Taking Energy Fuels' $1.9 billion acquisition of Germany-based VAC as a starting point, this article systematically reviews the US's recent acquisition trajectory for mature international rare earth assets. From taking a controlling stake in the Serra Verde heavy rare earth mine in Brazil and acquiring the UK's LCM alloy plant, to securing capacity from Australia's Lynas, the US is leveraging state capital to bypass lengthy certification cycles through cross-border acquisitions, building a non-China "mining-refining-magnet" supply chain. The article notes that although the $110/kg government price anchor has rewritten project IRR models, Western magnet capacity accounts for only 15% of the global total, and the heavy rare earth closed loop cannot be verified until after 2027, making it difficult to shake China's dominance in the short term.

Recently, the local government released the public notice on the acceptance of EIA documents for the new energy vehicle and power battery recycling industrialization project in Dali Prefecture. The project involves a total investment of approx. RMB 125 million, located in Taoxin Area, Yongping Industrial Park, Yunnan. It consists of new energy vehicle charging/swapping and LNG refueling stations, new energy vehicle dismantling and power battery cascade utilization production lines, and new energy vehicle and battery recycling technology R&D center. Upon completion, it will achieve comprehensive production capacity for new energy vehicle dismantling and power battery cascade utilization.

[SMM Battery Brief] XTC New Energy to Invest US$64.58 Million in 10,000-tpa Cathode Material Project in Malaysia XTC New Energy announced plans to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, which will jointly establish a controlled subsidiary to invest in a lithium-ion battery cathode material project in Malaysia. The project will have an annual production capacity of 10,000 tonnes and a total investment of approximately US$64.58 million, supporting the company's overseas manufacturing footprint and global supply capabilities.

XTC New Energy Materials (688778.SH) announced that it plans to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, XTC New Energy Materials (Hong Kong), and through it to form a joint-venture holding subsidiary in Malaysia with EMI, investing approximately $64.58 million (equivalent to about RMB450 million) to build a lithium-ion cathode material project with an annual capacity of 10,000 mt. The project will be funded by self-owned and self-raised funds, with the construction period scheduled from September 2026 to June 2027. This investment is aimed at improving the company’s production capacity layout outside China and meeting demand in markets outside China, and does not constitute a connected transaction or a major asset restructuring.

SMM June 26 News: Metals market: Overnight, base metals on the domestic market broadly rose. SHFE tin rose 0.91%, SHFE copper rose 0.9%, and SHFE nickel rose 0.17%. SHFE lead rose 0.25%. SHFE zinc fell 0.12%, and SHFE aluminum fell 0.17%. Additionally, the most-traded alumina futures fell 0.78%, and the most-traded cast aluminum continuous contract fell 0.44%. Overnight, most ferrous metals fell. Iron ore fell 1.08%, rebar fell 0.61%, HRC fell 0.48%, and stainless steel rose 1.4%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 0.48%, and the most-traded coke contract fell 1%. Overnight LME base metals posted near across-the-board gains. LME copper rose 2.22%. LME aluminum rose 2.26%. LME lead edged lower. LME zinc rose 0.88%. LME tin rose 1.31%. LME nickel rose 0.42%. Overnight precious metals: COMEX gold rose 0.82%, and COMEX silver fell 0.34%. Overnight, SHFE gold rose 1.17%, and SHFE silver rose 1.24%. As of 7:09 a.m. on June 26, overnight closing quotes: Macro Front China: [Two departments: initially establish a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new-type energy system by 2030] The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New-Type Energy System." The main objectives are: initially establish a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient new-type energy system by 2030. Raise overall energy production capacity to 5.8 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent, comprehensively enhance the complementary and mutual support capabilities and security resilience of the power system, and achieve diversified and controllable energy imports; coal and oil consumption will peak, the share of non-fossil energy consumption will reach 25%, wind and solar installed capacity will exceed 50%, becoming the mainstay of installed power capacity, and non-fossil energy power generation will account for 50% of the total, becoming the dominant source of electricity; accelerate building a resilient, green, low-carbon, integrated, smart and efficient new-type energy infrastructure system and initially complete a new-type power system; achieve overall independent controllability of key technological equipment across the energy industry chain, and rank among the world's leading countries in energy technology innovation; accelerate the improvement of market and pricing mechanisms suited to the new-type energy system, and basically establish a unified national electricity market system. US dollar: The overnight US dollar index fell 0.11% to 101.46. As US data sent mixed signals and oil prices fell below pre-war levels, the decline in energy costs is expected to cool future inflation, and the dollar declined. (Jinshi Data APP) Driven by the Middle East conflict which pushed up energy