Spot price of SMM rare earths on July 1

Japan's largest nickel producer - Sumitomo Metal Mining - said on Tuesday that global demand for nickel in the battery industry will grow by more than 20% this year due to firm demand for electric vehicles.

On the supply side, the operating rates of domestic mines remained low. Most mines in Shanxi, Henan, and Guizhou would not resume the production until after the Two Sessions. The alumina refineries had low stocks of bauxite, but it was difficult for them to make purchases.

Luo Tiejun, vice president of China Iron and Steel Association, held a video conference with Simon Farry, vice president of Rio Tinto Iron Ore Marketing Department, on February14.

Baosteel Desheng High-quality Stainless Steel Green Industry Base Project - Steel Capacity Replacement Project is located in Jin’gang Industrial Zone, Luoyuanwan Development Zone, Luoyuan County, Fuzhou City.

On Tuesday (4 January) local time, Chile senator applied to the Chamber of Deputies for an injunction aimed at preventing the outgoing government from accepting bids for lithium mining contracts.

The total silicon metal output in Jan-Oct increased 36% year-on-year, and is likely to total 2.86 million mt throughout 2021, a historical high. China’s combined output of offgrade silicon (Si ≤ 97%) and secondary silicon in the same period stood at 250,000 mt, which made up some of the supply shortage of silicon metal. Meanwhile, the imports of silicon metal performed well due to higher prices in China, which totalled 4,000 mt in Jan-Sep, up 782% on the year.

The proportion of LFP batteries installed in NEVs has increased from 38% in January to 51% in July. The installed capacity of LFP battery is expected to continue to grow in H2.

China's rare earth exports in July were 1,620.3 mt, down 69% year from a year earlier and 44% from the same period last year.

According to a notice on the company's website released on Thursday June 11, the Baotou-based rare earths supplier will sell praseodymium-neodymium oxide at 310,000 yuan/mt, tax-included and ex-factory, for the month of June, up about 8% from the previous month.

China’s rare earth exports fell 33.6% from a month earlier to 2,865.3 mt in May, according to data from the country’s General Administration of Customs released on Sunday.