The US is progressing efforts to build out a domestic nickel supply chain, as the Department of Energy (DoE) last week selected Revex Technologies (Revex) for an award of up to $145 million to advance its Michigan-based REV nickel project. “The grant demonstrates that the US government is getting serious about boosting its domestic nickel […]
> The US Department of Energy has allocated $680 million in awards to five battery recycling initiatives as part of a second round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Aligning with the Biden Administration’s vision of reducing reliance on Chinese-dominated supply chains, extracting battery minerals from spent lithium-ion battery cells is seen as a […]
> 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, […]
> 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 […]
> 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 – […]
> US President Donald Trump this week secured major investments in US-based projects from Japan and South Korea covering critical minerals, stationary storage, and other high-priority sectors, as part of trade agreements to lower US tariff barriers. The trade deals come ahead of a high-level meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping – the […]
> As the dust settles on LME Week in London, Benchmark reviews some of the key themes that shaped discussions throughout the week and gauges sentiment across metal markets heading towards year end. Across the board, discussions reflected metal markets navigating shifting trade policy, supply-side disruption, and uneven demand recovery. Copper: Arbitrage and disruption dominate discussion […]
> Australian manganese producers South32 and Element 25 have been selected for grants worth up to $166 million each from the US Department of Energy (DoE) to develop high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) projects in the country. This is the first such funding from the DoE dedicated to HPMSM projects as the US looks to lower […]
> US battery electric (BEV) & plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales hit record highs in August and September 2025 as consumers rushed to purchase vehicles before the federal tax credit expired. The New Clean Vehicle Credit (30D) and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W) were both eliminated on 30 September 2025, following changes introduced in the One, […]