Chinese authorities have approved reserve reports for two key lithium mines in Jiangxi province, bringing months of uncertainty over the outlook for the lithium-rich region’s mining sector closer to a conclusion. CATL’s Jianxiawo mine – which was suspended on 10 August following the expiration of its mining permit – is reported to have received reserve […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in battery supply chain research and insights, reports that 12.7GWh of new operational capacity entered operation in October 2025. Operational Capacity The grid-scale BESS market saw 12.7GWh of new capacity enter operations globally in October 2025, a y-o-y increase of 29%. China led new operational capacity with just under 8.8GWh of […]
> CATL has announced its 40ktpa Jiangxi-based Jianxiawo mica mine, idled since late August, could receive the permits required to restart sooner than the market had anticipated. The shift in signalling is notable. Just last week, market consensus had hardened around the likelihood of a prolonged suspension amidst concerns over provincial-level regulatory clampdowns. This latest announcement […]
> Benchmark Week 2025 kicked off in LA on Tuesday, with policy makers, industry leaders, and experts from Benchmark discussing the key topics impacting energy transition supply chains in 2025. From across the first day’s sessions three key takeaways emerged: 1. Supply chains are a national security priority now more than ever “These are not just […]
> 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 […]
> Escalating unrest in Mali, as jihadi groups target fuel convoys around the capital Bamako, has led several governments including France and the US to advise their citizens to leave the country. The attacks have created fuel shortages, and raised serious concerns around the military government’s ability to maintain its rule in the country. Mali is […]
> CATL has revised its 2026 production guidance upwards by 30% to 1,300GWh, the battery giant’s suppliers report. The new target signals growing confidence in the resilience of China’s EV and ESS markets, even as China’s EV trade-in policy scheme is set to expire at the end of the year. Commercial vehicles and battery energy stationary […]
> China has postponed the implementation of its expanded rare earth export controls announced in early October following high-level US-China trade negotiations in South Korea this week. It marks a temporary easing in what had become an escalating front in the tit-for-tat US–China trade confrontation. The announcement follows extensive economic and trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur, […]
> Lithium supply concerns are mounting in early August, following reports this week that Albemarle suspended operations in Chile after an acid tank explosion at a chemical plant in La Negra, in the Antofagasta region. Despite conflicting reports on the severity of the situation, Benchmark understands from sources close to the operation that the actual impact […]