prices, US inflation edged higher in May, with the annual PCE rate breaking above 4% for the first time in three years, potentially bringing the Fed closer to raising interest rates this year. The Commerce Department reported on Thursday that the US PCE price index rose 4.1% YoY in May, the first reading above 4.0% since April 2023. The US-led war against Iran pushed up oil prices, which in turn drove gasoline prices higher. Although crude oil and gasoline prices have pulled back in recent weeks after a fragile ceasefire was reached, economists expect inflation to remain elevated for some time. And even before the latest conflict, consumers were already grappling with higher prices triggered by Trump's sweeping import tariffs. The Fed left its benchmark rate unchanged in the 3.50%-3.75% range last week, but updated quarterly projections showed policymakers are expected to raise rates this year amid heightened inflation concerns. Financial markets are betting on a rate increase as early as September, potentially followed by another hike. According to CME's FedWatch tool: the probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged in July is 69%, while the probability of a cumulative 25bp hike is 31%. The probability of the Fed holding rates steady by September is 36.6%, a cumulative 25bp hike 48.8%, and a cumulative 50bp hike 14.6%. (Jinshi Data APP) The Commerce Department reported on Thursday that the final estimate for Q1 GDP showed an annualized growth rate of 2.1%, revised up by 0.5 percentage point from the second estimate and far above economists' expectations. This final reading markedly outperformed the earlier second estimate of 1.6% and was also above the initial 2.0% pace published by the department. Markets had expected the final figure to be basically flat compared to the second estimate. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), a sharp acceleration in business investment—likely fueled by an AI investment boom—was the key driver of the upward revision, with expanding exports and shrinking imports also providing a favorable backdrop. Yet the headline numbers also masked concerns over domestic demand. A key gauge of the economy's internal growth momentum—final sales to domestic private purchasers—was revised down by 0.7 percentage points from the second estimate to 1.7%; consumer spending also decelerated notably from Q4 2025 and from the previous estimate, underscoring pressure on household consumption. New York Fed President John Williams said the current monetary policy stance is effective in suppressing inflation, but numerous risks remain and rates are expected to stay unchanged in the near term. Williams said on Thursday that inflation is "undeniably high," and the current rate stance is "well positioned" to guide inflation back toward the 2% long-run target. He expects inflation to ease to 3.5% by the end of this year, then continue to decline along a "glide path" and reach the 2% target in 2028. (Wall Street CN) On the macro front: Today will see the release of the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for June and the final one-year inflation expectations for June, among others. Also to watch: FOMC permanent voter and New York Fed President Williams delivers a speech; 2027 FOMC voter and Chicago Fed President Goolsbee delivers a speech; 2026 FOMC voter and Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari delivers a speech. Crude oil: Overnight, both oil futures gained, with WTI rising 1.61% and Brent rising 1.65%. Oil prices, which had rapidly pulled back following the Iran ceasefire, came under renewed pressure from fresh developments in the Strait of Hormuz. As noted by Wall Street CN, reports said Iran proposed charging a transit fee for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and US Secretary of State Rubio promptly responded that such a move would "set an unacceptable precedent." Notably, inventories in Cushing, Oklahoma, have fallen to about 19 million barrels, below the level considered the operational minimum. Nevertheless, prices remain far below pre-Iran-war levels, and near-dated futures contracts are still in bearish contango. (Wall Street CN) According to Xinhua News Agency, the United Nations maritime regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), announced on Thursday that a ship was attacked in the Gulf of Oman the same day, and the organization decided to suspend evacuation operations for vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to further verify whether related security measures remain effective. Market sources said: crude oil exports from the Persian Gulf rebounded to 75% of pre-war levels; over the three days ending Wednesday, the region exported 13 million barrels of crude. (Jinshi Data APP)

On June 24, the first public notice for the environmental impact assessment of the annual 1,000-ton silicon-carbon anode material construction project of Jiangxi Naer Lithium Battery Materials Co., Ltd. was released. The project uses porous carbon, silane, and other materials as raw materials, and will procure production equipment such as CVD nano-silicon deposition systems, interfacial coating and cracking systems, crushers, and supporting environmental protection facilities. Upon completion, the project will achieve an annual production capacity of 1,000 tons of silicon-carbon anode materials. The project is under the construction responsibility of Jiangxi Naer Lithium Battery Materials Co., Ltd., with the environmental impact assessment conducted by Jiangxi Shengjia Technology Consulting Services Co., Ltd.

