A research report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has found graphite to be the metal with the largest indicated potential shortage in the energy transition sector, followed by cobalt, vanadium and nickel

The automotive industry’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) has put the sustainability efforts of its suppliers under scrutiny, Jean-Martin Van der Hoeven, chief marketing officer of ArcelorMittal’s global automotive division, told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview.

While the fuel shortage has boosted interest in electric vehicles, it may be short-lived once the crisis is resolved.

Battery supply chain participants have prioritized securing lithium in the second half of 2021, but nickel has also been a headache for sourcing directors, who are less concerned about cobalt supplies, a Fastmarkets survey has found.

Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange were mixed this morning, Wednesday August 4, and those on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were all weaker.

Under pressure to meet rapidly growing demand from EVs and energy storage, the transformation of the lithium supply chain is speeding up.

GEM chairman Kaihua Xu has worked on building a path for recycling in China since the mid-1990s. He recalls the key steps along the way and discusses the growth and outlook for one of China’s leading recycling businesses with Susan Zou.

Volkswagen Group is seeking partnerships with battery raw material producers in order to vertically integrate and achieve security of supply and competitive prices for its minerals needs, a spokesperson for the German automaker told Fastmarkets on Thursday June 17.

As demand for battery raw materials grows, economic conditions and supply constraints are driving prices higher while labor shortages could affect the development of new lithium projects, Fastmarkets heard.

Britishvolt, a United Kingdom-based lithium-ion battery producer, has initiated fundraising plans in the United States to support its gigaplant project in Northumberland, UK, it said on Thursday April 1.