Silver is once again at the center of global financial markets, with prices moving in the range of $80 to $90 per troy ounce. For many investors, this already sounds extreme. However, while the majority of investors focus primarily on price and charts, professional investors are looking at something entirely different: the structure of the market.

The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has launched a new IA91 grade aluminium alloy ingot on 24th February. IA91 grade aluminium alloy ingot is a high-profile, silicon-based aluminium casting alloy. It is manufactured in ingot form (metal that has been cast into a solid, standardised bar shape) for use in metal casting processes. The main usage of the alloy ingot is in automotive components, electrical power equipment, industrial machinery and foundry applications.

TBS Foundation Executive Director Anugraha Dezmercoledi is pushing for the "second life usage" of electric vehicle batteries in Indonesia to strengthen the circular economy. He argues that batteries with less than 70% health, while unfit for cars, are ideal for stationary energy storage in solar power and rural electricity. Given that domestic recycling currently lacks the scale to be cost-effective, he urged for regulatory clarity—specifically regarding hazardous waste (B3) classifications—and a robust tracking system to create an efficient, closed-loop battery ecosystem that lowers costs and emissions.

Currently, the aluminum industry is at a critical juncture of profound transformation and rapid development. From an industrial dynamics perspective, the global aluminum industry is actively responding to the call for green development, accelerating the transition to cleaner production. From an industrial status perspective, China holds a dominant position in the global aluminum supply chain. However, China's dependence on bauxite imports remains high. Against this backdrop, US tariff policies have had a significant impact on the global aluminum industry. Facing the challenges posed by US tariffs, Chinese aluminum companies are actively seeking countermeasures. On one hand, they are accelerating their layout in the high-end aluminum sector, increasing R&D investment, and driving product transformation towards higher value-added products, such as aviation plates and power battery foils, whose exports are gradually increasing. On the other hand, they are vigorously developing the secondary aluminum industry, as the energy consumption of secondary aluminum is only 5% of that of primary aluminum, aligning with green development needs. Some companies are using transshipment trade through third countries like Malaysia and Thailand to reduce tariff costs. Others are actively applying for green certifications, reducing export costs through digital carbon management systems, and establishing hydropower aluminum bases in the southwest to increase the proportion of green electricity usage, thereby meeting international market demand for green aluminum products. From April 16-18, the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Service Co., Ltd., was grandly held at Halls E3-F3 of the Suzhou International Expo Center in Jiangsu, Suzhou! This summit will delve into and exchange views on hot topics such as the development trends of the global aluminum market, aluminum price forecasts, supply-demand balance, business opportunities, and technical exchanges. At the same time, it will explore how to drive the aluminum industry towards a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable direction, jointly addressing global climate change and environmental challenges! The conference includes nine forums: the Alumina and Aluminum Raw Materials Forum, Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum, Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum, Supply and Demand Exchange - Domestic and Foreign Aluminum Scrap Supply and Demand Speech Forum, Aluminum Plate/Sheet, Strip and Foil Industry Development Forum, Main Forum, Aluminum Industry Chain Sustainable Development Forum, Global Secondary Aluminum Industry Development Forum, and Industrial Aluminum Extrusion Forum. The conference also features guest speeches, SMM Price Seminars, roundtable forums, conference dinners, and award ceremonies! This article is a live text broadcast of the Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum and the Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum. Additionally, SMM will also provide live photo and video broadcasts. Please refresh to view~ Click to view the summit's live video broadcast Click to view the summit's live photo broadcast View the summit's text report April 16 Conference Registration & Networking Aluminum Melting and Casting Technology Forum Speech Topic: Research on Cracking Behavior of Super-Sized 2024 Aluminum Alloy Flat Ingots Guest