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Brazil gov must boost EV demand: Li miners
Brazil gov must boost EV demand: Li miners
Sao Paulo, 11 July (Argus) — At least four suppliers in the Brazilian spodumene market voiced interest in federal policies to boost demand for electric vehicles (EVs) to create a consolidated end-to-end battery supply chain in Brazil, the companies said at a conference in Minas Gerais. In an initiative led by Companhia Brasileira de Litio (CBL), executives for AMG Lithium, Lithium Ionic and PLS all pleaded for the Brazilian federal government to implement policies to boost EV demand — which would support the Brazilian spodumene market — CBL's chief executive Vinicius Alvarenga said. CBL owns the only lithium carbonate refinery in Brazil and it believes the country has the potential to have an end-to-end battery supply chain. Currently, Chinese refineries receive 99pc of all lithium chemicals produced in Brazil. "The only thing stopping Brazilian companies to make battery cells is the lack of demand from the regional market," Alvarenga said. "We need to pressure the government to incentivize the installation of lithium-based energy storage systems and to give more benefits to EV buyers." Alvarenga mentioned WEG — a multidisciplinary technology company — and Moura, the largest battery manufacturer in Latin America, as firms well suited for the job. "Brazil can be one of the world's top players in the energy transition landscape," said Leandro Gobbo, vice-president for Brazilian operations at PLS. "We have world class ore, the expertise and the technology to do so — we only lack government incentives." At the bottom of the cost curve, Brazil has one of the cheapest hard-rock lithium operations in the world, rivaling China and beating Australia and many African producers. Although China holds its place as the home to the cheapest hard-rock lithium projects in the world, Brazilian miners are also operating at a profit despite the low price environment, mainly because of cheap labor. Around half of the world's hard-rock lithium miners are currently operating at a loss. All three commercially producing spodumene companies in Brazil — Sigma Lithium, CBL and AMG — are sticking to their investment guidance and expansion plans despite falling prices. "There is an opportunity here at this low-price environment," said Blake Hylands, chief executive of Lithium Ionic, owner one of the largest undeveloped spodumene sites in Brazil. "We need to move projects forward at this time so Brazil can progress in the global stage." The average labor costs in Brazil are significantly lower than in places like Australia, which is also dealing with a workforce shortage in mining, according to Gobbo, and where employee wages have pushed most spodumene operations to operate at a loss as prices bottom. "Brazil will never beat China in capital costs and internal demand," Alvarenga said. "But despite taking a hit at those two, Brazil is the best place in the world to produce spodumene." Brazil has a combination of benefits that are not seen elsewhere, such as low royalties, a specialized workforce, solid internal and external logistics, market transparency, legal stability, high ESG and human rights standards, and the cheapest electrical energy in the world, Alvarenga said, which is mostly renewable. "If we look at other countries with cheap [spodumene] production, we don't see that," said Ligia Pinto, vice-president of external affairs at Sigma Lithium, Brazil's top lithium concentrate producer. "Our low costs do not harm human rights." The so-called Lithium Valley — a spodumene rich region in Southeast Brazil — has a production capacity of 320,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr of lithium concentrate between CBL and Sigma Lithium, the country's top producer. AMG Lithium, which operates further south, bumps up Brazil's total current capacity to 410,000t/yr. "This is a country that we can trust," Hylands said. "We are taking longer than China, but that's okay, because everyone takes longer than China." By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Canadian ferrous scrap dodges lastest US tariff threat
Canadian ferrous scrap dodges lastest US tariff threat
Pittsburgh, 11 July (Argus) — Canadian goods compliant with the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), which include ferrous scrap metal, will maintain their exemption status from proposed new US import tariffs on the country, according to a White House official. President Donald Trump announced a 35pc tariff on all imports from Canada effective 1 August in a letter to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney yesterday . A White House official told Argus exemptions currently covered by the USMCA will remain in place. But until the new tariff rate officially goes into effect uncertainty will likely remain a source of concern for market participants. Canada is a major shipper of ferrous scrap metal to the US, particularly shred and #1 busheling. In 2024, the US imported an average of 230,000 metric tonnes (t)/m of ferrous scrap. US imports of Canadian ferrous scrap totaled 1mn t through May, down by 10pc from the prior year. By Brad MacAulay and Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Workers extend strike at Australian coal mine
Workers extend strike at Australian coal mine
Sydney, 11 July (Argus) — Unionised workers have extended a strike at US producer Peabody Energy's Metropolitan coal mine in New South Wales, Australia, halting production until 17:30 AEST (07:30 GMT) on 11 July. Workers launched the day-long stoppage late on 10 July, extending the previous 24-hour strike , the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) told Argus on 11 July. Metropolitan has faced significant labour disruptions since 18 June, when Peabody locked workers out of the mixed thermal, hard coking and pulverised coal injection (PCI) mine, without pay, over an ongoing employment dispute. The company's lock-out ended late on 9 July. The MEU and Peabody are negotiating a new enterprise agreement, but remain at odds over multiple issues, including the use of contractors. Both have engaged in Fair Work Commission-led mediation three times — most recently on 8 July — since the dispute began, but have no further meetings scheduled. Metropolitan Coal remains fully committed to ongoing good faith negotiations with the union, a Peabody spokesperson told Argus on 10 July. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Trump threatens 35pc tariff on Canada by 1 August
Trump threatens 35pc tariff on Canada by 1 August
Houston, 10 July (Argus) — The US will impose a 35pc tariff on all imports from Canada effective on 1 August, President Donald Trump said in a letter to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. The 10 July letter that Trump posted on social media late Thursday noted that Canada previously planned retaliatory tariffs in response to the US' first tariff threats in the spring. He repeated his earliest justification for the tariffs - the illegal smuggling of fentanyl into the US from Canada - and said he would consider "an adjustment" to the tariffs if Canada worked with him to stop that flow. The 35pc tariff would be separate from tariffs set for specific sectors, which include a 50pc tariff on copper imports . It is not clear if any imports currently covered by the US-Mexico- Canada trade agreement (USMCA) would be affected by the new tariff threats. The Trump administration since 5 April has been charging a 10pc extra "Liberation Day" tariff on most imports — energy commodities and critical minerals are exceptions — from nearly every foreign trade partner. Trump on 9 April imposed even higher tariffs on key trading partners, only to delay them the same day until 9 July. On 7 July, Trump signed an executive order further delaying the implementation of higher rates until 12:01am ET (04:01 GMT) on 1 August. Earlier this week he threatened 50pc tariffs against Brazil for its ongoing criminal prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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