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Latest Market News

UK's CleanTech nears lithium DFS at Laguna Verde

  • Spanish Market: Battery materials, Metals
  • 24/07/26

UK-listed lithium developer CleanTech Lithium has produced lithium carbonate grading up to 99.91pc purity from its Laguna Verde project in Chile, as it carries out final process checks before a definitive feasibility study (DFS).

US lithium processing firm Empower converted around 55,000 litres of eluate from CleanTech's direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot plant in Copiapo into 330kg of lithium carbonate, CleanTech said.

The campaign follows CleanTech's first pilot-scale production of lithium-rich eluate in Chile, which was shipped to the US for conversion into lithium carbonate. It also follows the award of a 40-year lithium operating contract for Laguna Verde in Chile.

The ongoing process work is intended to confirm, not revise, the assumptions in CleanTech's pre-feasibility study, head of communications Nick Baxter told Argus. Assumed operating costs of $5,768/t, capital costs of $748mn, overall lithium recovery of 85.5pc and target commercial production of 15,000 t/yr remain unchanged at this stage.

Focus shifts to scaling up

The firm's focus is less about proving DLE can produce high-purity lithium carbonate and more about showing that the process assumptions used in the pre-feasibility study hold up ahead of the next stage of project development.

Part of the latest campaign tested how effectively impurities could be removed from Laguna Verde brine. Boron is one of the main impurities that lithium-brine projects must remove to make a battery-grade product. Boron was initially present at Laguna Verde in relatively high levels, but Empower removed around 97pc of it during processing, the firm said.

Part of the material was also processed by Chinese DLE technology firm Lanshen, whose flowsheet underpins the pre-feasibility study. Additional processing with Lanshen is under way to validate the study, and CleanTech expects to report those results shortly, Baxter said.

CleanTech is also carrying out environmental studies and engineering work while seeking a partner to help fund and develop Laguna Verde. Several firms are reviewing the project.

By Chris Welch

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24/07/26

US levels new tariff threat against EU

US levels new tariff threat against EU

Washington, 24 July (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration is threatening to impose new tariffs on US imports from the EU, just a month after the European parliament approved the economic bloc's trade agreement with the US. "The European Union is at it again and, as usual, taking direct aim at GREAT American Companies," Trump said in a social media post. The US Trade Representative's office (USTR) complained that the European Commission has just imposed a $1bn fine on Google, following other recent anti-trust measures against US tech giants. The US will launch a "Section 301" investigation against the EU's "practice of 'ROBBING' American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer," Trump posted. The US has just imposed a 10pc tariff on imports from the EU, following an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Expansion Act of 301 into Europe's alleged lack of diligence in banning imports of products produced by forced labor in third party countries. There is another Section 301 investigation underway against the EU related to "structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors." The US-EU trade deal last year capped potential punitive US tariff rates at 15pc for imports from the European bloc. Trump earlier this month said he would to cut off all trade with Spain , an EU member, for not supporting the US war effort against Iran, but he did not follow up on his threat. The EU mission in Washington did not immediately comment on Trump's threat. The European Commission on Thursday highlighted the benefits of the US-EU deal signed almost a year ago, highlighting that EU companies closed deals with US exporters worth €230bn ($262bn) of energy resources in the past year. The EU has refrained from retaliating in kind against Trump's tariff in order to preserve cooperation on defense and weapons sales to Ukraine. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU publishes vehicle recycled content rules

24/07/26
24/07/26

EU publishes vehicle recycled content rules

Brussels, 24 July (Argus) — The EU today published the regulation setting recycling requirements for vehicles and end-of-life vehicle management, which includes the obligation for at least 15pc of recycled plastic in new vehicles from 1 September 2032. This increases from 1 September 2036 to 25pc of plastic recycled by weight from post-consumer waste. The regulation excludes from the weight calculation elastomers from tyres and thermosets, apart from cushioning polyurethane foams. A further provision requires at least 20pc of the target to come from plastics recycled from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) or from parts removed from used vehicles. The European Parliament approved the rules in June. German centre-right EPP lawmaker Jens Gieseke, who helped draft the measure, said it opens the way for more recycled steel, aluminium and other critical raw materials to be used in new vehicles. By 30 September 2028, the European Commission is obliged to adopt a delegated act establishing a minimum share of steel recycled, and where relevant ferrous scrap, from post-consumer steel waste. The steel target should apply no later than 14 August 2033. Similarly, the commission has to set a minimum target share of recycled aluminium and alloys, also applicable by that date. More broadly, the regulation sets a 1 September 2032 target for EU type-approved vehicles to be constructed so they are "reusable or recyclable" to a minimum of 85pc by mass. The commission has to assess by 31 December 2033 the feasibility of targets to increase the use of biobased feedstock in vehicles' plastics. The law enters into force in 20 days, with provisions generally applying from 1 September 2028. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US exempts Brazil, India pig iron from tariffs

