The global secondary copper industry is at a critical stage characterized by tightening resources, green transformation, and intensifying global competition. As environmental protection policies continue to tighten and the energy crisis deepens, secondary copper, with its significant environmental and economic advantages, plays an increasingly prominent role in alleviating tight supply of primary copper and promoting low-carbon development. Currently, the global copper industry chain faces multiple pressures including fragile supply, demand transformation, and low-carbon upgrading. Major economies have successively included copper in their critical minerals lists, and international competition over secondary copper resources is becoming increasingly fierce. Optimizing the industry chain structure, improving recycling efficiency, and harmonizing global standards have become urgent priorities for the industry. To help the industry gain a comprehensive understanding of global policy trends and market landscapes, SMM and Uchida Corporation have joined hands to produce the , focusing on industry development directions and conveying market insights, aiming to provide practitioners with an authoritative and professional industry distribution guide. (Click the link to receive for free:) Focusing on Resource Recycling, Connecting Global Markets Basic Information · Company Name: Uchida Corporation · Headquarters: Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan · Established: 2013 Main Business Recovery, sorting, processing, and sales of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and other non-ferrous and special metals, as well as international procurement and export trade. Core Business Activities · Dismantling project contracting · Participation in large-scale bidding projects · Recovery of industrial metal scrap generated by recycling and dismantling companies · Bulk metal exports to clients outside China · Global metal raw material procurement and trade Production and Processing Capacity · Factory Facilities: 2 metal recycling plants, 1 copper wire nodules processing plant · Monthly Processing Capacity: Copper: approximately 300 mt Stainless steel: approximately 500 mt Aluminum: approximately 200 mt Total: over 1,000 mt Qualifications and Licenses · ISO9001 (Quality) · ISO45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) · ISO14001 (Environment) · Hyogo Prefecture Specified Construction Business License (Special-7) No. 303544 · Hyogo Prefectural Public Safety Commission License: Metal Scrap Dealer · Hyogo Prefectural Public Safety Commission License: Machinery and Tools Dealer · Industrial Waste Collection and Transportation License International Trade and Export Advantages · Leveraging high-grade recycled metal resources from Japan, maintaining long-term stable exports to Asian and European and US markets · Establishing an international procurement network to achieve multi-channel supply of recycled metal raw materials · Strictly implementing quality sorting and processing standards to meet ex-China clients' requirements for composition and specifications · Providing one-stop trade services from sourcing and processing to logistics Business Philosophy With efficiency and environmental protection at its core, leveraging a comprehensive qualification system, promoting cross-border resource recycling, and creating long-term sustainable value for clients. Uchida Corporation SMM Joint Production Contact Liu Mingkang 156 5309 0867 liumingkang@smm.cn

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Following the event, SMM arranged an overseas field trip for delegates. The delegation paid visits to renowned local recycling enterprises in Japan to learn about operational practices and technological advancements in Japan's recycled non-ferrous metal sector. On the afternoon of May 15, the delegation visited KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. and received a warm welcome from the firm’s management. Company Profile KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. has grown steadily since its founding with the support of numerous partners, always adhering to the core objectives of responding to the needs of the times and driving industrial development. As its business scale has expanded, the company has gradually established a solid industrial foundation in the field of metal resource recycling and built a stable supply system covering both China and ex-China markets. Headquartered in Izumi-Otsu City, Osaka Prefecture, with a sales office in Izumi City, the company maintains high-standard professional operations throughout the entire process—from the procurement and processing of metal scrap to sales and export—and is committed to contributing to industrial development in Japan and the broader Asian region. The company is well aware that sustained corporate growth depends on trustworthy quality and efficient management. To this end, the company has fully implemented and obtained ISO 9001 certification, the quality management system established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Through this system, the company has established rigorous operational procedures and quality control mechanisms, ensuring that product quality remains consistently stable and reliable, and guaranteeing the continuous supply of high-grade metal raw materials that meet the requirements of steelmaking enterprises and other partners. The spirit of continuous improvement advocated by ISO 9001 has also become part of the company culture, with all employees constantly pursuing greater efficiency and superior quality in their daily work, with enhancing client satisfaction as their shared goal. In terms of business philosophy, the company adheres to a "people-oriented" approach, believing that talent is the most fundamental resource of an enterprise. The company encourages employees to continuously enhance their capabilities, closely integrating personal growth, corporate interests, and social value, earning the trust of partners through honest management and steady development. The company actively promotes open cooperation, establishing long-term and stable business relationships with various industries in and outside China, while continuously exploring new market opportunities to build a broader and more solid international network for the future. Looking ahead, KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD. will continue to leverage its professional expertise, international vision, and rigorous quality management system to continuously strengthen its comprehensive competitiveness, contributing to socioeconomic development, resource recycling, and broader international cooperation. This visit was an important practice of SMM in building an international recycled metals industry exchange platform, creating a bridge for direct dialogue and experience sharing between Chinese and Japanese enterprises. Through on-site observation and face-to-face exchanges, attendees gained in-depth understanding of KINKI SANGYO CO.,LTD.'s technological advantages, operational management experience, and market positioning strategies in the recycled metals sector. They gained particularly valuable insights in areas such as refined processing of scrap metals and collaborative operations across the entire industry chain, providing valuable references for Chinese enterprises to optimize production models and enhance technological capabilities.

