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[SMM Magnesium Survey: Latrobe Magnesium Shifts Strategy to Prioritize 50,000 mt Magnesium Smelting Project in South Carolina, US] Australia's Latrobe Magnesium (ASX:LMG) has announced its latest plan to build a new primary magnesium plant with an annual capacity of 50,000 mt in South Carolina, US, with a long-term expansion potential to 100,000 mt/year, while its commercial project in Australia has been postponed. The project has secured a site and a long-term raw material supply agreement for nickel-iron slag, obtained letters of intent for 32,000 mt/year of offtake, and is supported by matching subsidies and tax incentives from South Carolina, with the company currently in financing negotiations. North America currently has no commercial primary magnesium capacity, and magnesium is included on the US critical minerals list, so the project aims to fill the gap in North America's magnesium supply chain.

Cochilco’s latest bulletin shows Chilean mine molybdenum output at 2,973.8 tonnes in July 2026, down 6.6% MoM and 28.9% YoY. Jan–Jul output fell 11.3% YoY to 21,811.0 tonnes. Codelco produced 1,075.4 tonnes in July, down 31.3%, while the Los Pelambres mine produced 645.1 tonnes, down 31.6%. SMM calculates that the two producers accounted for about 65% of the country’s YoY decline. The July contraction widened from the 7.7% H1 decline, indicating weaker Chilean supply at the start of Q3. Figures are provisional.

[Producers' willingness to hold prices firm rises, magnesium ingot maintains consolidation] The magnesium ingot market consolidated today. Producers chose to hold prices firm, boosted by yesterday's transactions, but downstream purchasing follow-through was weak. Foreign trade orders have not shown sustained recovery, and both domestic and external demand lack growth. The short-term market is expected to remain in consolidation.