Battery materials
Overview
Growth in global electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) production has put a spotlight on battery materials. While lithium-ion batteries dominate the current market, this is a rapidly emerging technology space where improved range or charge times can quicky shift industry sentiment and investment in a different direction.
Argus is at the forefront of battery materials pricing and reporting with coverage of common battery metals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite), industry-grade cathodes and black mass. As experts in specialty metals and rare earths, we future-proof our price assessment portfolio with a range of electronic metals crucial to the manufacture of technology deployed in modern vehicles.
Our Argus Battery Materials and Argus Non-Ferrous Markets services help businesses to understand these complicated supply chains, including price volatility and sustainability challenges around future demand.
Minor metals: Battery metals
As automakers continue to invest in electric vehicle production and power companies explore infrastructure that includes energy storage programmes, the metals contained in lithium-ion batteries supporting these products has attracted interest from investors, institutions and manufacturers alike.
Argus is well positioned to provide insight into price volatility, global supply and responsible material sourcing for all manufacturers and investors in this sector.
Highlights of Argus battery materials coverage
- Understand the context of significant price movements and industry trends with a weekly PDF that highlights the most important market news across lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel and other common battery materials
- Mitigate risk and perform reliable forward planning with 1-year and 10-year forecasts across different battery metals, chemistries and industries
- Gain a competitive edge with industry-specific tools, such as the Black Mass Calculator that estimates the intrinsic value of different battery chemistries (including cathodes like NCM111, NCM523, LFP, NCA)
- Invest with confidence knowing Argus is IOSCO-compliant with over 50 years of experience delivering trusted price data and market intelligence
Stay ahead of the battery material markets
To be informed of relevant content, sign up to Argus Battery Materials Market Highlights. Each newsletter issue provides key prices, selected news, downloadable insight papers, podcasts, and on-demand videos across all major battery raw materials. Our coverage spans lithium, cobalt, nickel, and more, enabling you to explore end-to-end the battery metals and EV industries.
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Browse the latest market moving news on the global battery materials industry.
Smackover Lithium may get $1bn in loans
Smackover Lithium may get $1bn in loans
Houston, 9 December (Argus) — US lithium developer Smackover Lithium has gotten expressions of interest from three export credit agencies (ECAs) for over $1bn in loans to build the first phase project in southwest Arkansas. The Export-Import Bank of the US and Export Finance Norway were two of the ECAs, Smackover Lithium said. It did not disclose the third. Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between US lithium developer Standard Lithium and Norway energy company Equinor. The funding would help finance the estimated $1.5bn South West Arkansas project. Smackover Lithium said it will negotiate with lenders if cost overruns occur. The project will use direct lithium extraction technology to produce 22,500 metric tons (t)/yr of lithium carbonate. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with first production expected in 2028. Smackover Lithium estimated an average cash operating cost of $4,516/t. Argus' weekly US battery grade lithium carbonate assessment was unchanged today at $10.20-11.40/kg ddp. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
South Korea's LGES inks $1.4bn EV battery deal
South Korea's LGES inks $1.4bn EV battery deal
Singapore, 8 December (Argus) — South Korea's leading battery maker, LG Energy Solution (LGES), has signed a $1.4bn multi-year electric vehicle (EV) battery supply deal with German carmaker Mercedes-Benz. Under the deal, LGES will supply EV batteries to Mercedes from March 2028 through the end of June 2035 across Europe and North America, according to a regulatory filing dated 8 December. Further details were undisclosed. LGES and Mercedes had previously concluded two supply agreements in September for 107GWh of EV batteries, strengthening Mercedes' role as a key driver of LGES' future revenue stream. But LGES has increasingly shifted its focus this year toward the energy storage systems (ESS) sector. Ther company's Polish plant — the largest in the region with 86GWh/yr of capacity — has begun converting part of its EV production lines to meet rising ESS demand, said the firm. In June, LGES also started producing lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for ESS in the US , becoming the first among major South Korean battery makers, including Samsung SDI and SK On, to do so. LGES' average international operating rates across its battery manufacturing facilities fell further to 50.7pc in July-September, down from 51.3pc in the first half of the year and 59.8pc during the same period a year earlier. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Ford, Honda US EV sales fall further in Nov
Ford, Honda US EV sales fall further in Nov
Houston, 3 December (Argus) — Ford Motor and Honda reported further declines in US electric vehicle (EV) sales in November. Ford's US sales of EVs fell by 18pc from a year earlier to 20,548 vehicles in November, the automaker said on 2 December. Ford's hybrid EV (HEV) sales rose on the year by 14pc to 16,301 units, while battery EV (BEV) sales tumbled by 61pc to 4,247 vehicles. The US automaker sold 72pc fewer electric F-150 Lightning pickup trucks in the month at 1,006 units, and E-Transit cargo van sales dropped on the year by 82pc to 227 units. November sales marked a further deterioration from October, when Ford sold 4,709 BEVs, 1,543 F-150 Lightning trucks and 260 E-Transits. A federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids that had been available for 15 years expired on 1 October because of changes enacted through US president Donald Trump's tax and energy law. Honda's US EV sales — including hybrid, battery, and fuel-cell models — fell in November by 29pc from a year earlier to 28,280 units. Honda Prologue, its electric sport utility vehicle, sold just 903 units in November, down from 6,823 a year earlier. The Japanese automaker in May lowered its global EV sales target for 2030, and sees HEVs as the key powertrain in its energy transition strategy. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia loads more lithium in Nov on stronger prices
Australia loads more lithium in Nov on stronger prices
Singapore, 3 December (Argus) — Australian lithium loading tonnage edged up in November against October, according to data compiled by Argus , likely hitting the second-highest monthly volume this year on the back of stronger spodumene prices. Total bulk lithium shipments out of Australian ports were estimated around 402,300t in November, higher than a relatively weak October that followed a record level in September , according to data from vessel tracking firm Kpler compiled by Argus . The vast majority of the shipments are likely spodumene. China is historically Australia's primary spodumene consumer. Bunbury port and Port Hedland were estimated to have loaded near 155,700t and 122,000t of lithium, up by 21pc and 2.5pc on the month, respectively. Lithium producers such as PLS, Mineral Resources (MinRes), Covalent Lithium as well as the country's Greenbushes mine — run by Australian mining group IGO alongside major Chinese firm Tianqi Lithium and US-based producer Albemarle — transport their spodumene to the two ports for export. Australian lithium producer Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley project sits near the Geraldton port, which was estimated to have shipped out more than 44,500t of lithium in November. Esperance port loaded about 61,400t of lithium, up by 87pc on the month. MinRes' Mount Marion operation, which is 50pc-owned by major Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng, sends its spodumene to Esperance for export. The Port of Fremantle shipped out more than 18,600t of lithium, according to Kpler data. As of 3 December, Australian ports are expected to load at least 271,400t of lithium in the month, the latest Kpler data show. This suggests a potentially stronger December loading volume, given the comparatively lower figure reported in early November. Argus -assessed prices for 6pc grade lithium concentrate (spodumene) rose from $920–980/t cif China on 4 November to $1,170–1,235/t on 2 December. Chinese salt plants were active in securing sufficient feedstock for the first quarter of 2026 and were in no hurry to finalise spodumene prices despite price uptrend. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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