Bullish Zirconium Drives up Performance of Leading Listed Companies

【SMM Titanium Flash】According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China's total imports of titanium concentrate in August 2026 amounted to 579,600 tons, marking a significant month-on-month increase of 67.13%. From January to August, the total imports of titanium concentrate reached 3.856 million tons, representing a cumulative year-on-year growth of 15.7%. Exports of titanium sponge in August amounted to 708 tons, showing a month-on-month increase of 23.78%. From January to August, cumulative exports of titanium sponge totaled 5,131 tons, marking a cumulative year-on-year increase of 11.74%. In August, exports of titanium dioxide totaled 144,000 tons, representing a month-on-month decrease of 0.2%, which was basically unchanged from July. From January to August 2026, cumulative exports of titanium dioxide amounted to 1.357 million tons, showing a cumulative year-on-year increase of 14%.

【SMM Magnesium Flash】According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China exported approximately 33,400 tons of various magnesium products in August 2026, marking a month-on-month decrease of 3.5% and a year-on-year decrease of 13.7%. From January to August 2026, China exported a total of approximately 307,000 tons of various magnesium products. Specifically, in August 2026, China exported 18,753 tons of magnesium ingots, marking a month-on-month decrease of 0.5% and a year-on-year decrease of 16.2%; 4,587 tons of magnesium powder, experiencing a significant month-on-month decrease of 24.6% and a year-on-year decrease of 23.0%; and 7,950 tons of magnesium alloys, showing a month-on-month decrease of 1.2% and a year-on-year decrease of 7.2%. The export volume of magnesium products in China continued to decline in August.

Eastern Platinum Limited (TSX: ELR; JSE: EPS) reported chrome concentrate production of 14,921 mt at its Crocodile River Mine (CRM) in the second quarter of 2026, down 24.5% from 19,768 mt in the second quarter of 2025, with average chrome grade broadly stable at 40.38% versus 40.74% a year earlier. Interim CEO Charlie Liu said the quarter was challenging, as monthly run-of-mine processing tonnages at CRM came in lower than targeted, and said the company will continue to focus on operational efficiencies to improve PGM and chrome production. Revenue for the quarter fell 25.8% to $7.9 million from $10.7 million in the prior-year period, driven by reduced sales volumes of both platinum-group metals and chrome concentrates. Net loss attributable to equity shareholders widened to $6.1 million, or $0.03 per share, from $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2025. Mine operating income swung to a loss of $4.2 million from a profit of $0.36 million a year earlier, with gross margin falling to -53% from 3%. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, revenue declined 14.8% to $21.7 million from $25.5 million in the same period of 2025, while mine operating loss narrowed slightly to $3.6 million from $4.3 million, aided by a marginal improvement in gross margin to -16.4% from -16.9%. CRM, on the western limb of South Africa's Bushveld Complex near Brits, produces PGM and chrome concentrates as co-products from ore mined at the Zandfontein underground section. The majority of Eastplats' revenue, approximately 78% in the second quarter and 80% year-to-date, comes from PGM concentrate sales to Impala Platinum under existing offtake agreements, with chrome concentrate sales making up the remainder. The company did not disclose a specific breakdown of revenue attributable to chrome concentrate sales alone within the reported figures.