On May 12, the 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum , organized by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), drew to a successful close at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Tokyo, Japan! Conference Background Driven by global sustainable development and circular economy initiatives, recycled metals and battery recycling have gained growing strategic importance. Facing rising metal demand and dwindling natural resources, recycling stands out as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative, backed by supportive policies and investment worldwide. As a major Asian recycling powerhouse, Japan boasts robust secondary metal output and sophisticated recycling technologies. It has also rolled out massive funding plans to expand e-waste recycling infrastructure and scale up relevant processing capacity. Centered on the theme "Low Carbon, Global Echoes", the 2026 GRMI gathered worldwide enterprises, experts and officials to exchange insights on circular economy trends, technological breakthroughs and industry policies. This event comprises three forums ( Main Forum, Recycling Forum, and Renewable Resources Equipment Forum ) and multiple panel sessions. Key Highlights Reshaping the Global Recycled Metal Market — Policy Drivers and New Hotspots in India, Pakistan, the Middle East & Japan Shifting Dynamics in Southeast Asia's Recycled Metals: The Malaysia-Thailand Trade Decline and Vietnam's Rising Recycling Economy Resource Contention in the Secondary Lead Market: Redefining the Global Supply Chain Interpreting Recycled Copper Policies in China, the US, Europe, and Japan and Strategies for Future Raw Material Competition Innovation Drives Green Recycling: the Technological Frontier of China's Flotation, Crushing and Sorting Equipment Breaking Through the Challenges of the Recycling Industry: Real-World Case Studies from High-Quality Suppliers Click to view photo gallery Main Forum Opening Remarks Adam Fan, Chairman, SMM Hao Qi Chairman, KINKI SANGYO CO.LTD. May 11 Main Forum Keynote Speeches [Keynote Speech] - Global Recycled Metals Industry Market Analysis: Policy Instruments, Corporate Responses, and Future Challenges Speaker: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Rock expects that aluminum scrap production will continue to grow in the future, and global aluminum scrap supply and demand will maintain a tight balance before 2030. Regarding the copper scrap market, SMM expects that from 2026 to 2030, global copper scrap market supply and demand will continue to grow, and the market will remain in a state of persistently tight supply. The global recycling industry faces challenges including shortages of recycled raw materials supply, rising resource protectionism, cross-border logistics and transportation restrictions, lack of unified global governance, bottlenecks in recycling technology, and incomplete recycling system development. [Keynote Speech] - From India to the World: Sustainable Growth and Responsibility of a Leading Recycler Speaker: Sanchit Jain, Executive Director, Jain Resource Recycling Limited Developed markets (North America, Europe) generate over 70% of the world's scrap; North America has a recycling input rate of 57%, and Europe's aluminum recycling rate reaches 81% — yet their demand growth has slowed down, with scrap becoming a surplus resource exported abroad; Developing countries are where demand is surging — yet collection rates remain below 5%, dominated by informal operators lacking traceability; Globally, policies and market initiatives promoting traceability of recycled resources and ESG disclosure are accelerating at an increasing pace. Scrap generation and consumption exhibit a regional mismatch, with the resource gap formed by supply-demand misalignment increasingly demonstrating strategic significance; Scrap is no longer simply surplus off-cuts, but a core strategic resource reshaping the global recycled resource trade landscape. Recycling Has Become a Core Pillar for Industrial Incremental Growth Why Does the Recycling Industry Hold Critical Strategic Value Today? Secondary resource supply can cover over 40% of future incremental metal demand; reducing dependence on highly volatile primary ore resources. Recycling is the optimal viable pathway for the industry to achieve sustainable and scalable development. [Keynote Speech] - URBAN MINING India's Non-Ferrous Recycling Decade Opportunities & Challenges from a Smelter's Perspective speaker: Pratik Gupta, Assistant Vice President - Operations, Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd Four Core Drivers in Resonance, Continuously Driving Steady Expansion of India's Non-Ferrous Metal Demand 1. Energy Transition Acceleration India has set a clear target of achieving 500GW of non-fossil energy installed capacity by 2030. Power grid expansion, power transmission line construction, and renewable energy integration infrastructure are advancing comprehensively—all of which are high-consumption areas for copper and aluminum, directly boosting rigid demand for both metals. 2. Accelerating EV Penetration India has set a development target of 30% new energy vehicle penetration rate by 2030. A single EV uses approximately 3–4 times the amount of copper compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Meanwhile, the development of the power battery industry will give rise to an independent scrap recycling system, further opening up incremental space for non-ferrous metals. 3. Large-Scale Infrastructure Investment Implementation Leveraging the 11.1 billion rupee National Infrastructure Pipeline plan, projects including galvanized steel, power infrastructure, and urban rail transit will continue to be implemented over the next decade, providing sustained long-term support for zinc, copper, and aluminum market demand. 