In 2026, the global lead-acid battery industry maintains steady growth, holding irreplaceable advantages in starting, industrial, and energy storage applications. Secondary lead has become the core raw material supply, and green recycling and compliant manufacturing have become the industry baseline. The global industry chain is accelerating its shift to Southeast Asia, where Vietnam, leveraging its motorcycle and automobile ownership, manufacturing supporting facilities, and trade facilitation advantages, has become a strategic hub for lead smelting, battery production, and recycling. Meanwhile, the lead industry chain faces multiple challenges such as raw material supply-demand balance, international trade compliance, upgrading environmental standards, iteration of advanced lead battery technologies, supply chain security, and cost control. To build a global lead industry exchange and cooperation platform and promote collaborative innovation across the entire chain of lead ore, primary lead, secondary lead, lead-acid batteries, equipment, and auxiliary materials, the 2026 SMM Global Lead-Acid Battery Supply Chain Innovation Conference is set to take place in Ho Chi Minh City. SMM, in partnership with Hunan Ruiyi Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd. , invites you to join the conference. The event will focus on industrial policies, market trends, technological upgrades, circular economy, and the joint development of the global supply chain, helping enterprises seize opportunities and achieve win-win collaboration. Click to register now for the conference, and join us in witnessing and participating in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, creating a brilliant new chapter together! Hunan Ruiyi Resources and Environment Technology Co., Ltd. is an "industry-academia-research-application" cooperation partner of Central South University. Relying on the Institute of Resource Recycling and Environmental Engineering of Central South University, the company primarily engages in technology development and transformation, technical consulting services, process and plant design, equipment manufacturing, and engineering contracting in fields such as clean and efficient utilization of secondary non-ferrous metal resources, comprehensive recovery and safe disposal of heavy metal and arsenic-containing hazardous waste, and extraction. The company focuses on technology R&D and promotion in the hazardous waste disposal industry. With side-blown furnaces, pure oxygen converters, low-temperature pyrolysis furnaces, electric furnaces, and fuming furnaces as core equipment, it enhances metal recovery rates, saves energy, and reduces emissions in the secondary lead recycling industry, the comprehensive recovery and safe disposal of copper scrap, the vitrification of fly ash and residues from municipal solid waste and hazardous waste incineration, and the comprehensive recovery and safe disposal of heavy metal and arsenic-containing hazardous waste, thereby meeting the growing needs of clients; the company has an R&D and design engineering team centered on professors and senior engineers, bringing together talented professionals from metallurgical production and management, environmental protection, plant design, mechanical manufacturing, automation, electrical engineering, and other fields. It possesses full-chain service capabilities from technical consulting to furnace operation in the areas of secondary lead, copper scrap recycling, secondary zinc, and arsenic-containing hazardous waste disposal. In the R&D and manufacturing of side-blown furnaces and the aforementioned resource recycling fields, it holds over 90 invention patents and utility model patents. RE Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as RE TECH) is a cooperative high-techcompany (industry-institute-research) affiliated with Central South University, whose metallurgy department is one of the most prestigious in the world. With independent patented oxygen-enriched side-blowing furnace as the core equipment which have widely applied in lead recvcling industry and have won a lot of awards because of its innovative technology, we also have the ability to design the entire plant, and design and fabricate the essential equipment including side-blowing furnace, rotary furnace, blast furnace, convert, electrical furnace, fuming furnace and other equipment. In our role as the leading engineering company in lead recycling, we continue to invest in upgrading equipment and processes to meet the ever-increasing requirement of the industry, including improving metal recovery rates, reducing emissions, and treating materials more efficiently. We are expanding our field from lead to copper, nickel,zinc, tin, antimoney etc. to ensure that nonferrous secondary resources are reused efficiently and cleanly, heavy metals and arsenic-containing hazardouswastes are reecovered and disposed safely. Professors, experts and engineers make up the RE TECH team, whose majors include metallurgy, environmental protection, mechanical, automation, electrical and otherdisciplines. With more than 90 patents, the team is capable of providing consulting, engineering, equipment fabrication, installation, commissioning, and operation services to our respected clients. Contact Tel: 0731-82850226 Email: info@rezh.net Website: http//www.hnrezh.com Address: No. 19 Ziyuan Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan Province Long press and scan to register now 2026 SMM Global Lead-Acid Battery Supply Chain Industry Conference

[SMM Daily Review: Weaker Dollar and Cooling PCE Resonate, Silver Price Continues to Consolidate at Lows] SMM July 31 News: The dollar plunged below 100, PCE cooled, but conditions for a trend shift in rate hikes were not met, and silver prices consolidated. Spot cargo supply and demand were both weak at month-end, transactions were sluggish. Attention is on next month's maintenance and demand recovery.

