The US and Ukraine have signed an economic partnership deal to establish a jointly-owned “Reconstruction Investment Fund” to develop Ukraine’s natural resources and associated infrastructure. Crucially, unlike previous proposals, the deal does not require Ukraine to pay back past military and economic aid. Instead, future US assistance will be counted as a contribution to the […]
> The United States and Ukraine are exploring a deal that would grant the US access to Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves in return for continued military and financial support This week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent travelled to Kyiv, where he reportedly presented a draft economic cooperation agreement to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The proposal, part […]
> 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, […]
> 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 – […]
> Indonesia has issued a ban on the issuance of new smelter permits for nickel matte, mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), and nickel pig iron (NPI), in a bid to curb overcapacity and incentivise value‑added investment in the battery supply chain. The policy marks the latest chapter in the Indonesian government’s strategic pivot in its nickel industrialisation […]
> US President Donald Trump this week secured major investments in US-based projects from Japan and South Korea covering critical minerals, stationary storage, and other high-priority sectors, as part of trade agreements to lower US tariff barriers. The trade deals come ahead of a high-level meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping – the […]
> 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 […]
> As Benchmark’s London Summit 2025 drew to a close this week, it was clear the global battery and critical minerals industry has entered a new era defined by industrial maturity, geopolitical tension, and capital competition. Across a packed one-day programme, speakers from Benchmark and leading industry figures examined demand trends, the evolution of battery chemistries, […]
> US battery electric (BEV) & plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales hit record highs in August and September 2025 as consumers rushed to purchase vehicles before the federal tax credit expired. The New Clean Vehicle Credit (30D) and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W) were both eliminated on 30 September 2025, following changes introduced in the One, […]