Speaker: Chief Expert and Secretary General of the Advanced Aluminum Alloy Collaborative Innovation Alliance, Chalco Group (09:00-09:30) Speech Topic: Common Knowledge of Melting and Casting Guest Speaker: Li Lei, General Manager of Shangli County Keyuan Metallurgical Materials Co., Ltd. (09:30-10:00) Speech Topic: Thoughts on the Development of Melting and Casting Technology in the Secondary Aluminum Industry Guest Speaker: Professor Zhang Bolin, Nanchang University (10:00-10:30) Speech Topic: Causes and Prevention of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Semi-Continuous (Deep Well) Casting Molten Aluminum Water Explosion Accidents Guest Speaker: Zhou Yingquan, Senior Engineer and Resident Expert of Suzhou Emergency Management Bureau (10:30-11:00) Speech Topic: Research and Application of High-Efficiency Dust Removal and Energy-Saving Systems in the Aluminum Industry Guest Speaker: Ni Yongchun, Chairman of Zhejiang Lanwei Environmental Technology Equipment Co., Ltd. (11:00-11:30) Speech Topic: Common Problems and Solutions in Metal Liquid Refining Treatment in Aluminum Melting and Casting Guest Speaker: Xue Yueteng, China Product Line Manager - Non-Ferrous Metal Liquid Treatment, Vesuvius Foundry Technology (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (13:30-14:00) Speech Topic: Safety Hazards in Aluminum Processing and Dual Prevention Mechanisms Guest Speaker: Ying Zhiqiang, Certified Expert of China Nonferrous Metals Think Tank, Chief Engineer and Senior Engineer of Anhui Guangsheng Meichen New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (14:00-14:30) Speech Topic: Technical Challenges and Solutions for Lining of Different Types of Secondary Aluminum Dual-Chamber Furnaces - Promoting Green and Efficient Industry Development Guest Speaker: Song Xuebin, Chairman and President of the Enterprise Research Institute, Jiangsu Ruifuda High-Temperature New Materials Co., Ltd. (14:20-14:50) Speech Topic: Innovation and Application of Short Process Technology in Aluminum Processing Guest Speaker: He Xiangwen, Chief Engineer of the Process Department, China Nonferrous Metals Processing Technology Co., Ltd. (15:00-15:30) Speech Topic: Production Practices in the Melting, Casting, and Homogenization Process of 3003 Alloy Guest Speaker: Lu Jianjun, Chief Engineer of Shaanxi Xincai Disu Technology Co., Ltd. (15:30-16:00) Aluminum Die Casting Industry Development Forum Speech Topic: Exploration of Integrated Die Casting Process under Industry-University-Research Cooperation Guest Speaker: Han Jiantang, Project Director of Shandong Hongcan Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (09:30-10:00) Speech Topic: Complementarity and Application of Aluminum Alloy Integrated Die Casting and Magnesium Semi-Solid Die Casting Guest Speaker: Zhou Lianjun, Senior Application Expert of Ningbo Free Trade Zone Haitian Zhisheng Metal Forming Equipment Co., Ltd. (10:00-10:30) Roundtable Discussion: New Models of Integrated Die Casting Cooperation from a Supply Chain Perspective Moderator: Zhang Shangen, Executive President of Suzhou Die Casting Association Interviewees: Chongqing Yujiang Die Casting Co., Ltd. Liu Huachu, Metal Materials Expert of NIO Zhang Yuebo, Technical Vice President of CSMET Group (10:30-11:30) Speech Topic: The Development of China's New Energy Vehicles and Traditional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles in the Next Decade and Aluminum Usage Trends Guest Speaker: Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Automobile Dealers Association Automobile Market Research Branch (13:30-14:00) Speech Topic: Difficulties and Solutions in the Die Casting Process of New Energy Vehicle Electric Drive Housings Guest Speaker: Peng Liang, Lightweight Process Manager/Senior Engineer of Schaeffler (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. (14:00-14:30) Roundtable Discussion: The Path to Replacing Magnesium Die Casting with Aluminum Die Casting Interviewees: Qin Xianyue, Technical Director of Baowu Magnesium Products Division, Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Boao Zhang Xiaoyan, Chairman of Ningbo Tianzheng Mould Co., Ltd. (14:30-15:30) Speech Topic: Comparison and Pros and Cons of Low-Pressure Casting and High-Pressure Die Casting Processes Guest Speaker: Zhu Wenping, Global Aluminum Alloy Casting Expert, Special Expert/Director, and Senior Die Casting Engineer Certification Training Instructor of Eaton (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (15:30-16:00) Click to view the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference and Aluminum Industry Expo Special Report

The Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, owned by Rio Tinto and the Sumitomo Group, has decided to reduce its power consumption by 185 megawatts, which is about 4 per cent of the country's energy usage.

