The geopolitics-led diversification of critical minerals supply chains is broadly viewed as a tailwind to the lithium market, senior executives said during the Executive Keynote Panel at Fastmarkets’ Global Lithium, Battery and Critical Materials in Las Vegas on Tuesday June 23.

Chinese zinc ingot exporters remain on standby on Monday June 22, after months of market positioning, with traders and smelters still waiting for a clearer margin signal before moving cargoes at scale, market participants told Fastmarkets.

Here are some of the key discussion topics across the battery and critical minerals sectors ahead of Fastmarkets’ Global Lithium, Battery and Critical Materials conference taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on June 22-25.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ price assessments for certain spot vegetable oil and meal prices on Thursday June 18 was delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-MNO-0002 manganese ore semi carbonate index, 36.5% Mn, fob Port Elizabeth, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 5 due to incorrect source data.

A surplus in bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pulp has driven US prices down by $20 per tonne, while bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) prices rose by $50 per tonne.

Fastmarkets has launched two daily Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate prices on Thursday June 4.

Copper producers, including Atlas Mining, reported higher earnings in the first quarter of 2026 on the back of elevated copper prices, while concentrate output declined at several operations in Chile, Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines due to lower ore grades and disruptions, according to company results reviewed by Fastmarkets.

Alex Kershaw unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions. From the US and Europe to Turkey and China, the discussion explores how rising energy and freight costs are lifting prices despite weak steel demand.

In this short episode of Fast Forward, Alex Kershaw, senior analyst for steel, raw materials and ferrous scrap at Fastmarkets, unpacks the recent volatility in global scrap steel markets and what is driving price movements across key regions.