According to China Customs data, China imported 2.7616 million tonnes (gross weight) of zinc concentrate during January–June 2026, up 8.98% year on year, with overall imports posting modest growth compared with the same period last year.

[Import Growth Masks Supply-Demand Tightening – Review and Outlook of China's Imported Zinc Concentrates Market in H1 2026]: According to customs data, China's zinc concentrates imports from January to June 2026 totaled 2.7616 million mt, up 8.98% YoY, with overall imports edging up YoY......

As the global green transition and the "dual carbon" goals advance further, the nonferrous metals industry is accelerating its shift toward low-carbon, smart, and high-end development. South China, as a core industry hub, boasts a well-established industry chain, outstanding resource endowments, and strong policy support, generating robust development momentum. Hosted by SMM, the is scheduled to be held from September 9 to 11 in Nanning, Guangxi. Centered on five key topics—price trends, market outlook, trade environment, policy direction, and low-carbon technology—the conference serves as a high-end industry platform for exchange and collaboration. Geely Baikuang Group Co., Ltd. sincerely invites colleagues from all sectors to gather in Nanning, join in this grand event, and jointly promote technological innovation and digital-intelligent transformation, helping enterprises seize opportunities and tackle challenges, and driving the high-quality development of the nonferrous metals industry. Click the to sign up and attend now! Booth No.: B6 Unleashing the Value of Resources for Sustainable Social Development Geely Technology Group was founded in 2017 and is affiliated with Geely Holding Group. It consistently adheres to the development philosophy of "innovation-driven, industry-based," advancing the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the growth of strategic emerging industries through technological innovation. The Group has four core industries: new materials (resources), motorcycle smart manufacturing, the low-altitude economy, and power and AI semiconductors, with strategic investments in commercial aerospace, new energy, and other businesses. It continues to strengthen its industry ecosystem advantages and consistently delivers valuable products and services to society. Currently, the Group's annual output value exceeds 100 billion yuan, with a workforce of more than 20,000. Geely Baikuang Group is an important member of the Fortune Global 500 company Geely Holding Group and one of the core enterprises in the new materials (resources) sector of Geely Technology Group. Its business spans multiple fields, including coal, electric power, aluminum, carbon, deep aluminum processing, and ecological manganese. Guangxi Baiming New Materials Co., Ltd. 's 50kt annual capacity project for electrical round aluminum rod represents a critical strategic initiative by Geely Baikuang Group, leveraging its existing liquid aluminum capacity to extend the aluminum industry chain and enhance product added value. It is also a concrete practice of the Group's active response to the strategic deployment for the "second entrepreneurial push" of the aluminum industry by the Autonomous Region and Baise City, while deepening supply-side structural reform. As a vital link in the circular development of Baise's eco-aluminum industry, this project will further optimize the regional aluminum industry layout, promote the efficient local conversion of resources, and strengthen the industry's overall competitiveness. The project is situated within the Longlin Aluminum Plant, part of the Gui-Qian (Longlin) Economic and Industrial Cooperation Park in Mugu Village, Pingban Town, Longlin Various Ethnic Groups Autonomous County. There, it fully leverages the raw material advantage of the Longlin Aluminum Plant's existing liquid aluminum capacity, facilitating the direct supply and conversion of nearby liquid aluminum, thereby significantly reducing remelting energy consumption and production costs. Total project investment is approximately 14.2 million yuan. Once completed and in operation, it is expected to form a production capacity of 50,000 mt per year of electrical round aluminum rod, achieve an annual output value of about 1 billion yuan, and generate annual tax revenue of approximately 2 million yuan. Company's Main Products The electrical round aluminum rods cover mainstream alloy designations such as 1A60, 1370, 1350, 8030, 8R76, 6201, and 8A07 high-conductivity rod, and specifications include wire diameters of Ø9.5, Ø12, Ø15, etc. They are widely used in conductor manufacturing for power cables and fiber optic cables, as well as in electromagnetic wire, enamelled wire, and air-conditioning condenser tubes, providing high-performance materials for motors, transformers, electronic components, and NEV parts, thereby strengthening the foundation for power and signal transmission. The project introduces smart integrated equipment, integrates multiple processes, and precisely controls aluminum semis processing, practicing the principles of high quality, low energy consumption, high efficiency, and sustainability, breaking through traditional limitations, and supporting the green and low-carbon development of China’s aluminum industry. Aluminum Processing Industry The aluminum processing industry is a key breakthrough sector for Geely Baikuang Group to achieve transformation and upgrading. It shoulders the major mission of extending Guangxi’s aluminum industry “second startup” toward advanced aluminum processing. Currently, it includes aluminum wheel hubs, refined aluminum, etc. The aluminum wheel hub project relies on Geely’s systematic advantages in the automotive industry and enjoys huge market demand. For the 10-million-unit-per-year aluminum alloy wheel hub project, Phase I with 5.2 million wheel hubs was launched into production in 2021. Refined aluminum has completed construction of 10,000 mt capacity, with aluminum purity reaching 99.99%, mainly applied in high-tech fields such as electronics and aerospace. At the same time, Geely Baikuang Group is establishing an integrated system covering R&D, production, and sales, and advancing the construction of the aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil project and the production base for NEV all-aluminum vehicle-supporting aluminum products and parts, to meet the huge demand for aluminum-based composite materials from the NEV industry, enrich Baise’s aluminum industry structure, and promote the high-quality development of Guangxi’s aluminum industry second startup. Manganese Industry The manganese industry is an emerging industry of Geely Baikuang Group, currently including manganese carbonate ore, electrolytic manganese metal, etc. The Geely Baikuang Jingxi Ecological Manganese Industry Integrated Park is one of the important manganese ore industrial bases in Guangxi and even China, with existing manganese carbonate ore resources of 20 million mt, Envision reserves of 40 million mt, and an annual output of 330,000 mt of manganese carbonate ore; electrolytic manganese metal capacity of 60,000 mt has been completed and put into operation. Geely is vigorously promoting NEV production, and Geely Baikuang will actively transform and upgrade toward new energy battery manganese-based materials, providing raw materials to new energy battery enterprises. Aluminum Smelting Industry Contact Information Huang Xiaoma 18177800977 SMM Conference Contact Ding Weiquan 18029344837