According to the statistics of SNE Research, the market share of the CATL's global power battery usage in 2022 was 37.0%, an increase of 4.0 percentage point from 2021, ranking first in the world for six consecutive years.

As the traditional "September-October peak season" approaches, positive news has emerged from the automotive extrusion and 3C extrusion sectors in August.

Recently, South Korean battery and energy research company SNE Research released the global power battery usage data for 2023, and CATL has been the world's number one for 7 consecutive years. According to the list, the global power battery total usage in 2023 is approximately 705.5GWh, a year-on-year increase of 38.6%. Among them, CATL's power battery usage reached 259.7GWh, a year-on-year increase of 40.8%, with a market share of 36.8%.

On May 27, 2025, the hydrogen fuel cell power generation system for heavy machinery, independently developed by United Hydrogen Energy, officially passed the usage test at the Jiaxing Zhapu Port and is awaiting subsequent formal commissioning. As a significant breakthrough in the application of the hydrogen energy industry, this power generation system is skid-mounted and integrated, combining energy storage, power generation, and power transformation functions. It is the first to provide efficient and clean energy support for heavy machinery such as port rubber-tyred gantry cranes, marking a crucial step forward in the large-scale application of hydrogen energy in port terminals. The hydrogen fuel cell power generation system on trial is equipped with two 180KW fuel cell units, capable of stable operation in extreme temperature environments ranging from -30°C to 50°C, and supporting high-altitude working conditions at 2,000 meters above sea level. During its operation, it only generates electricity, heat, and water, with zero carbon emissions throughout the process. It provides off-grid power support for scenarios such as port machinery, outdoor road and bridge engineering, and large-scale cultural and sports events, while also having the capability to achieve combined heat and power supply for factories, communities, and hospitals. The device's core advantages lie in its environmental protection characteristics of zero emissions and low noise. By integrating a comprehensive safety protection system for fire prevention, waterproofing, and electric shock prevention, it establishes multiple layers of reliability assurance. Its innovative support for a combined heat, power, and water supply system allows for flexible customization of power generation efficiency according to the needs of the application scenario, achieving breakthroughs in energy utilization efficiency. In terms of technical architecture, it adopts a modular isolation design and a three-level safety verification system, complemented by an independently developed ultra-long-life fuel cell system (with a lifespan exceeding 40,000 hours), supplemented by uninterruptible power supply redundancy configurations, ensuring the device's long-term stable operation in 7×24-hour continuous operation scenarios. In terms of intelligent operation and maintenance, through the organic integration of remote monitoring, unmanned operation, and automatic early warning mechanisms, it significantly improves the efficiency of operation and maintenance response. In the future, United Hydrogen Energy will continue to promote the improvement of the hydrogen energy industry ecosystem, injecting innovative momentum into the realization of the national "dual carbon" goals. As the global energy transition process accelerates, United Hydrogen Energy will achieve the implementation of more hydrogen energy scenarios, leading the hydrogen energy industry from demonstration to widespread adoption, and opening a new chapter in the zero-carbon economy.

【SMM Copper Industry Conference: Explosive Growth in AI Computing Power Demand, Forecast of Copper Alloy Material Usage in Automotive and Digital Infrastructure】Zhou Mingliang, Executive Director of the Advanced Basic Materials Application Research Center of the Shenzhen Connector Industry Association, shared insights on the topic of "Development Trends of Copper Alloy Materials for Connectors." In the automotive sector: By 2025, the application of copper alloy materials in China's automotive sector is expected to reach approximately 500,000 mt. With the expansion of the NEV market, the usage of copper alloy materials will continue to grow. In digital infrastructure: The application of copper alloy materials in the digital infrastructure sector is projected to reach around 1 million mt, and its usage in this field will continue to expand. In consumer electronics: The application of copper alloy materials in the consumer electronics industry is expected to remain stable at about 600,000 mt, and copper alloy materials will continue to play a significant role in this sector.