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☆ The solid-state batteries hype is fading – prompting auto giants to consider alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Solid-state batteries have long been billed as the "holy grail" of sustainable driving. As the name suggests, solid-state batteries contain a solid electrolyte, made from materials such as ceramics. Automakers have invested billions of dollars in solid-state battery research and teamed up with developers to produce their own versions for mass production. Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesJapan's Toyota, for instance, has said it is aiming to bring solid-state batteries into mass production between 2027 and 2028. Yet, despite growing hype over the potential rollout of solid-state batteries, analysts remain skeptical about when they will actually make it to market.

Persons: Tomohiro Ohsumi, Japan's Nissan, Germany's Mercedes, Max Reid, Wood Mackenzie, Reid, Wood Mackenzie's Reid, Julia Poliscanova, Poliscanova, Nio, Ganfeng, Environment's Poliscanova Organizations: Afp, Getty, Toyota Motor Corp, Benz Group, Stellantis, Hyundai, Kia, Environmental Defense Fund, CNBC, Transport, Environment, Paris, Show, Qingtao Energy Locations: Nanjing, China's, Jiangsu, PARIS, France, Tokyo, Japan, U.S, China

The brine contains lithium, a silvery white metal essential for making electric vehicle batteries and in high demand as the world shifts to green energy. Eramet is being closely watched by competitors from the U.S. to Chile that are also working to commercialize DLE. It aims to pump out its first ton of lithium carbonate in November and scale up to 24,000 metric tons a year by mid-2025. The technique allows Eramet to produce a ton of lithium carbonate in one week, versus a year with traditional methods. "You go step by step, making sure you can get to the next phase," said engineer Soledad Gamarra.

Persons: Eramet, Christel Bories, Joe Lowry, Soledad Gamarra, Mara Puntano, John Li, Tsingshan, Bories, Daina Beth Solomon, Salar Centenario, Ernest Scheyder, Lucila Sigal, Veronica Brown, Richard Chang Organizations: Reuters, Battery Metals, Initiative for, Mining Assurance, America, Thomson Locations: SALAR CENTENARIO, Argentina, Argentina's, U.S, Chile, Salta, Rio Tinto, South, Eramet's Centenario, Eramet's, Salt Lake City, U.S ., Utah, China, Asia, Salar, Houston

☆ As the Year of the Dragon begins, the pros name sectors — and stocks — to play the Chinese market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Chinese stocks had an eventful week last week — with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hitting a five-year low of about 2,650 points on Feb. 5, before edging up to end the week at 2,865.90. A slide in Hong Kong-listed Chinese shares on Feb. 9, however, proved that investors may still have lingering concerns on the prospects of Chinese stocks in the new year. As the festive season gets underway, Redmond Wong, market strategist at investment firm Saxo, sees several opportunities to play the market. Boom in green transformation Beyond the traditional sectors, Saxo's Wong is watching an up-and-coming area in China: energy security and a green transformation. Data from the International Energy Agency shows that the Asian giant's clean-energy sectors contributed 11.4 trillion Chinese yuan ($1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, up 30% year-on-year.

Persons: Redmond Wong, Saxo, I'm, Wong, Saxo's Wong, Morningstar, Zijin Organizations: CNBC Pro, Monetary Fund, Technology, Shenzhen, Baidu, Sands, Tsingtao, Morningstar, Tsingtao Brewery, International Energy Agency, Companies, Zijin Mining Locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Sands China, Macao, Shandong

☆ Analysis-In China's lithium hub, mining boom comes at a cost
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Siyi Liu | Dominique Patton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

FILE PHOTO: A vehicle is seen near a lithium smelter in Yichun, Jiangxi province, China March 30, 2023. It has supported mine development by taking stakes in mining companies to help battery materials makers that do not have mines overseas like those owned by China’s top lithium producers Ganfeng Lithium and Tianqi Lithium. Separating lithium from lepidolite can cost as much as 100,000 yuan per metric ton, compared to 40,000-50,000 yuan for brine and 50,000-60,000 yuan for spodumene, analysts said. ‘NATURAL RESOURCES CHAOS’Further dimming the outlook for lepidolite, environmental damage is a growing concern. UBS analysts see China’s supply of lithium from lepidolite tripling to 280,000 metric tons, or 13% of global supply, between 2022 and 2025, well short of Yichun’s target.

