Summary

【Conference Background】 In 2026, the global high-carbon ferrochrome sector maintained a pattern of "one dominant player alongside multiple strong competitors and an eastward shift in production capacity". China retained its top output position thanks to its complete industrial chain and domestic stainless steel demand. The chrome ore market traced an inverted V-shaped price trend in the first half of the year: South Africa’s policy adjustments disrupted supply expectations, while China’s large-volume chrome ore imports led to a spot market surplus. Coupled with spiking crude oil prices driven by US-Iran tensions in the Middle East and a global inflation rate that rose first then cooled off, ferrochrome prices went through three phases: sharp rally, stagnant growth and subsequent correction. Concentrated arrivals of ore shipments and widespread resumption of smelting operations in the second half of Q2 sent market prices sliding continuously. The core drivers shaping the nickel market lie in Indonesia’s tighter nickel ore mining quotas, higher mineral taxation pricing and stricter controls on resource exports. These measures have dented investment confidence among Chinese-funded enterprises and exposed industrial frictions, which may accelerate the industry’s push for diversified overseas resource layout. Increased nickel ore shipments from the Philippines temporarily offset reduced supplies from Indonesia. High-grade nickel pig iron prices surged in Q1 amid tightened regulatory policies, before falling from elevated levels in June following the approval of additional quotas, alongside weak stainless steel consumption in the off-season and substitution from scrap steel. Stainless steel prices climbed in the first half of the year on the back of rising costs for nickel ore and nickel pig iron, lifting the industry out of losses; nevertheless, the sector was trapped in a scenario of robust cost support paired with sluggish end-user demand. The cost benchmark for the second half of the year will be largely determined by Indonesia’s nickel quota policies, and the industry will tap into emerging downstream demand to offset slack in traditional consumption. Driven by the energy transition, expanding demand from new energy vehicles and energy storage has elevated the strategic value of cobalt and lithium. Lithium prices bottomed out and staged a steady rebound, while elevated costs stemming from resources sourced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have lifted the price floor for cobalt. Amid resource competition and regulatory interventions, these two raw materials are entering a new cyclical phase. The entire industrial chains of chrome, nickel, cobalt and lithium are collectively subject to intertwined influences including geopolitical conflicts, mineral protection policies worldwide, restructuring of supply and demand balances, and the global energy transition.

【Conference Purpose】FerroAlloyNet 30^th International Chrome & Nickel & Stainless Steel & New Energy Industry Conference is themed "March Forward in Guizhou with Chrome & Nickel, Embark on a New Journey at the 30th Session". Centering on the new resource layout of the chrome, nickel, stainless steel and new energy industrial chain, the conference explores emerging industry trends and conducts in-depth discussions on the current sector landscape as well as key difficulties and priorities for future development. It serves as a cooperation platform for the above industries, delivers new development opportunities for enterprises, facilitates breakthroughs in business partnerships, and joins forces to advance the sound and sustainable growth of the whole industrial chain.

【Conference Products】This conference will cover industry products including chrome ore, ferrochrome, silicon chromium, chromium salts, chrome metal, nickel ore, nickel pig iron, pure nickel, nickel matte, nickel salt, MHP, lithium ore, lithium salt, cobalt salt, etc. A large number of industry representatives will gather in Guiyang during the event, enabling seamless communication and in-depth exchanges between upstream and downstream participants to forge in-depth partnerships and jointly explore future development trends of the industry.

【Conference Services】FerroAlloyNet, as a 360° ferroalloy industry data expert and over 23-year industry information service provider, has successfully held more than 160 conferences, with a total of more than 60,000 participants! This conference will set up links such as "trade matching + series negotiation + corporate display + focus discussion + market analysis + expert prediction + business activities". At the conference venue, we will introduce clients to you, facilitate negotiations, and promote cooperation intentions. At the same time, we will organize post conference business activities to enhance industry exchanges, making you not only hear industry experts' analysis and predictions, but also expand cooperation space and gain more cooperation orders. Service first, not limited to the conference venue, we are always here!

【Conference Scale】 At this conference, we will invite enterprises in the global industry chain of chrome, nickel, stainless steel and new energy, from China, South Africa, Türkiye, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Oman, Albania, Russia, Philippines, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Cote d'Ivoire, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Guatemala, Argentina, Australia, United States, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, etc., including mine owners, raw materials and auxiliary materials suppliers, manufacturers, traders, steel mills, alloy equipment suppliers, logistics warehousing companies, research institutions, etc. Over 700 global chrome, nickel, stainless steel and new energy delegates come together in Guiyang to focus on new industrial layouts and explore new trends in the industry!