Latest News
-
Tesla and Australia's Syrah extend deadline for resolving alleged default on graphite supply contract
Syrah Resources, an Australian graphite mining company, announced on Monday that it had agreed to extend to June 1 a deadline for resolving a alleged breach of a graphite supplying agreement with Tesla. Tesla issued a previous notice alleging Syrah had failed to comply with an obligation to supply natural graphite AAM samples from its Vidalia plant in?Louisiana. The notice stated that Syrah must cure the alleged default before March 16 or else Tesla may terminate the offtake agreement for supply from Syrah’s 11,25 kilotons per annum AAM facility located in Vidalia. The companies have agreed to extend the deadline of the agreement to June 1, subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Energy. The contract, which is worth 8,000 tonnes annually over four years, will support Syrah Vidalia and its strategy to become one of the largest?U.S. Suppliers of non-Chinese Graphite. Tesla, based in Texas, issued its first default notice on July 20, 2025. It said that Syrah had failed to deliver active anode samples from Vidalia's processing facility. Syrah announced on Monday that it "doesn't accept" that it was in default, but that the two parties had agreed to extend a cure date until?June 1, while they work together? to resolve?the problem. As of 2302 GMT, shares of Syrah rose 2.9% to A$0.175. (Reporting and editing by Sonali Paul in Bengaluru, Roshan Thomas from Bengaluru)
-
EU to discuss bolstering Mideast Naval Mission amid Iran War Terror
Diplomats and officials claim that the European Union's foreign ministers are expected to discuss Monday the augmentation of a small naval operation in the Middle East, but they will not?decide? on extending the mission to the blocked Strait of Hormuz. Aspides, the EU's mission in the Red Sea to protect ships against attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels was created in 2024. The mission currently has two Italian and Greek ships under its command, and it can call on a French vessel and another Italian ship for assistance. Some European officials have wondered if the EU mission can help restore the freedom of navigation to the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed since the United States, Israel and Iran began their attacks on Iran in February. Iran's ability to "choke off" traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which is the conduit for about a fifth (or more) of the world's oil and natural gas liquefied, has become a major concern for the global economy. The EU officials and diplomats have said that the ministers' discussion on Monday will likely be centered?on an initiative by EU?foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas, to add more vessels to the mission. The conversation on Monday is about getting more member states to contribute additional capacities, said a senior EU Official speaking under condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal discussions. GERMAN MINISTER SKeptical ABOUT EXPANSION INTO STRAIT of HORMUZ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Sunday that Aspides, named after the Greek term for "shields", was not effective at completing its current task. In an interview with Germany’s ARD TV, he stated: "I am very sceptical about the idea that extending Aspides into the Strait of Hormuz will provide greater security." U.S. President Donald Trump called on China on Saturday to join the effort to reopen shipping routes. He also called on France, Japan and South Korea to do the same. Officials have stated that France is seeking to form a coalition in order to secure the Strait of Gibraltar 'once the security situation stabilises.' Meanwhile, Britain has discussed a variety of options with its allies to ensure the safety of shipping. Diplomats and officials said it was too early to determine whether the EU could play a part in such an initiative. All 27 EU member states would have to approve any change in the mandate of Aspides. A diplomat from the EU said, "Ministers will not take lightly the decision to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz under the current circumstances." (Reporting and writing by Andrew Gray, Lili Bayer and Diane Craft; Editing by Andrew Gray)
-
UK's Starmer promises to protect "working people" from conflict fallout
Keir starmer, the British prime minister, will pledge on Monday to help "working people", whose cost of living is being exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East. He will warn companies not to try to "exploit" this crisis by raising prices. Starmer's latest effort to calm British concerns about the Strait of Hormuz conflict, which has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz as a vital waterway that transports oil and liquefied gas, will be "to assist you in the cost of living through this crisis". Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced on Saturday that the government would provide "targeted support" for?poorer families after being under pressure to cap household energy tariffs regulated by the government and to scrap an increase in vehicle fuel duties. A Financial Times report was confirmed by a?government official that the government would set up a 50 million pound ($66.11 millions) package to help the most vulnerable families, primarily those in rural areas who depend on heating oil. Moments like these are what show you the true nature of a government. My answer is simple. This government will always be there for the working class, no matter what challenges may lie ahead," Starmer said in excerpts of his speech released by Starmer's office. He will respond to reports that heating oil suppliers were canceling orders and raising prices: "I won't tolerate companies trying exploit this crisis in order to make money off working people." The companies will face legal action if they have violated the law. The government has warned energy companies before. On Friday, it called petrol retailers to have a "frank" and "open" discussion on pricing. However, the meeting almost didn't happen because the Petrol Retailers Association threatened to pull out due to the ministers "inflammatory language". Reeves, in an interview with The Times published on Saturday, said that the government is looking into options to help those?vulnerable to sharp increases in energy prices?, particularly those who rely on heating oil. However, he ruled out universal assistance for all households because it would not be affordable. Starmer and his team believe that the best way to stop the rise in energy prices is to de-escalate things. He will state that "we will continue to work towards a rapid resolution of the Middle East situation." There is no doubt that ending the conflict is the fastest way to lower the cost of living. ($1 = 0.7563 pound) (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens; Elizabeth Piper)
