The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) selection of Mitra Chem and Li Industries for funding to support domestic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material (CAM) production could boost the technology’s presence in the US. Benchmark analysis, however, indicates there will still be insufficient domestic capacity to meet future cell production. Cell makers have rushed […]
> The US Department of Energy has allocated $680 million in awards to five battery recycling initiatives as part of a second round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Aligning with the Biden Administration’s vision of reducing reliance on Chinese-dominated supply chains, extracting battery minerals from spent lithium-ion battery cells is seen as a […]
> 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, […]
> 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 […]
> 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.
> 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 […]
> The US is progressing efforts to build out a domestic nickel supply chain, as the Department of Energy (DoE) last week selected Revex Technologies (Revex) for an award of up to $145 million to advance its Michigan-based REV nickel project. “The grant demonstrates that the US government is getting serious about boosting its domestic nickel […]
> 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 […]