SQM and the National Copper Corporation of Chile, Codelco, will form a partnership for the development of mining and production activities at SQM’s Salar de Atacama site. The two companies entered a formal partnership agreement on 31 May 2024, after having signed a memorandum of understanding in December last year. “This announcement comes as expected […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> This year, two-fifths of lithium feedstock is forecast to be produced by companies with Industry Leading environmental, social and governance standards, as assessed by Benchmark’s Lithium Sustainability Index. All “Industry Leading” supply came from countries with intrinsically low ESG risks, according to Benchmark’s regional risk map. “The Index is important and aims to increase the […]
> 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 Mineral Intelligence announced today that it has started a formal consultation on changes to the sustainable lithium and sustainable nickel grades in its Lithium Price Assessment and Nickel Price Assessment Methodologies. Benchmark proposes to change the frequency of updates to its list of eligible producers, whose material can contribute to these grades, from quarterly […]
> The copper market recorded robust supply-side performance in Q2 25, with the top 25 mining companies reporting a combined output of 3,800kt, an increase of 3.5% y-o-y. Growth was driven by stronger quarterly performances from BHP (516.2kt, +2.2% y-o-y), Codelco (338kt, +18.6% y-o-y), and Zijin Mining (279.3kt, +9.1% y-o-y). BHP, Freeport, and Codelco retained market-leading […]
> India’s pipeline of cathode active material (CAM) production capacity is set to grow more than 50-fold over the next decade. Altmin, Himadri Speciality Chemical, and Epsilon Advanced Materials have the largest pipeline capacities in the country. Almost all CAM capacity under development in India is for LFP, both due to the popularity of the cathode […]
> All Chilean lithium now comes from mines with ratings from the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), following SQM receiving its rating last week. Chile is forecast to produce a quarter of global lithium this year, according Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast. IRMA is the most rigorous mining standard in the world, comprising over 400 metrics across […]