Vedanta Limited released its first quarterly results following the effective May 1, 2026 demerger on July 30. Its continuing operations—primarily zinc, copper, ferrochrome and related businesses—reported revenue of ₹23,456 crore for the quarter ended June 30, up 51% year on year. EBITDA reached ₹8,469 crore, up 98%, and profit after tax rose 152% to ₹5,294 crore, both record highs for the continuing business. Quarterly EBITDA margin was about 57%, up 985 basis points year on year, while return on capital employed reached 29%. Cash and cash equivalents stood at ₹19,992 crore against net debt of ₹8,299 crore, lowering net debt-to-EBITDA to 0.3x. The demerger unlocked more than ₹71,000 crore of combined market capitalization during the quarter. The supplied information did not disclose zinc-specific production, costs, concentrate supply or sales; these remain key items to monitor.

2026 marks the opening year of the “15th Five-Year Plan”. Against the backdrop of intensifying global macro volatility and the deepening advancement of high-quality development in China, the zinc industry is undergoing profound transformation: tightness at the ore end and the release of smelting capacity are creating structural tension; divergence between domestic and overseas inventory reflects the complex dynamics of supply and demand rebalancing; and technological innovation is becoming the key momentum to resolve contradictions and reshape the landscape. Key “15th Five-Year Plan” sectors such as new energy and new-type infrastructure are injecting fresh momentum into traditional zinc consumption, while green, low-carbon development and the circular economy are also accelerating the reshaping of industrial logic under the drive of technological innovation. With the joint support of upstream and downstream enterprises in the zinc industry, industry associations, and other relevant parties, SMM the 2026 SMM Zinc Industry Conference and the 8th Hot-Dip Galvanizing Industry Development and Technological Innovation Forum, and the 14th Zinc Salts, Zinc Oxide and Secondary Zinc Resources Development Forum, and the Casting Zinc Alloy Development Forum are about to be held in Qingdao, Shandong, from August 6 to 8. Under the theme “Harness Zinc Momentum · Build the Zinc Industry · Embark on a New Journey”, the conference will be driven by a dual engine of macro perspective and fundamentals analysis, closely aligned with the main line of high-quality development under the “15th Five-Year Plan”. It will focus on four key dimensions—macro policy, the supply-demand pattern, global trade, and technological innovation—leveraging technological breakthroughs to drive cost reduction and efficiency improvement, and using collaborative innovation to address market fluctuations, jointly charting a new blueprint for high-quality and sustainable development of the zinc industry.‌ Jiangsu Myande Energy-Saving Evaporation Equipment Co., Ltd. will make a distinguished appearance at this grand event, joining industry peers to discuss industry development trends and work together to propel the zinc industry to new heights. Click to register for the conference now, and jointly witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, creating a brilliant new chapter together! System Solution for Resource Utilization of High-Salinity Wastewater in the Metallurgical Industry From “High-Salinity Burden” to “Resource Gains”—Empowering Green and Intelligent Manufacturing in Zinc Smelting I. Wastewater Treatment Challenges in the Secondary Zinc Industry A large volume