[SMM Flash] Supply tightness caused by the Hormuz situation continued to escalate, driving sulfur prices higher.

Core Lithium announced that it has entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement with Glencore International AG for the sale of 25,000 tonnes of lithium DSO fines from the existing stockpile at the Finniss Lithium Operation. The sale has a base price of approximately US$270/t CIF, with shipment expected to take place in June 2026 via Darwin Port.This marks the second sale from the Finniss lithium fines stockpile, following Core's initial 20kt fines sale to Glencore announced in April 2026. The company stated that the transaction is part of its ongoing strategy to monetize stockpiled material and generate cash flow, alongside mining and development activities at Finniss. Total revenue from lithium sales in 2026 is expected to reach approximately A$28.5 million.On the restart progress, the Finniss project received full approval for restart in March 2026. Mining is currently underway at the Grants open pit, while development at BP33 is advancing in parallel. Bulk earthworks for non-process infrastructure (NPI) continue to progress, with the power station pad complete. Underground decline development remains on track to commence in July 2026. Core is actively exploring pathways for the sale of the remaining ~30kt fines stockpile.

Data shows that in 2024, the average curb weight of China's passenger cars reached 1,704 kg, nearly 400 kg heavier than in 2012. Additionally, around the year 2000, common household NEVs on the market mostly had a width of around 1.7 meters. In 2015, the width increased to 1.8 meters. This week, household vehicles that often weigh close to 2 tons are sparking discussions due to their growing size and weight. Automaker engineers state that for every 10 mm increase in the width of an NEV's auto body, approximately 0.8 kWh more electricity can be packed in. However, experts say that vehicles becoming "fatter" is not solely due to this reason. Experts explain: Some automakers use driving range as a selling point, claiming that their cars can travel 800 or 1,000 kilometers on a single charge. In fact, behind this is the need to install a large battery pack inside the vehicle, which may weigh 700 to 800 kg. On January 1 this year, a mandatory national standard for EVs was officially implemented. For any new car model failing to meet energy consumption standards, the MIIT will not grant registration; the vehicle cannot be produced, sold, or licensed, guiding automakers to curb the growing trend of "obesity" in EVs. In the future, NEVs may hopefully return to standard dimensions.