Battery Raw Materials Market Update: Prices, Trends, and Insights for EV and ESS Manufacturing

Battery Raw Materials: Latest Prices, Market Trends & Insights

The essential materials used in the production of batteries for electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems (ESS) are crucial for our transition to a zero-carbon future. Fastmarkets offers a comprehensive suite focused on battery raw materials, providing vital insights, data, and analytics necessary for accurate forecasting, inventory management, price risk assessment, and benchmarking costs against industry peers. This suite helps balance the costs and benefits of sustainability.

Our customers gain access to detailed price data along with both short- and long-term forecasts and analyses for various raw materials, including:

– Lithium and spodumene
– Cobalt
– Black mass
– Manganese
– Graphite
– Nickel
– Additional commodities utilized in the production of EVs and batteries, such as rare earth elements, aluminium, copper, and steel.

We are continuously expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of the global battery raw materials market.

### Market Insights

Fastmarkets’ battery raw materials products empower market participants and investors with the transparency and clarity needed for making critical strategic business decisions. Our offerings include:

– **BRM Price Data**: Trade based on market-reflective prices.
– **BRM Short-Term Forecasts**: Validate your price and supply/demand forecasts for the next 1-2 years.
– **BRM Long-Term Forecasts**: Access crucial long-term forecasts for the upcoming 10-15 years.
– **Battery Recycling Outlook**: Gain a competitive edge in the emerging battery recycling market.
– **Battery Cost Index**: Increase transparency regarding the costs of key lithium-ion cell components.
– **BRM Price Risk Management**: Utilize futures contracts for effective risk management.

### Key Prices

– **Lithium**
– Lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 minimum, battery grade, contract price cif China, Japan & Korea: $/kg (MB-LI-0027)
– Lithium spodumene minimum 6% Li2O, spot price, cif China: $/tonne (MB-LI-0012)
– Lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 minimum, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea: $/kg (MB-LI-0029)
– Lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH minimum, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea: $/kg (MB-LI-0033)

– **Cobalt**
– Cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam: $/lb (MB-CO-0005)

### Market Developments

Our team of senior analysts and price researchers keeps you updated with the latest prices, reports, and market conditions in battery raw materials.

#### Graphite Industry Challenges

As we approach 2025, the graphite industry faces significant challenges such as trade wars, high tariffs on synthetic graphite, and policy changes affecting EV manufacturing and tax credits. These dynamics, coupled with low natural graphite prices and oversupply, underscore the necessity for diversifying supply chains to ensure market stability.

#### Impact of US Legislation

The proposed “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” could influence clean energy and battery manufacturing in the United States by modifying key incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Such changes may disrupt supply chains, reduce investments in renewable energy, and increase costs for electric vehicles and home energy products.

#### New Futures Contracts

Fastmarkets is excited to announce a partnership with the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to launch a new suite of futures contracts focused on battery raw materials (BRM). This initiative addresses the growing demand for transparency and efficiency in the market.

#### Aluminium Industry Outlook

The US aluminium sector is currently grappling with challenges stemming from tariffs that have led to increased prices and premiums. While trade agreements might alleviate some issues, analysts predict that elevated premiums will persist in the short term. Nevertheless, long-term demand for aluminium is expected to rise, driven by the energy transition and clean energy projects.

### Upcoming Events

– **17th Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference 2025**: June 23-26, 2025 | Las Vegas, USA
– **Fastmarkets European Battery Raw Materials Conference 2025**: September 16-18, 2025 | Lisbon
– **International Critical Minerals and Metals Summit: Indonesia**: September 24-26, 2025 | Bali, Indonesia

Join us for expert analysis and insights into the battery raw materials market, featuring industry leaders and innovators.

For more resources and insights on battery raw materials, visit our resource hub at Fastmarkets. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing the intelligence you need to navigate this evolving market successfully.