4. Manufacturing PLI Policy Empowerment India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme covers 14 key industries, focusing on metal-intensive sectors such as electronics, automotive, power battery, and capital goods. With policy support, the share of domestic manufacturing continues to rise, driving steady growth in non-ferrous metal consumption. Panel Discussion: Reshaping the Global Recycled Metal Market — Policy Drivers and New Hotspots in India, Pakistan, the Middle East & Japan Moderator: Adam Fan, Chairman, SMM Panelists: Sanjeev Phadke, The Treasurer of BMR, Bureau of Middle East Recycling (BMR) Amar Singh, Secretary General, Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) Bin Zhang, Trade Director, TOUCHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. Jawed Ahmed, Founder and CEO, Al Qaryan International DMCC Recycling Forum Ketnoye Speech: Key Issues and Challenges Affecting the US Secondary Metals Industry Speaker: Adam Shaffer, Vice President of International Trade and Global Affairs, REMA Panel Discussion Shifting Dynamics in Southeast Asia's Recycled Metals: The Malaysia-Thailand Trade Decline and Vietnam's Rising Recycling Economy Moderator: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Panelists: Eric Tan, President, Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association Achirawat Thanasethatokul, Managing Director, Mahanakorn Metalscrap Co., Ltd. Jimin Choi, CEO/Founder, ETREE PTE LTD Michelle Leung, Head of Asia Metals and Mining Sustainability, Bloomberg Intelligence [Keynote Speech] - Analysis of Japan's Recycled Copper Market Speaker: AW YONG YI CHEONG, Senior Secondary Copper Analyst, SMM AW YONG YI CHEONG noted that the current Japanese copper scrap market is gradually transitioning toward a highly competitive "seller ecosystem." Trading models that rely solely on spot cargo procurement are increasingly exposed to the risk of supply disruptions. To secure long-term resource supply, enterprises purchasing externally from outside China need to move beyond traditional spot trading mindsets and establish structural cooperative relationships through deep-binding approaches such as signing long-term contracts and equity partnerships, in order to adapt to the persistently tight market landscape. Panel Discussion Resource Contention in the Secondary Lead Market: Redefining the Global Supply Chain Moderator: Rock Ding, Consulting Project Manager, SMM Panelists: Pratik Gupta, Assistant Vice President - Operations, Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd Eric Tan, President, Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association Panel Discussion Interpreting Recycled Copper Policies in China, the US, Europe, and Japan and Strategies for Future Raw Material Competition Moderator: AW YONG YI CHEONG, Senior Secondary Copper Analyst, SMM Panelists: Allan Zhang, Head of the Recycled Copper Business Unit, Hailiang Group Co., Ltd. Mr. Vishal Jatia, CEO, GREENLAND AMERICA INC WENCESLAO MANZANO HERNANDEZ, Director, DIMEXA HOLDINGS PTE. LTD. Shunsuke Kuwada, Overseas Manager, Hirata Corporation Co.,Ltd Yoshimichi Murakami, Executive Director, Wakoh Metal Co., Ltd. [Keynote Speech] - Current Status of Lead-Acid Battery in Japan Speaker: Yuji Tanamachi, CEO, IRUNIVERSE The volume of lead-acid battery scrap generated in Japan continues to decline. The reason is the sharp decrease in the number of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) retired in China. Over a decade ago, the number of ELVs generated in Japan exceeded 5 million units, but now it is approximately 2.7 million units, nearly halved. The chart on the right shows the increase in the average service life of passenger vehicles. The significant decline in ELV numbers was mainly driven by two factors: first, continued decline in new car sales in Japan, directly driven by population decline; second, the climbing scale of used car exports. Since the auction model was popularized in Japan a decade ago, not only ordinary used cars but even retired vehicles could be traded through auctions. Logically, a decrease in total ELV numbers should lead to a corresponding reduction in the number of dismantling enterprises. However, the reality was quite the opposite: the number of dismantling enterprises backed by ex-China capital from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the Kurdish region, and China continued to grow. Award Ceremony SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Scrap Yards SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Traders SMM Recycled Metals Industry Premium Equipment Enterprises May 12 Renewable Resources Equipment Forum Panel Discussion Innovation Drives Green Recycling: the Technological Frontier of China's Flotation, Crushing and Sorting Equipment Moderator: Bo Zhou, EVP, SMM Panelists: Owen Liang, Deputy General Manager, Foshan GreenField Environmental Protection Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. Xian Lu, Chairman, Shandong Luyou renewable resources equipment Co., Ltd. Haihua Cheng, International Trade Minister, Jiangsu Huahong Technology Stock Co.,Ltd. [Keynote Speech] - Volatility Eats Margins for Breakfast Managing Risk Now That Tariffs, Geopolitics, And Supply Shocks Have Driven Base Metal Prices to Multi-year Extremes Speaker: Harsha Ramesh, CEO & Co-founder, Pillar Hedge Aluminum—Supply Shock From February to April 2026, aluminum prices surged by over 20% at their peak within just two months, driven by the following key factors: Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Iran conflict closes shipping lanes; approximately 9% of global supply at risk Gulf Production Hit: EGA flagship plant shut down for up to one year; Bahrain's ALBA halted Compounding Tariff Impact: US Midwest premiums widened significantly, tariffs reshaped physical trade flows Keynote Speech: Precision Sorting Green Future Speaker: Jianan Li, Overseas Sale, Zhejiang Tianli Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. [Panel Discussion] - Breaking Through the Challenges of the Recycling Industry: Real-World Case Studies from High-Quality Suppliers Networking among medium-to-large-scale scrap yards/traders Conference Check-in The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum has now come to a successful conclusion. We sincerely appreciate the strong support from all industry participants and partners. Looking forward to meeting you again next year!