SMM, June 24: Based on the profound accumulation in the copper industry and the need for mutual development, on June 23, Zhou Bo, Vice President of SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), Long Huachen, General Manager of the South China Office, and Lin Jiazhi, Business Manager of the Copper Business Division, visited Guangxi Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. for discussions and communication. They received a warm welcome from leaders including Xu Jun, General Manager of Guangxi Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., Zhou Guoqing, Deputy General Manager, Mo Liping, Deputy Manager of the Supply and Sales Department, and business executives Xu Tianli and Liu Jianming. The discussions between the two sides were conducted in a cordial atmosphere. During the discussion session, the two parties leveraged their respective resource advantages for in-depth collaboration. Guangxi Jinchuan has a single-series copper smelting production line that is leading both in and outside China. Leveraging the strategic location near Fangchenggang Port, it serves as a core hub for Jinchuan Group’s expansion into markets outside China. Backed by its mature smelting capacity and advanced processes, and complemented by a digital technological transformation project that enables intelligent control over the entire process, the company has established a digital demonstration production line in the copper smelting industry. SMM, leveraging its big data on nonferrous metal industries, authoritative spot and futures pricing system, and strengths in integrated services across the entire industry chain, precisely addresses the core demands of enterprises in production and operation, cross-border trade, and digital transformation. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as copper price analysis, spot-futures coordination, industry chain resource integration, port-side cross-border trade, smelting digital upgrading, and frontier technology collaboration, laying a solid foundation for mutual empowerment and synergistic development. About Guangxi Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. Guangxi Jinchuan Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. (hereinafter the "Company") was founded in May 2010 and is located in the beautiful coastal city of Fangchenggang, Guangxi. The Company is a Sino-foreign joint venture controlled by Jinchuan Group Copper & Precious Metals Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jinchuan Group (holding 70% of shares), with Trafigura as a stakeholder. It serves as a maritime gateway and bridgehead for the Gansu provincial government and Jinchuan Group in their pursuit of international operations and expansion outside China, and is highly aligned with the national Belt and Road Initiative, functioning as an export base for Gansu Province on the Maritime Silk Road. Benefiting from the unique coastal advantages and favorable business environment of Guangxi and Fangchenggang City, and relying on the expertise and dedication of all shareholders deeply engaged in the metal processing and trading industry, the Company has, after over a decade of development, achieved an annual production capacity of 800,000 mt of copper products and 3 million mt of sulphuric acid. The Company has received numerous honors, such as being recognized as a National Green Factory Demonstration Enterprise, National Intellectual Property Advantage Enterprise, Guangxi Industrial Leader, Guangxi High-tech Enterprise, Quality Management Benchmark for Industrial Enterprises, Guangxi Intelligent Factory Demonstration Enterprise and Digital Workshop Enterprise, Nomination Award for the Chairperson's Quality Award of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the Mayor's Quality Award of Fangchenggang City. In 2025, the company achieved operating revenue of 66.7 billion yuan and total industrial output value of 67 billion yuan, ranking 12th among the 2025 Top 100 Guangxi Enterprises and 5th among the Top 100 Manufacturing Enterprises. The Phase I “Double Flash” system, commissioned in 2013, is the world’s largest single-system production system for mined copper by capacity. The technologies employed in the project, including “Double Flash” pure-oxygen smelting, high current density stainless steel cathode electrolysis, low-temperature heat recovery, rhenium recovery from waste acid, and krypton-xenon gas purification, are at a leading level in China. Its comprehensive resource utilization level and key technical and economic indicators lead the industry. In line with Jinchuan Group’s “Trillion Jinchuan” development goal and Fangchenggang’s deployment to build a “100-billion copper industry cluster,” the company launched a 300kt copper system process and digital upgrade project in 2022. The project adopts the internationally advanced “side-blown smelting + multi-lance top-blown converting” technology, takes the lead in the industry in adopting digital design and delivery, simultaneously constructs an intelligent digital factory, and achieves the organic integration of energy flow, material flow, and information flow with operational management, creating a model for the digital transformation of copper smelters in the non-ferrous industry. The project was incorporated into normal production sequence management in May 2025, and the company’s annual total industrial output value has exceeded 65 billion yuan. In 2026, against the backdrop of the global green transition and the ongoing advancement of the “dual carbon” goals, the non-ferrous metals industry is accelerating toward low-carbon, intelligent, and high-end development. South China, as a key non-ferrous metals industry cluster in China, possesses a well-established downstream processing system, abundant recycled resource reserves, and robust policy support. Leveraging South China’s unique industrial foundation and the new development trends of the industry, with the aim of precisely implementing industry-related policies, addressing industry pain points, and building