Ellie Saklatvala, Senior Editor — Nonferrous Metals, provides a bitesize overview of the key price movements that happened in Q1 and how supply and demand fundamentals are shaping up as we move through Q2.
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PCC BakkiSilicon calls for trade defence on Chinese Si
PCC BakkiSilicon calls for trade defence on Chinese Si
London, 6 September (Argus) — Iceland's PCC BakkiSilicon has renewed its call for political support to apply increased anti-dumping duties on silicon metal from China, produced at lower prices with higher emissions, after PCC received an International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) certifying its CO2 equivalent footprint. PCC BakkiSilicon — the Icelandic subsidiary of Germany's PCC SE — is discussing protective measures on an EU level through industry association Euroalliages, and directly with the German and Icelandic governments, a company representative told Argus . "Protective measures for the silicon industry should consist of an increase of anti-dumping duties from China," the representative said. "As well as stronger measures to comply with supply chain law requirements to prevent imports of material that is being produced under violation of human rights, work safety and environmental standards," they added. Silicon metal imported into the EU from China is already subject to an anti-dumping duty of 16.8pc (or 16.3pc for Datong Jinneng Industrial Silicon) originally imposed on 1 July 2016, and renewed on 11 August 2022 after a request for review from Euroalliages. Anti-dumping measures are usually imposed for five years, but interested parties may ask for an interim review provided that there is sufficient evidence of changed circumstances. Interim reviews usually concern the level of duty in force, but can also extend to injury, scope and form of measures. Whether an interim review can be requested remains open at the time being, the PCC representative said. The renewed political plea comes as PCC is the first silicon producer to receive ISCC Carbon Footprint Certification, confirming a footprint of 3,102.56kg CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per t of silicon metal — as produced in the reference period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. This is compared with a global industry average of 10,900kg CO2e/t of silicon metal, according to PCC, and the company estimates that Chinese manufacturers are operating far above this number. "The material produced so efficiently in environmental terms by PCC in Iceland is rarely measured by customers in Europe against criteria such as sustainability or climate protection, but still only against price," PCC SE chief executive Peter Wenzel said. By Samuel Wood Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan approves $2.4bn for EV battery projects
Japan approves $2.4bn for EV battery projects
Tokyo, 6 September (Argus) — The Japanese government has approved to fund a maximum of ¥347.9bn ($2.4bn) for electric vehicle (EV) battery investments, in a bid to build out 150 GWh/yr of domestic output capacity by 2030. A total of 12 projects will be subsidised, according to the ministry of trade and industry (Meti) on 6 September. This includes lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell production by a consortium of battery producer Panasonic and auto manufacturer Subaru ( see table ). Around ¥326bn will be allocated for Li-ion battery production, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Some ¥17bn for raw material production, such as electrolyte and ¥5bn for manufacturing equipment, will be financed, Meti said. The funding is part of Meti's wider battery strategy that aims to build out 150 GWh/yr of battery production capacity domestically by 2030. The projects being subsidised are expected to lift total capacity to 120 GWh/yr from 85 GWh/yr currently once they begin operations, a Meti official said. To achieve 150 GWh/yr target, the country needs to secure 100,000 t/yr of lithium, 90,000 t/yr of nickel, 150,000 t/yr of graphite, 20,000 t/yr of cobalt and 20,000 t/yr of manganese, according to Meti. The battery strategy is part of pricing policy across industries based on Japan's Green Transformation Initiative, a policy to promote decarbonisation. Japan by 2030 aims to set a battery pack price for EVs at ¥10,000/kWh or less to make EV prices competitive with gasoline cars, and for storage batteries for industrial facilities at ¥60,000/kWh. Domestic battery production will be an essential factor to meet those targets by reducing cost. Meti's battery strategy also aims to reduce foreign dependency for the battery supply chain, in line with the country's economic security law that designated batteries a critical resource in December 2022. By Yusuke Maekawa Japan EV battery projects with subsidy Project owner Product Capacity (GWh/yr) **** Project cost (¥bn) Government funds (¥bn) Expected year to start supplying Panasonic/Subaru lithium-ion battery cell 16.0 463.0 156.4 Aug '28 Panasonic/Mazda lithium-ion battery cell 6.5 83.3 28.3 July '25 Nissan LFP (lithium-iron phosphate) 5.0 153.3 55.7 July '28 Toyota/PPES*/PEVE** Next generation battery/ASSB*** 9/n.a 245.0 85.6 Nov '26 Nippon Shokubai Electrolyte 21.4 37.5 12.5 July '28 Toagosei Binder 142.0 3.8 1.3 Oct '26 artience/Toyocolor a) Conductive agents, b)carbon nano-tube a) for cathode 40, for anode 17, b) 120 8.8 2.9 a) Dec '27 (cathode), Sep '26 (anode), b) Jan '27 Kaga Explosion-proof cover cap 3.1 0.6 0.2 Oct '25 Ricoh/Seibu Giken Battery manufacturing equipment 3.0 4.7 2.3 Sep '27 Kyoto Seisakusho Battery manufacturing equipment 21.0 5.4 1.9 Jul '26 Soft Energy Controls Battery manufacturing equipment 18.0 0.8 0.4 Apr '25 Marui Sangyo Battery manufacturing equipment 8.0 0.8 0.4 Apr '26 * PEVE=Primearth EV Energy **PPES=Prime Planet Energy & Solutions *** All-solid-state-battery **** battery equivalent for raw material and battery manufacturing equipment Source: Meti Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