On April 9, 2026, the Japanese Cabinet officially approved the latest amendment to the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Act (commonly known as the "Waste Cleansing Act"). The core of the amendment is to upgrade metal recycling operations from a notification system to a permit system, and to impose a new obligation requiring confirmation from the Minister of the Environment for scrap metal exports.

At the 2025 SMM (2nd) Global Recycled Metal Industry Chain Summit - Main Forum hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., Dr. Somthai Wongcharoen, Secretary General of the ASEAN Institution of Recycling (AIR), shared insights on the topic of "Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Prospect of Thailand's Recycled Metals Industry."

As the world places greater emphasis on sustainable development, the recycling and reuse of metal resources not only effectively reduces resource waste but also mitigates environmental pollution, thereby promoting a green transformation of the economy.

On June 13, the 2025 SMM (2nd) Global Secondary Metals Industry Summit Forum , hosted by SMM, successfully concluded at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit! The event brought together industry representatives and experts from multiple regions and countries, including India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. They engaged in brainstorming sessions on hot topics such as changes in the global supply-demand pattern of the secondary metals industry, global secondary metals industry development trends and challenges from a Middle Eastern perspective, in-depth analysis of the strengths and challenges in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia, the battery resource market in Southeast Asia: supply chain dynamics, the current situation and future challenges of the secondary lead industry in Southeast Asia, the development of the global secondary metals supply-demand pattern from an Indian perspective, and secondary copper and aluminum scrap yards: innovative recycling and sorting technologies to support the industry's green and carbon-reduction journey. Cui Suoye, Director of SMM Nonferrous Consulting, shared insights on the topic of "changes in the global supply-demand pattern of the secondary metals industry." Regarding secondary aluminum, he stated that over the past decade, the proportion of secondary aluminum production in developed countries such as North America, South America, Europe, and Japan has been significantly higher than that in developing countries. As developing countries benchmark against developed countries, their future potential for aluminum scrap demand will be even more substantial. From 2022 to 2042, SMM expects the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of extruded aluminum scrap to reach approximately 5%. By 2042, extruded aluminum scrap is projected to account for about 33% of total aluminum scrap. Regarding secondary copper, he mentioned that SMM forecasts the global copper scrap market size to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2030. Wu Xiaoyun, Chairman of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Lead-Acid Battery Industry Alliance, shared his views on "the current situation and transformation path of the secondary lead industry in Southeast Asia." He emphasized that the construction of a recycling system is closely linked to the healthy development of the secondary lead industry. The healthy development of the secondary lead industry relies on mutual support across the industry chain, rational government planning and policy support, as well as industry self-discipline and self-regulation. Xie Xiaoying, Director of Sustainable Development Business at Shanghai Lvran Environmental Information Technology Co., Ltd., introduced the topic of "the development path of the global secondary metals industry driven by the ESG context." She pointed out that despite the numerous challenges faced by the secondary metals industry, investing in advanced technologies can effectively handle various complex materials while reducing processing costs. To ensure supply chain reliability, manufacturers may adopt vertical integration strategies in key markets, which, however, will increase operational costs. In addition, the price of scrap metal is usually referenced against the market price of the relevant primary metal. Carbon pricing and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) can help enhance the economic benefits of underutilized scrap metal resources. 》Click to view the live photo stream link 》Click to view the special coverage of this conference Opening Remarks Speakers: Fan Xin, Chairman of SMM Li Shilong, President of China Renewable Resources Industry Technology Innovation Alliance Award Ceremony Main Forum Guest Speeches Speech Topic: Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Prospects of Thailand's Recycled Metal Industry Guest Speaker: Secretary General of ASEAN Institution of Recycling (AIR) Dr. Somthai Wongcharoen The Thailand Recyclers Trade Association is composed of major recycling enterprises in Thailand, including smelting companies, wholesale collection enterprises, and import-export companies. In terms of metal scrap, association members handle high-value metals such as copper, primary aluminum, lead, as well as lead-acid batteries and EV batteries. Additionally, they also recycle electronic waste, such as PCB boards, extracting precious metals like gold, palladium, and copper. Enterprises within the association recognize the importance of the recycled metal industry to Thailand's future development, making metal recycling models very popular domestically. By relying on renewable resources, Thailand is expected to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change. 