a bridge for resource connectivity across the entire industry chain, the , organized by SMM, will be grandly held from September 9 to 11, 2026 in Nanning, Guangxi . The conference will conduct in-depth discussions on key topics such as metal price trends, medium and long-term market patterns, cross-border trade dynamics, industry policy interpretation, and low-carbon green process innovations. It aims to build an efficient and authoritative platform for industry exchange and cooperation, empower enterprises with technological innovation and green transformation, help industry participants seize market opportunities and calmly address development challenges, and jointly promote the high-quality advancement of China’s non-ferrous metals industry. We sincerely invite colleagues from all sectors of the entire non-ferrous industry chain to gather in Nanning to discuss new industry development opportunities and explore long-term paths for collaborative development of the industry chain! SMM Contact : Lin Jiazhi: 15017566696

On June 17, 2026, the 2026 SMM (3rd) ASEAN Automotive Supply Chain Conference , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), successfully wrapped up at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand! This conference serves as an annual gathering of Southeast Asia's auto industry, bringing together 500+ delegates, 40+ speakers, 10+ partners and 35+ exhibitors from 15+ countries. Conference Background The Southeast Asian EV industry is at a strategic crossroads. Thailand's "30/30" policy is driving adoption, with EV penetration projected to near 15% by 2025. Indonesia is building a full battery chain using its nickel resources, while Vietnam's market potential grows. Amidst supply chain restructuring and technological competition, strategic action is key. The 3rd SMM Asean Automotive Supply Chain Summit 2026 is designed to empower businesses by focusing on: Unlocking NEV Potential: Analyzing ASEAN's role as a production/export hub and examining OEM technology roadmaps. Bridging the Supply Chain: Leveraging SMM's platform to integrate resources and facilitate deals. Establishing a Price Benchmark: Promoting the use of SMM Southeast Asia metals price assessments in procurement. We believe in turning consensus into action. Join us in Bangkok in 2026 to transform strategic blueprints into tangible advantages. 》Click to Watch the Conference Live Video 》Click to View the Conference Photo Live Stream June 16 Main Forum Opening Address Speaker: Adam Fan, Chairman of SMM Opening Keynote: Thailand EV Outlook 2026 Guest Speaker: Dr. Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman and Advisors, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) Dr. Yossapong Laoonual noted that the ownership of battery electric vehicle (BEV) models is expected to surpass that of hybrid models in the medium and long term. Thailand’s BEV penetration rate will also rise steadily, supported by well-developed charging infrastructure. Data shows that the number of DC charging piles in Thailand has continued to grow, with installations already exceeding the government’s planned phased targets. The country’s 2030 charging pile target is 12,000 units, and multiple supporting regulations for motor vehicles have already been implemented locally. Local planning stipulates that each pile should serve 10-15 BEVs. Compared with markets outside China, where each pile in Europe serves fewer than 15 BEVs on average and in China fewer than 10, Thailand currently faces an imbalanced vehicle-to-pile ratio and still requires the large-scale addition of new charging piles. Thailand’s charging piles are primarily located at gas stations, with shopping malls and office buildings as secondary deployment sites. Local gas stations feature diverse commercial formats, offering excellent conditions for setting up charging stations. However, range anxiety remains widespread among consumers, and charging facilities along highways need to be further improved to alleviate concerns about recharging on the road. Opening Keynote: Southeast Asia’s New Automotive Ambition:Can Industry Players Successfully Navigate Transformation Amid Challenges? Guest Speaker: Krzysztof Tokarz, Chairman of the Automotive Working Group, TEBA Founder of Auteneo He stated that there were four core strategic challenges in the electrification transformation of Southeast Asian automakers: First, a shortage of professional talent, with undersupply of high-quality talent in the EV and software fields, fierce competition for industry talent, and enterprises needing to plan for talent cultivation and retention; Second, cross-cultural coordination difficulties: significant differences in working models among Chinese, Japanese, Korean, European, American, and local enterprises, which easily led to issues such as lack of trust and poor cooperation; Third, complex and changing regional regulations: fragmented regulatory systems across Southeast Asian countries, with a fast pace of policy updates over the past year or more, placing high demands on enterprises' policy adaptation capabilities; Fourth, profitability pressure, as electrification reshaped the pricing system, with many automakers experiencing simultaneous contraction in revenue and profit margins, necessitating the exploration of long-term profitable models. Overall, he believed that while he currently maintained a cautiously optimistic attitude towards the development of industry technology and products, the aforementioned challenges still urgently needed to be addressed. Panel Discussion: Leadership Dialogue: East Asian Titans' "Southeast Asian Chessboard" Moderator: David Huang, The Head of Strategy, Marketing and Business Development, Forvia China Panelists: Dr. Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman and Advisors, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) Suphot Sukphisarn, Honorary Chairman, Auto Parts Industry Club (APIC), The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Deputy Secretary General, Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA） Krzysztof Tokarz, Chairman of the Automotive Working Group at TEBA, Founder of Auteneo Dr. Viroj Patcharawatanakul, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), AAPICO Hitech PCL. The panelists noted that ASEAN countries have distinct industrial advantages: Malaysia has ample electronic factory resources, Indonesia possesses mineral resources needed for battery production, and Vietnam offers comprehensive labor incentive policies. To fully leverage each country's locational appeal, overall integrated planning is required. The ASEAN NEV market is expanding rapidly overall, with the regional EV penetration rate more than doubling. Thailand and Vietnam have seen impressive growth in XEV production and sales. Local vehicle production capacity remains stable, and Chinese new energy brands such as BYD, MG, and Great Wall have established a presence in Thailand, driving up demand for new energy parts supply. Thailand has a well-established multi-tier parts supply system: 27 vehicle manufacturers, 500 Tier 1 suppliers, and 1,800 Tier 2 and Tier 3 parts producers. Traditional mechanical processing industries like stamping, injection molding, rubber processing, machining, casting and forging, and assembly have a solid foundation, with huge annual parts capacity, providing the manufacturing capability to support new energy parts production. Keynote Speech: Navigating Automotive Disruption in Southeast Asia Guest Speaker: Timothy Wong, Principal, Roland Berger Roland Berger noted that AI-driven automation continues to advance and autonomous driving is developing steadily. It is expected that by 2040, autonomous driving will still struggle to become mainstream. However, AI technology has already disrupted the automotive industry, becoming a core driving force for enterprises to build differentiated advantages, enhance competitiveness, and innovate business models. The automotive industry is currently undergoing comprehensive disruptive changes, mainly in five dimensions: First, the automotive supply chain value chain is undergoing fundamental transformation, with vehicles and core parts upgrading toward electrification and electronics. Industry enterprises urgently need to adjust their product structures and proactively position themselves in emerging tracks; passively responding to market changes will entail significant risks. Second, the nature of automotive products is being reshaped by technology, shifting from traditional mechanical vehicles to software-defined vehicles. Sole mechanical manufacturing capabilities can no longer meet development needs; enterprises must build diversified cooperation ecosystems involving semiconductors, software, and sensors to cultivate new industrial capabilities. Third, the consumer market is undergoing significant iteration, with consumer car purchase preferences gradually tilting toward emerging brands, and industry competition continuing to intensify. Fourth, the pace of market iteration has greatly accelerated. Compared with the model update pace of once every few years by traditional automakers, Chinese brands iterate at a much faster pace, forcing the supply chain toward agile transformation and adaptation to rapidly changing vehicle specifications. Fifth, the aftersales distribution model is being disrupted, with traditional parts revenue being impacted by the growth of EVs. New direct-to-consumer models are emerging, requiring enterprises to restructure their distribution networks and expand aftersales services related to power batteries and electrification. Overall, all industry participants must proactively face transformation risks, actively transform and strategically restructure supply chains, vigorously explore new clients and deploy new businesses, abandon passive thinking that clings to existing models, and proactively plan future business development directions, so as to continuously maintain market competitiveness. Keynote Speech: Moving Beyond Negotiation: Fostering a New Framework for Southeast Asian Supply Chain Collaboration Based on the SMM Price Index Guest Speaker: Sing Yao, Director of Steel Business Unit, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. She noted that Southeast Asia as a whole exhibits low per capita automobile ownership, limited NEV penetration, and a large young population, which holds enormous incremental market potential. This vast blue ocean is attracting leading Chinese NEV manufacturers to accelerate their footprint in the region. At the same time, however, Southeast Asian auto parts are highly dependent on imports, and the industry chain has long faced two major pain points: procurement difficulties and disorderly pricing. The launch of the SMM Southeast Asia Price Index may open up a new path for collaborative development of the local automotive supply chain. Low Per Capita Automobile Ownership, Limited NEV Penetration, and Large Young Population Create Vast Market Opportunities for Automakers According to SMM, in recent years, Southeast Asia’s automotive industry chain has shown remarkable resilience, with regional automobile production growing by 24.1% from 2020 to 2022. Although 2024 saw a cyclical decline for the first time due to global economic sluggishness, the decline in production and sales in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asian market has narrowed in 2025, underscoring the self-repair capability of the regional supply chain. As the region’s core hub, Thailand continues to dominate Southeast Asia’s automotive industry landscape with a capacity share of over 40%. In the short term, Thailand will maintain its position as a regional production center and export base, but its long-term competitive advantages are facing structural challenges: the sustained contraction of local capacity and the upgrading of neighboring countries’ industry chains are compelling it to accelerate technological transformation and supply chain restructuring. Driven by the immense allure of this industry “blue ocean,” leading Chinese NEV manufacturers