Rio Tinto is starting pilot production of lithium in California from waste rock instead of excavating new areas. According to MiningNews.net, the company found that the company could become the largest producer for metal batteries in the United States for the fast-growing electric vehicle market without newly developed mine.

Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

The tungsten power and ferro tungsten prices remain weak adjustment in China considering the increased supply of raw materials but limited transactions. The market is in a stalemate with weak confidence and thin trading. 

Chinese rare earth prices continued to show a downward trend in the week began on Monday October 21, 2019 on deadlocked supply and demand, and low trading activity. Affected by global economic slowdown, geopolitical turmoil and weak permanent magnet manufacturing industry, the purchasing power of downstream users is slightly insufficient, resulting in a slight increase in market supply. 

Chinese molybdenum prices were in the downward trend in the week ended on Friday October 25, 2019 as the mentality of the traders has been significantly affected under the situation that the steel market demand is generally low. The downstream buyers waited for lower prices and upstream sellers made offers rationally. 

Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

The tungsten market was weak in China in the week began on October 21 due to persistent weakness in the demand side and increased supply of tungsten raw materials. Offers in the market was in the chaos. 

On October 21, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has started construction of its first overseas battery manufacturing plant in Thuringia, Germany, intends to reach a production capacity of 14 GWh of lithium-ion cells and modules annually in 2022. According to the plan, the plant has a construction area of 23 hectares. The production line includes batteries and module products. After the project completed, it will become the largest lithium-ion cells in Germany, and it is also the largest production greenfield investment project invested by China in Germany.

LG Chem announced on October 21 that it has become the first South Korean battery manufacturer to join the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). According to industry insiders, LG's move is to ensure the safety of tungsten and cobalt raw materials procurement for the development of the European power battery market.

Analysis of latest tungsten market from Chinatungsten Online

The ammonium paratungstate (APT) and tungsten powder prices are in the downward trend affected by the decline in new tungsten forecast prices for the second half of October. The market confidence is weak and insiders are uncertain about the market outlook. Therefore, the whole market remains cautious operations. 

Rare earth market quotation in China: terbium oxide, neodymium oxide and praseodymium oxide prices remained weak adjustment due to low trading activity and wait-and-see atmosphere. Under mixed situation, it is difficult to effectively improve the terminal demand, resulting in a small number of rare earth smelters offering a small amount of low-cost sources, but due to the impact of environmental protection inspection, some mainstream mines enterprises still have a strong price psychology.

Molybdenum market quotation in China: the latest prices of ferro molybdenum, molybdenum concentrate and molybdenum oxide continued to decline on quiet trading and cautious sentiment. Most upstream manufacturers kept firm prices but downstream market did not follow up.