LG Chem’s decision to build a $3.2 billion battery cathode facility in Tennessee could more than double North American cathode production in five years, highlighting the scale of new investments in the US following the passing of landmark climate legislation this summer. The South Korean company said the 120,000 tonnes per year plant is scheduled […]
> LG Chem has signed a non-binding offtake agreement with ExxonMobil for up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. This is potentially Exxon’s full annual production. Exxon will supply lithium carbonate from its planned direct lithium extraction (DLE) project in the US to LG Chem’s cathode production facility under construction in Tennessee. LG Chem’s […]
> 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 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 […]
> 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.
> 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 […]
> Toyota has signed a KRW 2.9 trillion ($2.2 billion) contract with LG Chem to supply cathode material to its North American operations until 2030. The deal comes not long after the Japanese automaker announced it would secure 20 gigawatt-hours of cells a year from LG Energy Solution, a subsidiary of LG Chem, from its gigafactory […]
> 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 […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence today announced the commercial launch of its new 314Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell price for energy storage applications. The announcement comes as global LFP battery cell prices show signs of recovery, following a marked rebound in lithium carbonate costs and tightening supply conditions across the battery materials market. Benchmark’s Head of […]