Fastmarkets’ senior price development manager, Peter Hannah, provides insights into the changes in pricing in the lithium market, the impact of current high prices and how market participants can manage their exposure to this volatility.

Take a closer look at the key topics that are on the top of the agenda for battery raw materials market participants

Key lessons from our latest Chicago event

China’s cobalt sulfate and cobalt metal prices trended down in June after a slight pick-up in demand failed to offset the headwinds of sufficient supply and bearish sentiment following the lifting of Covid-19 lockdowns in Shanghai on June 1.

The need for more sustainable lithium production has thrust new resources into the limelight. This should not distract the market from ensuring conventional sources are as efficient and sustainable as possible

As the world-wide push to electrify transport gains momentum, potential pitfalls have become apparent. The large-scale charging of electric vehicles, for example, risks overloading power grids and may not be sustainable, battery innovator Dr. Avishek Kumar told Fastmarkets in an interview

Increased supply of alternative feedstocks, along with weak demand, has caused the China domestic nickel sulfate price to trend down since hitting a record high on April 22.

Both battery electric and hydrogen technologies are vital for future transport emissions goals and customer needs

Official reference price to bring additional transparency to the local lithium sector

This new supercycle, focused on specific commodity groups in the energy transition, has investors aiming to improve their ESG standards and approach