Hyundai Mobis builds battery system plant in Indonesia
South Korean automobile parts maker Hyundai Mobis has begun constructing a new electric vehicle (EV) battery system plant in the Deltamas industrial complex near Indonesia's capital Jakarta.
The plant will turn battery cells that will be supplied by HLI Green Power — a joint venture between South Korean conglomerate Hyundai and battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution in Indonesia — into modules that can be supplied to global automakers as their large battery systems. Hyundai Mobis is planning to supply the battery systems to "flagship EV models" that will be released in southeast Asia next year, according to its announcement on 1 June.
The plant is likely to be completed in the first half of 2024. Hyundai Mobis did not disclose the output capacity of the plant.
Hyundai last year said that it planned to invest around $2.23-3bn (2.95trillion-3.97trillion South Korean won) to develop semiconductors, software and autonomous driving products through its subsidiary Hyundai Mobis.
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Australia's MinRes posts higher 1Q spodumene output
Australia's MinRes posts higher 1Q spodumene output
Singapore, 25 April (Argus) — Perth-based major lithium and iron ore producer Mineral Resources (MinRes) has reported higher total spodumene concentrate output from its sites in January-March, and higher spodumene prices later in the quarter. Total attributable spodumene concentrate production of the firm across its assets rose to 170,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt) (see table for detailed breakdown), up by 3.7pc on the quarter and by 63pc on the year, according to the firm's latest quarterly activity report. Total attributable spodumene concentrate shipped volumes fell by 2.9pc on the quarter but rose by 50pc on the year to 166,000dmt. MinRes has an ambitious target of 1mn t/yr of lithium attributable within the next four years, said its managing director Chris Ellison last month during the firm's half-year results presentation. The firm has been aggressively expanding, several delegates told Argus at the Tribeca Future Facing Commodities conference held in Singapore on 26 March. The firm last month agreed to buy fellow developer Poseidon Nickel's concentrator plant in Western Australia as it seeks to retrofit it for lithium processing. MinRes' Mount Marion site saw higher output, driven by higher plant utilisation and improved ore recoveries as the firm continues to advance its plant improvement initiatives. The realised price for spodumene concentrate out of its Mount Marion site was at $718/dmt on a 4.2pc-grade basis, which was above the product's year-to-date fob costs of A$518/dmt ($338/dmt). The realised price translates to $1,048/dmt for 6pc-grade lithium concentrate (spodumene), said the firm. The firm did not process the spodumene concentrate produced from its Wodgina site during the quarter into lithium battery chemicals, citing "prevailing pricing dynamics", but instead resumed spodumene concentrate spot sales. The realised spodumene concentrate price at the site came in at $974/dmt on 5.6pc-grade basis, which translates to $1,028/dmt for 6pc-grade lithium concentrate (spodumene). The lithium battery chemical realised price, excluding value added tax, came in at $11,098/t. MinRes in November 2023 finalised the acquisition of the Bald Hill lithium mine from Alita Resources. January-March was the mine's first full production quarter, hence output was dragged down by limited availability of higher-grade feed, but this is expected to recover in April-June, said the firm. The realised spodumene concentrate price at the Bald Hill site was $878/dmt on 5.1pc-grade basis, which translates to $1,016/dmt for 6pc-grade spodumene concentrate. Argus -assessed prices for 6pc grade spodumene concentrate dipped to $1,080-1,180/t cif China on 23 April, from $1,100-1,200/t cif China a week earlier. Salts producers reduced spodumene bid prices because of a fall in salts prices two weeks earlier. By Joseph Ho MinRes lithium performance Jan-Mar '24 Oct-Dec '23 Jan-Mar '23 Spodumene concentrate production (k dmt) Mt Marion (50pc attributable basis) 91 83 60 Wodgina (50pc attributable basis) 49 55 44 Bald Hill (100pc attributable basis) 30 26 NA Total 170 164 104 Spodumene concentrate shipments (k dmt) Mt Marion (50pc attributable basis) 76 86 62 Wodgina (50pc attributable basis) 64 65 49 Bald Hill (100pc attributable basis) 26 20 NA Total 166 171 111 Lithium battery chemical (t) Wodgina production (50pc attributable basis) 6,793 6,798 3,246 Wodgina sales (50pc attributable basis) 6,954 6,474 1,504 Source: MinRes MinRes previously owned 40pc of the Wodgina project, which increased to 50pc starting from 18 October 2023. Figures for Wodgina before 18 October 2023 were on 40pc attributable basis. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EV demand slowdown cuts S Korea’s LGES' profit in 1Q
EV demand slowdown cuts S Korea’s LGES' profit in 1Q
Singapore, 25 April (Argus) — South Korea's top battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) reported significant lower revenue and profit in January-March, because of lower battery metal prices and slower electric vehicle (EV) demand. LGES' revenue in January-March fell by 23pc on the quarter and 30pc on the year to 6.13 trillion won ($4.46bn), owing to lower demand for EV pouch cells and energy storage system (ESS), with "prolonged metal price impact" affecting its average selling price. The firm reported W157bn of operating profit in January-March, but would have reported an operating loss of W32bn if it did not receive almost W189bn in US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits. But this was still a sharp drop from W633bn of operating profit for January-March 2023. The lower revenue and a demand slowdown in the EV market led to utilisation rate adjustments that weighed on its financial performance. The firm reaped a net profit of W212bn during the quarter, which was up by 12pc on the quarter but down by around 62pc on the year, likely significantly propped up by the US' IRA tax credits. LGES said it will continue to invest despite the difficult market environment, but will "adjust" the size of its capital expenditure and execution speed "as per priority". Battery project updates LGES and automaker General Motors in early April completed the first battery shipment out of their second Ultium battery cell factory in US' Tennessee. The plant's capacity is expected to gradually expand to 50 GWh/yr, said LGES. Construction progress at the firm's battery manufacturing complex in US' Arizona is also on track, said the firm. Ramped up capacity is expected to be 53 GWh/yr, which will comprise 36 GWh/yr of 46-series cylindrical battery for EVs and 17 GWh/yr of lithium-iron-phosphate battery for ESS. LGES' 10 GWh/yr Indonesian battery production joint venture with South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Motor has also started mass production. Its battery module production joint venture with automaker Stellantis in US' Ontario, which encountered a halt in construction in May last year, will start operations in the second half of 2024. The factory has a planned capacity of 45GWh/yr and was supposed to begin operations early this year. LGES earlier this year inked a second agreement with Australian firm Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers for lithium concentrate supply. The firm will continue building a raw materials supply chain within regions that have a free trade agreement with US, it said. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Critical battery metal supply meets today's demand: IEA
