Fastmarkets to Launch China PV Module, BESS Battery Cell Prices
Fastmarkets announced the launch of two new monthly pricing benchmarks for China’s photovoltaic (PV) module and battery energy storage system (BESS) markets. The N‑type TOPCon utility‑scale solar module price will be quoted in USD per watt, while the 314 Ah lithium‑iron‑phosphate prismatic cell price will be reported in yuan per watt‑hour. The first assessments will be published on June 26, 2026, and will be updated on the last Friday of each month. The move responds to China’s rapid PV capacity growth to 1.2 TW and energy‑storage installations reaching 136 GW/351 GWh, both expanding at double‑digit rates.
Global SAF Demand to Reach 12.8 Mln Tonnes by 2030 and HEFA Dominance Risks Post-2030 Supply Gap: SkyNRG
SkyNRG’s 2026 outlook projects global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) demand at 12.8 million tonnes by 2030, roughly 3.6% of total jet fuel, a downgrade from the previous 15.5 Mt estimate. Global SAF production capacity is slated to reach 18.5 Mt by 2030, creating...
European HVO Markets: The Feedstock Constraint Behind the Compliance Push
European HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) markets are experiencing a widening gap between falling finished‑product prices and resilient waste‑based feedstock costs. German implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and the planned removal of double‑counting for advanced biofuels are tightening...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Launch CIF Rotterdam Aluminium Billet Premium Calculated Assessment
Fastmarkets announced a proposal to launch a calculated CIF Rotterdam aluminium billet premium, to be published weekly. The premium will be derived from LME cash prices adjusted for duties, logistics, freight, warehousing, financing, and the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism,...
Wheat Commentary: US, European Futures Mixed; Black Sea Enters Seasonal Downturn
US wheat futures showed mixed moves on June 16, with Chicago soft red winter July contracts gaining 5.75 cents to $5.95 per bushel while Kansas hard red winter July contracts slipped 6.75 cents to $6.33 per bushel. European Euronext wheat futures edged...
Ford Energy: A Strategic Pivot From EV Headwinds to Energy Infrastructure Growth
Ford has launched a dedicated energy‑storage division that redeploys battery capacity originally built for electric vehicles. The move comes as U.S. policy increasingly rewards utility‑scale storage through tax credits, while EV incentives grow more complex. Rising electricity demand from AI...
Chinese Recycling Crackdown Reshapes Black Mass Flows, Pressures Recycled Cobalt Market
China’s new battery‑recycling framework, effective April 1 2026, forced many informal shredders to liquidate black‑mass inventories, flooding the market with recycled cobalt. Spot payables for NCM black mass fell to 74‑75% DDP China, while recycled cobalt‑sulfate is offered as low as 81,000 yuan/ton...
![Natural Graphite Is Cheaper, Greener, More Supply Chain Resilient Alternative in Wake of Chinese Graphite Dominance: Westwater Resources [Update]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/5b40e4a51a1a85026226cae33001ddd0.webp)
Natural Graphite Is Cheaper, Greener, More Supply Chain Resilient Alternative in Wake of Chinese Graphite Dominance: Westwater Resources [Update]
Natural graphite, mined rather than manufactured, consumes roughly a quarter of the electricity needed for synthetic graphite, making it a greener and historically cheaper option. Chinese overcapacity has driven synthetic and natural graphite prices to parity, but analysts expect natural...
West Arrived Late in the Rare Earths Race: Mineração Taboca
Brazil, home to the world’s second‑largest rare‑earth reserves at roughly 21 million tonnes, is drawing heightened U.S. interest as Washington seeks alternatives to China. Taboca has pledged a $100 million, three‑year program to expand its mining footprint and modernize plants, while U.S....
Proposal to Change Fastmarkets’ Iron Ore 65% Fe Brazil-Origin Fines Index Name, Origin, Specifications
Fastmarkets proposes renaming its MB‑IRO‑0009 iron ore 65% Fe index to drop the Brazil‑origin label and broaden the origin scope to all sources. The index will also raise the maximum alumina limit from 1.9% to 3.0% to better capture the quality...
Delayed Publication of European Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Cost of Production Assessments
Fastmarkets announced a delay in publishing its European sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) cost‑of‑production assessments. The affected indices are AG‑SAF‑0004 (SAF max) and AG‑SAF‑0005 (HVO max), both quoted as base cost ex‑works Netherlands per tonne. The firm invited market participants to...
Sack Kraft Supply and Demand Is Shifting: What It Means for Procurement Teams
The sack kraft market, a key paper‑based packaging segment for food, beverage, chemicals and construction, is evolving into a specialized niche with its own supply‑demand fundamentals. Recent closures of non‑competitive capacity in Europe, high energy costs tied to the Middle...
Surging Lithium Demand Is Outpacing Growth of US Supply Chain: US Elemental
US Elemental CEO Rodger warns that lithium demand, driven by electric vehicles and battery storage, is set to grow about 20% annually for decades, outpacing the United States' ability to expand domestic supply. A 2022‑23 price slump stalled new projects,...
Rising Possibility of Production Cuts Among Chinese Zinc Smelters over Historically Low TCs
Chinese zinc smelters are grappling with historically low treatment charges (TCs) as spot zinc concentrate prices fell to a record low of roughly $70‑30 per tonne in late May. The plunge has eroded margins, forcing some smaller plants in Shaanxi...
Markets Assess Potential Impacts of US Section 301 Tariffs on Brazil
The U.S. Trade Representative is set to impose a 25% Section 301 tariff on Brazilian imports, targeting less than 30% of Brazil’s export basket. The proposal leaves key commodities such as aircraft parts, coffee and pulp exempt, but excludes fish, ethanol...