A domestic price mechanism for lithium in the US is essential to bring transparency to the industry in order to successfully secure supply of the critical mineral, Graham Harris, chairman and director at Surge Battery Metals, told Fastmarkets in an interview.

As the US heads to the polls to vote for its next presidential candidate in what many have characterized as one of the closest races in electoral history, the energy sector hangs in the balance.

Explore the global green steel markets as they evolve with new policies and a changing economic landscape in 2026.

The 2025 Fastmarkets Lithium Conference in Las Vegas highlighted critical issues shaping the battery supply chain, including lithium oversupply, funding struggles and the need for midstream investment. Discussions also emphasized the importance of interdependence with China and the challenges faced by recyclers amid policy uncertainty and market headwinds.

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.

A key provision in the Clean Fuel Production Credit (CFPC) could exclude tax credits for producers who engage in a common ethanol sales practice, sources told Fastmarkets on Thursday June 12.

The battery raw materials markets continued to be confused and uncertain because of the requirements about the sourcing of key raw materials set out by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday July 12

Despite considerable progress in the year since the passage of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), investment related to the legislation has slowed and its ultimate effectiveness remains to be seen, the vice president and director of the Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Center for Critical Minerals Strategy said

Producers in Arkansas' Smackover Formation are advancing lithium extraction projects following recent regulatory approvals. Supported by oil and gas expertise and state incentives, the region is positioning itself as a key player in the US lithium supply chain.

Electric vehicle (EV) battery makers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are willing to pay a premium for Inflation Reduction Act-compliant material, according to a top executive at US-based natural graphite producer and processor Westwater Resources Inc.