Read the full transcript from episode three of Fast Forward podcast with Andrea Hotter on geopolitics and the energy transition with Trafigura's Jeremy Weir.

The German auto-manufacturer BMW opened its first press shop in North America at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it will produce the exterior for its X3 model, the company announced on Friday June 21

China’s exports of refined copper rose to an eight-year high in May, with exports expected to stay elevated through June, sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Friday June 21

Amid inflation pressures, the North American pulp and paper market is seeing significant hikes in containerboard prices, underscoring the critical importance of price data in the industry

The decline in crude steel output in the first five months of 2024 dragged down Chinese ferro-alloys markets, including ferro-silicon and silico-manganese, sources told Fastmarkets on June 21

Saudi Arabia, through its spearheading of a mining and minerals production and consumption push in the Middle East, a region usually associated with oil and gas, is leading neighboring countries to increase their presence in the base metals markets

Indonesia is preparing to invest more in its aluminium supply chain as part of its wider critical metals strategy, Fastmarkets understands

US-headquartered Atlas Lithium decided to expand its investment into Brazilian hard-rock lithium feedstock resources with the acquisition of new exploration permits ahead of scheduled first production from its Neves project in the fourth quarter, the company announced on Monday June 17

Are fluctuating raw material costs worsening the US housing affordability crisis? Urgent action is needed to preserve homebuying opportunities, as explored by the Fastmarkets team

Here are the key insights from our conversation with Fastmarkets’ Paul Lusty on the future of the battery raw materials and electric vehicle markets