The decline in silicomanganese (SiMn) production in China continued in August, with the total tonnage down for the second month by 36,240 tonnes or 4.7% on month at 728,080 tonnes, the lowest since May 2024, according to Mysteel's latest survey among the 187 Chinese SiMn smelters it tracks.

China's lithium-ion battery industry chain is gradually shifting in the second half of 2026, moving away from a simple surplus and price-war dynamic toward structural differentiation and a rebalancing of supply-demand toward tightness.   The September production of battery cells is expected to hit y

Mysteel's survey showed that China's lithium carbonate production in August 2026 stood at 106,500 tonnes, up 5.2% month-on-month. Compared with early-August production scheduling, the final surveyed output was revised lower, as some production lines ramped up more slowly than expected post overhaul,

Mysteel believes destocking remains the key theme, with near-term focus on whether prices can sustain above Yuan 160,000/tonne. Since August, the market has been driven by strong LFP schedules, tight ore supply, and recurring restart expectations for Jianxiawo, with peakseason tightness increasingly

In the near term, market concerns over supply stability for 2027 have intensified, with the possibility of forward supply contraction on the horizon. Strong LFP order books in August and September are gradually validating peak-season demand, and prices are expected to trade in a firm but volatile ra