-
Australia's Lynas signss US rare-earth oxide supply deal
Australia's Lynas Rare Earths announced on Monday that?its unit Lynas US LLC had signed a binding letter of intent with the U.S. government to finalise an agreement for rare earth oxide supplies. According to the agreement, the Pentagon will spend $96 million on Lynas's light and heavy rare-earth oxide products, with an NdPr oxide floor price of $110 per kilogram. Lynas stated that the letter of intent outlines a framework for four-year supply agreement to support U.S. National Security and Supply-Chain Resilience objectives. It was revealed that the new offtake agreement 'followed a mutual decision by the companies to revise their earlier?agreement because of?uncertainty about the future of the heavy rare earth processing plant in Seadrift Texas. Amanda Lacaze, CEO of Lynas, said: "This agreement will ensure that the U.S. Defense Industrial Base has access to Light and Heavy Rare Earth Oxides which are vital to modern manufacturing." Rare earths are used in a small, but 'critical' amount to power devices ranging from iPhones, washing machines, to F-35 jets. The agreement comes at a time when the United States is trying to secure vital?minerals, and reduce its reliance on China. China produces about?90% the world's rare-earth magnets. Lynas, the largest rare earths producer in the world outside of China.
-
Japan releases oil stocks after US orders to buy American
Japan will'start releasing oil from their stockpiles? on Monday in order to ease the shock of the?U.S. - Israeli?war against Iran. This is a stark reminder to the oil crisis that occurred half a century earlier, which prompted Tokyo to build reserves. Tokyo announced that it would release 80 million barrels of crude oil to Japan, which is enough to last the nation for 45 days. The war in the Gulf has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The Japanese government has instructed the country's refineries to use the crude oil released, which will reduce national reserves by 17% to ensure domestic supplies. The amount of oil that will be released to the 400 million barrels coordinated by the International Energy Agency is unknown. RESERVES STABILISE SUPPLY, BUT "MAINLY BUILD TIME" Yuriy humber, CEO of Tokyo-based consultancy Yuri Group, stated that the release by Japan shows how seriously Tokyo views disruption. The reserves are a short-term stabiliser of supplies and prices, but they mainly serve to buy time. He said that they can't "fully offset" a disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry states that any potential release of 12 million barrels held jointly by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in Japan would be additional to the 80 million barrels announced. Japan began its national oil reserves system in 1978 - several years after Arab oil embargo. Group of Seven nation that relies on the Middle East to provide around 90% of their oil now stocks 254 days of consumption. METI reports that the government will begin releasing oil from its reserves to cover 15 days of consumption in the private sector on Monday, and one month's supply by late this month. Ryosei Akazawa, METI Minister, said that private companies are preparing to tap into?Japan’s stockpiles. He also stated that they were looking for supplies coming from the U.S.A., Central Asia and South America, as well as Gulf countries, which can bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Japan gets around 4% its oil from the U.S., after stopping most purchases from Russia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - when Tokyo last used its reserves. Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator said: "When you consider the conflict in the Middle East... it's a reminder that all the?crude?oil that went from Alaska - to Japan - was never the target of a successful terrorist terrorism?attack." This conflict is a reminder to other nations that the United States has the resources. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard; Additional reporting in Washington by Valerie Volcovici; Reporting by Katya Obayashi and Yuka obayashi)
-
South32, Australia's South32, mothballs Mozal after failing to find affordable power
South32, an Australian diversified miner, announced on Monday that it had put its Mozal aluminum smelter in Mozambique under a 'care and maintenance' program on March 15. The company claimed that it was unable to secure a sufficient and affordable supply of power for Mozal after March 2026. As a result, it placed the smelter in care and maintenance. The Perth-based company and Mozambique’s government and energy suppliers have been negotiating for years in order to come up with an agreement that would allow the smelter to continue its energy-intensive operations. South32 has been in discussions with Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa, a hydroelectric power'supplier owned by the Mozambique Government for over six years about a tariff that is set to expire on March 20, 2026. Aluminium production is an energy-intensive process, so a reliable power supply for aluminium manufacturers such as South32 is a major concern. Mozal, in which South32 has a stake of 63.7%, is a major contributor to the aluminium output for South32, accounting for just under 29% of total aluminium production by fiscal 2025. South32 reported a $372-million impairment to the Mozal Smelter as part of its fiscal year 2025 results. This was due to the financial impact from the shutdown. In a statement, the company stated that the alumina sold to Mozal by the?Worsley Alumina Refinery?will be sold to third-party customers at index linked prices.
