Prices for pet coke are rising whilst needle coke prices continue to decline as anode producers pivot towards cheaper feedstock. “Fierce competition in the anode market continues to pressure anode producers, leading them to eke out margin and defend their market share by reducing costs,” said Adam Megginson, senior analyst at Benchmark. “Anode producers have […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> Needle coke prices saw an unseasonal uptick between February and March thanks to Chinese coking facilities staying shut after the Spring Festival. “We would expect coking capacity to come back online after Spring Festival when a lot of facilities opt to undertake seasonal maintenance, but this mostly hasn’t happened in 2024,” said Adam Megginson, Benchmark […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> 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. […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]