Thomas Kavanagh, Editor - Battery Materials, provides an overview of battery materials market with key updates on electric vehicles, lithium, cobalt, nickel and more, including:
- EV market update: tariff wars heat up
- Lithium: production cuts
- Cobalt: Chinese exports increase
- Nickel: uncertainty reigns
Spotlight content
Related metals news
India-UK FTA cuts tariffs on Indian auto imports
India-UK FTA cuts tariffs on Indian auto imports
Mumbai, 8 May (Argus) — The free trade agreement (FTA) finalised between India and the UK early on 6 May will cut tariffs on cars imported from the UK to 10pc from over 100pc earlier under a quota. The landmark FTA follows several rounds of negotiations between India and the UK that were first launched in January 2022. The import duty cuts are expected to make UK-manufactured cars more affordable for Indian consumers. Cosmetics, whisky and gin exports from the UK will also benefit from tariff reduction, the UK government said. Tariffs will also be eliminated on 99pc of Indian goods imported into the UK. This is likely to boost exports of auto parts and other goods such as textiles, footwear and gems and jewellery to the UK, according to the Indian government. Indian exported $21.2bn worth of auto components in the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year, 32pc of which went to Europe, government data show. "The FTA will be integral in opening new growth avenues and enhancing export potential for auto component and electric vehicle (EV) materials manufacturers," Indian firm Epsilon Carbon managing director Vikram Handa said. Total trade in goods and services between India and the UK stood at £42.6bn ($56.7bn) in 2024. After the FTA, bilateral trade is expected to increase by £25.5bn each year, according to the UK government. Non-ferrous metals, metal ores and scrap and mechanical power generators were among the top exported goods from the UK to India last year. For India, refined oil, clothing and telecoms and pharmaceutical products accounted for a major share of exports to the UK. Exports of iron and steel products from India to the UK rose by nearly 70pc on the year to £489.2mn in 2024, UK government data show. By Amruta Khandekar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Fed holds rate, awaits 'clarity' on tariffs: Update
US Fed holds rate, awaits 'clarity' on tariffs: Update
Adds Powell comments, CME, GDP data. Houston, 7 May (Argus) — US Federal Reserve policymakers kept their target interest rate flat today for a third time this year, noting that economic "uncertainty" has increased, while signaling they would continue to monitor the impacts of the new US administration's policies before adjusting monetary policy. The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50pc. The Fed has held the target rate unchanged this year after three rate cuts late last year lowered the target rate by 100 basis points from a two-decade high of 5.25-5.5pc after the Fed sharply hiked rates from near zero to battle inflation that topped 9pc in 2022 during the overheated recovery from the Covid-19 slump. "If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they are likely to generate a rise in inflation, a slowdown in economic growth, and an increase in unemployment," Fed chair Jerome Powell told reporters after the decision. "All of these policies are still evolving however, and their effects on the economy remain highly uncertain." Powell also noted that "we are entering a new phase where the administration is entering into beginning talks with a number of our important trading partners and that has the potential to change the picture materially." US economic growth contracted by an annual 0.3pc in the first quarter of 2025 following 2.4pc growth in the fourth quarter. It was the first quarter of negative growth in three years and raised concerns that the US may be entering a recession amid a raft of poor consumer and business confidence surveys. But Powell pointed out that the driver of the first-quarter contraction was a "distortion" caused by a spike in imports, which subtracts from GDP growth, as businesses stocked up on inventory from abroad to get ahead of the tariff impacts. Overall, he said, "the economy is growing at a solid pace, the labor market appears to be solid. Inflation is running a bit above 2pc. So it's an economy that's been resilient and in good shape." The Fed earlier penciled in two likely quarter point rate cuts this year, but the administration of President Donald Trump's chaotic rolling out of tariff and federal spending policies has continued to push back the likelihood of cuts to the federal funds rate, as measured by the CME's FedWatch tool, to the back half of the year. FedWatch, after Wednesday's decision, sees a 23.3pc probability of a quarter point cut at the June Fed meeting, down from 30.5pc Tuesday. Odds of a quarter point cut in July were little changed at 57pc from the prior day. "Ultimately we think our policy rate is in a good place to stay as we await further clarity on tariffs and ultimately their implications for the economy," Powell said. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Fed holds rate steady, keeping eye on tariffs
US Fed holds rate steady, keeping eye on tariffs
Houston, 7 May (Argus) — US Federal Reserve policymakers kept their target interest rate flat today for a third time this year, noting that economic "uncertainty" has increased while signaling they would continue to monitor the impacts of the new US administration's tariffs and other policies before adjusting monetary policy. The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50pc. The Fed has held the target rate unchanged this year after three rate cuts late last year lowered the target rate by 100 basis points from a two-decade high of 5.25-5.5pc. "Uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased further," the FOMC said in its statement. Policymakers "will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks" in considering additional adjustments to the target rate, the statement said, echoing language from prior statements. Fed funds futures markets early Wednesday gave a 73pc probability the Fed's first rate cut of 2025 would be at the July meeting. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
High sulphur prices pressure Indonesian buyers
High sulphur prices pressure Indonesian buyers
Singapore, 7 May (Argus) — Steep increases in sulphur prices, against expectations of lower future nickel demand, and falling nickel prices since last year are pressuring metals producers in Indonesia, and some are considering postponing new projects. Sulphur is used as a raw material in the production of nickel intermediates such as nickel matte and mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), through the rotary kiln-electric furnace (RKEF) and high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) processes, respectively. Producing 1t of MHP or nickel matte requires an estimated 10t and 15t of sulphur, respectively. Global sulphur prices began to rise in mid-2024 on firmer demand from Morocco and Indonesia. Morocco's OCP started up two sulphur burners last year that will consume 967,000 t/yr of sulphur at capacity. In Indonesia, newly commissioned HPAL production lines at QMB New Energy Materials and Halmahera Persada Lygend also added an estimated 830,000 t/yr of sulphur demand. Uncertainty over Kazakh and Russian sulphur export availability because of EU sanctions also created uncertainty over available supply in the region. Tighter supply, compounded by competing Chinese and Indonesian demand after the Lunar New Year holidays, spurred a rally in sulphur prices in the first quarter of the year. Fob Middle East sulphur prices more than tripled to $285.5/t fob as of 1 May from $86/t a year earlier, Argus assessments show. Cfr Indonesia granular sulphur prices rose by $185/t to $297/t cfr over the same period. While sulphur prices have risen significantly over the past year, prices for Indonesian-origin nickel intermediates have been largely rangebound at $12,000-14,000/t of nickel contained since January 2024. The comparatively flat nickel prices and the rising raw material prices mean that producers' margins are narrowing further. Gross profit margins for MHP products were close to $10,000/t in 2023 before falling to around $7,000/t in 2024, according to Argus estimates. Current sulphur prices take up around 40pc of the total production cost of nickel matte, the largest portion out of other raw materials such as caustic soda, according to one metals producer. And the increased adoption of non-nickel containing battery chemistries such as lithium-iron-phosphate and higher demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have led the industry to revise its expectation of future nickel demand from the battery section. The International Nickel Study Group has forecast a nickel market surplus of 198,000t for 2025 , rising from 179,000t in 2024. But new ternary precursor cathode active materials projects will support a rise in nickel usage in the medium term, the group said. As higher raw material prices continue to chip away at producer margins, upcoming projects including QMB New Energy Materials' phase 3 in Morowali, and developments by Guangqing and Blue Sparkling Energy in Weda Bay may have to be postponed, market participants said. The three projects are expected on line this year, adding 844,000 t/yr of sulphur demand at capacity. By Chi Hin Ling, Deon Ngee Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
