The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel since Saturday February 28 have heightened market concerns over potential disruptions to maritime trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz – a key transit corridor for Iranian material shipments bound for China.

Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development said on Wednesday February 25, citing alleged malpractice and mineral leakages.

Navigating market volatility with data-driven strategies for resilient mining operations

Lithium hydroxide production outside China continues to encounter operational hurdles and softer downstream demand, slowing the pace at which new capacity can achieve stable commercial output.

Mariana Minerals is aiming to reduce US lithium production costs by roughly 20% using software to manage plant operations, the company’s chief executive officer told Fastmarkets.

Imerys has placed its Imerys British Lithium (IBL) project into care and maintenance, suspending active development for the foreseeable future as it reassesses capital allocation and seeks a long-term partner, the company announced on Friday February 20.

When President Trump took office for a second time just over a year ago, he immediately sought to tear up the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a key piece of Joe Biden’s legacy. But plans announced earlier this week, ending on Friday February 6, have reshaped the future for cobalt and critical minerals.

The build-out of the Indian battery and critical mineral supply chain requires an integrated approach in terms of government policy, investment and subsidies and technology, market participants said during the inaugural Fastmarkets India Battery & Critical Minerals conference in New Delhi, India, over February 2-3.

For a brief moment, the mining sector allowed itself to consider a bold idea: Rio Tinto and Glencore in merger discussions.

Fastmarkets is extending the consultation period for the methodology of MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea price and MB-LI-0029 lithium carbonate, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea price.