Benchmark Mineral Intelligence

Reported By Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation AnodeSynthetic GraphiteNatural GraphiteGraphite Benchmark Mineral Intelligence has expanded its Graphite & Anode Service with the addition of two new EV-specific anode active material (AAM) price forecasts: Synthetic Graphite Anode High Energy, DDP China, ≥99.97% C, 350–370 mAh/g (>2.5C) Natural Graphite Anode High Energy, DDP China, ≥99.97% C, 360–370 mAh/g (>2.5C) The new grades are forecast through to...

Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in EV and battery supply chain research and insights, reports that 2.0 million electric vehicles were sold globally in June 2026, bringing YTD 2026 EV sales to 9.6 million. In June 2026, EV sales increased by 7% year-on-year (y-o-y) and by 11% month-on-month (m-o-m).

Reported By Edited By Benjamin Roche Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains Critical MineralsRaw MaterialsLithium Image credit: EnergyX US direct lithium extraction (DLE) firm EnergyX has closed ~US$1bn of financing for Project Black Giant, a 52,500tpa lithium carbonate development at Salar de Punta Negra, without a Contrato Especial de Operación de Litio (CEOL), the licence required to operate.

Reported By Edited By Benjamin Roche Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains LithiumCritical MineralsRaw Materials Chilean lithium project Salar Futuros’ recent filing reveals an annual capacity ambition of 470,000 tonnes LCE, but it is likely to face regulatory challenges in meeting this target.

Reported By Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation The US is reportedly considering a ban on Chinese-made inverters, citing security risk concerns similar to those outlined by the European Commission in May. Inverters are a key component of solar installations, converting the DC generated by photovoltaics into AC for the grid.

Reported By Benjamin Roche Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains And Bryan Bille Lead Analyst - Government Policy Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation CobaltCopperCritical MineralsRaw MaterialsLithiumGeopolitics The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the world’s leading supplier of mined cobalt, supplying three quarters of 2025 cobalt, and is the second largest supplier of mined copper, supplying 15% in 2025.

Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation LithiumCritical MineralsRaw Materials Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation LithiumCritical MineralsRaw Materials CATL's Jianxiawo restart will lift Jiangxi's near-term lithium output, but offsetting suspensions and deferrals elsewhere in the province leave Benchmark's Q2 lithium forecast supply balance and price forecast essentially unchanged.

Reported By Edited By Benjamin Roche Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains CopperCritical MineralsRaw Materials Chilean copper mining group Antofagasta has, according to reports, settled a spot index-linked sale of copper concentrates. This is unusual, as Antofagasta ordinarily sell at set levels rather than floating, spot-linked sales.

Reported By Zoey Zuo Senior Analyst - Lithium And Edited By Matthew Bird Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation LithiumCritical MineralsRaw Materials CATL can likely restart its Jianxiawo lepidolite lithium mine after securing a safety production permit. Benchmark has seen a copy of the permit certificate, which was considered the last official hurdle CATL needed to overcome to resume production at the mine which has been idle since August 2025.

Reported By Edited By Benjamin Roche Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Polestar is to exit the US market after the US Department of Commerce said it would not grant the majority-Chinese-owned, Sweden-based company authorisation to sell its vehicles in the country. Only 6% of its retail sales came from the US in Q1 2026, the company has said.