-
Sassou, Congo Republic's Sassou, seeks a new term amid low turnout and internet outage
The Congo Republic held a presidential election on Sunday, which was expected to extend the reign of Denis Sassou Nguesso - one of Africa's most experienced leaders. A low turnout highlighted the lack of suspense about the result. Sassou is facing a "weak" field of opponents, as two of the most well-known opposition leaders are in prison or exile. Many opposition parties boycotted this election because they felt the process was untrustworthy. Analysts and civil society groups predict that the turnout will be lower than the 68% in 2021 when Sassou was elected to his five-year term with 88.4%. A witness reported that there were no or very short lines at the polling stations of Brazzaville's capital. Sassou, after casting his vote in Brazzaville told reporters that he hoped the?enthusiasm he saw on the campaign trail?would be apparent in the final turnout number. He said: "We are hopeful that the things I heard during the campaign will come to pass today." The voting was to finish at 6 pm local time (1700 GMT) and the counting would begin immediately afterwards. The provisional results will be available 48-72 hours after polls close. INTERNET OUTAGE REPORTED Sassou has been in power since 1979, with the exception of a five-year break in the 1990s. He ran against six candidates who were not well-known, and none of them was considered a serious contender. The electoral body was dominated by figures aligned to the ruling Congolese Labour Party. Remadji Hoinathy, of the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, said that "the opposition is fragmented" and does not have a "strong, emblematic figure". Sassou will still have a chance despite voter fatigue. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that the internet was down in many parts of the country on Election Day, making it hard to get an accurate picture of what was happening. In an email, Alp Toker of NetBlocks confirmed that a nationwide internet blackout was now in place in the Republic of Congo. This measure is likely to limit transparency in today's elections. Toker stated that this was "technically compatible" with a?internet shutdown imposed for the 2021 presidential election. Neither the Congolese Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso nor the Communications Minister Thierry Moungalla responded to inquiries about the outage. Voters See No Hope for Change Rights groups claim that the political space in Congo has shrunk in recent years. They cite arrests of activists, and suspensions by political parties. After a long decline, the economy - heavily dependent on crude oil - has stabilised over the past few years. According to the World Bank, 52% of Congo’s 6.1m people live in poverty. Some Congolese who voted said that the country needs a new direction. They did not specify whether they backed Sassou, or his opponent. Gigi Wandiabantou, a Brazzaville resident, said: "Our children have diplomas and they are not doing anything." "I'm counting on the people in charge to do something for us mothers." Some Congolese believe there is little hope for change. Frederic Nkou, a Brazzaville resident who is unemployed, said: "It's a?election with a known outcome." "I don’t expect things will improve." Makosso, the Prime Minister, dismissed allegations of pro-Sassou slant ahead of Sunday's vote. He argued that Congo's electoral oversight bodies will ensure a fair and transparent election. Sassou's campaign has been based on continuity. He has pledged to expand education and training and to speed up development projects. Clement Bonnerot, Ngouda Diaone and Robbie Corey Boulet in the Dakar and Congo Republic Newsroom. Editing by Andrei Khalip Joe Bavier Alexander Smith
-
Netanyahu responds to Iran's rumours about his death by posting a video
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, posted a video on Sunday of him 'getting a coffee and' chatting with an aide after rumours of his death or injury were spread by the iranian state media. In the video taken in a café on the outskirts of Jerusalem and posted to Netanyahu's Telegram, his aide questions him about the rumours. As he grabs a coffee, Netanyahu makes a joke about the word "dead" -- which in Hebrew slang is used to refer to someone or something that you are "crazy for". "I love coffee. You know what? Netanyahu tells his aide, "I'm mad about my people." The video's location was verified by comparing the file images of the cafe with the interiors shown in the video. The cafe posted multiple photos and videos of Netanyahu's Sunday visit. This allowed us to verify the date. Netanyahu's office distributed videos and limited media access since the U.S. launched its attack on Iran in February. He has also visited two towns that were hit by Iranian missiles as well as a hospital, port, military base and a?port. Netanyahu, who rarely gives interviews or news conferences to Israeli media, held a 'first press conference via video link since the beginning of the war on Thursday. This format was similar to that he used in June, during Israel's 12-day conflict with Iran. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has imposed emergency safety restrictions that have banned public gatherings. Most people are now at home or in safe rooms and shelters. Schools across the majority of the country are closed.
