Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has secured re-election with a majority win, giving his Labor party a clear mandate to continue with plans to bolster Australia’s domestic critical mineral mining and processing potential. Last year, the Albanese government introduced a tax credit worth 10% for critical mineral processing and refining costs (at an estimated cost […]
> 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 […]
> 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 – […]
> Australian lithium miner Liontown Resources has raised AUD316 million (US$206 mn) in equity. This includes investments from the Australian government and major Chinese lithium chemical producer Canmax. The funds will support the ramp up of Liontown’s Kathleen Valley spodumene mine which began operations last year. This comes following a recovery in spodumene prices, which traded […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> Historically, spodumene closely tracked lithium chemical prices, allowing some market participants to hedge exposure via lithium futures. However, after years of tight linkage between spodumene and lithium chemical prices, the global lithium market is undergoing a structural shift, reshaping how producers, converters, and investors manage risk. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s spodumene FOB Australia grade was assessed […]
> The Indian government has acknowledged that black mass exporters are circumventing hazardous waste export rules through the use of unrelated HS codes. Under current regulation, black mass can only be exported from India under a certain HS code once the exporting company has received an export control licence and further permissions from the Indian government. […]
> India’s pipeline of cathode active material (CAM) production capacity is set to grow more than 50-fold over the next decade. Altmin, Himadri Speciality Chemical, and Epsilon Advanced Materials have the largest pipeline capacities in the country. Almost all CAM capacity under development in India is for LFP, both due to the popularity of the cathode […]