》Green Transformation and Sustainable Development Prospects of Thailand's Recycled Metal Industry Speech Topic: Strengthening International Exchanges to Promote Green Development of China's Non-Ferrous Recycled Metals Guest Speaker: Li Shilong, President of China Renewable Resources Industry Technology Innovation Alliance Interview with Top Entrepreneurs in the Recycled Metal Industry Moderator: Li Shilong, President of China Renewable Resources Industry Technology Innovation Alliance Guests: Zhu Zhanhong, HR and Administrative Director of Daizheng Daji Metal (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Zhang Junbing, Global Procurement Director of Hailiang Group Co., Ltd. Qin Xinghong, General Manager of P.C. WOOD PRODUCTS CO., LTD. Liu Qingcheng, Deputy General Manager and Director of Thai-Chinese Non-Ferrous Metals International Co., Ltd. Speech Topic: The Path to Global Development of the Recycled Metal Industry Driven by the ESG Context Guest Speaker: Xie Xiaoying, Director of Sustainability Business at Shanghai Lvran Environmental Information Technology Co., Ltd. Key ESG Risks Environment: Heavy metal pollution, water scarcity, climate impacts, waste. Social: Land/resettlement conflicts, labor rights, community health and safety. Governance: Compliance gaps, ethics, weak grievance mechanisms. ESG Accelerator Highlights the factors driving ESG compliance and sustainability (investors, regulations, and supply chains). Recycled Metals Emphasizes the role of recycled metals as a core ESG solution. Remaining Challenges Obstacles still hinder the full implementation of ESG, such as gaps in metal recycling technology, supply stability issues, and the lack of pricing mechanisms to calculate ESG value. The Path to Global Secondary Metals Industry Development Driven by the ESG Context Speech Topic: Changes in the Global Supply-Demand Pattern of the Secondary Metals Industry Guest Speaker: Cui Suoye, Director of SMM Nonferrous Consulting Cui Suoye, Director of SMM Nonferrous Consulting, shared insights on the topic of "Changes in the Global Supply-Demand Pattern of the Secondary Metals Industry." Regarding secondary aluminum, he stated that over the past decade, the proportion of secondary aluminum production in developed countries such as North America, South America, Europe, and Japan has been significantly higher than that in developing countries. For developing countries, benchmarking against developed countries, the future potential for aluminum scrap demand will be even more substantial. From 2022 to 2042, SMM expects the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of extruded aluminum scrap to reach approximately 5%. By 2042, extruded aluminum scrap is expected to account for about 33% of total aluminum scrap. Regarding secondary copper, he mentioned that SMM forecasts the global copper scrap market size to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2030. Secondary Aluminum Over the past decade, the proportion of secondary aluminum production in developed countries such as North America, South America, Europe, and Japan has been significantly higher than that in developing countries. Similarly, for developing countries, benchmarking against developed countries, the future potential for aluminum scrap demand will be even more substantial. According to SMM, China, the US, Europe, and India are the major aluminum scrap-producing regions, accounting for approximately 80% of the total. Benefiting from global carbon reduction policies, recycling systems in various countries are continuously improving. In the future, aluminum scrap production will continue to grow. According to SMM data, in 2022, the production of rolled aluminum scrap exceeded that of extruded and cast aluminum scrap, becoming the highest among the three types of aluminum scrap. However, it is expected that extruded aluminum scrap will grow at the fastest rate in the future. From 2022 to 2042, SMM expects the CAGR of extruded aluminum scrap to reach approximately 5%. By 2042, extruded aluminum scrap is expected to account for about 33% of total aluminum scrap. SMM: Analysis of the Global Supply-Demand Pattern of the Secondary Metals Industry - The Market Size of Secondary Copper and Aluminum Will Continue to Rise Speech Topic: Global Secondary Metals Industry Development Trends and Challenges from a Middle Eastern Perspective Guest Speaker: Sanjeev Phadke, Financial Controller and Executive Committee Member of the Middle East Recycling Bureau Exploring the Global Secondary Metals Market: An In-depth Analysis of Strengths and Challenges in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia Moderator: Fan Xin, Chairman of SMM Guests: Metalcom Ltd. General Manager Mr. Kittipot Thanalertlap CEO of Dr. Recycling, Tan Tian Director of DIMEXA HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., WENCESLAO MANZ Financial Controller and Executive Committee Member of the Middle East Recycling Bureau, Sanjeev Phadke June 13 Battery Recycling Forum Southeast Asian Battery Resource Market: Supply Chain Dynamics Moderator: Cui Suoye, Director of SMM Nonferrous Consulting Guests: Sujin Kim, Global Business Development Director of BatX Energies Wu Xiaoyun, Chairman of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Lead-Acid Battery Industry Alliance Zhao Bin, President of the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone Chen Wenkai, Chairman of the Malaysia Nonferrous Metals Association (MNMA) Shen Juan, Purchasing Director of Jingjiu Group Speech Topic: Current Status and Future Challenges of the Southeast Asian Secondary Lead Industry Guest Speaker: Wu Xiaoyun, Chairman of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Lead-Acid Battery Industry Alliance I. Overview of the Current Status of the Southeast Asian Secondary Lead Industry I. Current Status of the Southeast Asian Secondary Lead Industry 1. Severe Imbalance in Supply and Demand Demand Side: Demand for lead-acid batteries: starting batteries (with an ownership of over 40 million units) and motorcycle power batteries (with an ownership of 250 million units), as well as demand for backup power supplies for 5G base station construction (ESS batteries). Supply Side: The local secondary lead production capacity is severely insufficient, with an annual shortfall of 150,000 mt in Vietnam (self-sufficiency rate of only 42%) and 80,000 mt in Indonesia (self-sufficiency rate of 65%), relying on imported lead ingots to fill the gap. Raw Material Bottleneck: Scrap lead-acid batteries are difficult to recycle across borders due to restrictions under the Basel Convention, resulting in an annual loss of approximately 600,000 mt of lead. The utilization rate of secondary lead production capacity is only 50%. 2. Environmental Protection and Technological Challenges ESG compliance costs in Malaysia have increased by 30%, with small and medium-sized factories investing over $5 million annually in environmental protection. Thailand/Indonesia will ban the import of lead-containing plastic residues in 2025, exacerbating the shortage of raw materials. A high proportion of low-purity secondary lead (60% of inventory in Malaysia has a purity of 3. Intensified Regional Competition Chinese battery companies have deployed a production capacity of 1 million mt, driving up the local scrap battery acquisition premium to 120% of the Chinese market price. 