[SMM Flash] MinRes FY26 Attributable Spodumene Concentrate Sales Reach 559,000 Tonnes

QatarEnergy Marketing has set its September 2026 Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) at $880/t FOB Ras Laffan/Mesaieed, down $10/t from $890/t in August.

According to Electra Battery Materials on September 1, the company has appointed Douglas Geniti as Senior Advisor, Commercial Strategy, to support commercial planning for its North American cobalt sulfate refinery ahead of commissioning and ramp-up in 2027. Geniti has more than 35 years of experience in cobalt, nickel and minor metals, with a background covering global trading, raw material procurement, refining, logistics and customer contracts. In his new role, he will focus on raw material sourcing strategy, customer development, product marketing and commercial agreements, with particular attention to the U.S. industrial, battery and defense markets. Electra’s cobalt sulfate refinery in Ontario, Canada, has an initial designed annual capacity of 5,120 tonnes of battery-grade cobalt sulfate and is currently under construction, with mechanical completion targeted for the second quarter of 2027. The company has already secured all cobalt feedstock required for commissioning and ramp-up and continues to advance downstream customer engagement and long-term commercial partnerships. Electra said the project is intended to establish a domestic North American supply of battery-grade cobalt, reduce reliance on overseas refining supply chains, and serve growing demand from the battery, industrial and defense sectors. The company also plans to strengthen its commercial team to accelerate cooperation with both feedstock suppliers and end-users, laying the groundwork for stable operations and future production ramp-up.

U.S. lithium-ion battery imports reached 215,942 tonnes in the second quarter of 2026, up 26% from the previous quarter but down 10% year-on-year. Total U.S. lithium-ion battery imports in the first half of 2026 reached 386,965 tonnes, down 31% from the same period last year. Imports of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage and other non-EV applications reached 193,370 tonnes in Q2, up nearly 29% quarter-on-quarter. EV battery imports totaled 22,572 tonnes, compared with 20,873 tonnes in the first quarter and 30,983 tonnes in the second quarter of 2025. China remained the largest source of U.S. lithium-ion battery imports, accounting for 66.5% of total Q2 imports.