JPMorgan: Foreign Firms to Face Three Big Challenges in Expansion to Chinese Electric Car Market

[Tungsten Express] SMM August 5 News: Today, the tungsten concentrate market remained stable, as the market re-evaluated the impact of the "Opinions of the National Mine Safety Administration on Regulating Excavation (Stripping) Construction Teams for Metal and Non-metal Production Mines" on the non-coal mining industry. The document requires that underground mines, by May 1, 2027, and open-pit mines, by May 1, 2028, choose one of two options: ① establish an in-house excavation team; ② outsource to a compliant integrated contractor; prohibit fragmented subcontracting and multi-level subcontracting; ban labor dispatch underground; and mines that fail to complete rectification by the deadline will be ordered to suspend production for rectification. China's tungsten mines are primarily underground (most wolframite mines are underground, while some scheelite mines are open-pit or underground). The main producing regions of Jiangxi and Hunan have a large number of small and medium-sized tungsten mines that have long heavily relied on external excavation subcontracting teams, imposing substantial constraints on the supply side, cost side, and the survival of small and medium-sized mines. Meanwhile, in the past two days, trading in the tungsten concentrate spot market began to turn active, with traders entering actively. Yesterday, a mine in Guangdong auctioned low-grade ore, and all 156 standard tonnes were sold. Downstream smelters remained cautious, awaiting guidance from today's long-term contract prices. Overall, the market was stimulated by frequent mining policies and intensive safety inspections in Yunnan, Jiangxi, Henan, and other regions, easing market sentiment, while supply-side disruptions intensified. If demand enters the market moderately, the tungsten market will see a turnaround.

[SMM Express] Recent developments across South Africa's Bushveld Complex indicate that operational optimization, rather than new mine development, is becoming an increasingly important driver of chrome production growth. As producers seek to maximize value from existing UG2 ore bodies, investments are increasingly focused on improving mining efficiencies, processing performance and chromite recovery to increase chrome output while strengthening overall project economics. Northam Platinum recently achieved a record 1.69 million mt of chrome concentrate production in FY2026, supported by higher UG2 throughput, expanded mining crews and processing improvements at its Eland mine. Similarly, Sibanye-Stillwater has outlined plans to increase chrome production to approximately 2.3 million mt/y by 2033 through optimization of its existing operations, while Southern Palladium's Bengwenyama Definitive Feasibility Study increased projected chrome concentrate output to more than 1.05 million mt/y after improving chromite recovery from 30% to 85.6%. SMM believes these developments highlight a broader industry trend in which producers are unlocking additional chrome supply through operational and metallurgical improvements, positioning chrome as an increasingly important contributor to earnings and long-term project value amid continued pressure on PGM markets.

[SMM Express] South Africa exported 123,310.23 tonnes of high-carbon ferrochrome in June 2026, down 0.32% month-on-month (MoM) and 44.57% year-on-year (YoY), indicating that exports remained broadly stable from May but continued to trail last year's levels. The subdued annual performance reflects ongoing production constraints within the domestic ferrochrome industry despite resilient international demand. China remained South Africa's largest export destination, accounting for 31.56% of total June shipments, reinforcing its position as the country's key ferrochrome market. South Korea ranked second with a 16.63% share of exports. The concentration of shipments to Asian markets highlights the region's continued importance in supporting South Africa's ferrochrome trade, even as overall export volumes remain under pressure.