[SMM Aluminum Express News] Canyon Resources is advancing its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon with integrated mine-to-port logistics ahead of first production in late 2026. The company has increased stakes in Camrail (26.9%) and the Port of Douala operator (42.8%) to secure rail and export capacity. Trial mining began in April 2026, with rail, port, and rolling stock commissioning underway. First bauxite shipment is targeted for late September 2026, while offtake talks and a potential alumina refinery study (due Q3 2026) are ongoing. The project targets high-grade bauxite averaging ~51% alumina and ~2% silica.

[SMM Daily Comment: High-Grade NPI Prices Moved Up, Pre-Holiday Wait-and-See Sentiment Led to Sluggish Trading] April 28 — The SMM high-grade NPI upstream sentiment factor was 3.3, up 0.01 MoM, and the high-grade NPI downstream sentiment factor was 1.89, flat MoM.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Canyon Resources has mobilized the surface miner at the Daniel Plateau of its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon. Trial mining operations are scheduled to commence this month (April 2026). First production remains on track for mid-Q2 2026. Upgrade works on the haul road to the Inland Rail Facility (IRF) are progressing as planned. The first seven locomotives were shipped from China at the end of March and are expected to arrive at the Port of Douala in late Q2 2026. The maiden bauxite trial shipment is now scheduled for Q3 2026, with full-scale shipments targeted for Q4 2026. Discussions are ongoing for Canyon to increase its stake in Camrail from 9.1% to over 20%, which would strengthen its control over the mine-to-port logistics chain.

Rio Tinto and Century Aluminum raised US billet premiums by around 12%, about 3 cents/lb. (around USD 110/t) above pre-war levels. Middle East disruptions have affected supply from the Persian Gulf, which accounts for about 20% of US imports, tightening domestic supply. The US Midwest premium has reached a record USD 1.1325/lb., while aluminum prices have risen over 10% since late February. Amid growing uncertainty, buyers are shifting to domestic sourcing, while producers are pushing for long-term contracts to secure pricing and supply.

[SMM Titanium Express] Yunnan National Titanium Metal issued a price adjustment notice. Based on current market conditions, effective April 9, all grades of sponge titanium prices will increase by RMB 2,000/ton for domestic market and USD 300/ton for overseas market.

[SMM Titanium Express] CITIC Titanium announced a price increase effective April 1, raising selected CR series chloride-process TiO₂ prices by RMB 1,000/ton for domestic market and USD 200/ton for overseas market. This marks the company's second hike within a month and extends the industry's "three consecutive increases" in March, signaling the full deepening of the current price upcycle.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall near Coen, Far North Queensland, Australia, around 7:30 AM on March 20, 2026, as a Category 4 system (after peaking as Cat 5 offshore). It brought winds >250 km/h, 200–500 mm rain, flash flooding, and storm surge—one of the strongest cyclones to hit the region in decades. Rio Tinto shut down its Weipa bauxite operations (including Amrun and Andoom mines) as a precaution against destructive winds, heavy rain, and risks to infrastructure. The Weipa area supplies key global bauxite for aluminium production. Emergency evacuations occurred in remote communities like Lockhart River.

The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 11–12, 2026. The summit aims to bring together leading global enterprises, research institutions, industry experts, and policymakers in the fields of renewable metals and battery recycling.

[SMM Titanium Express] Yunnan National Titanium Metal issued a price adjustment notice. Based on current market conditions, effective March 10, all grades of sponge titanium prices will increase by RMB 2,000/ton for domestic market and USD 300/ton for overseas market.

Feb. 26: The SM2605 contract opened at 5,748 yuan/mt and closed at 5,918 yuan/mt, up 2.85%, with the highest price at 5,968 yuan/mt and the lowest at 5,740 yuan/mt. Trading volume was 722,600 lots, and open interest stood at 451,708 lots. Futures showed an upward trend. Cost side, frequent news from manganese mines continues to stimulate the manganese ore market to hold up well. Regional divergence in electricity costs is significant, becoming a key factor affecting the competitiveness of alloy plants in different production areas. Electricity prices in northern production areas are expected to remain low, offering notable cost advantages, while the main production areas in south China see no downside room for electricity prices. The coking coal and coke markets overall remain in the doldrums, exerting a mild impact on SiMn costs. Supply side, SiMn supply diverges between the north and south markets. On one hand, some alloy plants in Inner Mongolia still have expectations to start production or resume production, which will lead to an increase in SiMn capacity release and gradually highlight supply-side pressure, likely restraining price increases. On the other hand, most SiMn producers in the south face difficulties resuming production due to rising costs from raised electricity pricing policies. Demand side, the mainstream steel tender prices for February have not been announced, and the market is watching for the impact of tender pricing on the market.