LiPure Energy is a startup focused on solid-state batteries with polymer and silicon carbon anodes. Its first-generation 0.5Ah–50Ah products have passed extreme safety tests and received authoritative certification. The company is advancing capacity construction, with a 1 GWh ESS battery project in Jiangxi already entering the environmental impact assessment stage. Through bank credit lines, partnerships with equipment suppliers, and pilot projects, the company is accelerating its transition from R&D to market applications, initially targeting e-bike battery swapping and ESS scenarios.

On January 10, 2026, Heyuan Lithium Innovation's Huaian base, the first dedicated solid-state battery mass production base in China, officially commenced operations and launched the "Liuhe Battery." The company focuses on the oxide electrolyte pathway, with its product matrix covering an energy density range of 250–600 Wh/kg, and has already secured orders from leading drone and unmanned vehicle customers. The operation of its 10 GWh Huaian base and the ongoing construction of its 20 GWh Xiantao base mark the company's completion of a full-chain layout from technological R&D to large-scale commercial delivery.

Overseas solid-state batteries show a pattern with sulphides as the mainstream, oxides targeting high-end applications, and polymers exploring alternative paths. Japanese and South Korean enterprises have the most mature technology, with Toyota, Samsung, and SK On planning mass production from 2026-2029, though this will likely be delayed; US companies are capital-driven but lack clear commercialization pathways; Europe focuses on high-end applications. The core bottlenecks lie in interface impedance degradation, low-temperature performance, and mass production costs, with the final battle for technological routes expected after 2030.

The prices of far-month contracts are, to some extent, determined by market expectations regarding future supply-demand dynamics and price trends, hence differing from spot prices. In contrast, as near-month contracts approach delivery, they are increasingly influenced by actual supply-demand conditions in the spot market, ultimately exhibiting a convergence characteristic where futures and spot prices align. 

January 9 news: Northern ports: South African high-iron 30-32.1 yuan/mtu, up 2.64% from pre-holiday; South African semi-carbonate 35.5-36 yuan/mtu, up 4.38% from pre-holiday; Gabon 43-43.6 yuan/mtu, up 0.23% from pre-holiday; 46% Australian lumps 43.9-44.4 yuan/mtu, up 1.15% from pre-holiday; South African medium-iron 38.1-38.6 yuan/mtu, up 2.68% from pre-holiday. Southern ports: South African high-iron 31.8-32.3 yuan/mtu, flat from pre-holiday; South African semi-carbonate 35.3-36 yuan/mtu, up 0.56% WoW from pre-holiday; Gabon 41.5-42 yuan/mtu, flat from pre-holiday; 46% Australian lumps 41.5-42.2 yuan/mtu, up 0.72% from pre-holiday; South African medium-iron 38.9-39.4 yuan/mtu, up 3.98% from pre-holiday. Post-holiday manganese ore market prices continued their firm trend, with spot transaction prices for various manganese ore grades rising by different margins this week.

KINSHASA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a partial and temporary lifting of the suspension on copper and cobalt processing activities, following the completion of a compliance review in the southeastern mineral-rich Lualaba Province, the DRC Ministry of Mines said Monday.

Russia may lose access to Bolivian lithium due to a review of the terms of the agreement with Uranium One Group by the new Bolivian administration.