Critical battery metal supply meets today's demand: IEA
Singapore, 24 April (Argus) — Supply of critical battery metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt can "comfortably" meet current demand after major mining and refining investment over the past five years, according to IEA's latest Global EV Outlook 2024 . Global supply of lithium, nickel and cobalt in 2023 exceeded demand by 10pc, 8pc and 6.5pc, respectively, said IEA. Lithium demand for battery rose by 30pc on the year to around 140,000t, that of cobalt increased by 15pc to 150,000t, and nickel rose by 30pc to 370,000t. Continued rapid growth in mining and refining is needed to meet future demand and avoid supply chain bottlenecks, but battery technology advancements can potentially mitigate the demand, IEA said. IEA noted overcapacity has brought critical minerals prices and battery costs down but is also squeezing mining firms' cash flows and margins, with many companies struggling to stay afloat. Australia's nickel industry has been hit hard this year, with multiple producers ceasing operations following a sharp nickel market downturn, having to compete with rising nickel supply from Indonesia. Western Australia had to resort to providing royalty rebates to struggling nickel producers. Low lithium prices are threatening the survival of greenfield lithium project developers , and also affecting some established participants. Major Chinese lithium producer Tianqi Lithium on 23 April issued a profit warning to its shareholders, citing a significant fall in lithium product sales price. Tianqi warned of a net loss of 3.6bn-4.3bn yuan ($497-593mn) in January-March, drastically below a net profit of 4.88bn yuan for the same period a year earlier. Global lithium firm Arcadium Lithium earlier this year warned that current market prices will weigh on future supply . Cobalt prices in China are also under pressure, with market participants forecasting the downtrend to continue at least until the end of this year. "Everyone's mentally prepared that this year's a tough year, even 2025 [can be tough]," said a lithium market participant, noting the adverse effects from this year's global economic downturn. Battery EV battery demand rose by 40pc on the year to 750GWh in 2023, but at a lower rate as EV demand growth also slows down . Among major markets, US and Europe grew the fastest by 40pc on the year, while China — the largest market — grew by 35pc. Battery demand in the rest of the world grew by 70pc, but was still lower than 100GWh. China's battery demand reached 415GWh in 2023, while Europe and US trailed behind at 185GWh and 100GWh, respectively. Battery output in Europe and US were 110GWh and 70GWh, respectively. Lithium-ion battery output in China was 940GWh in 2023 , according to data from the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). China is leading the way, but it comes at the cost of "high levels of overcapacity", IEA noted. China used less than 40pc of its maximum cell output, with its installed manufacturing capacity of cathode active material and anode active material at almost four and nine times greater than global EV cell demand in 2023. Homegrown current and additional EV battery manufacturing capacity in Europe and US are scarce. South Korean firms account for over 350GWh of manufacturing capacity outside of South Korea, with around 75pc of existing manufacturing capacity in Europe owned by South Korean firms. Japanese and Chinese firms have 57GWh and 30GWh of capacity, respectively, outside of their own countries. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Korea’s LGES mulls action to protect EV battery patents
Korea’s LGES mulls action to protect EV battery patents
Singapore, 24 April (Argus) — South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) is threatening action against "patent free riders" in the global battery industry, as it seeks to protect its strong position in the EV battery sector. LGES, the second-biggest EV battery producer by sales volume, said on 24 April that 580 of its more than 1,000 "highly strategic" patents are likely being infringed by competitors. "Major multinational manufacturers of end-products containing these infringing batteries appear to be overlooking their suppliers' non-compliance with patent rights," said the firm. "Such widespread disregard within the industry has led to severe market distortions, now demanding industry leaders like LG Energy Solution to take action and adopt stronger countermeasures," it added. The firm has previously filed lawsuits against its competitors with authorities such as the US International Trade Commission and German courts among others, it said. It is now considering its options, which include issuing warning notices or filing patent infringement lawsuits. LGES did not name the manufacturers, but said some battery manufacturers providing batteries to automakers marketing electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe may have violated "more than 30" of its patents, across major components and manufacturing technologies, including its cathode materials. The firm is currently analysing this further, it added. LGES came in second in global EV battery sales volumes last year, behind major Chinese battery maker CATL, according to South Korean market intelligence firm SNE Research. LGES' battery sales revenue reached $21.52bn in 2023, around half of CATL's $40.2bn. The firm shipped 129GWh of batteries last year, behind CATL's 308GWh and China's largest automaker BYD's 135GWh. Top battery makers have high dominance in the battery market and the current landscape will be difficult to change for a while, said SNE Research. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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