Does the battle over LME aluminum stocks signal or cause noise? Andy Home
Where has all the aluminum gone? In the warehouses of London Metal Exchange (LME), there were 1.3 million tons of aluminium two years ago. Since then, the inventory has almost halved to levels last seen in 2020.
London's market is becoming more turbulent as traders compete for what's left. This may not be apparent at first glance, but the calm exterior masks a lot of turmoil.
Short-dated spreads are tightening and becoming volatile. While the LME outright three-month price has been tethered around $2,500 per ton, the LME outright three-month prices have been sedately hovering around that level.
LME's aluminium market has seen titanic battles for metal between traders with deep pockets. The game has taken on an entirely new dimension ever since the exchange in April of last year banned the delivery of new Russian aluminum.
This latest LME stock battle echoes past LME stock battles, but this time the LME noise could be masking an essential market signal.
A LARGE MARK, LARGE POSTIONS
The biggest base metals market in the world is aluminium, with an annual consumption of about 100 million tons. Aluminium traders are known to have taken outlandishly big positions on the London market.
This mega-long position has been causing havoc in nearby spread structures for the past month.
The benchmark period is three months of cash
Last week, the "tom-next spread", which is a cost-effective way to roll a position over night and an indicator of market stress was traded at a backwardation of $12.30 per ton.
There is no doubt that someone is looking to buy a large amount of aluminium, but the LME has only 321,800 tonnes of metal available in its warehouses. Two-thirds are Russian.
In April of last year, Russian metal was banned from the United States and United Kingdom. It is now subject to quotas and a complete ban in Europe will be implemented at the end 2026. This makes it less desirable.
There's no way to tell how many of the 323,000 tonnes of metal in LME storage that are also Russian, but there is no indication of this metal being moved to warrant to ease the spread tightness.
If the goal of the squeeze is to get metal out of deep non-LME shadow storage, then it does not seem to work. So far, this month's arrivals have been a mere 150 tons.
The LME ban on Russian metal after April 13, 2020 may hinder the normal functioning of the LME stock grab trade. This is to tighten the spreads in order to force holders of metal to release it.
This assumes that there are a large number of aluminum products, Russian or otherwise, available for LME deliveries.
CHINA'S IMPORT AFFECTION GROWS
This assumption is beginning to seem a bit questionable given the absence of significant arrivals in the LME system of any type of aluminium since March.
China's imports of Russian metal so far in this year indicate that even Russian metal is in high demand.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022, the country has been buying up Russian aluminum that was shunned in the West.
Imports of Russian aluminum primary by China grew from 291,000 tonnes in 2021, to 1,13 million tonnes in 2024. In 2025, the pace of growth has increased again. Imports increased by 48% on an annual basis to 741,000 tonnes in January-April.
The structural changes in aluminium supply are the main reason for China's appetite to import metal.
The country's smelters have reached the annual cap set by the government of 45 million tonnes. Since the beginning of the year, the national annualised run rate has remained at around 44 million tons.
The domestic market for primary metals is tightening up against a backdrop that includes a robust demand from solar energy.
The Shanghai Futures Exchange has seen stocks fall to their lowest level in 16 months, 110,000 tons. Also, the curve for forward trading is now backwardated.
SCRAP WARS
China's stated strategy is to increase secondary production of recyclable metals to compensate for the cap in primary metal production.
This may become more difficult as recyclable materials flow to the United States, because they are exempted from the tariffs of 50% imposed by Donald Trump's administration.
The second major structural shift could lead to a tightening of the global scrap supply, which would force processors outside the United States to use more primary material.
The scrap flows to China, which is the largest buyer in the world, could be further disrupted by the European Union imposing export tariffs. This would stop what they call "scrap leakedage". The United States is now the threat. Originally, it was China.
Testing Availability
This latest mega-trade to grab a piece of the available stock is just the latest in an extensive history of mega-trades.
It doesn't seem to be drawing any metal into the system.
This story may have a Russian twist, but it is also a test to see if the market can be supplied. So far, supply has not been satisfactory.
The LME stock churn will appear more like a signal of a downtrend in the LME's inventory the longer it continues.
The author is a columnist at
(source: Reuters)