15 Oct, 2025
China tightens lithium-ion battery exports; mine disruptions hit copper supply
By Richa Noriega
TOP NEWS
– China tightens export restrictions on lithium-ion batteries, related materials
China expanded its "dual-use" export control list to include high-energy density lithium-ion batteries, specialized manufacturing equipment and key raw materials.
– Copper supply dogged by big mine disruptions in 2025
Operational issues at some of the world's top copper mines have disrupted 5% of global supply for 2025 and helped fuel a 25.3% copper price increase in the year to date.
CHART OF THE WEEK
Mining companies including Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Codelco, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. and Teck Resources Ltd. have announced decreases to production guidance this year after serious and sometimes fatal incidents at operations that include three of the top 10 copper mines and another mine in the top 25, based on S&P Global Market Intelligence data covering 2024 output.
COPPER
– Teck flags fixes for Quebrada copper megamine after cutting outlook again
– Antofagasta's Los Pelambres offers new proposal to avert strike
– Chile's Codelco sees lowest production since 2003 in August
– Copper squeeze could spark US government investments – Sprott executive
– Freeport-McMoRan aims for 60% production growth – CEO
– Orion to acquire 25% stake in Capstone's Chilean copper projects for up to $360M
– Saudi's Aramco sets sights on copper traders for metals market entry – Bloomberg
LITHIUM
– Vulcan Energy enters Lionheart lithium offtake deal with Glencore
– SQM, Codelco form 2-phase public-private partnership – SQM chairperson
NICKEL
– Coal India eyes stakes in critical minerals, initial interest in battery metals
– South African state-owned firm boosts stake in Sibanye-Stillwater to over 20%
OTHER METALS
– Congo to base cobalt export quotas on 3-year company data – Reuters
– Congo to revoke cobalt export quotas for non-compliant companies – Reuters