The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently launched a comprehensive national spot check on product quality for 2025, targeting 164 types of products. Samples will be extensively collected from production, circulation, and platforms, totaling over 16,000 batches. It is reported that this spot check adopts a problem-oriented approach, further emphasizing products related to people's livelihood. The number of batches for spot checks on products such as power banks (portable power supplies), e-bikes, and gas appliances has significantly increased. To ensure the healthy and orderly development of emerging industries, power batteries, drones, PV modules, and EV charging piles have also been included in the scope of this spot check.

On June 20, 2025, the Shanghai Municipal Government, China Kangfu, and Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. officially signed a cooperation agreement, and the construction of a GWh-level Energy Storage System (ESS) power station and supporting industrial park, with a total investment of approximately 4 billion yuan, is expected to commence soon.

Around June 20, the import and export data of cobalt and lithium battery industry chain-related products for May were released. The data showed that China's total spodumene imports in May reached approximately 605,000 mt, down 2.9% MoM, equivalent to about 53,000 mt LCE. Lithium carbonate imports declined both YoY and MoM but remained at a relatively high level above 20,000 mt... SMM compiled the import and export situation of battery materials as follows:

The Mameico Salt Lake is located in Gerze County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet. The total estimated investment for the project is 4.537 billion yuan, all of which is funded by enterprises. The product plan is to produce 50,000 mt of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually, while recovering boron elements and producing 17,000 mt of borax as a by-product.

On June 5, 2025, the Ni&Co Forum of Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2025 successfully wrapped up in Jakarta, Indonesia! The conference was organized by SMM, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, and co-organized by the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), the Jakarta Futures Exchange, and Sxcoal.

End-of-life lithium batteries, especially end-of-life lithium power batteries, are transforming from an "environmental burden" into strategic resources. With the accelerated development of the global new energy industry, this "urban gold mine" of end-of-life lithium batteries is triggering fierce competition among countries in terms of recycling networks, technical standards, and resource recycling. However, CCTV News recently reported, "Currently, there is a widespread dilemma in China's power battery recycling industry: compliant enterprises find it difficult to make profits despite adhering to regulations, while non-compliant small workshops enjoy low costs and high returns.

According to news released by "Yangzhou Industry and Information Technology Bureau," from January to May this year, among the major manufacturing projects with an investment of over 1 billion yuan reserved in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 15 projects have commenced construction. Among them, the equipment for the high-performance lithium-sodium battery project of Jiangsu Xiongmai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Xiongmai New Energy), located in Zone C of the Low-Carbon Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park in Baoying Economic Development Zone, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, has been delivered and installed, and it is expected that all commissioning work will be completed by the end of June.

SMM Cobalt Morning Meeting Summary: On Monday this week, influenced by the three-month extension of the export ban in the DRC, both the futures and spot prices of refined cobalt on the Zhonglianjin futures market saw significant increases. On the supply side, refined cobalt smelters continued to supply under long-term contracts, with fewer spot order quotations. Traders mainly adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and a small number of quoting enterprises refused to budge on prices. On the demand side, influenced by policies, inquiries from traders and downstream end-users increased today. However, downstream buyers remained cautious in their purchases, resulting in few actual transactions in the market. Overall, today marked the first trading day after the ban was announced, with most enterprises still in a wait-and-see mode, awaiting clarity on market trends.