In order to adapt to the reshaping of global trade patterns and the commodity super cycle triggered by new quality productive forces, accelerate the implementation of Shanghai's deployment for building a commodity resource allocation hub in the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan", and further promote the "Action Plan for Strengthening Spot-Futures Linkage and Enhancing the Level of Non-ferrous Metal Commodities" (18 measures), elevating the "Shanghai Price" from a regional indicator to an international benchmark, SMM will host the "2026 Shanghai Metals Expo" (SME) from 16-19 November 2026. Against this backdrop, the 2026 Shanghai Metals Expo will be held from 16-19 November in Shanghai with great grandeur, SMM in collaboration with Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. invites you to participate in the conference , which, under the theme "Cycle Reshaping and Pricing the Future," will focus on core variables such as global macro policy shifts, geopolitical supply chain restructuring, and the metal super cycle. It aims to create an annual gathering that serves as an "information hub, pricing benchmark, trading platform, and networking circle" for the metal and related industries, empowering the industry to shift from passively experiencing cycles to actively engaging in pricing. Click to register for the conference immediately. We look forward to meeting you at the event. Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as "Shandong Humon Smelting") was established in 1988, dedicated to becoming a world-class precious metal smelter with happy employees, satisfied clients, and harmonious environment. It was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on May 20, 2008 (stock code: 002237). In 2019, Jiangxi Copper Corporation became its controlling shareholder. Riding the wave of reform and opening-up and leveraging its expertise in technological innovation, the company has steadfastly pursued a market-oriented and international operation path. Through over 30 years of relentless entrepreneurship, it has held the position of China's largest gold smelter for 12 consecutive years. In 2025, it achieved operating revenue of 110 billion yuan and produced 100 mt of gold. As a pioneer and leader in pyrometallurgy, the company uses fire as its foundation, integrating the entire chain. It has established a comprehensive "cyanide-free pyrometallurgical environmental protection technology system," which has been recognized with two National Science and Technology Progress Awards (Second Prize) and twelve Provincial and Ministerial Science and Technology Progress Awards (First Prize). Focusing on the transformation and upgrading of gold ore smelting, the company has proposed the strategic vision of "developing unlimited value from finite resources and leading the green development of gold ore smelting." While developing gold and silver products, it simultaneously achieves the comprehensive extraction of metals such as copper, lead, zinc, antimony, selenium, tellurium, and platinum. This has formed a diversified development pattern encompassing gold mines, metal smelting, international trade, and high-purity materials. Looking ahead, guided by the Party and the state’s line, principles, and policies, the company will integrate global mineral resources, create wealth for China in the new era, embark on a new journey of high-quality and leapfrog development, and strive tirelessly to become a world-class precious metals mining and metallurgy enterprise. Contact: Wang Lu 0535-4631040 Email: manage@hbyl.cn Address: No. 11 Jinzheng Street, Shuidao Town, Muping District, Yantai City SMM Conference Contact Ma Yao 18321395342 mayao@smm.cn

Indonesia's EMAS reported its first-ever revenue of $2.6 million in Q1 2026 from initial gold sales in March, following the start of commercial production at its Pani Gold Mine in Gorontalo, while posting negative EBITDA of $1 million and a net loss of $10.9 million, which it called reasonable given the mine's early-stage ramp-up and loan-related financial costs.

Newmont announced that its Red Chris copper-gold mine in British Columbia, Canada, has received key regulatory approvals, including an amended Environmental Assessment Certificate and Mines Act permit. The approvals support the transition from open-pit mining to a block cave underground operation and are expected to extend the mine's life into the mid-2040s. The company plans to make a final investment decision later this year. Red Chris hosts an estimated 20 million ounces of gold and 13 billion pounds of copper across its resource base. The project could play an important role in strengthening Canada's copper supply, with forecasts indicating it may increase national copper production by approximately 15% once fully developed.

