The rotary kiln starts up, and chain-bucket conveyors transport materials... Through a series of processes, lithium concentrate raw materials from the African continent are processed into key cathode materials for new energy vehicle lithium batteries at the Yangpu Economic Development Zone in Danzhou City. During the Spring Festival holiday, Hainan Xingzhihai New Materials Co., Ltd. kept production running non-stop. Its production line operated efficiently and stably, with batches of qualified products rolling off the assembly line for domestic and international markets.

This shipment of lithium concentrate marks the first batch imported by Xingzhihai from the Malibuguni Lithium Mine, which belongs to its parent company Hainan Mining Co., Ltd. On October 14, 2025, the lithium concentrate departed from the Malibuguni project site. After nearly 1,000 kilometers of road transportation and over 10,000 kilometers of ocean shipping, it arrived at SDIC Yangpu Port on January 9, 2026. The cargo then cleared customs smoothly at Yangpu Customs under Haikou Customs, securing stable raw material supply for Xingzhihai’s 20,000-ton annual battery-grade lithium hydroxide project.

Evolving from "selling iron ore" to "selling lithium battery materials", Xingzhihai, as a holding subsidiary of Hainan Mining, undertakes the important mission of the group’s layout in the new energy sector. Its 20,000-ton annual battery-grade lithium hydroxide project serves as the core carrier for Hainan Mining’s transformation and upgrading. This import is not only Xingzhihai’s first zero-tariff shipment after qualifying for the preferential zero-tariff policy, but also the first batch of new energy minerals declared and imported via zero-tariff at Yangpu since the full island customs closure of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Why choose Yangpu? According to Liao Qingsong, Deputy General Manager of Hainan Xingzhihai New Materials Co., Ltd., there are three key reasons. First, Yangpu boasts deep-water quality ports, providing convenient access for overseas lithium concentrate shipments and reducing maritime logistics costs. Second, Yangpu’s petrochemical and new materials industrial cluster, Hainan’s first 100-billion-level industrial cluster, delivers strong industrial agglomeration effects for upstream and downstream enterprises. Third, Danzhou Yangpu offers comprehensive and thoughtful services for enterprise settlement and production launch—the project secured contract signing and settlement within one month, and only took 18 months from construction start to completion and trial operation.

Policies act as the most powerful magnet attracting enterprises. Importing core raw materials such as lithium concentrate from overseas, completing processing and production in the Hainan Free Trade Port, and supplying battery-grade lithium hydroxide to global markets. "The zero-tariff policy has greatly reduced our raw material import costs. Meanwhile, the Free Trade Port’s geographical advantages and convenient port logistics have further improved our industrial chain operation efficiency and enhanced product market competitiveness," Liao Qingsong stated.

With a total investment of 1.056 billion yuan, the 20,000-ton battery-grade lithium hydroxide project started construction at the end of 2022, being Danzhou Yangpu’s first project providing raw materials for new energy vehicle lithium battery production. In February 2025, the project successfully completed feeding trial operation for the metallurgical section. After stable commissioning of the metallurgical section, the full-process connection between the metallurgical section and wet process section was realized in June 2025. In January 2026, the project achieved a monthly output of 1,216.5 tons, exceeding the planned production target.

As a vital part of Hainan Mining’s three-sector strategy covering iron ore, oil & gas, and new energy materials, the project is not only a key initiative for Danzhou to build a green and low-carbon industrial chain, but also a frontier hub for the new energy sector in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Liao Qingsong noted that Xingzhihai will continue to leverage the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port to ensure efficient operation of the battery-grade lithium hydroxide project. The company will also build a new lithium carbonate production line to fuel the development of the new energy industry in the Hainan Free Trade Port.