There’s broad agreement that DeepSeek has upended the artificial intelligence (AI) sector by developing a cutting-edge large language model that uses less computational power, but whether improved AI efficiency cuts demand for copper in the data centers used to power it is a matter of debate.

The lithium market in 2025 is expected to face significant challenges due to production cuts, shifting demand patterns and geopolitical tensions. These factors are poised to reshape the market landscape, impacting supply chains and pricing strategies.

Africa’s first transcontinental rail network, known as the Lobito Corridor, which aims to eventually connect almost the entire regional copper-cobalt belt with additional links across sub-Saharan Africa, is on track to break ground early in 2026, a senior official at the US Department of State told Fastmarkets.

Investment shortfalls, aggravated by recent poor performance in commodities markets, political and economic instability and surging demand, have sown the seeds for the next commodity bull cycle, leading to “metal shocks” in a similar vein to the “oil shocks” of the 1970s, according to economist Philippe Gijsels, chief strategy officer at BNP Paribas Fortis.

Ferro-alloys market 2025: Trends, rising steel demand, stable policies and key challenges fuelling uncertainty.

The possibility that tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) will be rescinded under the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump has given US sales – and some automotive manufacturers – a long sought-after boost.

China issued its first national standard for black mass material used in lithium-ion battery recycling on the final day of 2024, with market participants expecting that it will provide clearer guidance on importing the material into the powerhouse country, Fastmarkets heard on Friday January 10.

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

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

Get the key takeaways from our recent webinar on the global outlook for the battery raw materials (BRM) market in 2025.