This new service will summarise all the key developments in the battery supply chain from EVs to lithium-ion cell production; anodes & cathodes to their critical raw materials: cobalt, graphite, lithium & nickel.

Highlights this issue include:

• Glencore reports 15% decrease in H1 output at Murrin Murrin; cobalt supply issues persist
• BMW commits to electric offerings of all models; UK chosen for production of all-electric Mini
• Rio Tinto signs lithium MOU with Serbian government for development of jadarite project
• Tesla to begin Model 3 deliveries ahead of schedule
• VW commits $800m to zero-emission vehicle use in California, including 400 charging stations
• Alta Motors confirmed to speak at Benchmark’s inaugural Cathodes 2017 conference in Newport Beach, CA

For analysis of these developments and more, become a Benchmark Member today.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence 

THE GREATEST GAME OF ALL 2.0

In the mid-1930s Standard Oil of California had won the right to explore and drill for oil in the Saudi Arabian desert by paying the hefty sum of $275,000. The more Middle East dominant British had declined the opportunity, citing there was no oil to be found. As it would turn out, a tremendous amount of oil was discovered. So in March of 1939 Harold Ickes, the US Secretary of the Interior, dispatched Everette DeGolyer, America’s foremost geologist, to assess the discovery and provide a detailed report as to the potential of the new discovery. It would not be necessary, for the message back to the United States…

BASF TARGETS CATHODE SUPPLY SECURITY

Chemicals and cathodes giant BASF announced that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Russian nickel behemoth Norilsk Nickel for the supply of nickel and cobalt for the its next generation of battery cathode materials, to be produced in Europe.
In a press release dated 27th June, the world’s leading chemical company highlighted their intention to spend up to €400m ($456m) in the “first step” to building “industry-leading” cathode production facilities in…

COBALT

• Cobalt sulphate prices show marginal decreases in China due to summer slowdown and reduced open market purchasing from CATL
• China Molybdenum and Ningbo Shanshan sign strategic framework agreement for future projects as well right to first refusal for cobalt material over any expansion at the Tenke mine
• Volkswagen revises company’s 2025 battery cell demand forecast up 33% to 200GWh
• Metal production issues plague producers with reports of continued feed supply issues at ERG’s Chambishi project; Glencore’s Murrin Murrin in Australia down 15% in H1 2017 yoy
• For latest market price assessments, subscribe to Benchmark’s Cobalt Data service here