Nickel Futures (SHFE)

The Ministry of Industry is preparing to submit a draft ministerial regulation to the Cabinet to designate nickel-system batteries, lithium-system batteries, and power banks as controlled goods. Products manufactured, imported, or sold in Thailand must receive Thai Industrial Standards certification before entering the market. The three standards are expected to take effect by mid-2027. The measures reference the international standard IEC 62133 and tighten safety requirements, such as testing for over-discharge protection and high-temperature endurance. A transition period will be provided for operators to adapt, with existing license holders allowed to apply for an extension of no more than one year after the standards come into force.

Sherritt International Corporation announced that operations at its refinery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta are transitioning to a shutdown state, aligning with prior expectations that refinery operations would continue until approximately mid-June based on available feed inventory. The shutdown is being carried out in a controlled and orderly manner with safety and environmental priorities, and the Corporation will retain personnel to maintain the refinery in a safe and secure state. The shutdown will continue until mining and processing activities at Moa, Cuba resume and the refinery feed pipeline is rebuilt, though Sherritt cannot provide timing guidance for that resumption. Sherritt is maintaining its suspension of direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba as announced on May 7, 2026, and is taking measures to preserve liquidity, manage costs, and maintain operational readiness while completing necessary maintenance activities that do not require significant capital investment. The Corporation continues to produce fertilizers and sulphuric acid for resale.