Imerys has placed its Imerys British Lithium (IBL) project into care and maintenance, suspending active development for the foreseeable future as it reassesses capital allocation and seeks a long-term partner, the company announced on Friday February 20.

The US and Canadian steel industries are “aligned” in trade policies, and the imposition of Section 232 tariffs against Canada is “unjustified,” Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) vice president for trade and industry affairs Francois Desmarais told Fastmarkets in an exclusive interview on Friday February 6.

The US is being very creative not only in providing funding for projects but also in finding sustainable ways to develop a Western supply of rare earths, Aclara Resources chief executive officer Ramón Barúa Costa told Fastmarkets in an interview on Monday February 9.

The build-out of the Indian battery and critical mineral supply chain requires an integrated approach in terms of government policy, investment and subsidies and technology, market participants said during the inaugural Fastmarkets India Battery & Critical Minerals conference in New Delhi, India, over February 2-3.

Indonesia’s palm oil exports in December reached 2.62 million tonnes, according to data from cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services (ITS), with the figure comprising exports of palm oil and its derivatives, palm kernel oil and oleochemicals.

Learn about the recent trends in AI metals costs and their effect on lithium, copper and aluminium prices for energy storage.

Guinea bauxite exports have surged in 2025, driven by record shipments to China and reinforcing Guinea’s dominance in the global bauxite market. As oversupply weighs on alumina prices, market participants are increasingly focused on cost control, freight management and transparent FOB pricing mechanisms.

Read an extract from Fastmarkets' strategic guide for procurement professionals, equipping you with modern risk management techniques to protect operations and adapt swiftly to uncertainty.

The Supreme Court is examining whether former President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing IEEPA tariffs during a national emergency, a case that could redefine the limits of presidential power and influence global trade dynamics.

Canada has officially designated select minerals - including graphite, scandium, and rare earths - as national security priorities under the country's Defence Production Act, providing guaranteed buyers for some domestic producers and signalling a move closer to government-backed price floors.