E-VAC secures $335mn for US permanent magnet plant
E-VAC secures $335mn for US permanent magnet plant
Houston, 5 September (Argus) — Battery technology manufacturer E-VAC Magnetics secured $335mn in funding to help construct its facility in South Carolina, where it plans on producing neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets starting in 2025. The non-recourse financing — announced Thursday — was obtained by US-based private equity firm Ara Partners, which owns E-VAC's German-based parent company Vacuumschmelze (VAC). The plant, which is scheduled to come on line in fall 2025, primarily will support several models of General Motors' (GM) line of electric vehicles (EV) over a 10-year period. GM and VAC entered into a binding supply agreement in September 2023, under which the latter agreed to build a manufacturing facility in North America. E-VAC will source rare earths and other raw materials from local sources, it has said. The company has received over $200mn from the US Defense Department and US Energy Department for the project, as the US seeks to reduce its reliance on China for critical components needed for defense and electrification applications. The company also signed a deal to recycle permanent magnets through Cyclic Materials, helping to create a circular supply chain for rare earth elements in North America. By Alex Nicoll Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU awards €7.3mn grant to titanium consortium
EU awards €7.3mn grant to titanium consortium
London, 4 September (Argus) — The EU has awarded a combined €7.3mn ($8.1mn) to 13 companies under its REPTiS project, for the responsible extraction and processing of titanium and other primary raw materials for sourcing EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors. The firms will have to use the grant to demonstrate the viability of titanium extraction, processing and deployment in the EU through a partnership with Ukraine. The project is funded under the EU's Horizon Europe programme and is due to run for four years, with a slated end date of 31 August 2028. The project will be co-ordinated by trade group the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA), with other key participants including Ukrainian titanium producer Velta and global aerospace manufacturer GKN Aerospace. The majority of the funding is earmarked for Velta and the EPMA. Other recipients include companies specialising in metal injection moulding and additive manufacturing, research centres and universities, although the current allocation of funding does not account for the entire €7.3mn budget. The aim of the project is to demonstrate solutions for extracting and processing titanium across the value chain — including open-pit ilmenite ore mining at Velta's Byrzulivske deposit — and the production of low-carbon titanium powder and use of other technologies including additive manufacturing and metal injection moulding. The collaboration will focus on areas such as energy efficiency and environmental impact, titanium powder production and final product manufacturing. For example, Sweden's University West will manufacture an aerospace demonstrator component, defined by GKN, using powder bed fusion additive manufacturing and titanium powder from Velta. Other final products include medical implants and watch casings. A life-cycle assessment will be conducted from raw material extraction to final products, to assess the difference between methods used under the REPTiS project compared with conventional practices. "The substantial funding for our consortium project underscores the EU's recognition of Ukraine as a strategic partner — one capable of establishing a secure titanium supply chain from raw materials to final titanium products, which are critical globally," Velta chief executive Andriy Brodsky said. Ukrainian state-owned property fund SPFU manages various titanium assets in Ukraine and it has been pushing for international investment into the country's titanium industry. One of SPFU's key assets is titanium minerals mining firm UMCC, which manages and operates the Vilnohirsk and Irshansk mining and ore processing complexes. UMCC is set to be auctioned on 9 October. By Samuel Wood REPTiS participants and grant allocation € Participant Sector Grant European Powder Metallurgy Association Industry association 712,572 Velta Ilmenite mining, titanium powder 1,025,986 Velta RD Titan Research and development 1,060,196 Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Research 807,968 Element 22 Metal injection moulding, 3D printing 418,925 Innovation in Research & Engineering Solutions Research 349,212 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Research 602,362 International Additive Manufacturing Group Additive manufacturing 285,845 University West (Hogskolan Vast) University 248,535 Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation Research 748,920 Alfa MIMtech Metal injection moulding 209,300 University of Leoben (Montanuniversität) University 834,260 GKN Aerospace Sweden Aerospace manufacturer 0 — European Commision Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
