Westwin Elements, America’s first nickel refinery, has secured $1.4 billion in long-term deals with Traxys, boosting the domestic critical minerals supply chain and reducing import reliance.

The Mexican aluminium market is experiencing low spot activity and pricing pressure amid ongoing tariff uncertainty and heavy reliance on US trade. Market participants are watching closely for potential trade deals that could reshape the current landscape.

Market reactions to the soon-to-be-implemented US copper tariff are driving short-term volatility and supply imbalances while fuelling long-term efforts to expand domestic production, recycling and infrastructure.

India’s ferrous scrap imports have rebounded in early 2025 but remain vulnerable due to competitive domestic DRI prices and shifting sourcing strategies by steelmakers. While near-term demand is subdued, long-term prospects depend on evolving supply chains and policy decisions.

In a move received with optimism from industry experts, the One Big Beautiful Bill allocates billions in federal funding to bolster the US critical minerals sector through multiple venues, signaling strong government support for domestic production and supply chain resilience. Market participants expect the demand effect from the introduction of timelines on 45X and repealing of 30D credits to be limited.

US copper scrap market participants are shifting from COMEX to LME pricing in response to extreme price volatility and a new 50% copper import tariff. The change is influencing discount formulas, export strategies and long-term trading dynamics across the sector.

Despite the current headwinds, strategic partnerships and continued investment in the right areas, coupled with the underlying strong long-term demand fundamentals, will pave the way for success for lithium producers, according to the participants of the executive panel during the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference, which took place from June 23-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The US and Europe must adopt long-term, consistent policies and should learn lessons from China, according to lithium industry experts speaking at Fastmarkets’ Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference in Las Vegas, US, over June 22-25.

Vale Base Metals plans to boost annual copper production to 700,000 tonnes by 2035, aiming to become a top-five global producer of nickel and copper. CEO Shaun Usmar highlights a focus on productivity, cost optimization and sustainable growth. With strong assets in Canada and Brazil, Vale is well-positioned to meet rising global demand.

The graphite industry in 2025 faces major challenges, including trade wars, high US tariffs on synthetic graphite and policy changes affecting EV manufacturing and tax credits. Low natural graphite prices, oversupply and slow EV growth make diversifying supply chains essential for market stability.