Recycling Industry Events This Week (December. 1-5)

This week, the prices of cobalt sulfate and nickel sulfate have started to rise, and the price of lithium carbonate has also continued to increase.

SMM Steel, December 30 — According to SMM statistics, the estimated total resource shipments in mainstream markets this week were 219,800 mt, down 18.71% WoW from last week’s shipment level. By market:

Iron ore prices retreated from their high levels today, showing overall weak performance throughout the session. The main contract I2605 closed at 789, down 0.44% from the previous trading day.

During the survey period (December 24–December 30), the futures market generally exhibited a fluctuating trend, while the spot market showed synchronized stabilization, with the composite average price of rebar flat WoW. On the production side, the profitability of electric furnace steel mills did not fluctuate significantly this week, with only a few regional mills seeing improved margins. Overall, the national electric furnace operating rate was 41.78%, up 0.92% WoW.

As of December 30, the most-traded SHFE zinc contract closed at 23,380 yuan/mt, rising by 955 yuan/mt for the month, a gain of 4.26%. Zinc prices climbed in December, hitting a low of 22,380 yuan/mt early in the month before rising steadily to a high of 23,730 yuan/mt mid-month, with the price center remaining elevated towards month-end. The price center for zinc in December was higher than in November. Entering January, with zinc concentrate TCs still at low levels without relief, will zinc prices continue to rise?

SMM News, December 29th The molybdenum market fluctuated sharply in 2025, generally experiencing a rally followed by a pullback. In the first three quarters, boosted by tight supply and prominent strategic attributes, molybdenum prices kept rising: 45% molybdenum concentrate hit a record high of 4,600 CNY/ton-unit in early September 2025, and ferromolybdenum prices peaked at 293,000 CNY/ton.

Silver prices have been climbing steadily in recent weeks, emerging as a prominent variable impacting the cost structure of the photovoltaic (PV) industry chain. This effect is rapidly transmitting to the solar cell manufacturing segment, driving significant price volatility for battery cells.

During the survey period (December 23–December 29), both the operating rate and capacity utilization rate of rebar rolling lines in the central China region increased, while the operating rate and capacity utilization rate of wire rod rolling lines decreased.