of high-salinity wastewater is generated during zinc recovery from zinc-containing scrap, requiring compliant environmental protection treatment with stringent standards. This results in both high investment in environmental protection equipment and high subsequent operating costs, compressing enterprise profit margins. Moreover, secondary waste is generated after environmental protection disposal, adding disposal costs and making it difficult for enterprises to continue bearing the burden. II. Root Causes of Wastewater Treatment In the zinc recovery process for zinc-containing scrap, low-grade zinc oxide must be rinsed to remove chlorides and other impurities in the raw material to avoid affecting the purity of zinc products. In addition to sodium chloride and potassium chloride, the rinsing wastewater also contains sulphate radicals, fluoride, COD, and many other components. Its composition is complex and fluctuates significantly, making wastewater treatment highly challenging. III. Three Core Processes, One-Stop Breakthrough 1. Deep pre-treatment—precisely removes fluorides, heavy metals, and organic matter, ensuring long-term stable operation of the system 2. Evaporation Concentration + Fractional Crystallization—Recovering High-Purity Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride, Achieving Salt Resource Recovery 3. Evaporative Condensate Reuse in Production Processes—Self-Circulation of Process Water, Achieving True "Zero Discharge" 4. Dual Benefits Empowering Enterprises Turning high-salinity wastewater into a valuable resource, while achieving environmentally compliant disposal, recovering salt resources, with revenue covering operating costs, shortening the payback period, and enhancing overall economic benefits. Contact Person Zhu Manager 15161877256 Wu Manager 15952706514 Tel: 0514-87843988 Email: zzj@myande.com Website: evap.myande.com Address: No. 199 Ji’an South Road, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province Product Inquiry QR Code Evaporation Official Website QR Code Official Website QR Code Official WeChat QR Code Long-Press to Scan to Register Now 2026 SMM Zinc Industry Conference

Ivanhoe Mines released its second-quarter 2026 results on July 30. Its Kipushi mine in the DRC produced a record 70,177 tonnes of zinc during the quarter at a cash cost of $0.90/lb. The concentrator processed a record 200,774 tonnes of ore, averaging 38.7% zinc, while recoveries averaged nearly 92%. The company maintained Kipushi’s 2026 zinc production guidance of 240,000–290,000 tonnes and expects the mine to rank among the world’s three largest zinc mines this year. At Kamoa-Kakula, quarterly copper production reached 64,328 tonnes, with inventory build and temporary constraints affecting performance; management plans to destock inventory in the second half. Further attention should be paid to Kipushi’s second-half delivery against guidance and cost trends.

[SMM Zinc Morning Comment] Overnight, the most-traded SHFE zinc 2609 contract opened at 24,800 yuan/mt, then dipped to a low of 24,800 yuan/mt. Subsequently, with increased long positions, SHFE zinc steadily climbed to hit a high of 24,935 yuan/mt. However, bears added positions, causing the price to pull back slightly but still trade above the daily average line. Then, amid the tug-of-war between longs and shorts, SHFE zinc moved sideways in a narrow range. It finally closed up at 24,885 yuan/mt, a gain of 185 yuan/mt or 0.75%. Trading volume decreased to 54,696 lots, and open interest increased by 3,258 lots to 108,000 lots.

