China Polysilicon Output To Grow In Q2 With New Capacity Ramping Up

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will launch regulatory exemption projects to recover critical minerals from semiconductor process waste, used batteries and end-of-life solar panels. The government plans to test technologies that recover silicon, copper, titanium and tungsten from semiconductor waste such as used silicon and targets, while reviewing regulatory changes to use such byproducts as circular resources rather than waste. Critical mineral recovery from used batteries and end-of-life solar panels will also be included in the demonstrations.

Mongolia’s NSO reported molybdenum concentrate output, on a contained-metal basis, of 424.4 tonnes in July 2026, down 1.3% MoM and 17.0% YoY. Jan–Jul output totaled 3,290.5 tonnes, up 9.3% YoY.

Global chrome ore departures from major export ports totaled 479,700 mt in the week ended September 11, down 30.66% week-on-week, according to SMM's latest data. The pullback unwinds a portion of the prior week's surge, with the broad-based recovery seen across Maputo, Richards Bay, Mersin, and Beira proving short-lived. Maputo again absorbed the bulk of activity, with departures easing to 438,700 mt from 512,100 mt, a 14.33% decline that nonetheless lifted the port's share of total departures to roughly 91%, its highest level in the current data series. The port's relative resilience against a steeper market-wide contraction underscores its continued role as the primary anchor of regional chrome ore exports. Mersin departures fell more sharply, down 70.18% to 25,200 mt from 84,500 mt, while Richards Bay and Beira both reverted to zero departures after last week's rebound to 57,800 mt and 29,500 mt, respectively. The renewed halt at Richards Bay and Beira, following just one active week apiece, points to the intermittent, non-continuous nature of loadings at these secondary corridors rather than a sustained recovery in export activity. With Maputo now accounting for the near-totality of major-port volumes, the latest data reflects a reversion to the more concentrated flow pattern observed in the weeks preceding early September's broader pickup.