FUNTI's daily electric motorcycle market brief for September 20, 2026: raw material prices, overseas market regulation and China export data, compiled from public sources for importers, distributors and fleet operators.
FUNTI MARKET INTELLIGENCE · September 20, 2026
① Today's Highlights
- On September 19 MOFCOM announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead a delegation to the United States for economic and trade consultations on September 19–23, covering issues of mutual concern. Direct implication for exports: China–US tariff arrangements have entered a new window, so both US order backlogs and new quotations must leave room for policy shifts — do not lock in long-dated prices during this window. (Source: MOFCOM, 2026-09-19) (Reported on September 18 that China–US tariff talks were still in the pipeline; this is a new development.)
- The 2026 China Motorcycle Chongqing Forum, a flagship side event of the 24th CIMA, was held on September 19 at the Chongqing International Expo Center under the theme “Breaking Through · Toward the New”; its two roundtables focused on “from product export to global operation” and “how electrification is reshaping global motorcycle competition.” Takeaway: the industry's main track is now clearly electrification and intelligence, and the overseas business model is shifting from selling goods to running operations. (Source: CIMA Organizing Committee / Sina Finance, 2026-09-19) (Reported on September 19 that CIMA opened; this is the forum development.)
② Raw Materials & FX
- Copper (spot basis): on September 18 Changjiang non-ferrous 1# copper was quoted at RMB 110,270–110,310/t, averaging RMB 110,290/t, up RMB 1,610 on the day, with the copper premium widening to b790–b830, signalling a tight domestic spot market and firm pricing by holders. Takeaway: prices for motor enamel wire and oxygen-free copper wire are more likely to rise than fall in the near term, so motor quotes must keep headroom for further copper gains. (Source: cnal.com / Changjiang Nonferrous, 2026-09-18)
- Aluminium: on September 18 A00 aluminium ingot averaged RMB 24,380/t, up RMB 200, with Guangdong Nanzhu at RMB 24,600/t and Shanghai Huatong at RMB 24,430/t; the day's aluminium premium flipped from discount to a small premium, as spot supply turned from loose to tight. Takeaway: quotes for frames, wheels and other aluminium parts should no longer follow the earlier downtrend. (Source: cnal.com, 2026-09-18)
- Lithium carbonate (a second benchmark, for cross-checking): on September 18 CBC Metal reported the national industrial-grade average at RMB 129,600/t, up RMB 200; battery-grade at RMB 134,700/t in Jiangxi and RMB 133,300/t in Sichuan; Europe CIF at USD 17,600/t and South America FOB at USD 17,450/t. Takeaway: the domestic–overseas lithium price gap persists, so exported battery packs and domestic procurement must be costed on separate benchmarks — domestic lithium prices cannot be applied directly to export quotes. (Source: CBC Metal, 2026-09-18)
- Other metals: on September 18 Changjiang 1# tin averaged RMB 405,250/t, up RMB 6,000; 1# nickel RMB 125,850/t, up RMB 500; 0# zinc RMB 26,490/t, up RMB 430. Takeaway: costs for solder, nickel-bearing parts and galvanised parts are rising together, so small-component procurement must reprice as well. (Source: cnal.com, 2026-09-18)
- Steel: Mysteel's September 18 indices show the MySpic composite at 122.87, down 0.27% on the day, and the rebar index at 131.14; in the same week coking coal futures fell 6.64% in a single session, clearly weakening cost support for steel. Takeaway: frame steel has no near-term upward driver, so near-term volumes can be locked at current prices. (Source: Mysteel, 2026-09-18)
- FX: September 19–20 is a weekend, so no new central parity was published. In the September 18 fixing, the euro stood at 7.7257 and 100 yen at 4.3173; the offshore renminbi rose to about 6.69 on September 19, its strongest since July 2022. Takeaway: renminbi strength is relatively favourable for euro-area and Japanese buyers, but conversion returns on USD-quoted orders keep being squeezed, so quote models must keep FX headroom. (Source: CFETS / public market data, 2026-09-18 to 09-19)
③ Overseas Markets
- Three African policy lines are landing at once: Ethiopia has banned imports of fuel vehicles since 2024 and already has more than 115,000 EVs on the road; Rwanda has barred registration of new fuel-powered motorcycle taxis in the capital Kigali since January 2025, lifting its EV sales 28% last year; Kenya plans to exempt electric vehicles from import duties. All three follow the same logic — restrict fuel vehicles and clear the way for EVs — a certain incremental gain for two-wheeler exports. (Source: Global Times / Financial Times, 2026-06-24)
- Africa's electrification economics now work: since the Middle East conflict, the daily petrol cost of a motorcycle taxi has risen from USD 4.2 to USD 5.1 (up over 20%), while an electric motorcycle covers the same distance for only USD 2.30; the UN Economic Commission for Africa's 2026 Economic Report on Africa expects Africa's EV market to grow 10.6% a year, reaching USD 314 million by 2029; e-mobility infrastructure start-ups in Africa have raised about USD 300 million in total. (Source: Global Times / UNECA, 2026-06-24)
- Vietnam's battery-swap race has started early: Selex Motors has deployed about 90 automated swap stations across Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City; Honda Vietnam has launched its Power Pack Exchanger e: swap system, expected to go live at authorised dealers in early 2026, with its e:CUV series already piloted at 19 sites in major cities. Takeaway: battery swapping is becoming the new battleground in Southeast Asian two-wheelers — and it dovetails with China's battery-swap standard taking effect on October 1, so exporters offering swap solutions should align on compliance in advance. (Source: VTV / Vietnamese market public information, 2025-12)
FUNTI · Taizhou Fangxiang Technology Co., Ltd.
Daily electric motorcycle market brief for importers, distributors and fleet operators. Figures are compiled from public market sources and industry associations; verify before commercial use.
