Supply chains spotlight

How supply chain disruptions and changing trade flows are impacting commodity markets

The complexities and opacity of global supply chains impact all commodity markets. The drive towards a low-carbon, sustainable future is giving rise to a new generation of markets with vastly different supply chains that pose new challenges and opportunities for all market participants.

We’ve seen not only how labor shortages due to the Covid-19 pandemic have affected the global production and distribution of metals and mining as well as forest products, but also how Russia’s war on Ukraine has vastly altered the movement of grains and oilseeds.

For new generation energy markets, recent policy changes and new regulations on the nearshoring of battery materials are adding a new layer of complexity to this supply chain.

If you’re interested in talking to us about how our insights and intelligence can help you create supply chain efficiency and transparency, get in contact today.

Read the latest news and analysis on supply chain issues

The prices for standard-grade cobalt metal in China and Europe narrowed on Wednesday April 5, sparked by weaker market sentiment resulting from a fall in cobalt intermediate prices in Asia

Market participants in the cobalt supply chain continue to face logistical hurdles when looking to ship out material from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the port of Durban in South Africa

More businesses are turning to price reporting agencies like Fastmarkets and chief procurement officers (CPOs) are looking for protection against adverse price movements and to identify new buying opportunities

GEM, China’s battery material producer, has signed a memorandum of understanding with SK on and ECOPRO Materials to establish a joint venture (JV) precursor plant in South Korea

The market for batteries is growing, creating new challenges in sustainability and availability of raw materials. An overview from Battery Monitor 22 by Wolfgang Bernhart from Roland Berger

Recycling is increasingly being considered the best way to reduce carbon emissions from metals production, and huge investment in recycling facilities has been seen in recent years, with robust merger and acquisitions activity

Understand the price data behind the stories
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