EcoPro BM, Soulbrain and Aekyung Chemical Form SIB Materials Alliance

SMM Cobalt Morning Briefing: The cobalt industry chain was generally in the doldrums this week. Refined cobalt prices drifted lower, affected by import data exceeding expectations, the demand off-season, and downstream summer breaks. Sellers and buyers of cobalt intermediate products had a wide psychological price spread, making it difficult to advance transactions, and prices remained temporarily stable. Market inquiries and transactions for cobalt sulphate, cobalt chloride, and Co3O4 were sluggish, with downstream users mainly pushing for lower prices and making just-in-time procurement. Cobalt powder prices continued to hit bottom, while cobalt carbonate was also under pressure.

[SMM Analysis: Phosphate Ore Import and Export Half-Year Review, 2026 H1 China's Phosphate Ore Imports Surge to One Million Tons, Exports Triple] In H1 2026 (from January to June), China's phosphate ore imports reached 998,200 tons, up 29.66% YoY; exports stood at 133,900 tons, up 225.91% YoY; net imports were 864,300 tons.

[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...