On September 12, Laurent Montcoutié, Executive Director of the International Manganese Institute (IMnI), and Eva Yang, China Representative of the IMnI, visited SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SMM") for an exchange visit. The SMM team, including Allen Wu, Marketing Director of Nickel-Chromium-Manganese Stainless Steel Industry; Catherine Zhan, Overseas Market Manager; Thomas Feng, Head of Nickel Industry Research; Sophie Zang, Manganese Industry Analyst; and Yizhou Wang, Battery Materials Analyst, warmly received the guests.
The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions regarding the global manganese industry chain and the new energy market. The SMM team introduced the price formation mechanism, data collection system, and in-depth analytical models for SMM's manganese products (battery-grade manganese sulphate and Mn3O4), and provided insights into factors influencing the manganese markets in China and overseas, including supply resilience in major producing regions, cost support, and changes in downstream procurement pace.
Against this backdrop, the two sides discussed the strategic role of manganese in the trends toward high-nickel battery and cost reduction in ternary cathode materials. Both sides agreed that accurately predicting the development trends of the manganese market requires comprehensive analysis incorporating technological iterations in cathode materials, production schedules of steel enterprises, and global trade flows.
To further strengthen the cooperative relationship between SMM and the International Manganese Institute, the two sides jointly planned the schedules for key industry events, including the APAC (10th) Ni-Cr-Mn Stainless Steel & New Energy Conference 2025 and the (3rd) Li-ion Battery Europe 2025, and formally established an association partnership.
The APAC (10th) Ni-Cr-Mn Stainless Steel & New Energy Conference 2025 and the (3rd) Li-ion Battery Europe 2025, as important industry exchange platforms, will bring together upstream and downstream enterprises and experts from the global industry chain, playing a significant role in promoting technological innovation and market expansion in the industry.
Through this communication, the two sides reached a consensus on long-term cooperation and agreed to engage in in-depth collaboration across multiple areas, including information sharing, market research, and event organization, working together to contribute to the healthy development of the global manganese industry and related new energy fields. This exchange between the International Manganese Institute and SMM not only enhanced mutual understanding but also laid a foundation for future deep cooperation. Both sides look forward to injecting new vitality and momentum into the synergistic development of the global manganese industry chain.
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