This is your Weekly Raw Material Prices Briefing, part of your Benchmark Source subscription. Every week, this Briefing charts the changes in prices across the suite of battery minerals and highlights key trends. Updates of this Briefing can now be found on Benchmark Source under the Publications tab. Lithium: Battery grade lithium carbonate prices in […]
> 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 – […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is pleased to announce the addition of rare earth metal prices to the monthly Benchmark Rare Earths Price Assessment. Publication of these new prices will begin 31October 2025. Benchmark launches rare earth metal prices Benchmark is pleased to announce the launch of three new DDP China metal price assessment grades: These new assessments will be […]
> 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 […]
> This is your Weekly Raw Material Prices Briefing, part of your Benchmark Source subscription. Every week, this Briefing charts the changes in prices across the suite of battery minerals. Updates of this Briefing can now be found on Benchmark Source under the Publications tab. Lithium: Between 28 May – 4 June, lithium chemicals prices in […]
> Multiple copper sellers, including miners and traders, are reportedly in discussions with smelters to provide material under “tolling”-style contracts, several sources – some with direct knowledge of the talks – have told Benchmark. Market sources said historically low treatment charges (TCs) have forced sellers to seek alternatives to the conventional treatment and refining charge (TC/RC) […]
> Cobalt prices jumped 10%–20% on the first trading day after China’s Golden Week holiday last week, amid deepening concerns over stock availability following the implementation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) new export quotas. Market participants reported to Benchmark last week that cobalt sulphate was trading at RMB 65,000–75,000/t ($9,170–10,580/t), up from RMB 60,000–62,000/t before the break. […]