[Lithium Battery Giant Secures Another 20GWh Mega Order!] South Korean power battery company SK On announced that it has been selected as the battery supplier for US EV startup Slate. According to the agreement, SK On will supply 20GWh of batteries to Slate from 2026 to 2031, valued at approximately $3 billion. The batteries will utilize a high-nickel Ni-Co-Mn battery solution and be produced at SK On's US factory, with the option to increase supply as production scales up.

Futures Market: Last Friday night, LME copper opened at $9,110/mt, initially rose to a high of $9,130.5/mt, then the center shifted lower and hovered in a wide range throughout the session. During the fluctuations, it bottomed at $9,048.5/mt intraday and continued to fluctuate widely towards the close, finally settling at $9,073.5/mt, down 0.42%.

Nickel has played a crucial role in industrial development since its discovery. Widely used in producing alloys like stainless steel, its corrosion resistance and durability have made it invaluable in various applications. Born out of the early mining booms of the 19th century, nickel's prominence soared with the industrial revolution and the subsequent rise in demand for stronger and more resilient materials. As industries expanded, nickel's importance only grew, cementing its status as a cornerstone of modern manufacturing.

LME copper prices opened at $10482.5/mt last Friday evening before reaching a low of $10470/mt and a high of $10720/mt, and closed at $10715/mt, a rise of 3.31%.

LME copper prices opened at $10049.5/mt and closed at $10040/mt in last Friday evening trading, a gain of 0.9%, with the low-end of $9976.5/mt and the high-end of $10079/mt.

LME copper prices opened at $9990.5/mt and closed at $9960/mt in last Friday evening trading, a gain of 0.61%, with the low-end of $9896.5/mt and the high-end of $10012/mt.