[SMM data] monthly operating rate of magnesium ingots in China in April 2020

[SMM Magnesium Survey: North American Magnesium Industry Resource Development, Technological Breakthroughs, and Commercialization Advancing Together] Element One is advancing a magnesium mine project in Washington State, aiming to fill the gap in North America’s domestic processing capacity, reduce dependence on overseas supply chains, and provide a secure, low-carbon regional magnesium supply for national defense, aviation, automotive, and other industries. Estes has launched the Levius™ full-stack magnesium processing platform and achieved commercial shipments of the Magnus™ battery system, which has an energy density of over 225 Wh/kg (a 30% increase). The platform, compatible with automotive manufacturing cycle times, is scaling up to fulfill contracts for rail, maritime, and road customers, expanding magnesium into high-end electrification applications.

[SMM Magnesium Weekly Review: Holding Up Well Then Consolidating at Highs, Supply Strong and Demand Weak Pattern Unchanged] At the beginning of the week, boosted by restocking for rigid demand and news, magnesium ingot quotations edged up slightly. However, high inventory suppressed downstream purchases, and upward momentum was insufficient. FOB quotations at Tianjin port followed the rise. Summer break outside China combined with high ocean freight rates led to sluggish foreign trade transactions. Dolomite prices remained stable, with ample supply. Magnesium powder and magnesium alloys edged up slightly following magnesium ingot and then stabilized. Demand from die-casting was weak in the off-season, and the pattern of strong supply and weak demand remained unchanged. In the short term, magnesium prices will continue to move sideways.

[SMM Magnesium Express]Yesterday, Donghe New Materials announced that its controlling subsidiary, Inner Mongolia Hemguli Materials, plans to invest no more than 320 million yuan to construct a 200,000-ton-per-year fused magnesia project in Kulan Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia. The project will produce 100,000 tons each of ordinary fused magnesia and large-crystal fused magnesia annually, with a construction period of approximately 20 months. It will also include a supporting new energy project integrating power generation, grid, load, and storage, with green electricity accounting for over 90%. This marks the transition of Liaoning's magnesia enterprises from planning to actual construction in cross-regional "green power + magnesia" capacity deployment. With deeper integration of green power and magnesia production, the green transformation and cost optimization process of the magnesia industry is expected to accelerate further.