SMM Weekly Stainless Steel Futures Review — week of July 20–24, 2026. Middle East conflict escalation and tight Indonesian nickel ore supply keep the benchmark contract elevated near a two-week high, though it slips RMB 105/mt over the week of July 20–24 as social inventories tip back into a build.

This week, the ex-China rare earth market saw mediocre trading, with prices generally stable. Trading volume pulled back due to the summer break and export approvals. Geopolitically, the Malaysian parliament was reviewing the supply agreement between Lynas and the US Department of Defense, stirring domestic controversy. On the supply side, Lynas’ Q2 production rose 8%, but Pr-Nd output was cut and heavy rare earth production commenced for the first time; exploration projects in Namibia and California made progress. On the demand side, an institutional report noted that AI is becoming the third major growth driver for rare earths, after defense and electrification, and is expected to account for 3% of magnet consumption by 2030.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that in H1, total retail sales of consumer goods and services were up 2.7% YoY, of which service retail sales grew 5.3% and goods retail sales grew 1.1%. Within service retail sales, rapid growth was seen in categories such as telecommunications and information services, tourism consulting and leasing services, and cultural, sports, and leisure services. In H1, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 24,872.2 billion yuan, up 1.3% YoY. By location, urban retail sales of consumer goods stood at 21,550.6 billion yuan, up 1.2% YoY, while rural retail sales were 3,321.6 billion yuan, up 2.5% YoY. By consumption type, retail sales of goods were 22,046.7 billion yuan, up 1.1% YoY, and catering revenue was 2,825.5 billion yuan, up 2.8% YoY. Sales of daily necessities and some upgraded goods grew rapidly, with retail sales of grain, oil and foodstuffs, clothing, footwear, hats and textiles, and communication equipment by businesses above the designated size up 7.4%, 6.7%, and 14.4% YoY, respectively. In June, total retail sales of consumer goods amounted to 4,269.1 billion yuan, up 1.0% YoY, following a 0.6% decline in the previous month, and up 0.38% MoM. In H1, national online retail sales of goods and services reached 10,071.5 billion yuan, up 5.2% YoY. Of this, online retail sales of goods were 6,429.6 billion yuan, up 4.8% YoY, while online service retail sales were 3,641.9 billion yuan, up 6.0% YoY.

Vardhman Special Steels reported a strong Q1 FY27, with standalone net profit more than doubling year on year to INR 41.2 crore (USD 4.8 million) as higher sales volumes, improved realizations and margin expansion lifted earnings. Revenue rose 12.1% YoY to INR 486 crore (USD 56.5 million), while the company said its forging expansion project with Japan's Aichi Steel remains on schedule.

On July 22, a reporter learned from the Sichuan Provincial Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration that from January to June 2026, Sichuan Province's invoiced sales revenue maintained YoY growth, the industrial economy played an important supporting role in the province's economic growth, and the trend of manufacturing structure optimization and upgrading was evident. Data provided by the Sichuan Provincial Tax Service showed that from January to June, the province's industrial invoiced sales revenue rose 6.9% YoY. By sector, manufacturing was up 7.6% YoY, mining was up 1.7% YoY, and electricity, heat, gas, and water production and supply was up 4.1% YoY. Equipment manufacturing continued to develop. Its invoiced sales revenue from January to June accounted for 50.0% of the province's manufacturing total, up 5.8% YoY. Within this sector, electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing was up 7.1% YoY; the manufacturing of railway, ship, aerospace, and other transport equipment, instrumentation manufacturing, and computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing rose 47.1%, 13.6%, and 11.9% YoY, respectively. Clean energy equipment manufacturing, a key focus in Sichuan, grew 7.3% YoY, within which the manufacturing of PV equipment and components rose 7.6% YoY. Lithium-ion battery manufacturing increased 22.5% YoY, driving upstream basic chemical raw material manufacturing up 63.7% YoY. Deep-sea oil drilling equipment manufacturing surged 160.0% YoY.

