Two minor metals have grabbed attention for their value in making batteries for electric vehicles – lithium and cobalt. Metal Bulletin price development manager Jon Mulcahy and battery raw materials team leader Charlotte Radford explore a rapidly evolving market and how market intelligence for the metals is becoming increasingly transparent.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday July 31.

ArcelorMittal has presented Italian authorities with a list of the additional commitments it has accepted for the lease and purchase agreement for it to acquire steelmaker Ilva.

Three-month base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were broadly weaker on the morning of Monday July 30, with zinc (-0.9%), copper (-0.7%), lead (-0.2%) and nickel (-0.1%) all down, while aluminium and tin prices were up by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

Good morning from Metal Bulletin’s offices in Asia, bringing the latest news and pricing stories on Monday July 30.

The majority of base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange ended the morning trading session on Monday July 30 in positive territory, with only copper and lead bucking the general strength.

Steel billet prices in the global markets remained steady or went up slightly during the week from Monday July 23 to Friday July 27. But demand in the major markets was still subdued, with the exception of China.

The US Midwest aluminium premium has clawed its way back to higher ground, although market participants are concerned that another US government move on trade tariffs could potentially derail the correction.

Global scrap prices softened in several markets in the working week from Monday July 23 to Friday July 27, often because of weak demand in the downstream long steel segments in Taiwan and Turkey.

Cobalt traders are taking advantage of pronounced arbitrage opportunities arising out of regional variations in price moves and buying preferences between China and Europe.