium" Logic Emerges: As a pioneer in industry compliance and market transparency, Japan can effectively hedge against risks prevalent in other regions, such as insufficient information transparency and origin rerouting, providing the market with an important safe-haven and pricing anchor function. Outlook and Forecast Strategic Outlook and Forecast Driven by aggressive development targets at both enterprise and national levels, scrap consumption by domestic smelters in Japan is set to experience significant structural growth. According to SMM, the climb in scrap consumption by Japanese smelters is not a short-term cyclical response triggered by declining mine TCs, but rather a fundamental structural transformation underpinned by strong capital strength and long-term commitment. As 2030 ESG-related targets continue to materialize, the trend of retaining domestic scrap for internal use in Japan will deepen further, structurally tightening global circulating scrap supply over the long term and continuously compressing the available sourcing volume for ex-China buyers. Response Logic for the "New Normal" in Japan's Copper Scrap Market Volume and Flow Direction: Steady Decline Net exports of copper scrap will not plunge to zero abruptly, but rather exhibit a sustained structural decline trend. As domestically subsidized capacity comes fully online, exports of high-grade secondary copper such as bare bright copper and No.1 copper will enter a steady contraction trajectory. Pricing Logic: The traditional medium and long-term linkage of "rising copper prices, declining scrap payment ratios" has been structurally reshaped. Under the dual effects of persistently tight copper concentrates supply and China's rigid tax-driven procurement demand providing a floor, the payment ratio for Japan's high-quality copper scrap is expected to establish a long-term upward baseline. Strategic Pivot: Constrained by the upper limit of domestic secondary copper output and tight labor supply, Japanese recycling industry alliances will accelerate their expansion into markets outside China. Japanese enterprises will invest in overseas joint venture projects to solidify downstream processing capacity deployment while maintaining Japanese-led control over raw material supply chains. According to SMM analysis, the current Japanese copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a fiercely competitive "seller ecosystem." Trade models that rely solely on spot purchases are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, ex-China purchasing enterprises need to move beyond the traditional spot trading mindset and establish structural partnerships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity cooperation, thereby adapting to the persistently tight market landscape.

In mid-April, CATL announced plans to invest 30 billion yuan to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Times Resources Group, registered in Xiamen and positioned as a professional investment, operation, and management platform in the new energy minerals sector. This major move is not only a key step for CATL in building a closed-loop entire industry chain of "ore — materials — battery — recycling," but will also inject strong momentum into the extraction and reuse of rare and precious metal resources, driving the battery recycling industry from standardized development toward a new phase of technological breakthroughs and scale expansion. The core mission of Times Resources Group is to integrate global critical minerals resources such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, while expanding into high-quality rare and precious metal mining projects. From an industry perspective, lithium, nickel, and cobalt are core raw materials for power batteries, while rare and precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals are indispensable in electronic devices and catalysts. Through this 30 billion yuan capital deployment, CATL can both ensure that its primary lithium resources self-supply rate rises above 35% and keep lithium chemicals costs below 50,000 yuan/mt, while also establishing stable raw material connection channels for rare and precious metal regeneration after battery recycling through full industry chain control of mineral resources. More notably, CATL hired Chen Jinghe, founder of Zijin Mining, as a mining consultant, leveraging his extensive experience in mineral exploration and extraction to further optimize resource development processes. This means the upstream extraction segment will place greater emphasis on green and efficient technology applications, such as adopting efficient leaching technology for low-grade ore and comprehensive recovery processes for rare and precious metal associated ore, improving resource utilization rate from the source, laying the raw material foundation for rare and precious metal regeneration in subsequent battery recycling, and achieving synergy between "primary extraction + secondary recycling."

With the rapid development of the global NEV industry and the growing embrace of green and low-carbon concepts, the battery recycling industry is transforming from a marginal sector into a "new frontier" in the capital market, demonstrating unprecedented development potential. This industry, once regarded as merely "selling scrap," has now become a core necessity for safeguarding national resource security, implementing the "dual carbon" strategy, and promoting the sustainable development of the new energy industry, ushering in its own golden era. Strong policy support has injected robust momentum into the industry's development. In February 2025, the General Office of the State Council issued the *Action Plan for Improving the NEV Power Battery Recycling and Utilization System*, requiring the acceleration of relevant regulations and rules to standardize recycling and utilization through rule of law. Subsequently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and other departments, jointly issued the *Interim Measures for the Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization of Waste Power Batteries from NEVs*, setting new requirements across multiple dimensions including power battery traceability, recycling and utilization, and supervision. Driven by both policy and market forces, the battery recycling industry has continued to expand in scale, exhibiting an "explosive" growth trajectory. Currently, the number of battery recycling-related enterprises in China exceeded 200,000. In the first ten months of 2025 alone, over 30,000 new battery recycling-related enterprises were registered, representing a YoY increase of over 15% compared to the same period last year. Top-tier enterprises such as GEM and Tianqi Co., Ltd. have ramped up capacity deployment and capital operations, building competitive barriers through technological upgrades and industry chain extensions. GEM possesses a complete "battery recycling—battery cascade reuse—raw material remanufacturing—material remanufacturing—battery reassembly" full life cycle value chain, with industry-leading scale advantages. It operates 9 major lithium battery recycling bases globally, and its lithium battery recycling volume has accounted for 10% of China's total retired battery volume for consecutive years, ranking first nationwide. As early-stage NEVs gradually retire, the lithium battery recycling industry will accelerate over the next 3 to 5 years, with an annualized growth rate exceeding 50%—a market poised for tenfold growth in 5 years. The industry consensus is that this transformation, jointly driven by price, demand, and policy, is propelling the lithium battery recycling industry from extensive development toward a refined, standardized, and globalized development stage.