Battery supply chain participants have prioritized securing lithium in the second half of 2021, but nickel has also been a headache for sourcing directors, who are less concerned about cobalt supplies, a Fastmarkets survey has found.

Civil unrest, Covid-19 and supply curbs – three factors that could keep cobalt prices high through 2021

Australia-listed Vulcan Energy has signed a binding offtake agreement to supply South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) with battery grade lithium hydroxide from it's 'zero carbon' facility in Germany, the producer said on Monday July 19.

The latest analysis from recent activity on the CME Group’s cobalt metal futures contract, cash-settled against Fastmarkets’ price assessment for cobalt, standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam.

Australia-listed Infinity Lithium Corp has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the long-term supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide with South Korean lithium-ion battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution, the Australian company said on Monday June 28.

Work is under way in Fredrikstad, Norway, to build a plant that will be key to electric vehicle (EV) transportation in Europe.

Volkswagen Group is seeking partnerships with battery raw material producers in order to vertically integrate and achieve security of supply and competitive prices for its minerals needs, a spokesperson for the German automaker told Fastmarkets on Thursday June 17.

Awareness and incorporation of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies within the graphite market are slowly developing, with take-up greater downstream - especially in the anode sector - and among developing companies, sources told Fastmarkets.

China lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium is acquiring a 50% stake in a special purpose company that owns the Goulamina hard-rock mine in Mali for $130 million, the company said on Tuesday June 15.

Bullish sentiment about nickel demand, particularly for electric vehicles, compared with long timeframes needed to increase mine supplies, has driven prices higher. But continuing uncertainties about the future timing and extent of nickel demand and supply growth have created a volatile market, reports Gregory DL Morris.