Fastmarkets BRM

12/04/2024

Despite low recycling rates of rare earth magnets, there's a clear desire to pivot towards more sustainable practices within the industry.

In her latest article, Sofia Okun outlines the most common recycling technologies for rare earth magnets and explores the practical use cases they support.

Is there a single best way of recycling rare earth magnets? Can recycling advancements in the sector meet the rising demand for sustainability?

Learn more: https://fmrkts.com/3Uecczn

Read more about how recycling end-of-life rare earth magnets is an early-stage industry with a range of methods globally and low recycling rates - but there is appetite for change

02/04/2024

Over 250 industry pros with tickets can’t be wrong…

The Fastmarkets Asian Battery Raw Materials Conference 2024 is shaping up to be an unmissable event!
💡 Get insights from industry giants like POSCO, Albemarle and Pilbara Minerals
🤝 Connect with people who become partners, from every corner of the supply chain
🌏 Understand Asian markets – and regional business opportunities – like never before

Just a month until the future of the Asian battery materials industry unfolds! Secure your front-row seat to breaking news, innovative insights, and strategic revelations from industry leaders. Don’t be left on the outside looking in.

Register: https://fmrkts.com/3J1O0Kh

29/11/2023

Battery swapping, popular in China and Taiwan, allows battery-powered vehicles to switch a depleted battery with a fully charged one within minutes.

🔋 Faster: A battery swap can take a few minutes, while fully charging an EV can take hours
🔋 Convenient: Drivers don’t have to wait for their vehicle to charge and can get on with their day
🔋 Efficient: Battery swapping is more energy efficient than traditional charging

As battery swapping becomes more popular, will we see increased demand for key battery materials?

⏬ Read the latest from Phoebe O'Hara to learn more:
https://fmrkts.com/3sVkZeW

Stay on top of price trends and forecasts for the battery materials market.

⏬ Download our free BRM short-term forecast now: https://fmrkts.com/3RkGCij

27/09/2023

Delegates at Fastmarkets’ European Battery Raw Materials Conference in Amsterdam, held September 18-20, discussed their expectations and the likely developments in the global battery raw materials markets.

Here are five key takeaways:
* Sodium-ion batteries are on hold
* EU black mass market awaits ‘level playing field’ on export codes
* Price premium required for non-Chinese manganese sulfate, producers say
* Industry calls for further government support in Europe
* Sustainability pricing is front-of-mind for the value chain

Read more in this article: https://fmrkts.com/3LD3m9Z.

Connect with our team: Callum Perry, Lee Allen, Sayaka Kurata, Solomon Cefai.

25/07/2023

Last month, Fastmarkets hosted the 15th Lithium Supply and BRM 2023 Conference. We welcomed 1,000+ BRM, EV, and ESS industry professionals in Las Vegas.

Here are nine key insights from the event.

If you missed us in Vegas, join us at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 18-20 September.

Register: https://fmrkts.com/47gZS6j*

12/07/2023

In the quest for a more sustainable future, the role of battery technology is key. Battery demand has surged, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of battery materials.

Muthu Krishna, our battery manufacturing cost modeler, uses the Fastmarkets NewGen Battery Cost Index to explore forecasts and insights for the key battery raw materials.

Key highlights:
Insights into the cost of each battery material across various regions
An in-depth look at regional variations in battery costs
Battery material supply constraints and the impact on raw material costs
Whether smaller battery packs are the solution to the battery raw material supply crunch

Read more: https://fmrkts.com/44G4ssx.

As the battery materials market continues to experience price volatility, we use the Fastmarkets NewGen Battery Cost Index to explore future cell costs and discover whether smaller battery packs offer a solution to the raw material supply crunch

28/10/2022

Risk is in the air. Aggressive EV goals from automakers and battery makers and policies from the European and US governments run counter to the supply and price risk reality. Although we are seeing signs of reduced supply risk globally, costs remain high, and European and US markets still face acute risks that ultimately impact automakers’ and battery makers’ strategies and bottom lines. Something has to give.

Join us on November 15, 2022, at 3:30 GMT as we discuss the risks and possible innovations in the European and US battery and EV markets.

Register: https://fmrkts.com/3ffEEiU

Risk is in the air. Aggressive EV goals from automakers and battery makers and policies from the European and US governments run counter to the supply and price risk reality.

