China's lithium hydroxide exports fell 7% MoM in October, with South Korea being the largest destination

Korea’s NEV exports fell sharply in August amid fewer working days and production disruptions, but the YoY decline of 16.4% was milder than the 26.9% drop in total auto exports. Cumulative Jan-Aug NEV exports still rose 21.2%, while BEV exports were relatively resilient. The key focus is whether exports recover as production normalizes from September.

According to First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt on September 18, the company has completed a non-brokered private placement without warrants, raising approximately C$6.16 million. The proceeds will mainly be used to advance drilling, metallurgical testing, road construction and exploration access at the Pipestone XL nickel-cobalt project in Newfoundland, Canada. The company also plans to accelerate systematic exploration along an approximately 30-kilometre mineralized trend, including priority targets such as RPM and Alloy Max. Pipestone XL is characterized by naturally occurring nickel-iron-cobalt alloy mineralization known as awaruite. Previous testing by the company showed high-grade alloy concentrates averaging around 67.4% nickel, with cobalt grades in some samples reaching up to approximately 1.76%. First Atlantic said this style of mineralization may allow for a relatively simplified processing route with less dependence on conventional smelting, roasting or HPAL. The financing will support further resource validation and technical development, although the project remains at the exploration and process-testing stage.

According to overseas media reports on September 18, South Korea’s Cosmo Chemical has signed a battery recycling tolling agreement with precursor manufacturer FINO. Under the agreement, Cosmo Chemical will receive pre-treated battery black mass from Europe and process it using its hydrometallurgical technology to produce cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate and lithium carbonate. The recovered materials will then be supplied to FINO. Cobalt sulfate and nickel sulfate will be reused as precursor feedstock, while lithium carbonate will be used in cathode material production. The cooperation is expected to establish a closed-loop supply chain linking European battery recycling and pre-treatment with hydrometallurgical refining in South Korea and the reuse of recovered materials in battery production. FINO’s shareholders include CNGR and Samsung SDI. The partnership is expected to strengthen the flow of recycled battery materials between Europe and Asia and increase the use of recycled cobalt and nickel in the battery supply chain.