are accelerating their expansion into the Southeast Asian automotive market. Keynote Speech:Baowu JFE Southeast Asia Strategy Sharing Guest Speaker: Liang Chen, Vice General Manager, Baowu Jiefuyi Special Steel Co., Ltd. He that overall steel production in Southeast Asia is declining, but the penetration rate of new energy electric vehicles (EVs) is surging: Thailand’s EV-related demand is up 80% YoY, while Indonesia’s demand has experienced a multiple-fold rise, with subsequent growth potential continuing to be released. Local NEV manufacturers previously purchased Japanese steel, but are gradually switching suppliers now, driven by industry competition and cost pressure. This also represents a core opportunity for the company to promote its supporting supply services. Leadership Panel: The Steel vs. Aluminum Debate and Cost Challenges Moderator: Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals and Mining, sustainability, Bloomberg LP Panelists: Thanakorn Thangwanichkapong, Director of Asia Operations, Maxion Wheels Martin Dilly, Southeast Asia Area Sales Director, Bureau Veritas The panelists noted that multiple disruptions, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and national tariff adjustments, have moved beyond short-term impact and are driving the restructuring of the entire steel and aluminum industry chain, with the structural transformation of the aluminum industry being particularly pronounced. Global supply chain vulnerability continues to intensify, and upward cost pressure on the industry has increased. Tariff barriers are reshaping the global trade landscape, and market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. The implementation of industrial localization has accelerated, but the pace of progress in Southeast Asia has seen a slowdown. Overall, only enterprises that possess both flexible logistics and procurement capabilities and a robust compliance management system can gain an advantage amid the industry transformation. Keynote Speech: Analysis of Southeast Asia's Secondary Aluminum Market and Price Trends Guest Speaker: Wong Yan Ling, Senior Aluminum Analyst, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. She noted that Southeast Asia has become one of the fastest-growing secondary aluminum markets globally, and the worldwide competition for scrap resources is continuously reshaping the regional supply landscape. As resource protection policies are progressively implemented across various countries and regional manufacturing demand steadily expands, ASEAN countries are expected to further consolidate their core position in the global secondary aluminum industry chain. Regarding secondary aluminum price trends in H2 2026, SMM analysis suggests that weak seasonal demand in Southeast Asia may suppress the upside room for secondary aluminum prices, while the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains a key variable affecting market trends. If shipping through the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal, cost pressures from logistics could ease. However, persistently tight scrap supply coupled with potential logistics disruptions may still drive up regional secondary aluminum prices. Specialized Seminar: Co-building a Resilient Automotive Materials Supply Chain for Southeast Asia Moderator: Sing Yao, Director of Steel Business Unit, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Panelists: Zongyan Fu, Purchasing Manager, Changan Auto Southeast Asia Co., Ltd. Weijiang Xue, Chief Engineer of Product R&D, Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co.,Ltd. Hui Yuan, General Manager, Tianjin Dewy Metal Surface Treatment Co., Ltd. Yi Huang, Deputy General Manager, Guangdong Superband Precision Industry Co.，Ltd. Thanakorn Thangwanichkapong, Director of Asia Operations, Maxion Wheels Hongwei Liu, General Manager, BYH NEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. Saurabh Sharma, Sr General Manager & Executive Director, Hero Motors Thai Ltd. Zou Xiang, Business Office Director, Baowu Jiefuyi Special Steel Co., Ltd HaiBin Jia, Deputy Marketing Director, Beijing Jianlong Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd. The panelists engaged in in-depth exchanges, drawing from their own business practices, focusing on the core topic of deep development in the Southeast Asian automotive industry. They focused on enterprises' current business layouts, operating status, and development trends in the Southeast Asian automotive market, and deeply analyzed core pain points and challenges such as supply chain adaptation, stable supply, and logistics support in the process of going global. At the same time, they shared detailed experiences regarding common challenges faced by enterprises going global, including localization certification, compliance system adaptation in and outside China, and alignment of policy standards. They also discussed core paths for enterprises to anticipate market changes, precisely allocate industrial resources, and quickly adapt to regional market rules and industry demands, focusing on industry trends. Furthermore, focusing on supply-demand coordinated development, they elaborated on their expectations for future cooperation models, collaboration mechanisms, and partnership needs with Chinese material suppliers. As buyers, they also clarified the types and directions of high-quality Southeast Asian clients they plan to prioritize for connection and cooperation, providing practical ideas and references for precise supply-demand matching and deep cultivation of the Southeast Asian automotive market for Chinese enterprises going global. Day 2: June 17 Keynote Speech: Analysis and Outlook of the Supply Chain in the Southeast Asian New Energy Market Speaker: Jena Wang, New Energy Consulting Project Manager, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. She stated that driven by the rapid growth of the Southeast Asian NEV market, several automakers are accelerating their localization strategies. Battery demand in each country will also increase