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.
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.
Panasonic to supply Li batteries to Zoox
Panasonic to supply Li batteries to Zoox
Houston, 26 November (Argus) — Japanese battery maker Panasonic Energy has signed a deal with Amazon-owned Zoox to supply lithium-ion batteries for its robotaxi fleet. Panasonic will deliver its latest 2170 battery to Zoox under a multi-year agreement starting in early 2026, Panasonic announced on 25 November. No price or volume details were disclosed. The battery cells will initially be exported from Japan, with plans to expand production to Panasonic's Kansas factory, according to Panasonic. Zoox recently opened its first robotaxi production facility in Hayward, California, and launched its ride-hailing services in Las Vegas and San Francisco. It will soon offer services in Austin and Miami. The Hayword facility has a capacity to assemble over 10,000 robotaxis a year. Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for $1.2bn. By Carol Luk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UK’s EV tax adds confusion to mandate targets
UK’s EV tax adds confusion to mandate targets
London, 26 November (Argus) — The UK's plan to introduce a mileage-based tax for electric vehicles (EVs) has drawn criticism from industry participants, warning it could slow adoption and complicate compliance with zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) targets. The Budget confirmed a pay-per-mile levy of 3p for battery EVs (BEVs) and 1.5p for plug-in hybrids in 2028–29, alongside £1.5bn ($1.98bn) for grants and charging infrastructure. The government said the measure would create a "fairer system" as it projects fuel duty revenues will fall to £12bn/yr "by the 2030s" from about £24bn in FY24. But industry participants argue the timing risks undermining confidence in electrification just months after the government revived purchase incentives. "We need more carrot and less stick if we're serious about the electric transition," AutoTrader's commercial director, Ian Plummer, told Argus. "The chancellor clearly needs to raise revenue but if she wants to encourage EV adoption, she should think extremely carefully before introducing pay-per-mile charging for EVs." Anything making EVs harder to sell will either force carmakers to spend more on incentives or buy credits to plug ZEV gaps, Plummer added, potentially forcing carmakers to withhold internal combustion engine sales to remain compliant, impacting their bottom line. "Instead of delivering clarity by continuing to build on the positive boost to EV uptake given by the Electric Car Grant , we've got change and confusion," Plummer said. Carmakers may struggle to hit ZEV targets While the tax may appear to affect consumers, carmakers are already required to meet quotas for BEV sales under the ZEV mandate — set at 28pc market share this year but effectively about 23pc after allowances . The new tax may force carmakers to absorb discounts to meet targets, rather than consumers. Carmakers already have "zero incentive" to go beyond the mandate because any surplus sales can be banked and carried forward, Stuart Masson, founder of consumer advice website The Car Expert, told Argus . "They will hit the target with pretty much zero cars to spare, carrying over any extra sales into next year when the target jumps to 33pc," he said. But Masson warned that layering on a mileage tax adds complexity at a time when the industry needs stability. "The pay-per-mile tax will be a serious deterrent, as it adds a potentially significant inconvenience to customers," he said, describing it as a bigger negative than recent road tax changes and the luxury car tax threshold creep. While loopholes still allowing credit trading and hybrid offsets remain , they will tighten over time, Masson added, making compliance harder. "Some carmakers will find it much easier than others, but some will definitely struggle," he said. Charging operators, meanwhile, welcomed the fresh support for new car sales and charge points but echoed concerns over equity of the tax. "Extending the Electric Car Grant and investing an additional £200mn in charge points will help more drivers make the switch and improve access to charging, particularly for those without driveways," charging network InstaVolt's chief executive, Delvin Lane, said. But the pay-per-mile levy "risks putting off drivers" who lack home charging, Lane added, given the 20pc VAT on public charging compared with 5pc at home, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income commuters. By Chris Welch Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UK to impose EV mileage charge, raise fuel duty: Update
UK to impose EV mileage charge, raise fuel duty: Update
Updates sourcing, adds details throughout London, 26 November (Argus) — The UK government today said it will introduce a mileage-based charge for electric vehicles (EVs) and will gradually increase fuel duty. In its budget, the government said the new charge will be £0.03/mile for battery electric and £0.015/mile for plug-in hybrids, effective from the 2028-29 financial year. The document says that for an average driver this will work out at around half the rate of fuel duty paid by drivers of gasoline and diesel vehicles. There are no details yet on how mileage will be reported, but the government said "there will be no requirement to report where and when miles are driven or install trackers in cars". The government's independent fiscal monitor, OBR, today estimated around 440,000 fewer EV sales as a result, but said 130,000 of that are likely to be offset by changes to incentives to buy EVs. The government also said the rate of fuel duty will remain at current levels, or 52.95p per litre, until September 2026, after which a 5p cut first introduced in 2022 will be reversed. This process will complete by March 2027. For power markets, the government said it will for three years directly fund 75pc of the renewables obligation scheme, which obliged electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion from renewable sources. The costs of this had been recouped through household bills. By Ben Winkley Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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