The European Commission plans to boost the EU’s clean energy transition with an investment of €720 million ($802 million) into its hydrogen sector, while the battery sector continues to grapple with a €19 billion trade deficit, Fastmarkets has heard

UK export volumes of steel scrap to India have fallen in the current quarter, although sources in the British scrap industry said that other destinations should be able to take up the excess, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday September 25.

The recycling of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries remains at a nascent stage in Europe as we approach LME Week 2024, with weak lithium prices and a lack of buyers for LFP black mass keeping its economic viability low.

German copper producer Aurubis is maintaining a premium of $228 per tonne FCA for 2025 for its European clients, Aurubis has confirmed to Fastmarkets.

Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-LI-0012 spodumene min 6% Li2O, spot price, which was published incorrectly on Wednesday September 25.

Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-FEC-0021 ferro-chrome high carbon 6-8.5% C, basis 65-70% Cr, max 1.5% Si, delivered Europe, which was published incorrectly on Tuesday September 24.

Fastmarkets will postpone the discontinuation its lithium contract price assessments until the end of 2024, instead of the original discontinuation scheduled for October 2024.

Read the full transcript from episode 6 of Fast Forward podcast on trading power and the role of the London Metal Exchange (LME) in the energy transition with CEO Matthew Chamberlain.

This week’s multiple announcements by the majority state-owned Saudi Arabian mining company Ma’aden that it was acquiring shares of aluminium producers in the region shows that the Middle Eastern aluminium industry has matured, according to Fastmarkets analyst Andy Farida

Fastmarkets will launch a monthly price assessment for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh, cif US ports, $/tonne on Thursday October 3.