A record-breaking rally in nickel prices that led the London Metal Exchange to halt trading on Tuesday is putting increased pressure on the Chinese stainless steel producer Tsingshan and its billionaire co-founder. Tsingshan, the world’s largest stainless steel producer, is rumoured to have built a big short position in nickel before a 250% rally in […]
> Eramet has bought out Tsingshan’s 49.9% stake in its lithium operations in Argentina in a deal worth around $699 million. The move gives the French miner complete control of its Centenario direct lithium extraction (DLE) project and removes any concerns associated with Chinese ownership. This is the latest deal in the lithium space in recent […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> This speech was delivered in a House of Lords reception celebrating relations between the UK, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It was given by Benchmark CEO Simon Moores. The world of minerals is changing. A new asset class is emerging to sit alongside traditional commodities. The asset class of critical minerals is now driving the supply […]
> China’s stainless steel giant Tsingshan has invested $375 million to build a lithium plant in Argentina with France’s Eramet, as it expands its presence in the battery supply chain. The Wenzhou-based company, which is the world’s largest producer of stainless steel, will contribute the bulk of the funding to build the plant, which will supply […]
> 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 […]
> China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced new export control measures on “dual-use products” on national security grounds, encompassing lithium ion batteries as well as cathode active materials (CAM) and anode active materials (AAM). The restrictions were confirmed on the same day that Beijing escalated controls on rare earth elements and associated technologies, ahead of high-level […]
> Last year’s sudden spike in nickel prices and the decision by the London Metal Exchange to cancel billions of dollars of trades left the nickel market without a clear price. Marc Bailey had a front row seat to the drama as chief executive of Sucden, which is a top-tier Category 1 broker on the London […]