The European Union is looking to have 40% of processed critical raw materials come from within the bloc. But for spherical graphite, Sweden is the only member state forecast to produce any of the material through to 2040, according to Benchmark’s Flake Graphite Forecast. China absolutely dominates the production of spherical graphite, with 100% of […]
> 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 […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in EV supply chain research and insights, reports that 1.9 million electric vehicles were sold globally in October 2025. Rho Motion Data Manager, Charles Lester, commented: “Global EV sales reach 1.9 million units in October 2025, marking a 23% increase year-to-date. Europe led regional growth with a 36% year-on-year increase, driven […]
> G7 nations and the European Union (EU) are reportedly examining a proposal to introduce price floors for rare earth elements, as they seek measures to reduce strategic vulnerabilities and break China’s dominance over the supply chain. China has built a monopoly on global rare earth production and accounts for 91% of global refined rare earth […]
> Battery anodes depend on a supply chain in which China dominates at every stage from feedstock material to active anode material production. Chinese production represents 74% of the total supply chain for graphite anodes, according to data from Benchmark. This poses a risk to supply chain security for anode producers in South Korea and elsewhere […]
> Graphite accounts for up to a quarter of the weight of a battery cell, but the value of this material is typically not recovered when a battery is recycled. Very few commercial-scale recyclers extract graphite in a form suitable to reuse in a battery, meaning new batteries require virgin graphite to be mined. Almost three-quarters […]
> 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 – […]
> 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 […]
> 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, […]