Delays in US policy support for its domestic anode supply chain have made investment decisions harder, even as expectations for a medium-term supply shortage persist, Shaun Verner, chief executive officer of Australia-listed Syrah Resources, told Fastmarkets in an interview in August

CMOC expects its growth rate of cobalt supply to gradually ease in the second half of 2024, the company said on August 23. Market participants, however, were divided in their response to the announcement, with some expecting the output reduction to alleviate the current imbalance between supply and demand in parts of the market.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ Graphite amorphous 80% C, -200 mesh prices for Thursday, August 15 were delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

The Indonesian government is looking to ease its export ban on bauxite, sources familiar with the matter have told Fastmarkets

Europe’s nascent synthetic graphite sector faces a double threat with China’s overcapacity persisting and US legislation embracing protectionism at the expense of a level playing field, according to the head of a forthcoming anode material producer in Europe

The United States Trade Representative's (USTR) office announced a further extension of all China Section 301 tariff exclusions on 352 Chinese import and 77 pandemic-related categories through June 14, after which, the tariff exclusion for China’s graphite anodes will not be extended, the USTR announced on Friday May 24

Fastmarkets rounds up the key discussion points at the 30th annual Cobalt Institute conference in New York, from May 12-14.

The quarterly European ferro-chrome benchmark price will be discontinued with effect from June this year, Merafe Resources said on Monday May 20

The US Treasury Department will give automakers a two-year extension to 2027 on restrictions to some hard-to-trace minerals from China, such as graphite contained in anodes, it said in an announcement on Friday May 3

Cobalt standard grade prices were stable in the week ended Friday April 5, due to poor demand for cobalt intermediates following price increases in early February amid tight supply in Europe.