SMM on China BESS: Can Growth Hold Up as Costs Rise?

SMM on China BESS: Can Growth Hold Up as Costs Rise?

Author: rockstockchannel September 11, 2026 Duration: 31:29
SMM analyst Lana Li joins Matt Fernley on Rock Stock Channel to discuss the outlook for China’s BESS and energy storage market, including battery pricing, lithium cost pass-through, project IRRs, policy changes and the shift from mandatory storage to market-based returns. We also cover China’s BESS slowdown, global demand growth, export pressures, inventory, sodium-ion batteries and SMM’s outlook for roughly 30% global BESS demand CAGR through 2030. Read Interview Transcript:https://link.rkequity.com/smm-transcript Follow Participants:X (SMM) - https://x.com/CnMetalsX (Matt) - https://x.com/matt_fernley ___ Chapters (00:00) Introductions(02:27) China Resets BESS Pricing Discipline(07:01) China Shifts To Economics-Driven Storage(12:19) Lithium Surge Barely Reaches BESS Prices(15:23) Why China BESS Installations Slowed(20:22) Residential Inventories Mask Tight Cell Supply(23:03) SMM's BESS Forecasting Methodology(24:11) Global BESS Growth Diversifies Beyond China(26:01) Higher Costs Threaten BESS Growth Forecasts(27:51) Sodium-Ion Remains Too Expensive(30:18) Sustainable Returns Become The Real Constraint Links Sign up for the Lithium-Ion Bull newsletter / Matt’s blogs:https://rkequity.com/ Questions:rockstockchannel@rkequity.com Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/rockstockchannel Podcast  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq Follow us on X (Twitter):Howard: https://x.com/LithiumIonBullMatt: https://x.com/matt_fernleyRodney: https://x.com/RodneyHooper13Ben: https://x.com/benjihammond_________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. Howard, Matt, and Rodney are not financial advisors or broker-dealers. This video is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment or financial advice. Please conduct your own independent research and read the disclaimer at the end of the video or on RK Equity’s website: https://www.rkequity.com Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

Tune into Rock Stock Channel for a clear-eyed look at the investment landscape being reshaped by our electrified future. Hosts Howard, Rodney, and Matt steer conversations away from surface-level hype, focusing instead on the foundational materials that make this transition possible. Each episode connects you directly with the people on the ground-major project developers and seasoned analysts-who break down the realities and complexities of sourcing critical minerals. Their in-depth discussions delve into the markets for lithium, battery metals, and rare earths, while also exploring a wider range of specialty commodities essential to modern technology. This isn't about fleeting stock tips; it's about understanding the entire supply chain, from geological challenges to geopolitical factors, that defines the critical minerals thematic. For anyone interested in the tangible business of building a sustainable economy, this podcast offers essential context and expert insight you won't find in mainstream financial commentary. Listen to Rock Stock Channel to ground your perspective in the expertise of those defining the new resource economy.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Rock Stock Channel
Podcast Episodes
What Lithium Bears Miss About Project Restarts (@zempheth) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:06
In this Rock Stock Recap, Chris Williams of Adamas Intelligence joins us (Howard, Matt and Rodney) to discuss lithium markets, DLE technology, incentive pricing, project valuations, and the outlook for lithium supply and…
Neil McCallum on Cisco’s Next Big Step [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:05
Neil McCallum, VP Exploration at Q2 Metals (TSXV: QTWO), joins Rock Stock Channel (Howard and Matt) to discuss the latest plans for the Cisco Lithium Project in Quebec’s James Bay region. Topics include Q2’s recent C$70…
Benchmark on How China, Africa & Washington Shape Lithium [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:22
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s Bryan Bille and Cameron Perks join Rock Stock Channel (Howard and Matt) to discuss the outlook for lithium, critical minerals, battery supply chains, and Benchmark’s Giga USA conference i…
Galan Lithium Nears First Production (JP Vargas + Ross Dinsdale) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:55
Galan Lithium CEO JP Vargas and CFO Ross Dinsdale join Rock Stock Channel for a deep dive into the latest Hombre Muerto West milestone, including completed commissioning, lithium chloride concentrate production, nanofilt…
China Didn’t Just Build Supply. It Built Demand (Henry Sanderson) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:02
Henry Sanderson, author of Volt Rush and writer of Volt Insight, speaks about the future of US-China industrial rivalry, critical minerals, EVs, batteries, AI power demand, and China’s manufacturing advantage. The discus…
Carney’s Canada Rocks! w/ Keith Phillips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:23
In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein, Matt Fernley, Rodney Hooper, and Keith Phillips discuss the latest shifts in lithium, critical minerals, Quebec spodumene, DLE, government funding, China processing, and the growin…