The recent announcement of funding for 47 strategic project, in line with the EU’s CO2 targets for carmakers in force this year, suggests progress. But after the EU’s tariffs on Chinese EVs, and the US waging its own trade war with China, is Europe’s road to electrification faltering?
Join the Argus Battery Materials team — editor Tom Kavanagh, reporter Chris Welch and analyst Dylan Khoo — in discussing what lies ahead in this fast-evolving market.
Key topics covered:
- The EU’s €22.5bn for 47 critical minerals projects
- China’s investments in Europe’s EV supply chain
- What might a US-China trade war mean for Europe?
- Will the EU meet its CO2 targets for 2035?
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Syrah restarts graphite production at Mozambique mine
Syrah restarts graphite production at Mozambique mine
Sydney, 19 June (Argus) — Australian minerals producer Syrah Resources has resumed graphite production at its 350,000 t/yr Balama mine in Mozambique and will restart large-volume shipments in September-December, following months of disruptions owing to protests. Syrah declared a force majeure on sales from Balama in December because of protests at the site, and this remains active, the company said today. But it has restarted production and intends to ramp up output at the mine to restock inventories for shipments in September-December, Syrah said. Its graphite exports in September-December will be shipped to customers outside China. The company is aiming to have a greater presence in ex-China markets and to increase sales from Balama this year, Syrah chairman Jim Askew told investors on 23 May. Syrah sold around 1,300t of natural graphite in January-March, using existing inventories. But the company failed to meet some sales obligations over the quarter. Non-violent protesters blocked access to Balama in September, citing farming resettlement grievances. The demonstrations worsened in October, after Mozambique's disputed general election triggered major protests across the country. Most protesters left the mine in April, after reaching a deal with Syrah, the company said last month —although some remaining demonstrators had to be removed by Mozambique authorities a month later. Syrah regained access to Balama on 3-4 May. Balama's operating infrastructure has not been impacted by the protests and is in good condition, Askew said in late May. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US Fed sees 2 rate cuts in '25, eyes tariffs: Update
US Fed sees 2 rate cuts in '25, eyes tariffs: Update
Adds Powell comments, economic backdrop. Houston, 18 June (Argus) — US Federal Reserve policymakers kept the target interest rate unchanged today and signaled two quarter-point cuts are still likely this year while downgrading forecasts for the US economy in the face of largely tariff-driven uncertainty. The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50pc, in the fourth meeting of 2025. This followed rate cuts of 100 basis points over the last three meetings of 2024, which lowered the target rate from more than two-decade highs. In the Fed's first release of updated economic projections since President Donald Trump's 2 April "Liberation Day" announcement of far-ranging tariffs, policymakers continued to pencil in two quarter-point rate cuts for the remainder of the year. "Changes to trade, immigration, fiscal and regulatory policies continue to evolve and their effects on the economy remain uncertain," Fed chair Jerome Powell told reporters after the meeting. "Today, the amount of the tariff effects — the size of the tariff effects, their duration and the time it will take, are all highly uncertain. So that is why we think the appropriate thing to do is to hold where we are as we learn more." Policymakers and Fed officials Wednesday lowered their median estimate for GDP growth this year to 1.4pc from a prior estimate of 1.7pc in the March economic outlook. They see inflation rising to a median 3pc for 2025 from the prior estimate of 2.7pc, with unemployment rising to 4.5pc from 4.4pc in the prior forecast. Economists have warned that Trump's erratic use of tariffs and plans to raise the national debt, along with mounting geopolitical risk highlighted by the latest Israel-Iran clashes, threaten to throw the economy into a recession or marked slowdown. Consumer confidence has tumbled and financial markets have been volatile while the dollar has slumped to three-year lows. Still, the labor market and inflation — the two pillars of the Fed's policy mandate — have remained relatively stable into the fifth month of Trump's administration. "As long as the economy is solid, as long as we're seeing the kind of labor market that we have and reasonably decent