[SMM Morning Meeting Summary: US dollar index edges down, LME zinc center rises] Overnight, LME zinc opened at $3,582.5/mt. In early trading, LME zinc moved sideways near the daily average line, then edged down slowly. During the European trading session, it dipped to $3,571.5/mt. Prices at the night session shot up to touch $3,625.5/mt. It edged down slightly in late trading, and finally closed up at $3,609.5/mt, an increase of $36.5/mt or 1.02%. Trading volume increased to 9,333 lots, and open interest decreased by 3,194 lots to 244,000 lots.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: SHFE tin 2609 night session rose 2.15% to 426,800, heightened volatility in consolidation at highs above 420,000]

SMM July 31 news: Metals Market Overnight, base metals on both domestic and overseas markets generally rose, with LME lead and SHFE lead falling, LME lead down 0.18% and SHFE lead down 0.67%. LME tin and SHFE zinc rose over 2%, with LME tin up 2.52% and SHFE tin up 2.15%. LME copper, LME zinc, and LME nickel all rose over 1%, with LME copper up 1.3%, LME zinc up 1.02%, and LME nickel also up 1.02%. Alumina main contract fell 0.34%, while cast aluminum main contract rose 0.39%. Overnight, the ferrous metals complex mostly fell, with only stainless steel rising, up 0.51%. Iron ore fell 0.96%, hot-rolled coil fell 0.74%, and rebar fell 0.56%. For coking coal and coke, coking coal fell 2.35% and coke fell 1.86%. In precious metals, overnight COMEX gold rose 1.61%, and COMEX silver rose 2.02%. Domestically, SHFE gold rose 1.2%, and SHFE silver rose 1.82%. As of 6:42 a.m. on July 31, overnight closing prices: Macro Front China: [The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting, decided to convene the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and analyzed and studied the current economic situation and economic work] The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting on July 30 and decided that the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing in October this year. The main agenda is for the Political Bureau to report its work to the Central Committee and study major issues concerning persistently advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance. The meeting analyzed and studied the current economic situation and made arrangements for economic work in H2. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting. It was noted at the meeting that since the 18th CPC National Congress, full and rigorous Party self-governance has achieved great accomplishments, opening a new chapter in the self-reform of a century-old party, and driving historic achievements and transformations in the cause of the Party and the country, securing the historical initiative of strengthening both the Party and the nation. At the same time, as profound changes take place in global, national and Party conditions, full and rigorous Party self-governance faces many new circumstances and problems. The entire Party must, from the strategic perspective of consolidating the Party’s ruling position and fulfilling its missions and tasks, deeply recognize the great significance of persistently advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance, strengthen confidence, maintain resolve, uphold and apply the valuable experience of full and rigorous Party self-governance in the new era with higher standards and more concrete measures, address and solve prominent problems in Party building, and consolidate and develop the positive political environment formed through governing the Party. [National Energy Administration: China's renewable energy power generation share exceeded 40% for the first time in H1] From the press conference held by the National Energy Administration, it was learned that in H1, China’s renewable energy developed rapidly, with its power generation accounting for more than 40% of total generation for the first time. In H1, national renewable energy power generation reached nearly 2 trillion kWh, up about 9% YoY, accounting for 41.2% of total power generation, exceeding 40% for the first time. Among this, wind and solar power generation totaled 1.25 trillion kWh, up 9.3% YoY. In terms of installations, new renewable energy installations in H1 reached 117 million kW, accounting for 73.9% of total new installations, continuing to dominate new capacity. As of end-June, the country’s renewable energy installed capacity reached 2.455 billion kW, accounting for over 60% of China’s total installed capacity. (CCTV News) [China’s coal-fired power generation share fell below 50% of total generation for the first time in H1] From today’s press conference held by the National Energy Administration, it was learned that in H1, China’s green and low-carbon energy transformation accelerated. As of end-June, combined wind and solar power installed capacity reached 1.95 billion kW, up 16.8% YoY. In terms of power generation, wind and solar power generation exceeded 1.2 trillion kWh in H1, accounting for about a quarter of the country’s total electricity consumption. Meanwhile, China’s coal-fired power generation was 2.5 trillion kWh, with its share of total generation falling to 49.7%, marking the first time that H1 coal-fired generation share fell below 50%. (CCTV News) Dollar: As