The South Korea government has started to build up a national stockpile of lithium reserves through the state-owned Korea Mine Rehabilitation & Mineral Resources Corp (KOMIR), Fastmarkets was told on Tuesday May 21

The publication of Fastmarkets’ lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea and lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea assessments for Thursday May 16 were delayed because of incorrect methodology application.

Standard Lithium announced on Wednesday May 8 that it was forming a partnership with the multinational energy company Equinor to accelerate the development of its South West Arkansas and East Texas lithium brine projects in the United States

Spot lithium carbonate prices in China edged up over the week ended Thursday May 9 amid volatility in the futures market and weak demand after the country’s Labor Day holiday from May 1-5, sources told Fastmarkets

A wave of restocking throughout the first quarter of 2024 provided some relief in the ternary battery raw materials market in China, stopping the declines in prices for various products that had been seen late last year

Spodumene has come increasingly into focus in recent months following increases in auction activity and broader supply chain interest, as well as volatility in the underlying prices

The Chilean government is pushing ahead with plans for a new copper smelter despite the global smelting crisis, Chile’s minister of mining, Aurora Williams told Fastmarkets, adding that the state will also play a key role in developing the country’s premium lithium assets

Fastmarkets will discontinue its lithium contract price assessments, effective October 2024.

Singapore-based lithium-ion battery recycling company Green Li-ion has launched its first commercial-scale installation to produce battery-grade cathode and anode materials from black mass and cathode powder – the first of its kind in North America

The key discussion topics across the battery raw materials sector ahead of Fastmarkets' Asian Battery Raw Materials conference taking place in Seoul on April 22-23