rapidly, with the region's total battery demand expected to grow by about ten times from 2025 to 2030, reaching approximately 201 GWh. However, it is worth noting that currently, Southeast Asia faces issues with low localization rates, significant structural gaps, and heavy import dependence for cathode materials and motor components. In Southeast Asia, the supply of local cathode materials and key motor components cannot meet demand, and the low localization rate and large capacity gaps have become key bottlenecks restricting the development of the NEV industry chain in the region. Data indicates that China's global production share of key new energy raw materials—such as batteries, cathode materials, lithium chemicals, and rare earth permanent magnets—generally exceeds 70%, with its capacity ranking first worldwide, demonstrating a significant advantage. In addition, she introduced the capacity distribution and industrialisation progress of key materials in the new energy markets of core Southeast Asian countries. Vietnam: Local automaker VinFast is boosting rapid development of the entire vehicle and upstream/downstream supporting industry chain. Thailand: As a core hub for automotive manufacturing and export in Southeast Asia, it boasts a relatively complete supporting system for motor and electric drive-related industries. Malaysia: It possesses a mature automotive industry foundation, but its local supporting capability for the three electric systems is insufficient; local policies focus on supporting vehicle assembly and regional distribution operations. Indonesia: With abundant nickel resources, it holds a pronounced competitive edge in the battery raw material industry. Overall, SMM believes that the capacity for core new energy components in Southeast Asia is relatively small. National policies are promoting localisation and industrial upgrading, leaving significant room for supply chain development. Leadership Panel: Supply Chain Security and Opportunities in Southeast Asia Moderator: Peter Klöpfer, Senior Manager Automotive Business Unit, RUTRONIK Electronics Worldwide Panelists: Akshay Prasad, Principal, Arthur D. Little SEA Alex Zhan, Head, ZF LIFETEC Thailand Asst.Prof.Uthane Supatti Ph.D., Head of the Power Electronics Applications and Energy Management (PEEM) Research Unit, Faculty of Engineering at Sriracha, Kasetsart University, Thailand Vice President, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) The panelists discussed about core themes of the Southeast Asian automotive supply chain. First, they addressed the delivery timeline crisis caused by sudden supply shortages, the crisis of lacking transparency in the industry chain, the crisis of industry-wide collaboration barriers, and the crisis of trust failure between upstream and downstream players. They jointly explored systematic resolution strategies and elaborated on their respective countermeasures. Building on this, the on-site guests further discussed the Japanese industry chain and China’s domestic supply chain, analyzing the development opportunities, long-term prospects, and practical implementation logic of two-way opening, healthy competition and cooperation, and deep integration between the two. Leadership Panel: Capacity Coopetition and Customer Breakthrough: Winning the Southeast Asian Supply Chain Battle Moderator: Wacharapisuth Thannapong, Researcher, BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy Policy) Research Team, Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) Panelists: MARK BRIAN PIRIE, Senior Vice President Purchasing & Supplier Management Asia Pacific, Executive Board Member, Schaeffler Frank Yu, General Manager of the Automotive Rubber & Metal Components Business Unit and Thailand Branch, Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation The panelists assessed the overheating of three-electric system (battery, motor, electronic control) capacity in Southeast Asia. They noted that overcapacity in three-electric systems is a global trend. The capacity now deployed in Southeast Asia and Thailand already exceeds confirmed demand, intensifying market uncertainty and heightening investment concerns. Risks are structurally differentiated: Tier-1 suppliers are more conservative and risk-averse compared to China’s domestic vehicle makers that are rapidly going global. There is localized overcapacity in basic e-drive parts and low-difficulty electronic components, while supply bottlenecks persist for key items such as high-performance automotive-grade semiconductors, advanced materials, and electrical steel. This is also a core motivation for Chinese suppliers setting up in Southeast Asia. Moreover, Southeast Asia’s geographical advantages are prominent, and mine development in Australia is progressing rapidly. Many mines are set to commence production by Q3 next year. The core contradiction in the industry is not simply overall surplus, but a mismatch between the regional allocation of capacity, the technologies adopted, and actual market demand. Additionally, the guests noted that the core challenges in Southeast Asia and Thailand revolve around three major issues: regional adaptation, supply chain gaps, and industrial competition and collaboration. Enterprises must independently weigh risks and expansion scales based on their own supply chain conditions to find a development balance suited to their needs. Meanwhile, to adapt to the unique environment of Southeast Asia—characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, floods, complex road conditions, and underdeveloped charging infrastructure—the EV technologies originally designed for the Chinese and European markets must undergo localized R&D and verification. This process ensures the reliability of batteries, electronic controls, and lubrication systems, as well as overall vehicle durability. It is recommended that Tier 1 suppliers and upstream partners proactively collaborate in depth with OEM design teams. Even for domestically mature production car models going global in Southeast Asia, it