Explore the evolving market for base metals as nickel faces competition from lithium iron phosphate alternatives.

Fastmarkets will apply moisture limits of maximum 5% on its black mass payables indicators across several of its markets following a one-month consultation period.

With cobalt exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) set to resume in a few days’ time, the LME Week event in London has so far served as a mixing pot for opinions on how far the current price rally could go and the blue metal’s long-term future – from a perspective of both upstream DRC policy and downstream battery chemistry.

Xerion Advanced Battery Corp. is about to commission a 50-tonne cobalt production unit in Dayton, Ohio, part of its strategy to scale early annual output to 2,000 tonnes.

The US Defense Logistics Agency has canceled its contract opportunity to purchase up to 7,500 tonnes of alloy-grade cobalt due to unresolved issues with the statement of work. The cancellation comes amid a sharp rise in cobalt prices, with the agency indicating the solicitation will be reissued once the issues are resolved.

China’s CMOC Group is pursuing measured growth and global expansion amid geopolitical and market uncertainties, with a focus on copper and gold and an emphasis on maintaining commercial independence and adaptability.

The DRC’s export quota system has tightened cobalt supply, driving price volatility and prompting shifts in sourcing strategies across the global market.

The consultation, which is open until November 12, 2025, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets under indexation for alumina, aluminium, cobalt, copper, lithium, spodumene, nickel sulfate and graphite, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes […]

Chinese cobalt refiners are preparing to use cobalt metal as feedstock for sulfate and tetroxide production, as tightening supply and price rallies on cobalt hydroxide from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have made smelters look for alternatives, market sources told Fastmarkets.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced cobalt export quotas following the suspension period, setting limits on shipments while outlining future allocations. The policy is designed to balance global supply and demand while supporting the country’s ambition to develop domestic processing capacity.