Across the main auto markets, growth in electric vehicles is booming.

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution will first emerge as a mixture of differing technologies, powered by an ever-evolving battery-metal-mix of cathodes.

The industry is asking whether consumers will opt for natural or artificial material, and how this will shape global consumption.

The focus on lithium-ion batteries seems to reflect supply and demand of lithium and cobalt but it would be very wrong not to include nickel.

Metal bulletin reasearch’s forecast is for the lithium market to shift into a supply surplus this year and as such we have expected prices to fall.

Chinese cobalt sulfate prices continued to edge lower although the pace of decline has slowed as spot prices have fallen to below production costs.

The global smartphone market accounts for the largest consumer electronics segment, accounting for around half of its market share.

Metal processing and mining industries in the Asia-Pacific region have welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that will reduce barriers to trade between 12 countries.

Coal of Africa (CoAL) will require more capital to fund its Makhado coking coal project in South Africa’s Limpopo province, even after securing around $60 million of new debt and equity financing, an analyst told Metal Bulletin.

BHP Billiton has defended its power contracts and usage, following accusations that the miner continues to produce aluminium at its smelters with subsidised electricity while power shedding on the national grid requires others in the country to switch off.

Government regulations might hinder the growth of Asia-Pacific bauxite production, which is expected to rise to meet growing regional aluminum demand for aluminum, according to a report from GBI Research.

The drive by major ferro-chrome producers to get the South African government to impose a $100-per-tonne export tax on chrome ore is meeting resistance.