At the SMM Indonesia Seminar: Li-ion Battery & Energy Storage hosted by SMM, Katherina Dong, New Energy Business Director at SMM, shared insights on the topic of "Global Battery Energy Storage System Macro and Technology Iteration."

Enterprises continue to ramp up their lithium supplement additives business for batteries.

Malaysia is positioning itself as Southeast Asia’s next hub for EV battery recycling, with government policy, private investment, and global demand converging to drive growth. From early pilots to large-scale projects and new regulations, Malaysia’s black mass industry is moving rapidly toward commercialization, aiming to build capacity, strengthen ESG standards, and compete with China in the regional supply chain.

According to the latest statistics released by China's General Administration of Customs, in August 2025, China's shell-based carbon imports reached 11,092.3 mt, up 8% MoM from the previous month, but still down 1% YoY. More notably, the average import price of shell-based carbon surged to $755.37/mt in August, a significant increase of 16% MoM compared to $653.97/mt in July.

On the evening of September 21, 2025, the DRC announced an extension of its export ban, originally set to expire on September 21, until October 15, and also declared that a quota policy would be implemented starting October 16. This article will analyze the actual impact of this policy in light of the current market conditions in China's cobalt industry.

In August 2025, China's phosphate ore imports exhibited notable characteristics of stable total volume, altered structure, and declining average price. The landscape of source countries and entry provinces underwent drastic changes, shifting rapidly from a dispersed pattern involving multiple countries and provinces in July to a highly concentrated mode in August, dominated solely by Egypt with nearly all imports entering through Guangxi ports. Although this led to a slight increase of 8.9% MoM in total import volume to 130,000 mt, the total import value decreased by 7.3%, and the national composite import average price fell significantly by 14.9% YoY.

The United States is ramping up efforts to secure critical minerals outside China’s control, backing the expansion of a copper and cobalt facility in Zambia.

This week, lithium carbonate prices trended upward in a volatile manner, driving lithium ore prices to rise week-on-week.

This week, the decline in lithium hydroxide prices narrowed.

September 19 (SMM) — Northern ports: Australian lumps at 40.6-41.1 yuan/mtu, up 0.74% WoW; South African semi-carbonate at 34.2-34.7 yuan/mtu, up 0.58% WoW; Gabon ore at 39.6-40.2 yuan/mtu, up 0.76% WoW; South African high-iron ore at 29.6-30.1 yuan/mtu, up 0.67% WoW; South African medium-iron ore at 35.3-35.8 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. Southern ports: Australian lumps at 40.3-41 yuan/mtu, up 1.25% WoW; South African semi-carbonate at 36.3-36.8 yuan/mtu, up 0.55% WoW; Gabon ore at 40.2-40.7 yuan/mtu, up 1.25% WoW; South African high-iron ore at 30.5-31 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; South African medium-iron ore at 36.7-37.4 yuan/mtu, flat WoW. This week, the manganese ore market operated firmly. Traders' reluctance to budge on prices remained, and the transaction price center edged up overall. Operating rates at plants in both north and south China stayed high this week. In addition, the recent fluctuation of SiMn futures at highs provided positive feedback to the SiMn market. The overall market sentiment was positive, and the acceptance of manganese ore prices improved. Ore miners’ firm offers still underpinned the market, and manganese ore transaction prices rose overall. Stockpiling by plants for the National Day holiday is underway, and demand for manganese ore remains. Expectations of rising manganese ore prices persist. In general, the manganese ore market operated firmly recently, and ore miners’ reluctance to budge on prices remained strong. Manganese ore prices are expected to stay high in the near term.