Spodumene prices rose on Wednesday November 6 as Chinese lithium producers restocked, but news of the US election result late in the session weakened sentiment.

Donald Trump has previously said he plans to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), at least partially, and rescind its unspent funds.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Thursday October 31 a further $44.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for eight projects to lower the costs of recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries and EV battery components to ultimately decrease overall EV costs.

Li-Cycle announced on Thursday October 31 that it had entered an agreement with Glencore to sell 100% of the premium nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) production at its stalled hub in Rochester, New York – a step that could support Li-Cycle’s efforts to finalize a loan with the US Department of Energy (DOE).

African material will remain part of the tantalum supply chain regardless of the lithium market, according to Ian Margerison, executive marketing manager at the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (TIC).

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s cash-settled spodumene concentrate futures contract was traded for the first time on Monday October 28, the day the contract launched.

On Thursday October 24, the US Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released the final rules regarding the Section 45X credits under the US Internal Revenues Code. The final rules clarify definitions and confirm credit amounts for eligible components, including solar and wind energy, inverters, qualifying battery components and applicable critical minerals. […]

The Vancouver, Canada-based Lithium Americas (LAC) entered into a new $625-million investment agreement with the US automaker General Motors (GM) for establishing a joint venture to fund, develop, construct and operate LAC’s Thacker Pass lithium mine, the company announced on Wednesday October 16.

British experts have called for a renewed focus on domestic resources, similar to Brazil’s efforts in the mining sector, with the South American country moving to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals market

The adoption of decarbonization technologies and greener practices in Asia will be pivotal to the global steel industry achieving is emissions reductions targets, according to Christopher Lilholm, head of global key account at Norwegian risk management business DNV.