27/10/2022

The promise of the EV market is extraordinary, both as a key step to address climate change and as a critical growth opportunity for automakers.
Although supply-demand balance suggests market equilibrium at the global level, stubborn realities exist for battery materials that may hinder that realization in European and US markets.
Read more in our latest article: https://fmrkts.com/3TZbR0L

Join us for a webinar on November 15, 2022, at 3:30 GMT as we discuss the risks and possible innovations in the European and US battery and EV markets.
Register: https://fmrkts.com/3TG7Min

Read our latest report on how high battery costs could create headwinds for the EV revolution. With prices for critical battery materials including lithium, cobalt and graphite remaining high, how will this complicate the road ahead for battery prices to reach

25/10/2022

Washington's growing financial support for companies that produce metals used in electric vehicles will likely prove fruitless unless the federal government streamlines the mine permitting process, investors, executives, and consultants told Reuters.

"What really needs to happen is not for permitting to be relaxed, but to be expedited to ensure we can build the mines that can supply the automakers," said our battery raw materials analyst, Jordan Roberts.

Read the full article here: https://fmrkts.com/3FgxTrM.

For more of the latest insights and market news, visit Fastmarkets NewGen here: https://fmrkts.com/3gGdUbI.

Washington's growing financial support for companies that produce metals used in electric vehicles will likely prove fruitless unless the federal government streamlines the mine permitting process, investors, executives and consultants told Reuters.

19/10/2022

The graphite supply chain needs standardization to encourage and increase investment. Without this, supply deficits will continue to challenge the market.

Graphite is a key component for EV batteries. As demand from gigafactories in Europe increases, how will the market keep up?

We’ve highlighted insights gained from the following industry leaders at the Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials conference:

- Hugues Jacquemin – CEO of Northern Graphite
- Kevin Smith – managing director of Traxys
- David Christensen – managing director of Renascor

Find out more: https://fmrkts.com/3sbPzgp

The graphite industry needs increased standardization along the chain toward active anode materials in order to attract investment, according to participants on a panel at Fastmarkets' Battery Raw Materials conference in Barcelona, Spain

18/10/2022

The recycling sector has seen major signs of development in the last week with company announcements of new plants to come online - this includes Li-Cycle. The company announced opening its fourth battery recycling plant in Alabama last week.

Li-Cycle's vice president of commercial and corporate development, Elewout Depicker, explains how recycled sources are expected to contribute 5-15% of global lithium supply by 2030 and this will go up to 30-40% by 2040.

Click to watch the full video where he unpacks the barriers currently facing the battery recycling industry and explains how recycling can be advanced https://fmrkts.com/3TvCKJu

12/10/2022

The US and Europe are set to contribute just 6% and 4% to total global lithium production in 2032. While demand from each region is forecast to reach 8% and 25% respectively. There is a marked gap in supply and demand, especially within Europe.

The chart below demonstrates a global view of our lithium supply-demand forecast heading towards 2032 but there will be regional imbalances for the US and Europe affected by, but not limited to, geopolitics, supply sources, investment challenges and ESG requirements.

The road to electrification is volatile and moves fast. More than ever, it's essential for market participants to understand the complexities of this charged market. Get to know the market with clarity and transparency: https://fmrkts.com/3g587fC

Battery material and biofuel feedstock insights and intelligence to create transparency in a new generation of energy markets

11/10/2022

The next decade is a 5000-piece puzzle for lithium market watchers. Restarts, expansions, changing trade flows and direct lithium extraction are just a few of the many knowns and unknowns that have to fit together.

Our analysts have been piecing it all together to produce their 10-year lithium forecast, and the picture is surprisingly reassuring at a global level.

At the regional level, however, the picture is starkly different. The reality of the market is stacked against producers, especially in the West, and particularly in Europe, where demand and supply seem to operate independently of one another. Inadequate response from producers threatens to slow the transition to a new generation of energy markets and transport. But experience tells us that the market won't tolerate year after year of supply deficits - with all the momentum behind decarbonization, money is bound to flow towards a set of regional solutions.

Follow Fastmarkets NewGen to stay up to date with the latest regional and global lithium market developments.

10/10/2022

LFP v NMC - which one takes the top spot?

The rise of raw material costs has created a marked cost difference between nickel-based CAMs and LFP on a kWh basis. Will this mean that LFP batteries will overtake NMC batteries for use in electric vehicles? China has been widely-using LFP for several years now but increased interest from the likes of Tesla could see LFP gain more popularity for entry-level and standard-range models.

