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 […]
> 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 – […]
> Benchmark is pleased to announce it has begun monitoring and verifying global cathode construction progress using satellite imagery as part of the Benchmark Verified service. Building upon the success of such analysis in the Benchmark Gigafactory Market Assessment, the Benchmark Verified service is now monitoring over 300 cathode facilities globally. “The launch of Benchmark Verified […]
> The UK currently has no operating lithium extraction facilities. However, there are ambitious plans to develop this industry, with 97,000 tonnes LCE per year of nameplate capacity in the pipeline at various stages of funding and development. Direct lithium extraction (DLE) from geothermal brines accounts for 60% of this pipeline, according to Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast. […]
> Oil-major ExxonMobil is expanding its footprint in the battery supply chain after reaching an agreement to acquire Superior Graphite, in a deal that includes the latter’s planned 12ktpa synthetic graphite facility in Kentucky, where commercial production is slated for 2029. Although it represents Exxon’s first direct foray into synthetic graphite production, the oil-giant is developing […]
> A range of international companies, including BYD and Rio Tinto, have been shortlisted to develop Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats, as the country looks to boost its falling share of the global lithium market. Chile was the top lithium producer in 2016, but is expected to fall to third place in 2024 due to growth in […]
> 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 […]
> 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, […]
> 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 […]