
Thomas Kavanagh, Editor - Battery Materials, provides an overview of battery materials market with key updates on electric vehicles, lithium, cobalt, nickel and more, including:
- EV market update: tariff wars heat up
- Lithium: production cuts
- Cobalt: Chinese exports increase
- Nickel: uncertainty reigns
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Brazil inflation decelerates to 3.81pc in Feb
Brazil inflation decelerates to 3.81pc in Feb
Sao Paulo, 12 March (Argus) — Brazil's headline inflation decelerated to an annual 3.81pc in February, mainly driven by transport costs and school tuition readjustments. The consumer price index IPCA slowed from 4.44pc in January, national statistics agency IBGE said on Thursday, after accelerating from 4.26pc in December. The annual figure was down from 5.06pc in February 2025 and marked the lowest headline reading since 3.93pc in May 2024. Housing costs fell to 5.67pc in February from 10pc the prior month, helped by slower gains in electricity. Transport costs were among the largest contributors to the monthly gain in the IPCA, rising to 2.49pc on an increase in flight tickets and bus tickets, despite gasoline pushing down motor fuels costs, IBGE said. Food and beverage costs, which weigh heavily on the index, decelerated to an annual 1.76pc in February from 2.20pc in January. Lower prices for coffee and eggs pushed down the result, IBGE's research manager Fernando Goncalves said. Brazil's central bank has kept its target interest rate elevated at 15pc since June 2025 . By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US may waive Jones Act shipping restrictions
US may waive Jones Act shipping restrictions
New York, 12 March (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration is considering temporarily waiving Jones Act restrictions on domestic shipping to ensure the stability of supply chains during the US-Israel war with Iran. While the action has not been finalized, the waiver would be for a limited period to ensure energy and agricultural products are flowing freely to US ports, the White House told Argus today. The Jones Act is a longstanding US maritime law that requires commercial vessels operating between US ports to be built, owned, operated and crewed by US citizens. Jones Act tankers normally command a premium because of their unique status and limited number compared to the overall international fleet. While permanent changes to the Jones Act require congressional approval, waivers can be issued by the president's administration, often during natural disaster-driven supply chain disruption. By Charlotte Bawol Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US to roll out new tariffs on major trading partners
US to roll out new tariffs on major trading partners
Washington, 12 March (Argus) — The US administration has launched a process to reverse-engineer tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month and will target the largest US trading partners with the new measures. The US Trade Representative's office (USTR) late on Tuesday announced an investigation into "structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors" of China, the EU, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India. USTR is citing its legal authority under Section 301 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1974, which allows targeting a foreign trade partner for unfair practices. All those jurisdictions have been subject to emergency tariffs of 15pc and higher since last April. The US Supreme Court struck down those tariffs on 20 February. President Donald Trump's administration on the same day imposed a 10pc tariff on all US imports, which will be in effect until 24 July. USTR is aiming to have the new Section 301 tariffs in place by that deadline. The choice of targets for new tariffs likely reflects the perceived need to preserve the trade deals Trump negotiated with those trade partners in the past year. Mexico is the only surprise choice — the country's trade with the US is covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which is due to be reviewed beginning in July. The Section 301 process does not affect existing tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars and auto parts. USTR likely will begin to roll out new tariffs soon after concluding a public hearing on 5 May. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s BHP iron ore site staff launch strike vote
Australia’s BHP iron ore site staff launch strike vote
Sydney, 12 March (Argus) — Electrical workers supporting BHP's iron ore operations in Western Australia have launched a strike ballot following a year of negotiations over an inaugural workplace agreement. Voting on the ballot — which covers 60 BHP staffers — closes on 25 March, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) said in a statement on 12 March. Workers will vote on authorising a range of actions, including on-call and overtime bans, 15-minute to 48-hour work stoppages, meeting bans and more, the ETU added. The ETU will be able to launch work stoppages and other forms of industrial action if the ballot is successful. Workers will not take actions that threaten the safety of workers or the community, the union said. BHP has strong contingency plans in place to ensure that safe and reliable operations can continue in the event of union disruptions at its sites, a company spokesperson told Argus on 12 March. The company's focus remains on reaching an outcome that maintains pay and conditions while supporting safe, productive, and sustainable operations, the spokesperson added. BHP's electrical workers are currently employed on individual contracts. ETU workers at the company are seeking a workplace agreement that protects existing conditions and provides additional transparency around pay and job classifications, among other things, the union said. The ETU's ballot launch comes just under a year after the majority of workers at Rio Tinto's 25mn t/yr Paraburdoo iron ore complex backed collective bargaining. The number of Australian workers involved in industrial disputes rose to 112,500 in 2025 from 89,100 in 2024 and 46,000 in 2023, recently released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.


