SEVB Unveils "Xin Na Qing" Sodium-Ion Battery Solution & AI Strategy on Tech Day

SMM Cobalt Morning Briefing: This week, the cobalt industry chain continued to be in the doldrums. Refined cobalt prices were lowered to 360,000 yuan/mt, with off-season demand sluggish; for cobalt intermediate products, the price spread between upstream and downstream diverged noticeably, hindering deal progress. In the cobalt salt and Co3O4 markets, inquiries and order signing were limited, and prices mainly moved sideways. Cobalt powder transaction prices remained at 455,000 yuan/mt, but demand was cautious, and there was still short-term pressure to test the bottom. Orders for ternary cathode precursors and ternary cathode materials were relatively stable; LCO prices were lowered due to falling raw material costs; and the market focused on the pace of restocking in Q3.

[SMM Cobalt & Lithium Morning Brief: Battery Material Prices Show Divergent Trends, End-user Procurement Remains Cautious] Lithium ore prices are in the doldrums but low-priced resources are limited, lithium carbonate spot and futures prices rebounded, and lithium hydroxide maintained a steady slight increase. Refined cobalt and cobalt salt are generally in the doldrums, impacted by off-season demand, sufficient inventory, and cautious procurement. Nickel sulphate cost support strengthened, ternary cathode precursor prices held steady, and ternary cathode material rebounded slightly, but actual cargo pick-up remained cautious. LFP prices declined along with raw material, while shipments continued to grow, supported by energy storage and commercial vehicle demand. Anode, separator, and electrolyte prices were generally stable, with expectations for some raw material cost transmission downstream. Sodium-ion battery material supply remained relatively tight, while the recycling market consolidated on a weak note due to fluctuations in lithium and cobalt raw material prices.

EcoPro BM announced on July 26 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Soulbrain and Aekyung Chemical at its headquarters, and launched the K-Sodium Alliance. Under the agreement, the three companies will jointly develop the optimal combination of key SIB materials, including cathode materials from EcoPro BM, electrolytes from Soulbrain, and hard carbon anode materials from Aekyung Chemical.