Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material prices fell for the sixth straight month in September amid an ongoing weakness in lithium carbonate prices, a supply glut and an intensive competition among cathode producers. The average prices for the LFP cathode material prices declined 6.8% to RMB 34,000 ($4,795) per tonne in the assessment period […]
> South Korea’s battery industry is one of the most developed and globally integrated ecosystems in the world. Yet beneath the surface of its technical leadership lies a sense of caution: competition from China is intensifying, margins are thin, and chemistry choices are shifting rapidly. A recent visit by Benchmark’s Lithium Product Director, Cameron Perks – […]
> Following the temporary four-month suspension of cobalt exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this month, prices of nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathode materials have risen. How is the cobalt export ban impacting the cathode market? The rise in NCM cathode material costs is not wholly down to […]
> 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 […]
> In the first half of 2025, the global BESS battery market showed clear signs of accelerated growth, with cell shipments in the first six months of 2025 surpassing the total volume of 2023 by over 17%. Explore how the top 10 ESS cell producers has evolved since 2023 in the interactive graphic below. Previously we examined the top BESS […]
> Since January 2025, 108GWh of LFP production capacity has been announced in North America through to 2030, bringing the total to 281GWh. These announcements have been driven by the increasing importance of the BESS industry in the US, as tax credits for EVs have been phased out. How is future capacity changing? The new capacity […]
> Benchmark hosted its inaugural Giga Africa event in Marrakesh, Morocco in September, featuring delegates from across the battery supply chain. Over the many conversations and discussions held about Africa’s place in the global battery supply chain, several key themes emerged: Explore these topics in the words of Giga Africa’s expert speakers and panellists.
> South Korean steel and chemicals giant POSCO has taken a 30% stake in Australia’s Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) 50% stakes in the Mt Marion and Wodgina mines for US$765 million. Structured as a joint venture, the deal would see MinRes and POSCO hold an overall 35% and 15% of the operations, as well as corresponding rights […]
> 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 […]