The long-anticipated new standards for high-grade copper scrap and aluminium scrap metal—due to come into force on July 1–has yet to be implemented at China’s customs, as the procedure for importing material under these standards has not been finalised, SMM learned from several traders, fabricators and smelters.

However, concerns about supply shortage sustain due to the disruptions to global copper scrap supply chain amid the coronavirus epidemic. Allowances in the first five batches this year amounted to 527,700 mt, which translate to 422,100 mt in Cu content based on an average grade of 80%.

Prices of prebaked anode in China, an essential material used in aluminium smelting, will face further downside risks after April as a negative impact on demand from the COVID-19 outbreak continues to weigh on prebaked anode profits.

China’s nickel ore imports from the Philippines, one of the major sources of ore supply, could be badly hit in April as the Philippines has suspended all mining operations in its nickel mining hub...

Prices of light and medium-to-heavy rare earth products mostly declined last week as the widespread COVID-19 overseas weakened investors’ prospects for demand and kept domestic consumers from...

China’s exports of consumer batteries showed signs of softening amid reduced overseas demand and COVID-19 lockdowns as the outbreak escalated in the European countries, the US, India and South Africa

Eighteen provinces in China including Shandong and Anhui have rolled out plans to construct a total of more than 413,000 5G base stations this year, as China speeds up the investment in new infrastructure to bolster consumption amid the impact of coronavirus outbreak.

The temporary suspension of the Ambatovy project may barely impact the near-term supply of nickel briquette supply in China. Nonetheless, it will increase China’s dependence on nickel briquette from other sources of imports such as Australia and South Africa, given current low inventories of such materials in China. 

China’s cobalt salt producers could face risks of raw materials shortage in June if the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen in African countries and disrupt Congo’s ore exports in April, SMM estimates. But in the short term, prices of cobalt products in China may extend their downside trend as the demand outlook remains weak amid the COVID-19 impact. 

Yongxing Materials, a Shenzhen listed company that engaged in lithium battery new energy and stainless steel businesses, has put a 10,000 mt/year battery-grade lithium carbonate project into trial production, according to sources on March 24.