Manganese demand from batteries is set to increase almost five-fold over the next ten years, as forecast by Benchmark. Lithium nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) cathode chemistries have dominated the demand for manganese over the past few years, but this is expected to change moving into the next decade. Alternative cathode chemistries, such as lithium manganese […]
> 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 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 […]
> China proposed a new set of restrictions on the export of technologies relating to lithium processing and some types of cathode active materials. The proposed restrictions could further hinder the ability of ex-China players to develop capacity to support the build out of domestic supply chains. “It appears to be an attempt to retain advanced […]
> 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 […]
> The battery industry is dominated by LFP and NCM cathode chemistries, but even with these well-established chemistries there is room for new technologies to be developed. Recently manganese rich cathode chemistries such as LMR (Lithium Manganese Rich), LMNO (Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide) or HLM (High Lithium Manganese) cathode chemistries have gained market coverage. What does […]
> Global mined rare earth supply in 2024 was six times higher than in 1994, according to an analysis by Benchmark’s Rare Earths Forecast and the United States Geological Survey. Back then, China and the US constituted the majority of supply. However, repeated spills of toxic wastewater into the Mojave National Preserve from the Mountain Pass […]