23/07/26
23/07/26

US exempts Brazil, India pig iron from tariffs

Sao Paulo, 23 July (Argus) — The US exempted Brazilian and Indian pig iron imports from Section 301 forced-labor tariffs, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said on Thursday, shielding Brazilian material from a 12.5pc duty and Indian cargoes from a 10pc rate. US buyers currently pay a 10pc tariff on pig iron imports from all origins under the temporary Section 122 regime. The measure is scheduled to expire on 24 July. If the tariff lapses as scheduled, pig iron imports from all origins would enter the US without additional duties from 25 July, following their exclusion from the Section 301 measures. The decision means Brazilian pig iron will avoid a 12.5pc tariff that would otherwise apply to products from economies deemed not to have sufficiently enforced measures against imports produced with forced labor. Indian pig iron was also exempted, avoiding a separate 10pc tariff applicable to countries that have adopted partial or full forced-labor import restrictions. Without the exemption, Brazilian pig iron would have faced a 12.5pc tariff after 24 July, putting it at a disadvantage against suppliers such as Ukraine. Pig iron was not included in the initial exemption lists in either Section 301 case against Brazil. The USTR later granted exemptions after US steelmakers and Brazilian producers argued that alternative suppliers could not replace Brazilian volumes and that the tariffs would increase costs for US steel production. Based on the slated removal of the 10pc tariff and the now-excluded 12.5pc tariff, pig iron cfr New Orleans prices, which Argus last assessed at $495/metric tonne (t) on 21 July, could fall approximately $45/t to $450/t. This also stands in stark contrast to the potential price increase if the 12.5pc tariff had been imposed that could have lifted the pig iron cfr New Orleans price up to $507/t. The USTR also exempted Brazilian pig iron from a separate proposed 25pc Section 301 tariff on 15 July . Brazil supplied 59pc of US pig iron imports, or 1.3mn t, during January-May. The country has consolidated its position as the leading source of pig iron for the US market since 2022, when sanctions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war halted Russian shipments. Although Ukraine and India have expanded their presence in the US market in recent months, market participants said neither country is capable of matching Brazil's export scale. By Isabel Filgueiras Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

India’s Oct-Dec EU HRC quota to exhaust quickly

23/07/26
23/07/26

India’s Oct-Dec EU HRC quota to exhaust quickly

Mumbai, 23 July (Argus) — India's October-December EU quota for hot-rolled coil (HRC) could be filled rapidly as major mills ramp up sales to the bloc following new import measures from 1 July, market participants said. At least 100,000t of Indian HRC is expected to be cleared through customs once the new quotas open in October. Market participants estimate EU importers have booked 125,000-200,000t of Indian HRC over the past few weeks, most of which is for shipment in July and August. More deals are under negotiation. India's tariff-free HRC allocation was cut by 34pc to 149,319 t/quarter from 1 July under the new import regime, of which 68pc has already been utilised, leaving about 47,000t available for use in the current quarter as of 17 July. The shared free-trade agreement (FTA) quota pool — available on a first come, first served basis — is expected to be largely utilised by Turkey in the current quarter but could become accessible to India in the next quarter. Indian mills have been targeting faster shipments in a bid to clear some volumes in the current quarter. But suppliers are now looking to fill up the October-December allocations and may even slightly overshoot the quota, an Indian steel mill source said. Recent bookings have been concluded at $630-650/t cfr EU. India could then access the FTA quota pool, although this remains uncertain as it would likely face competition from Turkey, which has also been shipping sizeable volumes to the EU and benefits from shorter lead times. For Indian mills, the EU presents a timely opportunity to export surplus volumes during the seasonally weak monsoon period, when domestic demand typically softens, market participants said. "Domestic prices in India are under pressure due to low demand," a trader said. "Vietnam is not attractive anymore [and] Middle East prices have also started sliding down. So the only option is to aggressively book orders into the EU." The Argus weekly Indian domestic HRC assessment for 2.5-4mm material stood at 57,350 rupees/t ($594/t) ex-Mumbai on 17 July, having come off a multi-year high of Rs59,000/t reached in early April. The surge in Indian shipments to the EU is "just a tactical rush and not a sustainable trend", a steel user said. Market participants said this export window may close soon as EU buyers become wary of October-December quotas being depleted and as trading activity slows ahead of holidays in Italy. By Amruta Khandekar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Australia's Syrah cuts Mozambique graphite output in 2Q

23/07/26
23/07/26

Australia's Syrah cuts Mozambique graphite output in 2Q

Sydney, 23 July (Argus) — Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources has reduced natural graphite production at its Balama mine in Mozambique in April-June because of weak demand and higher than usual diesel costs during the quarter. Syrah cut production by 65pc on the year to 2,000t because of weak ex-China demand for natural graphite fines and approximately 50pc higher diesel prices in Mozambique during the quarter on the back of the US-Iran war, the company said on 23 July. Output was also lower on the quarter by 90pc. Its April-June output represented residual production from the previous quarter, with the next round of production deferred to the July-September quarter, the company said. The mine has capacity to quickly scale up production to meet new demand. Syrah undertook planned maintenance during the quarter which will ensure reliable production throughout the rest of the year, the company said. The company's sales rose by 983pc on the year to 7,000t as the company drew on existing inventory to service sales (see table) . Sales were particularly low in the same quarter a year earlier due to civil unrest at the Balama mine , which disrupted access to the mine for six months until May 2025 . Mozambique policy uncertainty The Mozambique parliament officially enacted a new mining law in early June . This will increase mandatory government participation in mining projects from 5pc to 15pc and introduce more stringent regulations on domestic value addition and in-country processing, but the implementation of these changes and their impact on its Balama mine and downstream refining activities is still unclear, Syrah said. The government currently owns 5pc of Balama through Twigg Exploration and Mining. Syrah produced 150t of active anode material (AAM) at its 11,250 t/yr Vidalia facility in the US during the quarter for testing and quality validation as it engages with potential customers. The company has signed a 8,000 t/yr offtake deal with US automaker Tesla covering 70pc of Vidalia's output. The company will begin AAM sales from Vidalia by the end of this year, pending customer qualification. It has plans to expand the facility to 45,000 t/yr but has not outlined a financing timeline. By Daniel Gage-Brown Syrah quarterly graphite output ('000t) Apr-Jun '26 Apr-Jun '25 y-o-y ± % Jan-Mar '26 m-o-m ± % Production 2 7 -65 24 -90 Sales 7 1 983 20 -68 Inventory 11 7 57 16 -31 Source: Syrah Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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