The US electric vehicle (EV) market is entering a mass adoption phase, according to panellists at Benchmark Week 2024 in Los Angeles, in which infrastructure, policy, and affordability challenges will determine the industry’s trajectory over the coming years. “The thrust of electrification is relentless,” said Stephen Kosowski, Manager, Long Range Strategy & Planning at Kia North […]
> 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, […]
> 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 […]
> In the season of Q3 result releases, battery manufacturer CATL has reported record financial performance. Cumulative revenue from Q1–Q3 rose from RMB259bn ($36bn) in 2024 to RMB283bn ($39.3bn) in 2025, a year‑on‑year increase of 9%. Net profit also rose 41% between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, from RMB13.14bn ($1.87bn) to RMB18.55bn ($2.58bn). Efficiency gains underpin profit growth Increasing efficiency has […]
> Lithium’s inherent volatility makes another price spike unavoidable this decade, according to experts speaking on the second day of Benchmark Week 2024 in Los Angeles. “We’ve seen this movie before,” remarked Anthony Tse, Founder of NEO Capital. “This is the third price cycle I’ve witnessed in over a decade in the industry, and the script […]
> 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 […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence today announced the commercial launch of its new 314Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell price for energy storage applications. The announcement comes as global LFP battery cell prices show signs of recovery, following a marked rebound in lithium carbonate costs and tightening supply conditions across the battery materials market. Benchmark’s Head of […]
> China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has unveiled stricter listing requirements for new energy vehicles (NEVs), set to take effect from 2026. Vehicles must meet these revised specifications to qualify for inclusion on the official MIIT listing, a prerequisite for receiving favourable tax treatment. How will the new PHEV rules affect the market? From […]
> As the lithium ion battery industry enters a new era of uncertainty following president-elect Donald Trump’s victory in November’s US election, Japanese cell makers underscored their commitment to the US market during the opening session of Benchmark Week 2024 in Los Angeles. “Regardless of the administration and the federal incentives that are in place, we’re […]