On July 14, data from the General Administration of Customs showed that China exported 9.678 million mt of steel in June 2025, a decrease of 900,000 mt MoM, down 8.5% MoM. From January to June, cumulative steel exports reached 58.147 million mt, up 9.2% YoY. In June, China imported 470,000 mt of steel, a decrease of 11,000 mt MoM, down 2.3% MoM. From January to June, cumulative steel imports reached 3.023 million mt, down 16.4% YoY.

SMM News: Today, rare earth market prices have risen significantly. Specifically, in the oxide market, the price of Pr-Nd oxide has increased to 474,000-476,000 yuan/mt, and the price of gadolinium oxide has risen to 165,000-170,000 yuan/mt. In the metal market, the price of Pr-Nd alloy has increased to 580,000-586,000 yuan/mt, and the price of dysprosium-iron alloy has risen to 1.6-1.62 million yuan/mt. Under these circumstances, how have downstream magnetic material enterprises, which are facing export controls and rising raw material prices, responded to this price increase?

Factorial Energy has achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of large-scale solid-state battery cells using FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology). These battery cells have an energy density of 375Wh/kg, can charge from 15% to 90% in just 18 minutes, and operate steadily within a temperature range of -30°C to 45°C.

Today, DCE iron ore futures continued to rally, with the most-traded contract I2509 reaching a high of 769.5 yuan/mt and closing at 766.5 yuan/mt, up 0.26% for the day. Traders sold goods according to market conditions.

[SMM Analysis]The off-season, coupled with cost pressure, will lead to a decline in the operating rate of secondary aluminum producers in July

In the first half of 2025, all segments of the sodium-ion battery industry chain demonstrated significant growth. However, the industry also faced concurrent challenges of technological route changes, cost pressures, and market challenges, marking a critical turning point amid rapid development.

According to the latest monthly survey data from SMM, the total production of aluminum rods nationwide in June 2025 was 390,000 mt, a decrease of 27,000 mt from May. After adjusting for the number of days in the month, the operating rate of aluminum rod plants in June was recorded at 60%, down 2% MoM and up 5% YoY. Overall, despite weak downstream purchasing, in-plant inventory was in the initial stage of inventory buildup, coupled with the task of liquid aluminum alloying, the aluminum rod supply side remained at highs in June. However, as the off-season atmosphere in the downstream sector became increasingly pronounced, with market purchasing significantly weakening, many plants announced production cuts and maintenance of equipment in mid-to-late June. It is expected that there will be a pullback in the aluminum rod supply side in July, and the pressure of market supply surplus may ease slightly.