[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] Malaysian Customs Delays Indonesian Coil Imports; Slow Clearance Raises Inventory Concerns

In April 2026, SMM Indonesia sulfur imports reached 267,299.22 mt in physical content, down 28.6% MoM and up 79.2% YoY. In April 2026, SMM Indonesia sulfur exports were 0.00204 mt in physical content.

Korean battery materials company EcoPro has officially commenced mass production of high-nickel cathode materials at its plant in Debrecen, Hungary, and has completed its first shipment, marking a significant step in the operationalization of its localized European strategy. The facility primarily produces high-nickel NCA cathode materials for electric vehicles, with initial deliveries already made to European automotive OEMs. Covering an area of approximately 440,000 square meters, the project integrates cathode material production, lithium hydroxide processing, and industrial gas supply. It has an annual production capacity of around 54,000 tonnes of cathode materials, sufficient to support approximately 600,000 electric vehicles. The company stated that it will use this launch as a starting point to gradually ramp up production and plans to supply more global automakers within the year, while also advancing the development of NCM product lines to meet diverse customer needs in Europe. Looking ahead, EcoPro is considering the construction of a second plant based on order visibility, which could more than double the site’s total capacity.