Battery chemistry is complex and evolving at a rapid pace. Gain clarity on the details behind the data - our battery manufacturing cost modeler, Muthu Krishna, explains the drivers of current battery cost modeling trends and provides an outlook on how the supply chain will respond. Learn more: https://fmrkts.com/3CoaEcb

The sharp rise in battery raw material prices has amplified the cost difference between nickel-based CAMs and LFP, increasing interest in LFP-powered electric vehicles

05/10/2022

What are the major headwinds for the battery materials market?

The strict regulatory environment in Europe towards battery materials mining and processing is preventing the region from bringing new supplies and attracting further investment.

Lithium prices in Europe remain close to record highs while the global supply is tight. Several lithium projects have already run into high-profile challenges due to regulatory issues.

In addition, the proposed classification of lithium as a toxin by The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) could further prevent more supply and investment from coming online.

Considering the above hurdles, market participants will need pricing transparency to make informed decisions on whether to invest in battery raw material projects.

Find more details from Justin Yang: https://fmrkts.com/3CyLzMK

05/10/2022

Black mass, consequential regulatory proposals and an ESG-first approach to Europe's battery supply chain are just a few of the topics that were central to the conversations at last month.

The noise in the European BRM market is impossible to ignore. Click the link to read about the ten key talking points among industry leaders at the conference. Gain clarity and transparency on the global factors that are having the biggest influence on market participants today. Read more: https://fmrkts.com/3RCyOVK

Key talking points among delegates at Fastmarkets' Battery Raw Materials conference in Barcelona, Spain, September 20-21

03/10/2022

The lithium market has seen unprecedented levels of price volatility over the last five years. With so much change in the market, it's difficult to keep up. How can market participants understand what impact these changes are having on business decisions and manage their exposure to volatility in the future?

In the video below Peter Hannah, Fastmarkets’ senior price development manager, provides clarity on the changes occurring and explains how market participants can manage their risk exposure in the ever-changing lithium market. Find out more: https://fmrkts.com/3LYtafz

30/09/2022

Demand for EVs is only getting greater. And auto and battery makers are feeling the pressure. We're seeing four key themes that continue to drive change in the battery raw materials industry:

🔷 BRM supply/demand imbalance
🔷 Price volatility
🔷 ESG and battery recycling
🔷 EV battery innovations

Find out more about the causes and impact on the market. Learn more https://fmrkts.com/3E3HNfC

29/09/2022

With the global average trip distance being less than 15km, is there a real need for EV battery packs with super high ranges? Is increased auto market pe*******on for EVs possible without improving charging infrastructure in the UK and the US?

Global demand for LCE is set to grow by 400% between now and 2032. As a critical battery metal, lithium reserves need to be used efficiently. Fastmarkets' battery manufacturing cost modeler, Muthu Krishna, considers how smaller battery sizes and more investment into charging infrastructure could be the future for EVs and a way to respond to the lithium supply deficit.

The rapid changes in this market make it even more critical to understand and plan for regional and global battery production dynamics. Fastmarkets NewGen provides battery material insights and intelligence to create transparency in a new generation of energy markets. Find out more: https://fmrkts.com/3y1Q0wX

Battery material and biofuel feedstock insights and intelligence to create transparency in a new generation of energy markets

27/09/2022

We continue to see headwinds for electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the UK as the surge in energy prices drives up charging costs.

Charging costs have increased 40% in the last four months, which creates another affordability speed bump for EV adoption. According to the RAC, the costs of charging an EV and filling up a traditional car with petrol are almost on par.

With the cost impact of rising energy costs set to further affect consumers, will this hinder electrification in the UK? Find out more: https://fmrkts.com/3UJBgNe

According to recent findings by motoring association, RAC, rising charging costs could hinder electrification in the UK

27/09/2022

We’re pleased to share that SGX Group has launched battery raw materials contracts for cobalt and lithium futures - both are referenced on our benchmark prices for these markets.

With demand and volatility for both cobalt and lithium continuing to increase, there is a more critical need to manage price risk. By working closely with partners across the supply chain, the SGX launch demonstrates the breadth of expertise we have gained in the lithium and cobalt markets over the last 30+ years.

Trading activity for the new prices got off to a great start with contracts completed for cobalt metal, cobalt hydroxide and lithium carbonate on launch day!

Learn about lithium and cobalt market growth, lithium supply and demand dynamics, the impact of raw material prices on cathode and battery costs and more - Click to access our interactive data charts and discover our risk management solutions https://fmrkts.com/3E1rM9Z

Read more about the SGX launch of four battery metal derivatives contracts, cash-settled against Fastmarkets' lithium and cobalt price assessments

21/09/2022

Day one of got off to a fantastic start yesterday with keynote speeches from industry leaders across the global battery material supply chain.