》Wu Xiaoyun: Current Status and Path to Transformation of the Southeast Asian Secondary Lead Industry Speech Topic: Improving the Battery Recycling System Driven by the Market Growth of EVs in Southeast Asia Guest Speaker: Luo Tieying, President of Jinchi Industrial Park Speech Topic: Exploring Africa: Opportunities for Sustainable Expansion and Raw Material Investment Guest Speaker: Yousef Al Sharif, Director of the African Recycled Metals Association/Al Sharif Metal Secondary Copper and Aluminum Forum Speech Topic: Global Impact of Changing Trade and Tariff Policies in the US Guest Speaker: Adam Shaffer, VP of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) Speech Topic: SMM Serving the Global Secondary Copper and Aluminum Metal Market Guest Speaker: Zhang Xiaoyao, Project Leader of SMM Recycling Conference Speech Topic: Global Supply-Demand Pattern Development of Secondary Metals from an Indian Perspective Guest Speaker: Amar Singh, Secretary General of the Material Recycling Association of India Speech Topic: Building a New Cambodia-China Metal Hub - Inviting You to Co-Construct an Overseas Demonstration Industrial Park for Recycling Nonferrous Metals Processing Guest Speaker: Cao Zhuo, General Manager of International Business for the Americas Region of the Cambodia-China Metal Materials Industrial Park Secondary Copper and Aluminum Yard: Innovative Recycling and Sorting Technologies Paving the Way for Green and Carbon-Reducing Industry Moderator: Zhou Bo, Executive Vice President of SMM Guests: Liang Jiali, Deputy General Manager of Foshan Lvtian Environmental Protection Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. Li Zhiqiang, General Manager of Henan Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Ye Hangyu, Director of the Foreign Trade Department of Hefei Anjinglong Electronics Co., Ltd. Sun Bolin, Sales Director of Liaoning Pinuo Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Recommendations for Copper, Aluminum - High-Quality Overseas Yards and Trustworthy Traders, and Batteries - High-Quality Equipment Enterprises Sidelights from the Venue 》Click to View More Sidelights With this, the 2025 SMM (2nd) Global Secondary Metals Industry Summit has come to a successful conclusion. See you next year! 》Click to view the special report on the 2025 SMM (2nd) Global Recycled Metals Industry Summit Forum

After a decade of "simmering," platinum has entered a mode of rushing to buy amid continuous price rise relative to gold, with prices hitting new highs. Through interviews with multiple sources, a reporter from Cailian Press learned that compared to gold's stellar performance in recent years, platinum's former "value trough" is attracting capital inflows. Driven by expectations of supply contraction, jewelers using it as a "flat substitute" for gold, and a significant increase in medium and long-term hydrogen energy demand, the industry generally holds a relatively optimistic outlook for platinum prices in the long term. In the A-share market, shares of platinum industry chain companies such as Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd. (600459.SH), Haotong Technology (301026.SZ), and Huayang New Materials (600281.SH) have strengthened recently, all hovering near their two-year highs. Platinum prices hit a nearly 10-year high Since June, platinum prices have entered a rally mode. According to data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as of June 10, 2025, PLc1 broke through $1,200 per ounce, reaching a nearly 10-year high. As of June 11, the Pt99.95 on the Shanghai Gold Exchange rose by approximately 22% this week. PLc1 price trend. Source: Investing.com "It can be understood as a catch-up rally," Xu Yongqi, chief analyst of metal and new materials at Hua'an Securities, told the reporter. Over the past decade, platinum prices have generally fluctuated considerably. Compared to the strong price trends of gold and silver in recent years, platinum has to some extent formed a "value trough," attracting capital inflows. Zhu Zhigang, director of the Platinum Committee of the Guangdong Gold Association, said in an interview with Cailian Press that the sharp rally in platinum prices in a short period suggests speculative sentiment. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of high gold prices, some upstream merchants in the jewelry market are intentionally increasing efforts to promote platinum as a substitute for gold. A relevant executive from a large domestic jeweler told Cailian Press that since the second half of 2024, the company has been vigorously promoting the sales of platinum series products, as platinum offers higher gross margins compared to gold products. From a fundamental perspective, the continuous pullback in inventory is an important support for the rise in platinum prices. Data from the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) shows that global above-ground platinum stocks are expected to fall to 67 mt in 2025, meeting only three months of market demand. In the first quarter of 2025, global total platinum supply fell by 10% YoY to 45 mt, while demand increased by 10% YoY to 71 mt over the same period. In terms of platinum demand structure, automotive catalysts account for 40%, jewelry accounts for 25%, industrial uses (excluding the automotive industry) account for 20%, and investment demand accounts for 9%. Three major A-share platinum industry chain companies In the futures market, shares of Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd., Haotong Technology, and Huayang New Materials in the A-share platinum industry chain have strengthened recently, all hovering near their two-year highs. It should be noted that currently, there are no domestic A-share companies primarily engaged in platinum ore business. One of the main businesses of the aforementioned three companies is the recycling, processing, and manufacturing of platinum group metals (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium). A representative from Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd. told a Cailian Press reporter that the company is not a mineral resources company. As the prices of the relevant precious metal raw materials have been hedged, their price changes have relatively small impact on the company. The company's main profits come from the processing fees of various precious metal-related