June 8, 2026 Increased mine production, rising recycling, but declining overall demand—at first glance, not a typical environment for new price records. Nevertheless, the experts at Metals Focus forecast an average gold price of $4,920 per ounce for 2026, representing a 43 percent increase from the previous year. This apparent contradiction stems from a profound structural shift in the gold market that has far-reaching implications for the industry. Bullion and coins overtake gold jewelry for the first time The most significant change is taking place on the demand side: In 2026, physical investments in bullion and coins are expected to replace gold jewelry as the largest source of demand for the first time. This trend was already emerging in 2025, when physical investment demand climbed 16 percent to a twelve-year high—driven primarily by growth in China (up 28 percent) and India (up 17 percent). At the same time, global jewelry production plummeted by 19 percent to a five-year low of 1,646 tons. For 2026, Metals Focus anticipates a further decline of 11 percent. The historically high price level is forcing consumers and manufacturers to opt for lighter pieces, lower karat grades, or more affordable alternatives such as gold-filled materials. Consequently, gold is not disappearing from demand but is shifting its primary function from a consumer good to a pure investment product. Unlike jewelry purchases, this investment demand is far less price-sensitive and is primarily driven by motives such as asset protection, diversification, and hedging against currency risks and uncertainties. Lower overall demand—but a higher gold price Although overall demand is expected to decline in 2026 due in part to a slowdown in the jewelry sector, the high quality of buyers supports the projected price surge. Simply looking at total tonnage falls short in the current environment. As early as 2025, gold-backed exchange-traded products (ETFs) recorded their highest annual inflows since 2020, at 803 tons. The driving forces behind this were tariffs, growing U.S. government debt, doubts about the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy independence, and geopolitical tensions. These factors will persist in 2026 and will be exacerbated by high stock market valuations and uncertainties regarding the long-term trajectory of the U.S. dollar. The precious metal is thus assuming an increasingly strategic role in investment portfolios. Central banks are buying less—but still at unusually high levels This strategic importance is also reflected in the behavior of central banks. Although net purchases fell by 22 percent to 848 tons in 2025, after having exceeded the 1,000-ton mark for three consecutive years, geographically broad-based demand remains well above pre-2022 levels. Sales were limited to a few countries and served primarily to rebalance portfolios following the recent gold rally. Despite headwinds such as the ongoing energy crisis, Metals Focus expects historically high net purchases in 2026 as well. While the pace of buying is slowing, the trend toward greater diversification of official reserves remains intact. Gold mines are producing more—but supply is slow to respond On the supply side, global mine production reached a new record of 3,817 tons (up 2 percent) in 2025. Growth was driven by new mines, expansions, and higher contributions from small-scale mining. A further increase of 2.4 percent to 3,907 tons is forecast for 2026, with all regions except Oceania and Europe expected to grow. Given the enormous price surge, this supply growth is nevertheless moderate and underscores that even strong price signals in the mining industry do not immediately lead to massive jumps in production. Compounding the issue is the fact that producers are grappling with significant cost increases: Global all-in sustaining costs (AISC) rose by 12 percent to $1,552 per ounce in 2025 due to inflation and taxes. For junior companies, this means that while a higher gold price improves the profitability of projects, factors such as grade, location, and infrastructure are increasingly decisive for success in light of cost trends. Why even record prices are barely triggering a recycling wave The supply of recycled gold is also responding sluggishly. In 2025, the volume rose by only 2.8 percent to 1,404 tons—a 13-year high that is, however, subdued relative to price trends. A 5.1 percent increase is forecast for 2026. This apparent contradiction can be explained by owners’ strong desire for security: precisely because of prevailing uncertainties, scrap gold is being sold less frequently. Paradoxically, the very factor driving prices is simultaneously limiting the additional supply that would normally cool the market. The Iran War Delays the Next Uptrend Short-term volatility remains a factor, however. Following new record highs at the start of 2026, a previously overbought market combined with shifting U.S. interest rate expectations led to a correction. The war in Iran is further fueling inflation, which limits the scope for interest rate cuts in the U.S. and drives up bond yields. In the short term, this is a headwind for gold, although geopolitical conflicts usually support the metal. Metals Focus, however, expects the rally to return once the situation calms down. The underlying premise: Policymakers are likely to tolerate slightly higher inflation rather than jeopardize economic growth through overly restrictive monetary policy. Conclusion: In 2026, it’s no longer just volume that counts in the gold market The market environment for 2026 is more complex than a purely quantitative analysis of supply and demand would suggest. The buyer structure is changing, strategic players are acting less price-sensitive, and structural drivers such as global debt and geopolitical risks remain. At the same time, supply from mines and recycling is growing only slowly. What is decisive, therefore, is not so much the absolute tonnage of total demand, but rather the fact that gold is undergoing a permanent shift from a consumer good to a strategic investment and reserve asset. The projected average price of $4,920 thus does not reflect mere exaggeration, but rather is an expression of a new, more resilient market structure. Source: https://goldinvest.de/en/gold-price-in-2026-new-market-structure-paves-the-way-for-a-rise-to-usd4-920

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,874.5/mt, dipped to $13,858/mt in early trading, then the price center fluctuated upward, touching a high of $13,785/mt before staying high and moving sideways, ultimately closing at $13,904/mt, up 0.86%, with trading volume at 21,000 lots and open interest at 271,000 lots, down 1,063 lots from the previous trading day, mainly driven by bears reducing positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2607 contract opened at 106,080 yuan/mt, touching a low of 105,950 yuan/mt right at the open, then the center shifted upward to probe 106,800 yuan/mt, ultimately moving sideways to close at 106,320 yuan/mt, up 1.11%, with trading volume at 48,000 lots and open interest at 176,000 lots, down 1,169 lots from the previous trading day, driven by bears reducing positions.

