According to provisional government data, India became a net importer of finished steel in April 2026—the first month of the 2026-2027 fiscal year. During the month, finished steel imports surged by 30.8% year-on-year to an estimated 0.7 million metric tons (mt), outpacing the 0.5 million mt in exports, which also grew by 24.9% over the corresponding month of the previous year. This trade reversal contrasts with the recently concluded 2025-2026 fiscal year, where India achieved a net exporter status with 6.6 million mt of total exports against 6.5 million mt of imports. The shift was primarily fueled by an 8.2% jump in domestic finished steel consumption to approximately 13 million mt, while crude steel production recorded a narrower 3.9% growth to 13.8 million mt.

Data published on the online customs statistics query platform showed that China's refined tin imports in April 2026 were 2,801.99 mt, down 14.77% MoM and up 148.41% YoY. China imported 2,308.09 mt of refined tin from Indonesia in April, up 6.39% MoM and up 124.43% YoY. China imported 200.07 mt of refined tin from Peru in April, down 61.93% MoM. Export side, China's refined tin exports in April 2026 were 2,109.01 mt, down 3.76% MoM and up 28.85% YoY. China exported 279.51 mt of refined tin to South Korea in April, down 1.96% MoM and down 20.42% YoY. Below is a breakdown of export data compiled from the General Administration of Customs website: Destination April 2026 (mt) MoM YoY Hong Kong, China 1,010.22 -18.14% 2,435.70% South Korea 279.51 -1.96% -20.42% India 199.52 - 59.85% Japan 149.45 3.34% -55.34% Vietnam 140.05 22.86% 168.67% Spain 75.28 - - Malaysia 69.69 -43.99% 12.04% Poland 49.95 - 99.29% Thailand 47.88 -46.62% -61.96% Singapore 41.25 65.94% 104.82% Taiwan, China 29.75 -80.78% -84.31% Nigeria 8.06 1.03% 0.60% Philippines 4.96 - -1.51% Tanzania 2 - - Ghana 1 - - Myanmar 0.38 - - Tunisia 0.04 - - US 0.03 -44.68% - Total 2,109.01 -3.76% 28.85% Data source: General Administration of Customs (Wenhua Comprehensive)

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China's copper plate/sheet and strip exports totaled 12,246.37 mt in April 2026, up 5.46% MoM and up 14.01% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative copper plate/sheet and strip exports reached 45,487.58 mt, up 16.14% YoY cumulatively.

Korea’s auto industry maintained solid exports and production in 2025, but its 2030 competitiveness will depend on EV transition execution. The domestic market has matured, while hybrids have become a defensive pillar. EV adoption remains below the government’s target, and U.S.-EU policy pressure and Chinese EV competition are reshaping export strategies. Future competitiveness will hinge on pricing, localization, battery sourcing, and charging and safety confidence.

[SMM Data: Complete Summary of SMM March 2026 Import and Export Data] SMM March 2026 import and export data showed: copper cathode net imports were down YoY; primary aluminum imports reached 255,000 mt, up 14.8% YoY; refined lead imports climbed sharply; zinc ingot imports were up 220% MoM; tin ore imports were up 122% YoY; silver imports were up 93% MoM; steel exports rebounded MoM; PV module export value was up 122.7% MoM; silicon metal exports were up 43% MoM, and magnesium exports hit a multi-year high. Among new energy materials, exports of LiPF6 and artificial graphite surged significantly.

Data from the online customs statistics query platform showed that China's refined tin imports in March 2026 were 3,287.47 mt, up 51.62% MoM and up 56.50% YoY. China imported 2,169.43 mt of refined tin from Indonesia in March, up 43.67% MoM and up 28.35% YoY. China imported 525.49 mt of refined tin from Peru in March, up 50.20% MoM and up 425.19% YoY. Export side, China's refined tin exports in March 2026 were 2,191.46 mt, up 80.25% MoM and up 31.01% YoY. China exported 1,234.01 mt of refined tin to Hong Kong in March, up 208.66% MoM and up 2,143.13% YoY. China exported 285.1 mt of refined tin to South Korea in March, up 49.80% MoM and up 106.55% YoY. (Wenhua Comprehensive)

[SMM Morning Meeting Minutes: Last Week Tin Prices in and outside China Showed Wild Swings, Dominated by Repeated Shifts in Macro Sentiment]

[SMM Tin Midday Review: Both Macro and Fundamental Performances Stabilized, Tin Prices Continued Wild Swings Fluctuating Trend in the Morning]

According to the latest customs data, China’s total exports of die-casting zinc alloy from January to February reached 689.33 mt, up slightly by 0.9 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis; imports, however, totaled 48.11 million mt, down 35.46 percentage points YoY on a cumulative basis. Overall, China’s die-casting zinc alloy trade from January to February showed a pattern of slightly higher exports and a significant pullback in imports.

Recently, Joint Circular No. 00156 of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Mines of the DRC / Cabinet of the Ministry of Mines / 2026 and Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance / 2026, concerning regulatory measures to standardize control over deviations in the detection of refined cobalt content in exported cobalt hydroxide under the quota system framework of the Authority for the Regulation and Control of Strategic Mineral Substances’ Markets in the DRC, is translated as follows: The English translation of the above text is: