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On July 24, 2026, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) visited the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (VAFIE). The delegation included: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM Cason Lou, Director of Aluminum Processing, Marketing Department Lexi Chen, Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales Khai Yuen Chin, Senior Overseas Aluminum Analyst The delegation held in-depth discussions with VAFIE representatives on Vietnam’s investment environment, cooperation with local investment promotion authorities, business resource connections, and potential collaboration on industry forums. VAFIE noted that it has actively participated in international forums and exhibitions related to Vietnam’s aluminum industry in recent years. As an important organization connecting the Vietnamese government, local industrial parks, and international investors, VAFIE has extensive government and corporate resources in areas including bauxite development, alumina projects, aluminum processing and manufacturing, and related industrial investment promotion. It is also committed to supporting regional economic development and industrial growth across Vietnam. SMM introduced its continued engagement in Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asian market, including its work on developing local pricing systems, conducting industry research, organizing international forums, and connecting companies with relevant business resources. Since July 3, 2026, SMM has launched a series of new price assessments covering Southeast Asian 6063 aluminum billet processing fees and CIF Southeast Asia premiums and discounts. Among them, the Vietnam 6063 Non-Homogenized Aluminum Billet Processing Fee and related price assessment have officially been launched. Both sides agreed that, as Vietnam’s manufacturing sector and foreign investment continue to expand, Chinese and Vietnamese companies have significant potential for cooperation in industrial development, project investment, market intelligence, and international exchanges. They also expressed their intention to pursue deeper cooperation in the future. Understanding the Logic Behind Chinese Aluminum Companies’ Expansion into Vietnam 01 Companies Need More Than Customers — They Need a Local Gateway In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese aluminum companies have turned their attention to Vietnam. Some are exploring opportunities in industrial parks, some are seeking aluminum processing projects, while others are establishing local supply chains. However, after entering the Vietnamese market, many companies discover that finding customers is not necessarily the greatest challenge. The real difficulty lies in identifying a reliable local platform that can connect them with government authorities, regional resources, and suitable project opportunities. In the past, Chinese aluminum companies considering expansion into Vietnam mainly asked: Are operating costs low enough? Which part of Vietnam is most suitable for our business? Today, their priorities are changing: Does the local government support the project? Who can help us turn the plan into a successful local operation? For Chinese aluminum companies, those that establish strong local connections earlier will be better positioned to capture opportunities arising from Vietnam’s industrial upgrading and the restructuring of regional supply chains. 02 Competition Is Not Only About Finding Opportunities — It Is About Execution As more Chinese aluminum companies begin expanding into Vietnam, the country’s policy environment, approval procedures, project licensing requirements, and local investment promotion rules are also evolving. Future competition will not simply depend on who identifies an opportunity first. It will increasingly depend on which companies possess stronger local networks, more accurate policy insights, and more efficient project execution capabilities. This is also a key reason why SMM AICE continues to deepen its presence in Vietnam. Through ongoing visits to companies, industry associations, and government institutions across Vietnam and Southeast Asia, SMM AICE aims to establish more transparent market intelligence, industry research, and international exchange platforms. These efforts are designed to help Chinese aluminum companies assess the Vietnamese market more accurately, reduce decision-making risks, and improve their ability to implement projects successfully. To help more Chinese aluminum companies gain an early advantage and capture emerging opportunities in Vietnam, SMM AICE Vietnam is coming with a major industry gathering. At the conference, SMM will officially launch the SMM Vietnam Aluminum Price and provide a detailed explanation of its pricing methodology. Join the Conversation at SMM AICE 2026 Connect with aluminum producers, processors, traders, manufacturers, certification organisations, industry associations and decision-makers from across Southeast Asia and the global market. Explore aluminum pricing, primary aluminum supply, processing technologies, low-carbon development, CBAM compliance and new opportunities for regional cooperation. ? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ? November 19–20, 2026 Register now: bit.ly/AICE26 and secure your Super Early Bird Pass and save up to USD 200. Register before August 31, 2026.

On July 23, 2026, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market Information Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) visited VPG (Viet Phuong Group). The delegation included: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM Cason Lou, Director of Aluminum Processing, Marketing Department Lexi Chen, Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales Khai Yuen Chin, Senior Overseas Aluminum Analyst The two sides held in-depth discussions on bauxite resource development in Southeast Asia, alumina project development, regional logistics networks, and the development of a Vietnam-based aluminum pricing system. SMM noted that as the global aluminum value chain continues to restructure, China’s alumina market is expected to see sustained demand for overseas resources. Given resource availability and cost considerations, high-quality overseas alumina resources—particularly those from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian markets—are expected to gain greater market potential and competitive advantages. VPG shared updates on the progress of its current projects and said it is actively advancing mineral processing and alumina projects, with Southeast Asia and other international markets set to become key areas of future development. Since 2008, VPG has been engaged in bauxite exploration and development in Sekong Province, Laos, and is currently advancing an integrated industrial project covering bauxite mining, mineral processing, and alumina production. Both sides agreed that establishing an open, transparent, and regionally representative local aluminum pricing system would help improve information transparency and strengthen the international influence of Southeast Asia’s aluminum value chain. They also expressed expectations for deeper cooperation in market research, pricing services, and industry exchanges. What Signals Does SMM’s Visit to VPG Send to Chinese Companies? 01 Vietnam Is Becoming an Important Hub Connecting the Global Aluminum Value Chain In recent years, an increasing number of international companies have viewed Vietnam as an important gateway connecting Southeast Asian resources with global markets. Supported by its established port infrastructure, rapidly expanding manufacturing sector, and growing international trade network, Vietnam is not only benefiting from the relocation of global manufacturing capacity but is also emerging as an important regional hub for the aluminum value chain. For Chinese companies seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is gradually evolving from an “investment destination” into a “supply chain partner.” 02 Vietnam’s Rapid Market Growth Is Creating New Export Opportunities With free trade agreements such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) taking effect, Vietnam has become a strategic sourcing hub for aluminum products used in the solar industry, including aluminum profiles and PV module frames, with export growth exceeding 20%. EVFTA tariff benefits for EU buyers, together with US Section 301 tariffs, have also encouraged some international buyers to shift sourcing toward Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam aims for electric vehicles to account for 50% of urban vehicles by 2030. As electric vehicles use nearly 30% more aluminum than conventional vehicles, growing EV adoption could generate significant additional aluminum demand. This widening demand gap is expected to create substantial opportunities for aluminum suppliers and exporters. Against this backdrop, SMM AICE is expanding internationally by bringing its conference to Vietnam. The event aims to establish an authoritative platform connecting Chinese aluminum companies with Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asian market, promoting the transition of China-Vietnam aluminum cooperation from “resource complementarity” toward “full-value-chain cooperation and mutual growth.” 03 Future Competition Will Be About Information, Not Just Opportunities Vietnam’s market continues to develop rapidly. At the same time, market rules, policies, cost structures, and pricing mechanisms are constantly evolving. For Chinese companies, identifying projects alone is no longer enough. Timely access to local policies, industry development trends, supply chain changes, and market pricing information is becoming increasingly important. This is also why SMM continues to deepen its presence in the Vietnamese market. Recently, SMM AICE has been conducting intensive visits across Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asian industrial value chain, maintaining close communication with government authorities, industry associations, mining companies, alumina producers, aluminum processors, and other market participants. Through more transparent market intelligence and pricing systems, SMM aims to help global companies better understand market dynamics and reduce decision-making risks. To help more aluminum companies seize emerging opportunities and establish an early presence in the Vietnamese market, SMM AICE Vietnam is coming to Vietnam with a major industry gathering. VPG — Viet Phuong Group Founded in 1996, VPG (Viet Phuong Group) is a well-established diversified investment group in Vietnam, with businesses spanning mining, energy, infrastructure, finance, real estate, and other sectors. Mining is one of the group’s key strategic businesses, with projects involving mineral resources including bauxite, rare earths, and quartz sand. In the aluminum sector, VPG has been engaged in bauxite exploration and development in Sekong Province, Laos, since 2008. The group is currently advancing an integrated project covering bauxite mining, mineral processing, and alumina production. Leveraging Vietnam’s established port infrastructure and regional logistics network, VPG plans to export alumina products to China and other global markets through the Laos–Vietnam cross-border logistics corridor, further integrating into Southeast Asia’s aluminum supply chain. In recent years, the company has continued to advance project development, international cooperation, and market expansion, with the ambition of building a regional aluminum industry platform spanning resource development, alumina production, and international trade. Join the Conversation at SMM AICE 2026 Connect with aluminum producers, processors, traders, manufacturers, certification organisations, industry associations and decision-makers from across Southeast Asia and the global market. Explore aluminum pricing, primary aluminum supply, processing technologies, low-carbon development, CBAM compliance and new opportunities for regional cooperation. ? Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ? November 19–20, 2026 Register now: bit.ly/AICE26 and secure your Super Early Bird Pass and save up to USD 200. Register before August 31, 2026.

In July, the sodium-ion battery materials market sustained strong momentum, with both cathode and anode segments showing clear signs of “robust demand, strained capacity.” Orders from downstream battery cell manufacturers continued to surge, particularly as the penetration rate of the polyanion route in energy storage applications accelerated, pushing upstream material enterprises to near-full-capacity operations.