Foreign entity of concern (FEOC) restrictions on Chinese supply would make it difficult for South Korean producers to meet demand for Inflation Reduction Act-compliant batteries, according to battery makers LG and SK On. In their feedback to the US Treasury’s FEOC guidelines, SK On joined LG and Hyundai in expressing reluctance to move away from […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in battery supply chain research and insights, reports that 12.7GWh of new operational capacity entered operation in October 2025. Operational Capacity The grid-scale BESS market saw 12.7GWh of new capacity enter operations globally in October 2025, a y-o-y increase of 29%. China led new operational capacity with just under 8.8GWh of […]
> South Korean battery producer LG Energy Solution (LGES) will start energy storage systems (ESS) battery production in the US in 2025 as it looks to tap the booming demand for energy storage in western markets. LGES said it plans to launch high capacity lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ESS batteries and expects substantial revenue from long-term, […]
> South Korean battery maker SK On has secured a domestic source of lithium hydroxide from Posco Pilbara Lithium Solution. The deal is for up to 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide (13,200 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent) over the next three years with the option to extend this for another three years. Sourcing lithium chemicals locally […]
> 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 – […]
> Benchmark Week 2025 kicked off in LA on Tuesday, with policy makers, industry leaders, and experts from Benchmark discussing the key topics impacting energy transition supply chains in 2025. From across the first day’s sessions three key takeaways emerged: 1. Supply chains are a national security priority now more than ever “These are not just […]
> 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 […]
> President Trump has announced his “Liberation Day” imposing reciprocal tariffs on some of the US’ largest trading partners, as well as a universal 10% levy on almost all imports. This marks one of the biggest shake ups in global trade in the last 100 years. What do the tariffs cover? Aside from the universal 10%, […]
> Following the conclusion of a formal public consultation, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is modifying the specification of its high energy anode material grades to include a minimum charging rate, relevant for EV applications. This modification to the methodology for two of the existing grades in the Benchmark Anode Price Assessment begins from 15 October 2025. Two […]