of the overnight close, the US dollar index continued to fall, dropping 0.83% to 99.98, breaking below the 100 integer level and posting a three-day losing streak. US economic growth in Q2 was lower than expected, but strong consumer spending and business investment indicated resilient domestic demand. Preliminary data released Thursday by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that Q2 annualized real GDP growth was 1.5%, below market expectations. A decline in net exports dragged on the overall figure, but consumer spending and business investment remained strong, partially offsetting external pressures. Data released Thursday by the US government showed that the US PCE price index fell 0.1% MoM in June, the first monthly decline since the pandemic in 2020, further explaining why the Fed chose to keep rates unchanged this week. The PCE annual inflation rate slowed to 3.7% from May’s three-year high of 4.1%. However, it remains unclear whether inflation will continue to ease. The cooling in June was mainly due to falling oil prices after the US and Iran reached a fragile temporary ceasefire agreement. The core PCE price index rose 0.1% MoM in June, below market expectations, and the YoY growth rate dropped from 3.4% to 3.3%. The Fed regards the PCE index, especially the core PCE, as the most accurate gauge of US inflation trends. Currently, the gauge shows US inflation has been above the Fed’s 2% target for a sixth consecutive year. (Jin10 Data APP) According to CME “FedWatch”: The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged through September is 36.6%, while the probability of a cumulative 25bp rate hike is 63.4%. The probability of the Fed keeping rates unchanged through October is 26.9%, that of a cumulative 25bp hike is 56.3%, and that of a cumulative 50bp hike is 16.9%. (Jin10 Data APP) Macro: Today the market will see the release of China’s July official manufacturing PMI, US Q2 employment cost index QoQ, US July Chicago PMI, US July University of Michigan consumer sentiment index final reading, US July one-year inflation expectations final reading, UK July Nationwide house price index MoM, Switzerland June real retail sales YoY, France July CPI MoM preliminary, Germany July seasonally adjusted unemployment change and unemployment rate, Canada May GDP MoM, Eurozone July CPI YoY preliminary and MoM preliminary, Japan June unemployment rate, and the Bank of Japan target rate as of July 31. In addition, China will start a new round of fuel price adjustments. Amazon and Apple reported earnings after the US stock market close on July 30. Japanese NAND flash memory maker Kioxia reported earnings. The Bank of Japan released its interest rate decision and economic outlook report. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda held a press conference on monetary policy. Crude Oil: Overnight, oil prices on both markets declined, with WTI down 0.59% and Brent down 1.23%, as the market continued to await progress on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The recently slowing crude oil lightering service in the Strait of Hormuz has revived, helping move millions of barrels of crude out of the strait. Amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East, this transport method has once again played a key role. The lightering mode emerged during the most intense period of conflict and has become a vital lifeline for some oil-producing countries to maintain exports. Vessels transport crude from the Persian Gulf—often with their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders turned off to avoid detection—and then conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with another tanker outside the Strait of Hormuz, which then delivers the crude to buyers around the world. Although crude transport through the Strait of Hormuz is still below pre-conflict levels, the crude that has been successfully shipped out has played an important role in easing market concerns about oil price spikes. Two people with direct knowledge said at least two shipping companies involved in Hormuz transport have seen their lightering volume approach pre-escalation levels. (Jin10 Data APP) Turkey expects crude oil flows from Iraq to continue despite the failure to renew a decades-old pipeline agreement that expired on Monday, according to Turkish officials familiar with the matter. Officials said talks on Tuesday between Turkish President Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidi on the 986 km (613 mile) Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline failed to reach a final result, but the two sides agreed to keep crude flowing while negotiations continue. They added that any eventual agreement would be backdated to July 27, the expiration date of the previous 53-year deal. (Jin10 Data APP)

Event Summary: A safety incident occurred at the 750 level of the third underground mining area of West Ujimqin Banner Yinman Mine, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xingye Silver&Tin (000426.SZ), resulting in one fatality. On July 28, the mining area of Yinman Mine was ordered to suspend production by the West Ujimqin Banner Emergency Management Bureau; on July 30, the bureau issued another decision (Document No. (Xi) Yingji Xianjue [2026] 260),.....