Get started

BATTERY RAW MATERIALS MARKET REPORT 13/03: China cobalt prices face pressure from weak demand, falling futures

An overview of the battery raw materials markets and their price moves from the past week.

March 13, 2020
By Carrie Shi

Battery raw material market prices

What to read next
Delayed publication of Indonesian domestic trade laterite ore with 1.6% nickel content due to government website shutdown or force majeure
The publication of Fastmarkets' assessment of laterite ore with 1.6% nickel content, Indonesia domestic trade, delivered for Monday June 15, 2026 was delayed due to the unavailability of the latest Indonesian government mineral reference prices (HMA). Fastmarkets’ pricing database will be updated upon the release of the latest HMA.
June 15, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Clarification of methodology for nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%; cobalt 10ppm max, exw China
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify details around the following aspects of the pricing methodology for MB-NI-0244 nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%; cobalt 10ppm max, exw China.
June 15, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Correction to rationale of manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, fob Port Elizabeth
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-MNO-0002 manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, fob Port Elizabeth, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 5 due to incorrect source data.
June 9, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
close up of car wheel in automobile manufacturing factory assembly line, USA
Automotive sector steel demand at risk in UAW strike at American Axle: analysts
A United Auto Workers (UAW) strike at the American Axle factory in Three Rivers, Michigan, that began on Monday June 1 could lead to reduced demand for automotive steel if not resolved quickly, but analysts disagree on whether it will ultimately have a significant impact.
June 8, 2026
 · 
By Robert England
Correction to manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, cif Tianjin
The MB-MNO-0003 Manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, cif Tianjin, $ per dmtu was published in error as $4.75 per dry metric tonne unit. It has been corrected to $4.74 per dmtu. The rationale for the same index on the same date was also updated to reflect this change. It erroneously stated that “Fastmarkets’ manganese ore semi-carbonate […]
June 8, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team
Delayed publication of ferro-molybdenum, molybdic oxide prices
The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments for MB-FEO-0004 molybdenum, MB drummed molybdic oxide Mo, in-whs Busan; for MB-FEO-0003 molybdenum, drummed molybdic oxide, 57% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam; and for MB-FEO-0001 ferro-molybdenum, 65% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam, was delayed on Monday June 8 owing to slow data processing.
June 8, 2026
 · 
By Fastmarkets pricing team