Persons: ”, Yang Yaohua, Yang, Wu Wei, Eric Norris, ” Norris, Yongxing, Yichun, Ma Jun, ” Ma, Vicky Zhao, Li Qi Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Australia, Guosen, Macquarie, Gotion High Tech, CRU, Xiamen University, Energy, lepidolite, Reuters, Materials Technology, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, UBS, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Locations: YICHUN, China, Yichun, Jiangxi province, lepidolite, Beijing, Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, Shanghai, Jin, U.S, Jiangxi

It has supported mine development by taking stakes in mining companies to help battery materials makers that do not have mines overseas like those owned by China's top lithium producers Ganfeng Lithium (002460.SZ), (002460.SZ) and Tianqi Lithium (002466.SZ). Separating lithium from lepidolite can cost as much as 100,000 yuan per metric ton, compared to 40,000-50,000 yuan for brine and 50,000-60,000 yuan for spodumene, analysts said. 'NATURAL RESOURCES CHAOS'Further dimming the outlook for lepidolite, environmental damage is a growing concern. As it gets stricter now, lithium resources in Yichun will lose their competitiveness with the higher costs for environmental protection," Ma said. UBS analysts see China's supply of lithium from lepidolite tripling to 280,000 metric tons, or 13% of global supply, between 2022 and 2025, well short of Yichun's target.

Persons: YICHUN, Yang Yaohua, Yang, Wu Wei, Eric Norris, Norris, Yongxing, Yichun, Ma Jun, Ma, Vicky Zhao, Li Qi, Siyi Liu, Dominique Patton, Ernest Scheyder, Tony Munroe, Sonali Paul Organizations: Australia, Guosen, Macquarie, Gotion High Tech, CRU, Xiamen University, Energy, Corp, Reuters, Materials Technology, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, UBS, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Beijing Newsroom, Thomson Locations: China, Yichun, lepidolite, Beijing, Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, Shanghai, Jin, U.S, Jiangxi, Houston

☆ Australia's Allkem, Livent to merge into $10.6 bln lithium giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Harish Sridharan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 10 (Reuters) - Lithium producer Allkem Ltd (AKE.AX) has agreed to merge with U.S.-based Livent Corp (LTHM.N) to create one of the world's most valuable producers of the key raw materials used in electric-vehicle batteries. The all-stock deal will create a $10.6 billion entity, the fifth-largest in the world after Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQMA.SN), Ganfeng Lithium Group (002460.SZ) and Tianqi Lithium Corp (002466.SZ). ASX-listed Allkem produces lithium carbonate from its Sal de Vida facility in Argentina, which is near Livent's Hombre Mureto lithium project. Livent, based in Philadelphia, supplies lithium products to multiple U.S. automakers, including General Motors Co (GM.N), Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and BMW (BMWG.DE). Under the deal, Allkem shareholders will get one share in the combined entity for each of their shares and the company will ultimately own 56% of the new firm.

☆ Argentina's lithium pipeline promises 'white gold' boom as Chile tightens control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Lucila Sigal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Neighboring Chile, the region's top lithium producer, last week unveiled plans for a state-led public-private model, spooking investors. Bolivia has long maintained strict control over its huge though largely untapped resources, while Mexico nationalized its lithium deposits last year. The country has six lithium projects under construction and 15 in the advanced exploration or feasibility stage, Mignacco said. "Argentina's lithium sector has thrived through a decentralized, pro-market strategy," said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America program at The Wilson Center, adding in contrast Bolivia's lithium sector had "repeatedly stalled as a result of excessive state control." "Chile today produces and exports much more lithium than Argentina," said Natacha Izquierdo, analyst at consultancy ABCEB.

☆ Factbox: World's biggest lithium producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Carman Chew | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chile holds the world's largest lithium reserves and is the world's second-largest producer. Australia is the world's biggest supplier, with production from hard rock mines. Rapid growth is forecast to be met by output gains in Australia, Chile and Argentina. WORLD'S BIGGEST MINESGreenbushes, Western Australia, by Talison Lithium (a joint venture of Tianqi Lithium (002466.SZ), IGO (IGO.AX) and Albemarle Corp (ALB.N)). Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium salt lake, Argentina, bought by Ganfeng Lithium (002460.SZ), will produce 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate starting 2024, and can potentially be expanded to 50,000 tonnes.

Ganfeng said in a response to Reuters that no discussions on a floor price had taken place. Zhicun Lithium, one of the top lithium carbonate producers in China, was also represented at the meeting, said four of the people, but could not be reached for comment. It is not clear how long the companies, which account for over half China's lithium carbonate output, will follow the floor price. However, some buyers were sceptical that producers would stick to the floor price, given the sluggish demand. "If we don't buy, someone will eventually drop the price," said a lithium carbonate buyer briefed on the decision.

☆ From Tesla to under-the-radar battery stocks: Wall Street has a playbook for the EV boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The bank's "Battery Electric Vehicles Basket" comprises several stocks across the EV supply chain, including automakers Rivian , Lucid and Li Auto . This may be the opportune moment for Chinese EV brands to knock on the doors of Europe." Among the Chinese EV makers, BYD, Nio and Xpeng are "the ones to watch," according to Bernstein. "We expect Chinese EV players to find better success targeting the compact, mass market EV segment that has so far been under-penetrated in Europe," the bank said. Tesla and under-the-radar plays Tesla is one of Deutsche Bank 's top picks in the EV space.

