According to the latest customs statistics, China’s imports of die-cast zinc alloys reached 2,619.61 metric tons in June 2026, edging down 0.12% month-on-month (compared with 2,622.81 tons in May), a year-on-year drop of 43.38%. The total import volume for January–June stood at 15,878.56 metric tons, representing a cumulative year-on-year decline of 32.93%.

[Solid-State Battery: South Korea's ECOPRO BM Unveils Development Roadmap for Core Materials of All-Solid-State Batteries] On July 16, 2026, ECOPRO BM held a corporate briefing for general investors at the NH Investment & Securities headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, where Management Representative Kim Jangwoo, R&D Executive Director Gong Bohyeon, and Procurement Executive Director Shin Hosang attended and spoke. On July 19, the company officially unveiled its development roadmap for core materials of all-solid-state batteries, covering solid-state electrolytes, next-generation cathode and anode materials, and sodium-ion batteries.

In recent months, AI trades have continued to disrupt Asian equity markets, while the Australian market has demonstrated notable resilience. The S&P/ASX 200 Index is on track to outperform the MSCI Asia Pacific Index for a second consecutive month, marking its longest streak of outperformance since November 2024. Australian equities’ limited exposure to chipmakers, once considered a drawback during the AI rally, has now become a source of resilience. As semiconductor stocks in markets such as South Korea and Japan have tumbled, this characteristic has helped Australian equities withstand the market shock. This shift also underscores that, as volatility intensifies, investors are growing increasingly cautious about the crowded AI trade and beginning to rotate capital into other markets.

Data released by South Korea's customs on Tuesday showed that, driven by the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) boom, robust semiconductor exports propelled the country's exports in the first 20 days of July up 52.3% YoY. The data showed that from July 1 to 20, South Korea's total exports reached $54.9 billion, compared with $36 billion in the same period last year. Imports over the same period rose 20% YoY to $42.7 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $12.2 billion. By sector, semiconductor exports continued to lead overall growth, surging 180% to $22.1 billion. Auto exports fell 10.6% to $3.24 billion. By destination, exports to China nearly doubled to $13.3 billion, while exports to the US rose 39.6% to $8.96 billion. As of Monday, South Korea's cumulative exports this year reached $551.2 billion, up 48.7% YoY.

[SMM Analysis]Divergent Trends in H1 Unwrought Aluminum Alloy Imports and Exports: Price Spreads Boost Exports While Inverted Profits Drag Down Imports

[June Die-Casting Zinc Alloy Import and Export Analysis: Strong Exports Continue, Imports Continue to Weaken] According to the latest customs data, in June 2026, China imported 2,619.61 mt of die-casting zinc alloy, edging down 0.12% MoM (2,622.81 mt in May), and down 43.38% YoY; from January to June, China's cumulative imports of die-casting zinc alloy reached 15,878.56 mt, down 32.93% YoY.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: South Korea's semiconductor exports surge YoY, reaffirming AI boom; tin prices consolidate at highs with "capped above and supported below"]

In June 2026, China’s total monthly import volume of sulphur (including crude sulphur and sublimed sulphur) reached 147,104.152 metric tons, down 45.24% month-on-month. Major source countries and regions included Canada, Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Kazakhstan. China’s total monthly export volume of sulphur stood at 35,901 metric tons, surging 8,059.32% month-on-month. Key export destinations covered Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Tanzania. China’s total monthly import volume of sulphuric acid hit 17,946.766 metric tons, jumping 1,795.93% month-on-month. Primary suppliers were South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Germany and the United States. China’s total monthly export volume of sulphuric acid amounted to 980.12 metric tons, dropping 99.16% month-on-month. Main export markets included Cambodia, Hong Kong of China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda.

According to data released by the China Customs online query platform, China's June 2026 exports of refined tin were 1,589.46 mt, down 27.86% MoM and down 19.45% YoY. In June, China exported 295.36 mt of refined tin to Japan, up 1.93% MoM and up 79.41% YoY. On the import side, China's June 2026 imports of refined tin were 1,228.38 mt, down 33.18% MoM and down 31.21% YoY. In June, China imported 745.99 mt of refined tin from Indonesia, up 25.56% MoM and down 45.50% YoY. China imported 301.11 mt of refined tin from Bolivia in June, down 14.25% MoM and up 51.41% YoY. Below is a summary of import breakdown data compiled from the website of the General Administration of Customs of China: Origin June 2026 (mt) MoM YoY Indonesia 745.99 25.56% -45.50% Bolivia 301.11 -14.25% 51.41% Malaysia 120.20 -39.90% -19.97% Thailand 20.08 -95.47% 187.23% Russia 19.98 -75.00% - China 18.03 -70.40% - Taiwan, China 1.24 -73.47% 51.22% US 1.21 465.73% 484.95% South Korea 0.40 233.33% 60.00% Japan 0.15 -85.85% -93.12% Total 1228.38 -33.18% -31.21% Source: General Administration of Customs Note: The total import/export volumes include data from certain origins not listed in the above table. (Vinvin Synthesis)

Focused on H1-2026 customs data — a cliff in sulfur imports with a reshuffled source mix; acid exports collapsing under the export ban. Three charts decode the shifts in volume, source and momentum.