is essential to iterate and optimize products by leveraging local expansion opportunities while drawing on the cost, process, and quality control expertise gained from large-scale domestic production. Leadership Panel: Techno-Economic Analysis and Strategic Pathways for Battery Material Localization in Southeast Asias Moderator: Jay Yu, Senior director, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Panelists: Brian, Sales Director for the Electrolyte Division in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, TINCI Materials Max Miao, Director, SEVB Thailand Feng Hao, Southeast Asia Marketing Director, Hefei Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. The panelists noted that amid the restructuring of global manufacturing, Southeast Asia’s lithium battery industry faces both challenges and opportunities. Enterprises are following downstream OEM clients in going global, establishing nearby supply systems centered on customer needs. Three key operational aspects require consideration. First, at the policy level, Southeast Asia’s lithium battery industry must supply both the local market and target exports to Europe and the U.S. Regional policy changes have far-reaching impacts, requiring enterprises to conduct ongoing in-depth analysis and implement corresponding response strategies. Second, in terms of human and cultural factors, local traditions and family values are distinct, necessitating flexible management that fully respects local customs, cares for local employees, and stabilizes production teams. Third, regarding the industry chain, the region’s upstream lithium battery materials are notably underdeveloped. Key raw materials such as high-purity solvents, lithium chemicals, and functional additives currently rely heavily on imports from China, Japan, and South Korea. The establishment and improvement of local upstream and downstream supply capabilities urgently need to be addressed, making this a key focus for future enterprise deployment. In addition, they also mentioned that in H2 this year, NEV-related subsidies in Southeast Asia may be gradually phased out, and Thailand's EV 4.0 policy and the year-end tax rebate policy will also undergo adjustments. Drawing on China's NEV development experience, local automakers will gradually break free from reliance on policy subsidies and instead compete in the market by leveraging product strength and market-based pricing. This year, Thailand's NEV sales are conservatively estimated to reach 120,000 units, with a potential to hit 160,000 units. Compared with Japanese car models, Chinese NEV models have ample room for price adjustment, offering a clear advantage. Currently, battery enterprises are actively assisting automakers in expanding markets and securing more orders, while also suggesting that automakers moderately raise vehicle selling prices. The industry generally believes that automakers will most likely offset the operational pressure from subsidy reductions through price adjustments in the future. Procurement Matchmaking Meeting >Click to view more highlights from the event Check-in & Networking This is the end of the 2026 SMM (3rd) ASEAN Automotive Supply Chain Conference . Thank you for the support of all industry peers. See you next year!

HRC prices: Over the coming year, from 2026 to 2027, China has nearly 40 million mt of HRC capacity projects under planning and construction, with production expected to increase further in 2026. Demand side, China's macro policies are expected to remain accommodative, and the manufacturing sector is likely to continue introducing policies to stimulate consumption, with demand expectations staying resilient. However, affected by anti-dumping measures and export structure adjustments, the decline in HRC exports will weigh on the domestic high-supply pattern. Overall, HRC prices are expected to continue hovering at lows in 2026. But considering that overseas geopolitical conflicts are pushing up inflation expectations and transmitting to commodity prices, coupled with coal and coke prices hitting bottom in 2025 and entering a new recovery uptick cycle, against the backdrop of cost push, the average HRC price may rebound slightly compared to 2025. Looking ahead to the next five years, considering that the peak period of new production capacity has passed, with the accelerated promotion of industry mergers and reorganizations and the continuous optimization of the capacity structure, HRC supply growth is expected to gradually slow down and stabilize starting from 2027. SMM expects that around 2028, a policy package of supply-side production restrictions plus steel export scale tightening may re-emerge, and the improvement in the overcapacity contradiction may bring about a round of upside opportunities for HRC prices. However, unlike the intensity of the 2015 supply-side reforms that were coupled with real estate easing and shantytown renovation destocking policies, after the phased capacity removal ends, the overall downward trend in China's steel consumption will be hard to reverse, which will limit the upside room of this HRC price rally driven by supply-demand imbalance easing. Additionally, the supply-demand pattern of iron ore trending looser will also pull down costs, and HRC prices are expected to come under pressure again after a brief rise. Steel mill profits: Considering that China's surplus steel capacity is resolved through steel exports, this necessitates China's steel prices to stay relatively low to support price advantages and orders, which will also limit the upside room of China's steel prices, steel mill profits are expected to remain at low marginal levels in H2 2026. China Hot-Rolled Coil Annual Supply-Demand Balance （ The line chart represents China's HRC price, and the bar chart represents the HRC balance. ）

CopperTech Metals, backed by Vedanta, is targeting a valuation of approximately US$3.6 billion in its planned U.S. IPO. The company intends to invest US$2.7 billion over the next five years to expand copper production capacity.