Following the conclusion of London Metal Exchange (LME) Week, Benchmark nickel analysts share some key takeaways from the global commodity industry’s gathering in the British capital in early October. 1) Indonesian policy will shape the trajectory of nickel market Market participants discussed how Indonesian policy would be crucial to shaping the future direction of the […]
> The broad LME/CME arbitrage continues to be a talking point, even months after it collapsed as result of cathodes being precluded from US copper tariffs. The reason the topic is still being broadly discussed is because, despite the arbitrage collapsing from its heights above $2500/t it is still relatively broad. This morning the arbitrage sat […]
> In the third quarter of 2025, 18 of the largest 25 copper miners reported quarter-on-quarter decreases in their output, including the top four miners. The total Q3 copper production reported by the top 25 miners hit 3.72Mt. “In the third quarter, many companies saw lower production compared to the previous quarter. However, most did not […]
> US President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signed a landmark Critical Minerals Framework to bolster both nations’ access to rare earths and other critical minerals, in an effort to counter China’s dominance over strategically important supply chains. The framework indicates that the two governments will utilise a range of policy instruments to […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has expanded its cobalt coverage with the launch of a daily cobalt metal price, providing the market with a transparent and transaction‑based reference during a period of exceptional volatility. The new daily assessment complements Benchmark’s existing daily cobalt hydroxide price, giving industry participants visibility across both the physical metal and feedstock markets every trading day. […]
> Nickel sulphate prices in Asia fell to their lowest level in over two years at the end of October, as the nickel price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) reached its lowest monthly level since July 2021. Average prices for nickel sulphate in the CIF Asian spot market declined 6.9% in October to $4,400 per […]
> Lithium chemical prices spiked in China on Monday following a bullish speech by the chairman of Ganfeng – the world’s third-largest lithium producer – in which it was suggested that lithium demand growth could reach 30% in 2026. In a keynote speech on 16 November at the 10th International Summit on Power Battery Application in […]
> The Trump administration is stepping up direct investments in critical mineral projects to bolster US supply security, as part of a broader push by Washington to acquire equity in sectors considered vital to national security. Last week, the US Department of Energy (DoE) announced it would restructure a $2.3bn loan agreement with Lithium Americas, providing […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence will continue publication of its existing Synthetic Graphite Anode High Energy and Natural Graphite Anode High Energy price assessments, reversing the previously announced specification change which took effect on 15 October 2025. In compliance with IOSCO principles, this followed Benchmark’s public consultation on the proposed change on 8 September 2025. Following additional […]