Zijin Mining to Reshape China’s Lithium Resource Supply

Currently, LFP has become the dominant cathode material technology route for lithium batteries. According to the latest data released by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, in the first eight months of this year, China's cumulative installed capacity of LFP batteries reached 402.7 GWh, accounting for 82.3% of total installed capacity, up 18.3% YoY. Cumulative ESS battery sales reached 450.5 GWh, accounting for 32.5% of total sales, up 83.8% YoY. ESS battery cathode materials are almost entirely LFP. Based on demand estimates for key materials used in power and other batteries, China's LFP material demand reached 3.124 million mt in the first eight months of this year.

In August 2026, Indonesia's total monthly sulphur imports were 275,300 mt, down 62.1% MoM and down 27.7% YoY. The main import sources were Canada (76,100 mt), Kuwait (50,900 mt), Qatar (36,700 mt), the UAE (31,600 mt), India (26,400 mt), the US (24,600 mt), South Korea (6,900 mt), Japan (5,200 mt), Singapore (5,000 mt), China, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, China, the UK, Oman, Vietnam, and Malaysia;

According to the "Dalong Development Zone" announcement, Guizhou Depu New Material Technology Co., Ltd.'s project for an annual production line of 20,000 mt of lithium-ion battery anode material is currently progressing in an orderly manner with equipment installation, civil construction, and pipeline layout, making a full push toward the Q4 construction target. The Depu New Material project is a key supporting project in the lithium-ion battery anode material industry chain of Guizhou Dalong Development Zone, with a total investment of 300 million yuan and covering an area of 83 mu. Once fully completed and operational, it is expected to achieve an annual output value of 120 million yuan and create over 70 new jobs.