SMM Lithium Manganese Market: Cost Pressure Rises, Prices Remain Weak

At Intersolar South America in Brazil (Aug 25-27), around 20 Chinese energy storage companies exhibited. Chuneng New Energy signed agreements with four partners, including MOUs with Argentina's Intermepro and Brazil's ION Energy and JSN Energia, plus a 1.5GWh cell framework deal with Windey Energy to supply cells for its first overseas storage plant in Bahia, Brazil. With a fragile grid, a 20.6% curtailment rate and the world's second-highest residential power prices, Brazil will launch Latin America's largest national storage tender (about 18GW in round one) in December 2026, drawing CATL, Trina, Hithium, CLOU, Gotion and Great Power to expand locally.

On Aug 30, Xibei Power signed a high-performance sodium-ion battery production base project in Zigong High-tech Zone, Sichuan, with a total investment of 250 million yuan. Upon completion, it will have an annual capacity of 0.5GWh and is expected to generate 500 million yuan in annual sales, with phased expansion planned toward a long-term capacity of 10GWh.