☆ Analysis: Decree adds to doubts about Mexican lithium industry's future
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Last Saturday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador signed his latest presidential decree on lithium, establishing a more than 900-square-mile (235,000 hectare) lithium mining zone in northern Sonora state, stating that existing concessions within it "remain safe." But the order also declared "no mining activity can be carried out related to lithium" within this area. Neither Lopez Obrador's office or Mexico's economy ministry, which was part of the decree, responded to a request for comment. Created last August, state-run LitioMx will likely launch further exploration efforts in the new mining zone, BTG Pactual analysts said in a research note. He emphasized the need to minimize political risks associated with the government's latest decree, if Mexican lithium has any hope of transforming its raw potential into a thriving industry with a long-term horizon.

☆ Emerging markets are getting attention. Morgan Stanley names the 'highest quality' stocks to play it
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Emerging market stocks are piquing investor interest. Against that backdrop, Morgan Stanley named a raft of EM stocks it says are of the "highest quality" and are trading at reasonable prices. Morgan Stanley said valuations look "attractive" for the 29 stocks that turned up on its screen. Morgan Stanley likes Alibaba as a play on China's reopening and consumption recovery. Singapore-based utilities firm Sembcorp Industries is another Morgan Stanley favorite.

The flurry of deals comes even as warnings emerge that lithium prices, driven to records by rapid growth in electric vehicles, may peak next year because of a looming supply glut. It also bought majority stakes in the Lakkor Tso Lithium Salar mine in China's Tibet region and the Xiangyuan lithium mine in Hunan province. Zijin has a market capitalisation of about $35 billion and net profit of 15.7 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) last year. Some firms are also working to develop alternative battery materials, which could reduce lithium demand in the long term. Zijin told investors recently it made its mine acquisitions based on lithium carbonate prices of 100,000 yuan a tonne.

HONG KONG, Nov 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A Hong Kong stock market debut puts Jakarta at the centre of China’s electric-car boom. Lygend Resources & Technology (2245.HK), a Chinese nickel trader, is looking to raise up to $594 million in an initial public offering to expand in Indonesia. Lygend both trades and produces nickel products, essential for stainless steel and batteries. Around a fifth of the world’s nickel resources are located in the country, which accounted for nearly 40% of ore unearthed last year, according to the company’s prospectus. Hong Kong CATL is the largest cornerstone investor, according to the prospectus.

☆ Analysts love these EV-related stocks — and give one upside of more than 100%
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A quarter of the 75 component stocks are tech names, with materials and industrials stocks, as well as auto stocks, making up the rest. To identify the stocks that analysts are most bullish on, CNBC Pro screened the ETF on FactSet for stocks that are buy-rated by the majority of analysts covering them. Analysts also gave these stocks average potential upside of at least 20% over the next 12 months. This was hydrogen fuel cell maker Plug Power , which analysts gave a whopping average potential upside of 122%, according to FactSet. Several Big Tech stocks in the EV supply chain are also well-liked by analysts, including Apple , Alphabet and Microsoft .

☆ Twitter’s Free Speech Problem Is Tesla’s, Too
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tesla already had a treacherous line to walk between China and the U.S. Chief Executive Elon Musk has made it worse by buying Twitter. The world’s largest EV market accounted for about 24% of Tesla’s revenues in the first three-quarters of this year, but the company’s bigger dependence is in production. The Shanghai plant is its largest manufacturing and export hub, with room to make more than 750,000 Model 3s or Model Ys—roughly two-fifths of its global capacity. Not coincidentally, the rise of this factory has mirrored the increase in Tesla’s margins over the past couple of years. The company also needs China’s battery materials: It gets lithium compounds from Chinese suppliers Ganfeng and Yahua, for example.

☆ Twitter’s Free Speech Problem Is Tesla’s Too
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Stephen Wilmot | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Factbox: Automakers accelerate drive to secure battery raw materials
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

read more08-Dec-2021 - Belgium's Umicore (UMI.BR) will supply cathode materials for Volkswagen's European battery cell factories under a joint venture. MERCEDES BENZ (MBGn.DE):23-Aug-2022 - Mercedes-Benz strikes cooperation agreement with Canada to secure access to lithium, nickel and cobalt. read more04-Oct-2021 - BHP Group (BHP.AX) will supply nickel sulphate from Western Australia to Toyota and Panasonic's joint venture. read moreFORD (F.N)22-July-2022 - Ioneer Ltd signs binding offtake agreement with Ford to supply lithium from Rhyolite Ridge in Nevada. read more22-Sept-2021 - Ford partners with startup Redwood Materials to form a "closed loop" or circular supply chain for electric vehicle batteries, from raw materials to recycling.

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