According to foreign media reports, the Ecuadorian government announced on May 29 that it would renegotiate the mining contract for the Cascabel copper mine, stating that its terms violated national laws and created an imbalance between the government and the company. The mining concession, located in Imbabura Province, was originally held by Australia's SolGold, and Jiangxi Copper Corporation completed its acquisition for approximately $1.16 billion in March this year. Ecuador's Minister of Energy and Environment stated that if renegotiation was refused, the government would seek another operator. The concession holder ENSA countered that the contract was signed in compliance with regulations and expressed willingness to communicate with the government. Ecuador has issued new minimum parameters for mining contracts, allowing the review or modification of existing contracts, though the previously signed Cangrejos gold mine contract is not subject to renegotiation.

On May 28, Shengda Metals announced that its subsidiary Honglin Mining obtained the Safety Production Permit for its mining area. The permit covers underground mining of gold and copper ore at a capacity of 396,000 mt/year. The cumulative identified resources (proven + probable + inferred) of the Caiyuanzi copper-gold mine of Honglin Mining totaled 6.056 million mt of ore, with a gold metal content of 17,049 kg at an average grade of 2.82 g/mt, and a copper metal content of 29,015 mt at an average grade of 0.48%.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $13,508/mt, dipped to $13,454.5/mt early in the session, then the price center gradually shifted upward, reaching $13,620/mt near the end of the session, and finally closed at $13,610/mt, down 0.33%, with trading volume at 17,000 lots and open interest at 273,000 lots, an increase of 143 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bears adding positions. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2607 contract opened at 104,000 yuan/mt, touched a low of 103,620 yuan/mt right after the opening, then the price center edged up with small fluctuations and reached a high of 104,250 yuan/mt, finally moving sideways to close at 104,100 yuan/mt, up 0.06%, with trading volume at 34,000 lots and open interest at 162,000 lots, an increase of 1,224 lots from the previous trading day, indicating bulls adding positions.

Deccan Gold Mines announced that initial drilling at its Bhalukona project in Chhattisgarh, India, has identified a new nickel-copper-palladium mineralization zone. The company stated that preliminary results indicate further resource expansion potential, with additional drilling and resource evaluation work planned. Market attention remains focused on India’s efforts to strengthen domestic critical mineral exploration and supply chain development, aiming to reduce reliance on imported strategic metals while supporting growth in the EV, battery, and electronics sectors.

According to Mining.com, drilling by Canadian exploration enterprise San Lorenzo Gold at the Arco de Oro target within the Salvadora project in Chile indicated that the property may host several copper-gold deposits. San Lorenzo said on Friday (8th) that drill hole SAL-10-25 intersected 102 meters of mineralization at a depth of 153 meters with a gold grade of 1.33 g/mt, including 13 meters at the same depth with a gold grade of 2.21 g/mt. Nearby drill hole SAL-09-25 intersected 59 meters of mineralization at a depth of 238 meters with a gold grade of 1.07 g/mt, including 11 meters at a depth of 270 meters with a gold grade of 3.78 g/mt. "These drill holes indicate a larger mineralization system at Arco de Oro than previously recognized," said Terence Walker, Vice President of Exploration. "We appear to be entering the upper portion of a gold-rich porphyry copper-gold system that requires follow-up drilling." Calgary-based San Lorenzo has become one of the best-performing junior exploration companies on the Toronto Venture Exchange this year, with a series of discoveries at its Salvadora project in the Atacama Region of northern Chile. The project covers more than 90 square kilometers and is located approximately 15 kilometers from Codelco's long-producing El Salvador copper mine. Infrastructure including roads and power is well-established, with access to nearby mining services. Five Targets Arco de Oro is one of five porphyry and epithermal deposit targets at the Salvadora project. Earlier this year, early-stage drilling at the Cerro Blanco target intersected gold mineralization on multiple occasions, attracting investor attention and financing. In March, San Lorenzo raised approximately $20 million through a private placement to fund further exploration at Salvadora. San Lorenzo has been steadily expanding the extent of the deposit. Two months ago, the company added 29 square kilometers near Cerro Blanco by acquiring three nearby Rubi blocks and signing an option agreement. San Lorenzo said the geological setting at Salvadora is similar to other Andean porphyry deposits in Chile. Management noted that the broad mineralization intersections and multiple targets suggest the potential existence of a large-scale copper-gold mineralization system. Assay results from other drill holes at Arco de Oro have not yet been completed, and the company will continue drilling to verify the extension of the ore body, which remains open in all directions.