Following the announcement that China will regulate the export of some graphite products from 1st December, natural graphite prices experienced an uptick in November for the first time this year. Benchmark’s Flake Graphite Price Assessment showed an increase of 3.7% in the price of flake graphite (FOB China -100, 94-95% C) to $560 per tonne. […]
> Improved demand from battery synthetic graphite anode producers and low inventories at the supply level saw prices of petroleum-based coke (pet coke) rise 3% this month following a 16% price drop last month, as assessed by Benchmark. A growing preference from anode producers to purchase pet coke over the more expensive needle pet coke also […]
> 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 conclusion of a formal public consultation, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is modifying the specification of its high energy anode material grades to include a minimum charging rate, relevant for EV applications. This modification to the methodology for two of the existing grades in the Benchmark Anode Price Assessment begins from 15 October 2025. Two […]
> On the 15th July, China’s Ministry of Commerce officially implemented restrictions on exports of technologies used in the production of high-density lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode active materials (CAM), effective immediately. The export of some lithium processing technologies will also be restricted. Companies wishing to export these technologies for […]
> Global small flake natural graphite prices are at historic lows, leading several operations in East Africa to halt operations. “Downward pressure on small mesh prices is due to a market desire, especially in China, for greater synthetic graphite material in the anode chemistry mix and structural overcapacity in China,” said Alex Albinski, an analyst at […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> Just two companies are consistently producing the advanced form of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material that China has proposed technology export restrictions on. Fulin Precision (also known as Jiangxi Shenghua) and Hunan Yuneng have the technology and capability to consistently produce this advanced LFP cathode active material, known as generation IV LFP. The proposed […]