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According to the SMM Lithium Hydroxide Procurement Strategy Report, annual lithium carbonate imports jumped by 46% year-over-year, indicating high reliance on imported raw materials. With such huge demand and an inability to meet that demand with supply, this is expected to continue driving the prices of lithium upward into 2025. Precious metal prices trended higher during the second quarter of 2021 but retraced markedly in mid-June following the US Federal Reserve’s stance toward a faster tightening of monetary policy. More broadly, strengthening demand and ongoing inflation concerns boosted gold prices while silver and platinum prices were further supported by the ongoing recovery in industrial activity and some supply disruptions. Growing interest from central banks and institutional investors could boost silver prices.
- According to SMM, lithium supplies will likely be tight globally, producing pricing volatility plus potential supply chain risks.
- Over the last month, the S&P GSCI Precious Metals index has risen by nearly 11%, notably outpacing the bellwether S&P 500 index for stocks.
- Peter Smith pulls back the curtain on the often misinterpreted, and sometimes maligned, world of sales training.
- According to SMM, there may also likely be more emphasis on alternatives to cobalt and the recycling of cobalt from spent batteries, part offsetting some supply constraints.
- According to SMM, on the back of tight supply conditions, the price of nickel salts increased slightly in early 2025.
- During periods of heightened geopolitical tension, silver has historically demonstrated its safe-haven appeal, as evidenced by the 47% price surge during the 2020 global crisis.
Nickel Supply and Demand Outlook
The country’s real estate sector is in notoriously poor shape, and investors there have been reallocating their money into assets considered relatively stable and safe. The performance and share price trajectory of any company in precious metals, of course, depends a great deal on the demand for those materials. Happily for Hecla, Sibanye Stillwater, Ero, and their many peers, they are having quite the run lately. And because of this, we’re seeing what finance people like to call a flight to quality. But since March, even gold has been in free fall, along with the rest of the metals market. As we move through 2025, it will be crucial to monitor these forecasts and analyze key market developments.
Peter Smith: Sales Training’s Dirty Little Secret
SMM’s Nickel Industry Chain Annual Report predicted continued growth in nickel sulfate demand due to EV industry expansion and transition to bigger and stronger batteries. In fact, lithium carbonate demand has already reached 850,000 mt LCE in 2024, up 44% year over year, according to SMM’s latest figures. With major automakers Tesla, BYD, and Volkswagen producing units with vigor, lithium suppliers just can’t produce this much-needed metal fast enough. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the leading country in the production of cobalt and provides a high share, at about 60%, to the entire world supply.
One of the major drivers has been the widespread expectation that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. Lower rates tend to drive up the prices of precious metals as they are becoming more competitive with safety investments like bonds. Gold, silver, and the like are considered more inherently valuable than bonds, which pay less interest as rates decline. Central bank decisions, particularly regarding interest rates, play a crucial role in silver’s performance. Expected rate cuts throughout 2025 could provide significant support for precious metals prices, including silver. Demand for lithium, due to global electrification ambitions and EV scaling, is expected to continue to increase through 2025.
- Peter Smith pulls back the curtain on the often misinterpreted, and sometimes maligned, world of sales training.
- By the year 2025, demands for batteries’ nickel will outstrip their supply, so price volatility may be here to stay.
- But since March, even gold has been in free fall, along with the rest of the metals market.
- The other significant metal for the production of lithium-ion batteries, specifically high-energy-density batteries for EVs, is nickel.
- Demand for nickel will rise steadily, and nickel sulfate is bound to become popular as the most sought-after form of nickel for EV battery manufacturing.
Precious metal prices
When interest rates are cut, the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like silver decreases. This makes silver more attractive compared to interest-bearing investments such as bonds or savings accounts. The company, which owns Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, had a record Q3, with sales topping $6 billion. Core retail sales during the 2024 holiday season surpassed the National Retail Federation’s forecast.
The current shift toward more ethical sourcing is pushing for greater supply chain transparency and leading to an increased interest in cobalt recycling and alternative technologies. Companies like Tesla are working to develop nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) batteries in their effort to reduce dependence on cobalt and further improve overall battery performance. The market has experienced consistent supply deficits since 2021, with 2023 recording a substantial shortfall of 184.3 million ounces. This trend is expected to continue, as 2024 consumption is projected to reach 1.21 billion ounces. With supply at only 1.03 billion ounces, this creates a significant deficit of 182 million ounces – a situation that could drive prices higher.
Therefore, convert united states dollar to singapore dollar enterprises that depend upon nickel should work out long-term contracting and explore various sources of alternative supplies, such as recycled nickel. The nickel mining sector has been recording slow production growth, and at the same time, high-purity class nickel has become increasingly costly to mine. According to SMM, on the back of tight supply conditions, the price of nickel salts increased slightly in early 2025. Up to 2025, supply for nickel will continue to be tight; and as these imbalances remain between supply and demand, that may cause price increases in both nickel sulfate and nickel metal.
Hecla Mining
According to SMM, lithium supplies will likely be tight globally, producing pricing volatility plus potential supply chain risks. EV battery companies can hedge identified risks through long-term contracts, diversified supplies. MetalsDaily.com brings you all the latest live platinum and palladium news, headlines, data analysis and information from the global PGM markets. Keep up to date with the largest and fastest source of platinum and palladium market news information provided by Sharps Pixley.
Gold / USD
Russia’s recent announcement to expand its precious metals holdings with silver is a notable example. Gold prices surpassed US$1,900 per ounce in early June—the highest since January 2021—driven by jewelry demand in China, investment inflows, and lower real interest rates. Chinese holiday- and wedding-related jewelry purchases provided support for gold prices, but this was offset by muted Indian demand due to surging COVID-19 infections.
End the Fed? Why America’s backup plan may be its gold stash – Peter St Onge
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This paper is going to look at an all-inclusive perspective in terms of insight into lithium, cobalt, and nickel markets from SMM, China’s leading provider of metals intelligence. The participants in the market will leverage comprehensive market reports, price indices, and forecasting tools for prudent decisions regarding procurement. As more and more automobile manufacturers shift to electric vehicles, the demand for nickel will keep on growing. By the year 2025, demands for batteries’ nickel will outstrip their supply, so price volatility may be here to stay.
In the longer term, battery-driven electric vehicles present a threat to auto catalyst demand in internal combustion C# for Web Development engine vehicles. However, quicker adoption of green hydrogen technologies could boost platinum’s demand (platinum is used in fuel cells and in the electrolysis of water to produce green hydrogen). In an accelerating electric vehicle market, the demand for lithium, cobalt, and nickel will be on the rise. Until 2025, these metals are forecasted to keep being in essential demand for battery production in view of the increasing supply chain constraints and price volatility. Industry players should be aware of the shifting landscape in this marketplace and reconsider purchasing strategies to investigate new opportunities within recycling and alternative sources that can help to lower risk. Latest news on precious metals, covering market trends, analysis, and developments related to gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.
The metal’s impressive 40% rally by October, which outpaced even gold’s strong performance, drove prices to $35 before settling around $32 in mid-December. In 2024 silver prices crossed a decade-long price ceiling, passing over $30 per ounce and catching the singapore dollar to british pound sterling exchange rate convert sgd attention of investors worldwide. Compounding all that, a relatively shaky geopolitical situation is making central banks around the world nervous. That’s because many of them rose on the back of increases in the materials they mine and sell.