Sail LLC Designates Highstar Sodium Star as Sole Supplier for Na-ion Battery Order

[SMM Analysis: New Battery Consumption Tax Policy Takes Effect: Sodium-Ion Batteries Exempt, Lithium Batteries Taxed, Sodium-Ion Batteries Enter a "Tax Exemption Dividend Period"] SMM, July 21: The Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, and the State Taxation Administration recently jointly issued an announcement on the adjustment of the battery consumption tax policy. For the first time, lithium-ion batteries and similar products are included in the scope of consumption tax collection, while sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, fuel cells, and others are listed in the exemption catalog. This "tax-and-exempt" design has garnered widespread attention across the sodium-ion battery industry chain...

[SMM Analysis: China's Phosphate Ore Imports Increased MoM in June; Egypt's Share Plunged as Substitute Supplies from Jordan, Morocco, etc. Surged] July 20, 2026, sourced from customs data. In June 2026, China's phosphate ore imports were 137,000 mt, edging up 4.5% MoM from 131,000 mt in May. Total import value was $12.567 million, up 2.8% MoM. The average import unit price was $91.5/mt, edging down 1.7% from $93.0/mt in May.

According to industry sources on July 16, LG Energy Solution is building a sodium-ion battery mother line at its Ochang Energy Plant. The company plans to begin proof-of-concept (PoC) work with global customers starting next year.