Highlights included:

🔷 The case for building a sustainable battery industry with Ilka von Dalwigk and Giorgio Corbetta.
🔷 A conversation that explored the challenges and opportunities for creating a localized and sustainable supply chain in Europe with Matti Hietanen of Finnish Minerals Group, Akanksha Middya of Britishvolt, Ryan Parking of Infinity Lithium, Francisco Carranza of Basquevolt and Massimo Gasparon of EIT Raw Materials.
🔷 A hotly debated panel discussion on whether EU policymakers will class lithium as toxic with Roland Chavasse of ILiA, Giorgio Corbetta of EUROBAT, Richard Taylor of Green Lithium, Francesco Gattiglio of Albemarle and Violane Verougstraete of Eurometaux.
🔷 An inspiring talk by Ignacio Mehech on how Albemarle is producing lithium sustainably and ethically.

It's clear that there is a need for standardizing sustainability and ESG, that more investment is needed upstream and that permitting in Europe is a challenge that continues to create bottlenecks in the supply of battery materials.

With a big question mark over Europe's current state of geopolitics, regulations and supply complexities, it's even more crucial for market participants to keep on top of trends.

See some highlights below and be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates from day two -

20/09/2022

The urgent drive towards sustainability has given rise to a new generation of renewable power and has placed greater attention on low-carbon commodities and supply chains. The challenge is that we are unlikely to see a graceful energy transition; instead, an urgent and volatile transition that places an extraordinary premium on transparency and clarity.

Fastmarkets NewGen gives our customers the clarity and confidence for making decisions in a new generation of energy markets and low-carbon supply chains.

Through a comprehensive portfolio of products to market from price data to long-term forecasts, Fastmarkets NewGen enables our customers to make the right investment and trading decisions based on trusted data.

The world is changing at a startling magnitude and pace - the global energy market is at the center of that change. Fastmarkets NewGen provides critical transparency and clarity in the new generation of energy markets and low-carbon supply chains to help build a more sustainable world

Find out more: https://fmrkts.com/3R21rLQ

20/09/2022

Fastmarkets announces the launch of Fastmarkets NewGen - an expanded set of products that provides transparency and clarity for a new generation of energy markets

The critical drive towards sustainability has given rise to a new generation of renewable power and has placed greater attention on low-carbon commodities and supply chains. Battery materials and biofuel feedstock are the critical resources that will enable renewable energy sources to power vehicles and energy storage systems. Low-carbon grades of commodities, which leverage recycled materials and clean energy sources, are critical to reducing the carbon intensity of supply chains.

Fastmarkets NewGen delivers a comprehensive portfolio of price data, news, analytics and forecasts, serving the critical needs of participants and investors in those markets. Fastmarkets NewGen gives context and meaning to today’s dynamics and provides long-term forecasts to navigate the accelerating transition to a new generation of energy markets.

“We are seeing a global shift to address the impact of climate change and the emergence of a new generation of energy markets that have vastly different supply chains and price dynamics,” said Raju Daswani, CEO of Fastmarkets. “Battery materials and biofuel feedstock will be as heavily traded and consumed in the future as oil and gas is today. Fastmarkets NewGen will provide market participants and investors with the best data and information to make the right investment and trading decisions and will play an important part in supporting the transition to a more sustainable planet.”

Read the full release: https://fmrkts.com/3DBrNkN

An expanded suite of products critical for a new generation of energy markets

20/09/2022

Doors are officially open! Welcome to everyone joining us at the European Battery Raw Materials conference 2022!

We want to see your highlights and photo's from the event - don't forget to use the official event hashtag - . Follow us for live updates over on our Twitter page -

A big thank you to all our sponsors for their support with our biggest ever event! With 300+ attendees and 60+ industry experts speaking we know this will be an illuminating two days of networking, learning and sharing. We hope you're excited as we are!

16/09/2022

To understand how recycling contributes to filling the lithium supply gap, we spoke with Elewout Depicker, vice president of commercial and corporate development for Li-Cycle.

He discussed the current barriers to recycling and explained what the battery industry can do to advance recycling processes.

Can battery recycling be the answer to securing lithium supply? Watch the video to find out what Elewout thinks https://fmrkts.com/3QK1VGd

Hear from Elewout Depicker, vice president commercial and corporate development for Li-Cycle, as he explains the most significant barriers to battery recycling as well as what the industry can do to advance these processes