The possibility that tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) will be rescinded under the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump has given US sales – and some automotive manufacturers – a long sought-after boost.

Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has been added to the US Department of Defense’s Chinese Military Company (CMC) list.

The new year is likely to show a modest pick-up in overall North American automotive production that will, in turn, boost demand for key steel product sectors, such as cold-rolled coil, galvanized sheet and special bar quality steel, according to industry analysts and market participants.

Read our outlook on the EV market for 2025, including insights into how increasing production in China will shape the industry.

Europe’s hopes of an independent battery supply chain are in jeopardy, some market participants said, after a recent spate of company announcements that were widely regarded as bearish for the burgeoning sector.

The price of lithium is falling, but some Western companies have recently announced more investments in the Lithium Triangle – a region of South America comprising parts of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

The Lithium Triangle, a region of South America comprising Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, has proven potential in lithium production, but each country faces its own specific challenges.

The countries that comprise the Lithium Triangle currently control more than 50% of global lithium resources, with production concentrated in the salt flats regions of Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, where there are lithium brine deposits.

China auto exports to Mexico are rising steadily, with Chinese automakers expanding sales and manufacturing in the region. However, US tariff threats under Donald Trump’s presidency and growing opportunities in South America could reshape the export landscape.

Unlike most other commodities, cobalt is primarily a by-product – with 60% derived from copper and 38% from nickel – so how will changes in those markets change the picture for cobalt in the coming months following a year of price weakness and oversupply in 2024?