The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced cobalt export quotas following the suspension period, setting limits on shipments while outlining future allocations. The policy is designed to balance global supply and demand while supporting the country’s ambition to develop domestic processing capacity.

Mexico will impose tariffs on around 1,400 imported products from countries with which it does not have a trade agreement, according to Mexican government officials, in a move that industry sources say signals alignment with the US but could have “mixed effects” for the steel industry.

The global battery supply chain race is transforming economic influence, with gigafactories, raw material sourcing and recycling strategies shaping the future of electrification and energy storage

Europe’s battery industry is being urged to prioritise energy storage systems over electric vehicle competition with China, as rising AI-driven power demand and grid pressures highlight the need for scalable storage solutions.

The Mexican aluminium industry is navigating trade challenges as it seeks closer alignment with the US while reducing dependence on China, amid rising scrap prices, proposed tariffs and ongoing pricing uncertainty.

Discover insights on Latin America’s forest products, from sustainability efforts to its position in a global oversupply market.

Copper demand in data centers is accelerating as artificial intelligence drives higher power needs, advanced cooling systems and greater infrastructure requirements. This trend highlights both the opportunities and challenges around sustainability, domestic production and global supply chains.

Latin America, led by Brazil, is becoming a significant global soybean producer. This article explores how the region can navigate opportunities and risks amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics in 2025 and beyond.

Chinese zinc smelters rejected Teck Resources’ proposal that they absorb the cost of a 10% reciprocal tariff against the US on the Canadian miner’s shipments of zinc concentrates from its Red Dog mine in Alaska, sources told Fastmarkets, highlighting the challenges producers are navigating as geopolitical risks rise.

Tristan Pascall, chief executive officer of Vancouver-based First Quantum Minerals, gave an exclusive interview with Fastmarkets on Friday August 29, in which he explains why Africa is the best place to build large copper mines, and gave his opinion of the outlook for the nickel, gold and copper sectors.