"Tin" Leads the Future: Industrial Transformation and Value Reshaping in the New Cycle Conference Background Currently, the global tin industry is at a historic turning point, with traditional cyclical logic completely disrupted and strategic value fully highlighted. The tin market in 2026 is exhibiting an unprecedentedly complex landscape and profound transformation: 1. Profound Restructuring of the Supply-Demand Pattern, Unprecedented Enhancement of Strategic Attributes Global tin reserves have a static reserve-to-production ratio of just 14 years, underscoring growing scarcity. The supply side faces "threefold pressure": repeated setbacks in Myanmar’s production resumption, continuously tightening policies in Indonesia, and elevated geopolitical risk in the DRC. Resource constraints have become the new normal. Meanwhile, the demand structure is undergoing a fundamental shift, making tin a strategic resource that bridges traditional manufacturing and the digital future. 2. A Historic Breakthrough in the Price System, Industry Ecology Facing a Remaking In early 2026, the SHFE tin price broke through 470,000 yuan/mt, hitting a record high. This price breakthrough not only reflects supply-demand imbalance but also marks a revaluation of the tin industry. Traditional trade models, risk management systems, and supply chain collaboration methods urgently require breakthrough innovations. 3. Technology-Driven and Green Transition Foster a New Symbiotic Ecosystem Digital and intelligent technologies are deeply empowering the tin industry chain. The global green transition calls for the tin industry to upgrade toward a low-carbon, circular economy, with recycled tin recovery and green smelting processes becoming the necessary path. All links in the industry chain must shift from competition to collaboration, building an open, resilient, and innovative symbiotic system. Against this backdrop, August 19-21, 2026 in Changsha, Hunan , the 2026 SMM (16th) Tin Industry Chain Conference will bring together global industry elites to jointly explore. Jiangxi Zili Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event, discuss industry development trends with industry peers, and join hands to drive the tin industry to new heights. Click to register now, witness and participate in this significant and far-reaching industry event, and jointly write a brilliant new chapter! Jiangxi Zili Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Shenlian Environmental Protection Group Co., Ltd. , extracting non-ferrous and precious metals from non-ferrous metal hazardous waste, solid waste, and other recycled materials. With an annual production capacity of 120 kt of copper cathode, 10 kt of electrolytic tin, 20 kt of electrolytic zinc, 10 kt of lead-antimony alloy, and 50 kt of battery-grade nickel sulphate, it comprehensively recovers precious and rare metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium. In 2025, it achieved sales revenue of 12 billion yuan. The company is dedicated to the noble cause of resource regeneration, circular economy, and environmental protection, with a deep focus on the non-ferrous metal hazardous waste treatment sector. It strives to become the largest environmental protection technology enterprise in China specializing in non-ferrous metal hazardous waste treatment, resource recycling, and circular economy development. Our company makes large-scale, year-round purchases of raw materials containing tin, copper, and precious metals. Leaders at all levels and clients are welcome to call or visit our company to discuss business. Contact Information Product Sales Contact: Pan Guowei 13868171169 Fang Wujun 13607949805 Raw Material Procurement Contact: Pan Guowei 13868171169 Dong Junlin 13868184456 Long press or scan the QR code to register now 2026 SMM (16th) Tin Industry Chain Conference

According to foreign media reports, JSE-listed copper producer Copper 360 has reached a major milestone in its $50 million underground development program at the Rietberg mine in South Africa's Northern Cape. Underground excavation has successfully passed the halfway mark of its 544-meter development target, setting the company on track to intersect its primary ore body on the 300 Level within the next 90 days. This progress marks a strategic shift for the mine as it transitions from capital-intensive waste development into revenue-generating hard-rock mining. Reaching the ore block will provide an immediate feed of copper-bearing material directly to the upgraded Modular Flotation Plant 2 (MFP2). The alignment between underground production and processing capacity is expected to ramp run-of-mine output up to approximately 700 tonnes per day, fully utilizing the plant's installed capacity and delivering higher feed grades alongside improved recoveries. To secure long-term operational flexibility, the company plans to concurrently extend the underground haulage decline down to the 350 Level. This move will open additional mining areas and support a sustained long-term production profile beyond the initial ramp-up phase. Investors responded enthusiastically to the development, driving Copper 360’s shares up by more than 10% on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange following the operational update. The project reinforces the company's efforts to establish a fully integrated copper production footprint in the region.