Novonix to supply graphite to VW’s PowerCo in 2027

: Battery materials, Metals
24/11/26

Synthetic graphite maker Novonix has agreed to supply a minimum of 32,000t of synthetic graphite to Volkswagen subsidiary and battery maker PowerCo under a five-year offtake agreement, starting in 2027.

The offtake agreement follows a deal agreed in May for developing and testing of Novonix's material.

Volkswagen founded PowerCo in 2022 and the firm has factories in Ontario, Salzgitter and Valencia under construction, with a planned capacity of up to 200 GWh/yr. In September, the firm scaled back construction plans to just one of two planned production lines at the Salzgitter plant on slowing electric vehicle (EV) demand.

Novonix is currently building a manufacturing facility in Tennessee with planned output of up to 20,000 t/yr of synthetic graphite.

It plans to expand capacity at the plant to 40,000 t/yr by 2025 and 150,000 t/yr by 2030 after being awarded a $100mn grant from the US Department of Energy and a $103mn tax credit for the facility.

The firm in February signed an offtake agreement with Japanese battery maker Panasonic for 10,000 t/yr of synthetic graphite over four years over 2025-28.

By Chris Welch

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24/11/29

Liberty units to be repaid in Speciality restructuring

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Japan’s Al imports rebound in October

24/11/29

Japan’s Al imports rebound in October

Shanghai, 29 November (Argus) — Japanese aluminium imports hit a peak for the year in October as buyers began restocking after a few months of inactivity. Imports of primary aluminium in October increased by 41.8pc from September and 20pc from the previous year, totalling 103,989t. This brought the total imports from January to October to 870,942t, marking a 0.6pc decrease compared with the same period last year, data from the Japanese finance ministry shows. India surpassed other major suppliers in October to become the largest supplier for the first time. Japanese buyers maintained low price expectations, pushing many suppliers to redirect their allocation to other markets owing to tight supply. Production of domestic aluminium goods in October decreased by 1.1pc year on year to 149,884t, according to the Japan Aluminium Association. Domestic shipments of aluminium products increased slightly by 1.1pc year on year to 151,077t, marking the first rise in three months. The car production and construction sectors remained quiet. Japan's domestic automobile production in October was largely stable year on year, but the number of new housing projects decreased by 0.6pc to 68,548 units in September, according to the latest industrial data. Japan's imports of secondary aluminium alloy ingots (ADC12) also hit a one-year high in October, increasing by 37.2pc year on year and reaching 110,680t, data from the finance ministry show. Japan's aluminium imports t Oct-24 Sep-24 ± % Jan-Oct 2024 Jan-Oct 2023 ± % India 22,897 1,466 1,461.6 93,753 68,942 36.0 Australia 22,830 21,997 3.8 235,745 245,798 -4.1 Brazil 14,895 11,302 31.8 142,514 137,261 3.8 UAE 10,481 5,973 75.5 93,544 76,189 22.8 New Zealand 7,983 8,497 -6.0 88,547 93,991 -5.8 South Africa 5,756 7,984 -27.9 63,314 56,827 11.4 Saudi Arabia 3,543 3,257 8.8 30,726 31,612 -2.8 Malaysia 3,199 5,807 -44.9 34,438 38,443 -10.4 Bahrain 2,207 878 151.3 15,645 30,463 -48.6 Russia 503 139 260.9 22,343 70,591 -68.3 Others 9,695 6,027 60.8 50,374 25,852 94.9 Total 103,989 73,327 41.8 870,942 875,969 -0.6 Source: Ministry of Finance Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Tharisa’s profits up on higher chrome production

24/11/28

Tharisa’s profits up on higher chrome production

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Ambatovy to complete debt restructuring by Dec

24/11/28

Ambatovy to complete debt restructuring by Dec

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Hastings signs Saudi metals refinery agreement

24/11/28

Hastings signs Saudi metals refinery agreement

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