Copper and Lithium

Our previous blog post was dedicated to lithium. This week, it's copper's turn, and we're taking a closer look at what's stirring in the copper world these days. Political developments in the United States are creating new waves of uncertainty in global markets. And copper doesn’t escape the turbulence. The market has been unsettled since February, when announcements of a potential tariff on copper imports first surfaced. As a result, analysts are now warning of a possible collapse in copper prices in the near future. "Copper should be made in America." Copper and U.S. trade policy in focus. The current unrest in the copper market began with a trade investigation initiated by the White House. In February this year, U.S. authorities launched a formal inquiry to assess whether the import of copper poses a threat to national security. This type of investigation, known as a “Section 232 investigation,” grants the president the authority to impose tariffs if deem...

Last week, we got a glimpse of how critical minerals became a central topic in the geopolitical arena. Now, we take a closer look at how lithium may be at the center of political interests. What is really happening in the lithium market, and how can geopolitics impact the future of the battery industry? Let’s take a closer look at the situation. From Growth to a Sudden Lithium Surplus As we know, lithium is a critical raw material for the technological transition to electric vehicles and energy storage. Demand for lithium has grown exponentially since 2016, driven by the global push for electrification. Automakers and energy companies have lined up to secure supplies of lithium. Between 2022 and 2024, global lithium production increased dramatically, from approximately 737,000 tons in 2022 to 1.2 million tons in 2024, measured in lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). A significant part of this growth was driven by large-scale lithium extraction and the rising demand for electric vehicle...

This week one topic has dominated discussions on global affairs: the mineral agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine. Friday's meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump escalated into a heated exchange, with journalists around the world witnessing a rare political spectacle at the White House. The meeting was intended to secure a deal on critical minerals but turned into a heated argument, and the agreement was never signed. The result is a deal that, for now, remains on hold.  But what was this mineral agreement really about? Without delving too deep into the political storm, we will take a closer look at what's in the ground and why these resources matter.  Ukraine has vast mineral resources , with an estimated 5% of the world's critical raw materials within its borders. Among these are deposits of copper, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements. We focus on our favorites: cobber and lithium. The country holds about one-third of Europe's lithium reserves a...