Possible sanctions on Russian metal, lawsuits, a battle to recover trust and a slump in nickel trading after the March fiasco are just some of the headwinds facing the LME.

New restrictions on battery sourcing and critical minerals, along with price caps and income caps, take effect on Jan. 1.

Albemarle and Piedmont are among the 20 manufacturing and processing companies winning US Energy Department grants.

The global nickel market is expected to remain in deficit for a third straight year in 2023 on solid demand for battery, chip-making equipment and oil-well tubular.

The Brazilian mining giant produced 89.7 million metric tonnes, topping the 87.2 million-tonne average analyst estimate.

India's EV market is expected to reach more than $150 billion by the end of the decade.

By 2030, the Seoul-based steel giant forecasts it will have a production capacity of around 605,000 tons for cathode-active materials.

Peter Bradford had led IGO since March 2014 and was also president of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies.