News
Cautiously bullish then downward pressure: Q2 Cobalt Price Review
1+ day, 16+ hour ago (144+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Price Analyst - Rare Earths & Battery Minerals Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains In Q2 2026, cobalt prices have been characterised by growing downward pressure, as the supply-side support that defined Q1 proved insufficient to counteract the widespread weakness in spot buying…...
China to end vehicle tax exemption for PHEVs and REEVs in 2027
3+ day, 8+ hour ago (120+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation Starting 1 January 2027, China will remove the annual “Vehicle and Vessel” tax exemption that has applied since 2012 to: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), including range-extended EVs (REEVs); commercial battery electric vehicles (BEV);…...
VW Group explores restructuring amidst Europe auto overcapacity
3+ day, 9+ hour ago (818+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains VW Group plans to halve its model lineup as part of an upcoming restructure where it aims to cut costs by 20% and to keep the group competitive in a shifting automotive industry....
January lithium export curbs loom over Zimbabwe mining conference
4+ day, 13+ hour ago (116+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains Tensions between lithium miners in Zimbabwe and the country’s government, which plans to introduce a ban on concentrate exports in January 2027, dominated conversations at the recent Zimbabwe Chamber of Mine’s Annual Mining…...
CATL secures safety production permit for Jianxiawo lithium mine
2+ week, 3+ day ago (112+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Senior Analyst - Lithium Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation 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…...
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for New Energy Systems: Key Takeaways
3+ week, 1+ day ago (143+ words) China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for New Energy System Development: Key Takeaways Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains China’s government has released its latest Five-Year Plan for New Energy System Development, setting out a range of new 2030 targets for its…...
China targets US rare earth and defence entities with export ban
3+ week, 2+ day ago (144+ words) China targets US rare earth and defence-linked entities with dual-use export ban Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Senior Analyst - Rare Earths Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation China has added 10 US entities to its export control list, prohibiting exports of dual-use items…...
What does Jinzifeng–Huashan merger mean Jiangxi lithium supply?
3+ week, 2+ day ago (121+ words) What does the Jinzifeng–Huashan merger mean for Jiangxi’s lithium supply? Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Product Director - Lithium Senior Analyst - Lithium Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation Yongxing and Canmax have announced plans to merge two adjacent lepidolite mines in Jiangxi,…...
EU looking to close loophole for Chinese PHEVs
4+ week, 1+ day ago (114+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains The European Commission is looking to impose additional countervailing duties on PHEVs made in China, with an anti-subsidy investigation reportedly underway. Chinese BEVs have been subject to countervailing duties since late 2024 at…...
LiPF6 electrolyte price is a leading indicator of lithium prices
4+ week, 1+ day ago (114+ words) Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation As the lithium market continues to mature, participants are increasingly looking to untangle the speculative forces exacerbating volatility in lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices from true cell demand signals. The chemical…...