products. In fact, Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd. is a new materials company. In terms of capacity, Sino-Platinum Metals Co., Ltd. has the largest platinum group metal recycling and utilization base in China, with an annual capacity of around 10 mt currently, equivalent to the output of a medium-sized mine. The actual recycling volume in 2024 was nearly 15 mt. A company representative told a Cailian Press reporter that after the second phase of the Yimen Precious Metal Recycling and Processing Project reaches full production, the company will have an annual platinum group metal capacity of about 20 mt. The project has recently entered the final stage of trial production and is gradually transitioning to mass production. Haotong Technology's production has been unstable in recent years, with precious metal recycling production volumes of approximately 110 mt, 234 mt, and 64 mt from 2022 to 2024. Previously, the company stated on an investor interaction platform that it produces platinum, palladium, rhodium, silver, gold, iridium, and ruthenium metals. To avoid excessive exposure of company information and prevent competitors from understanding the company's situation, it has not disclosed specific production data. According to public information, as of the end of 2023, Haotong Technology's processing capacity of spent catalysts containing precious metals was approximately 2,600 mt. The first phase of Haobo New Materials' precious metal secondary resource comprehensive utilization project was designed to process 3,000 t/a of spent automotive catalysts, while the second phase was designed to process 12,000 t/a of spent automotive catalysts and 3,000 t/a of spent agents containing palladium, etc. Haotong Technology previously mentioned in an announcement that the originally planned construction capacity of the aforementioned first-phase project was mainly positioned for spent automotive catalyst recycling. At this stage, a centralized and standardized raw material market for spent automotive catalyst recycling has not yet formed, and the overall development of this market has fallen short of expectations, resulting in the underutilization of some of the company's completed capacities. The company has postponed the date for the entire project to reach the intended usable state to September 30, 2026. An industry chain representative told a reporter that the recycling of platinum group metal scrap is dominated by a seller's market, in a state of full competition. The industry adopts a tendering system, with basically one tender per order. Regarding Huayang New Materials, the company has an annual production capacity of 2,500 kg for platinum mesh products and an annual disposal capacity of 1,000 mt for spent catalysts containing precious metals. The long-term bullish trend remains. Zhu Zhigang stated that if the platinum price can steadily break through the high-pressure level of $1,200/ounce, there is still room for further upside in the future market. Otherwise, it may fall back to around $1,000/ounce again. Meanwhile, attention should also be paid to gold prices, as the price trends of the two metals show a certain degree of convergence. In terms of end-use consumption, industry chain insiders told a Cailian Press reporter that, based on the Shenzhen Shuibei Jewelry Trading Market, platinum series products are currently concentrated in the hands of mid-to-upstream wholesalers, and it will take time for these products to reach end-use consumption, with lower acceptance compared to gold. It is worth noting that platinum inventories among leading jewelry retailers are currently low. Taking Chow Tai Seng (002867.SZ) and CHJ Jewellery (002345.SZ) as examples, as of year-end 2024, platinum products accounted for less than 0.5% of their raw material inventories. An industry insider told a Cailian Press reporter that some upstream enterprises in the jewelry market are actively increasing their marketing efforts for platinum products. Once the market reaches a consensus on buying amid continuous price rise, low inventories will struggle to fully meet demand in the short term, potentially continuing to stimulate platinum price increases. Xu Yongqi stated that, from a fundamental perspective, platinum is in a trend of tight supply and strong demand. Global capital expenditures in the mining sector have declined in recent years, and production has pulled back. In the medium and long-term, global demand for platinum related to hydrogen is expected to grow significantly. Compared to gold or other rare minor metals, the current price increase of platinum is not high. After a decade of stagnation, platinum prices are likely to rise overall in the next three to five years, with the potential to reach $2,000 per ounce. An industry chain insider told a Cailian Press reporter that there is still a certain gap between some of the core technologies of domestic hydrogen fuel cells and those of leading countries such as Japan. The platinum-carbon catalyst in hydrogen fuel cells plays a crucial role in catalyzing discharge, with platinum accounting for about half of the catalyst cost. With the development of China's hydrogen energy industry, there is expected to be a significant increase in platinum demand in the long term. WPIC forecasts that the total platinum supply in 2025 will be at its lowest level in five years, with the expected shortage expanding to 30 mt, marking the third consecutive year of shortage. It is projected that by 2030, global platinum demand from hydrogen energy applications will increase from 1% to 11%.

According to foreign media reports, Samta Metals and Alloys, a subsidiary of India's Samta Group, recently commenced construction of a copper and aluminum recycling plant in Kenitra, Morocco. The total investment in the plant is $70 million, covering an area of 36,600 m². It is expected to commence operations in 2026. The plant will primarily focus on recycling metal scrap and producing copper and aluminum alloys. Located in the "Atlantic Free Zone" of Kenitra, it will utilize renewable energy to produce green metal products. The plant is projected to recycle 19,200 mt of copper scrap and 27,540 mt of aluminum scrap annually. Initially, it will have a capacity to produce 15,000 mt of copper cathode coils and 20,000 mt of aluminum-silicon alloy ingots per year. The target customer base primarily consists of the local automotive, energy, and aerospace industries, aiming to reduce reliance on imported products.

On April 18th, at the AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Industry Conference & Aluminum Industry Expo - Global Secondary Aluminum Industry Development Forum , hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), SMM Metal Exchange Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Zhongyifeng Jinyi (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Lezhi County Qianrun Investment Promotion Service Co., Ltd., WENCESLAO MANZANO HERNANDEZ, President of DIMEXA HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., provided an interpretation of Mexico's export policies for secondary metals. Mexico: A Key Trading Partner Mexico is a crucial participant in the global economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.79 trillion, making it the world's 12th largest economy. In 2024, Mexico's total trade volume with the US reached $843 billion, becoming the largest trading partner of the US, surpassing Canada and China. In the same year, Mexico's total trade volume with China reached $100 billion. Mexico has the largest number of free trade agreements, with 13 agreements covering at least 50 countries. Main Products Exported by Mexico Automobiles and automotive parts, electronics and electrical equipment, machinery and industrial equipment, mineral fuels and oil, and agricultural products, among others. US-Mexico Trade Relations In 2018, the US imposed tariffs under "Section 232" on steel (with a 25% tariff) and aluminum (with a 10% tariff) imported from multiple countries, including Mexico. ・This raised concerns about damage to the integrated supply chain, particularly in the automotive industry. ・In 2019, the US agreed to remove the "Section 232" tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Mexico and Canada. ・Part of the purpose of this decision was to facilitate the ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Aluminum Scrap Market ・Mexico exports aluminum scrap to multiple destinations worldwide. ・Single-alloy scrap is mainly exported to the US, Brazil, and Europe. For example, scrap of grades 5052, 6,016, 5,081, 3003, etc. ・Most casting alloys are consumed within Mexico's domestic automotive industry, with only a small amount exported. For example, casting alloys of grades A380, AC12, etc. ・Some other mixed-grade aluminum scrap is exported to Asia. For example, Taint Tabor, aluminum radiators. Copper Scrap Market ・China is by far the largest consumer of copper scrap. ・There is also domestic demand in the US for some higher-grade copper scrap. ・Mexico does not import copper scrap from the US; if copper scrap is imported from the US to Mexico, a 16% VAT is required. Opportunities for Mexico in the Non-Ferrous Metals Market ・Production Growth and Rising Demand. Mexico's expanding manufacturing sector (automotive, electronics) drives production and demand for recycled non-ferrous metals. ・Proximity to the US: Close trade ties with the US facilitate scrap metal trade. ・Increased Recycling Awareness: Growing concerns over environmental issues drive recycling efforts. ・Investment in Advanced Recycling Technologies: In Mexico, there is a growing demand and opportunity to invest in modern technologies for sorting, processing, and refining non-ferrous metal scrap. ・Development of Specialized Recycling Processes: With the growth of industries such as electronics and renewable energy in Mexico, there are opportunities to develop specialized recycling processes for specific non-ferrous metals. For example, recycling of batteries and electronic waste. Challenges for Mexico in the Non-Ferrous Metals Market ・Market Volatility: Similar to global commodities, prices of non-ferrous metals can be volatile, affecting profitability. The Mexican market is guided by the London Metal Exchange but is also influenced by the Chicago Metal Exchange and Midwest Premium in the US. ・Logistics and Infrastructure: Mexico's domestic infrastructure varies, and there are logistical bottlenecks that complicate the collection, processing, and transportation of scrap. ・Regulatory Issues: Evolving or unclear regulations regarding scrap handling, import/export, and environmental compliance can create uncertainty and increase operational costs. ・Quality and Sorting: Ensuring scrap quality and proper sorting is challenging, especially in finding qualified labor. ・Competition: The market may face competition from both domestic and overseas participants, including established recycling companies and the informal sector. ・Economic Uncertainty: Mexico's overall economic conditions, including currency fluctuations and potential economic slowdowns, may affect demand and investment in the industry. ・Safety Concerns: In some regions, safety issues and organized crime may pose risks to companies involved in the collection and transportation of valuable non-ferrous metals. Importance of Establishing Partnerships ・Navigating Regulations and Bureaucracy: Mexico's regulatory environment is complex. Local partners are often more familiar with the rules, licensing requirements, and procedures, which can help streamline business operations and ensure compliance. • Establishing a Local Network: Building partnerships can provide connections to existing networks of suppliers, buyers, and other industry participants. This is crucial for sourcing scrap, selling processed metals, and establishing solid business relationships. DIMEXA Dimexa is a leading company in Mexico specializing in the management of industrial and post-consumer non-ferrous metal scrap. With 40 years of experience in the market, Dimexa currently sells 300,000 mt of non-ferrous metal scrap annually. • Scrap Metal Management: Dimexa offers comprehensive services, including the collection, processing, and sale of scrap. • National Presence: Dimexa operates 17 scrap recycling yards across Mexico. • Logistics Capabilities: Dimexa has a large fleet of vehicles and containers for efficient collection and delivery of materials. It currently handles an average of 1,000 containers per month. • Focus on Compliance: The company emphasizes adherence to environmental regulations and holds all necessary permits to operate across Mexico. • Market Reach: Dimexa has over 35 years of experience selling to the Chinese market and other international markets. 》Click to view the special report on AICE 2025 SMM (20th) Aluminum Conference & Aluminum Industry Expo