growth, and inflation moving down, we feel like the right thing to do is to be where we are, where our policy stance is and learn more," Powell said. US job growth slowed to 139,000 in May, near the average gain of 149,000 over the prior 12 months and unemployment has remained in a range of 4-4.2pc since May 2024. Consumer inflation was at an annual 2.4pc in May, down from 3pc in January. US GDP growth contracted by an annual 0.2pc in the first quarter, largely due to an increase in imports on pre-tariff stockpiling, down from 2.4pc in the fourth quarter and the lowest in three years. "What we're waiting for to reduce rates is to understand what will happen with the tariff inflation," Powell said. "And there's a lot of uncertainty about that. Every forecaster you can name who is a professional is forecasting a meaningful increase in inflation in coming months from tariffs because someone has to pay for the tariffs." Before Wednesday's FOMC announcement, Trump made a rambling attack on the Fed's policy under Powell, in remarks to reporters at the White House. "I call him 'too late Powell', because he's always too late" in lowering rates. "Am I allowed to appoint myself at the Fed? I do a much better job than these people." Powell's term in office as Fed chair expires in May 2026. Powell declined to directly address Trump's comments. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Tarifas podem incentivar interesse dos EUA na AL
Tarifas podem incentivar interesse dos EUA na AL
New York, 18 June (Argus) — As tarifas dos Estados Unidos causarão uma transferência de renda da Ásia para a América Latina devido aos maiores níveis de tarifas impostas aos países asiáticos, de acordo com o ex-secretário de comércio dos EUA, Wilbur Ross. A administração do presidente Donald Trump está mais rigorosa com os países asiáticos, como a China, comparado à maioria dos países da América Latina, e isso tornará a região mais atrativa para as empresas norte-americanas, disse Ross durante a convenção Marine Money, em Nova York. "Se você perceber, muitos países asiáticos estão sendo sujeitados a tarifas em torno de 40pc, o que é basicamente dizer 'você não fará negócios conosco' porque 40pc não é uma tarifa absorvível", disse. "Ao passo que a maioria dos países latino-americanos estão sujeitos a uma tarifa de 10pc." Trump pausou o aumento de tarifas na maioria dos países por 90 dias em abril, mas elevou as tarifas na China. No último mês, os EUA e a China concordaram em cortar as tarifas bilaterais até agosto após negociações comerciais em Genebra, na Suíça. Mas Ross disse que ficou surpreso ao ver fortes tarifas mirando o Vietnã, uma vez que tem servido como polo de transbordo de exportações para os EUA para contornar as tarifas da China que começaram durante a gestão anterior de Trump. Ross previu que haverá um acordo comercial entre os EUA e o Vietnã, devido a Trump não ter razão para ser repressivo com o Vietnã e porque a China e o Vietnã são inimigos históricos. "Com sorte, eles chegarão a um acordo porque seria um pouco estranho ter encontrado neles uma reposição à China e puni-los por ter realizado essa missão", disse. Ross também disse que a aprovação de Trump à aquisição da siderúrgica US Steel pela contraparte japonesa Nippon Steel é um sinal de esperança para um acordo comercial com o Japão, porque ele não acha que o presidente teria assinado o acordo se ele não previsse um acordo mais amplo com o Japão. Por Luis Gronda Envie comentários e solicite mais informações em feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . Todos os direitos reservados.
US Fed keeps rate flat, still eyes 2 cuts in 2025
US Fed keeps rate flat, still eyes 2 cuts in 2025
Houston, 18 June (Argus) — US Federal Reserve policymakers kept the target interest rate unchanged today and signaled two quarter-point cuts are still likely this year. The Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the federal funds rate unchanged at 4.25-4.50pc, in the fourth meeting of 2025. This followed rate cuts of 100 basis points over the last three meetings of 2024, which lowered the target rate from more than two-decade highs. In the Fed's first release of updated economic projections since President Donald Trump's 2 April "Liberation Day" announcement of far-ranging tariffs, policymakers continued to pencil in two quarter-point rate cuts for the remainder of the year. Policymakers and Fed officials Wednesday lowered their estimate for GDP growth this year to 1.4pc from a prior estimate of 1.7pc in the March economic outlook. They see inflation rising to 3pc for 2025 from the prior estimate of 2.7pc, with unemployment rising to 4.5pc from 4.4pc in the prior forecast. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
