[US Lithium Mine Development Boom: From One Mine to Over 100 Planned Projects by 2030] The US lithium industry is standing at the threshold of a historic transformation, about to leap from its current status of having only one producing lithium mine to becoming a significant participant in the global critical battery metals market. Currently, only one lithium mine is operating across the entire US, but this landscape is about to change rapidly. By 2030, at least six new projects are expected to come into production successively, with another 13 projects close behind. This round of expansion is primarily concentrated in the geologically favorable arid regions of the Southwest, but this is merely the beginning of a potential mining boom. According to the latest industry data, enterprises have identified over 100 potential lithium ore extraction areas nationwide. Behind this aggressive expansion is the continued climb in lithium ore demand from EV batteries and renewable energy ESSs—both of which are indispensable key elements of the energy transition. The rapid expansion of lithium mining scale has raised important questions from the outside world about environmental impacts, water resource consumption, and how to strike a balance between domestic mineral security and ecological protection. In this race for self-sufficient supply of "white gold," community residents and environmental protection advocates are closely watching how this industrial transformation will advance and take shape in some of America's most fragile desert ecosystems. Source: https://www.envirolink.org [Lithium Ore Reserves in Eastern US States May Replace Over a Century of Import Demand] U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists announced this discovery, estimating its scale sufficient to replace over three hundred years of lithium import demand. The US currently relies on imports for nearly half of its lithium consumption, a dependency that has long been a concern for energy security analysts. Lithium occupies a central position in the modern economy, serving as a critical material for lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, laptops, EVs, and aerospace alloys. Against the backdrop of accelerating global demand and intensifying geopolitical pressures, domestic reserves of this scale carry significant strategic importance. This discovery came at a sensitive period in the global mineral landscape. Australia currently supplies nearly half of global lithium production, while China not only has considerable production but also dominates global refining and consumption. Thirty years ago, the US was the world's largest lithium producer, but that position was long since relinquished. Whether this discovery can help the US return to that position remains to be seen, but the scale of data cited is sufficient to warrant serious attention. The scale of this discovery is most vivid in numbers. According to USGS estimates, the reserves are sufficient to support the construction of 1.6 million grid-scale batteries, and officials stated they could power 130 million EVs or support 180 billion laptops running cumulatively for a thousand years. USGS also estimates that the reserves could support the production of 500 billion mobile phones, equivalent to approximately 60 devices for every person currently on Earth. Perhaps the most striking figure in the USGS assessment is this: measured against last year's consumption levels, the reserves are sufficient to replace 328 years of US lithium import demand. This is not a forecast of future demand, but merely a baseline comparison between existing underground reserves and historical US import demand. Source: https://indiandefencereview.com [European Metals' Cinovec Lithium Mine Project EIA Passes Czech Ministry of Environment Review] European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX/AIM: EMH) announced that its flagship Cinovec lithium mine project in the Czech Republic has achieved a significant milestone in environmental permitting. The Czech Ministry of Environment has completed its review and officially released the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, with a public hearing scheduled to be held in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, a cross-border EIA process involving German authorities has been formally initiated to address the transnational impacts of the project along the Czech-German border. For investors tracking the development progress of the Cinovec project, these developments are not routine updates — the company has explicitly identified the EIA release as a critical path period for obtaining final approval and advancing the project to implementation. "We are pleased with the progress the project team has made on environmental permitting for the Cinovec project. The release of the EIA report by the Czech Ministry of Environment is a critical path period for obtaining final EIA approval and advancing the Cinovec project." — Executive Chairman Keith Coughlan Source: [Latin America's Lithium Supply Gap: Structural Barriers Constraining Capacity Release] The global energy transition is built on a series of assumptions, and one of the most consequential is that the world's largest lithium reserves, concentrated in a narrow strip of South America, will be able to reliably convert into the battery-grade lithium materials increasingly and urgently needed for EVs, power grid ESSs, and consumer electronics. However, this assumption is being put to a severe test. Latin America's lithium supply gap is not a matter of salt flats being depleted or aquifers running dry, but rather a widening chasm between underground reserves and market-accessible capacity. Reserves are abundant, yet production-ready capacity falls far short. More critically, this gap continues to widen at a pivotal moment when global demand is accelerating its climb. To understand the root causes, one must look beyond the surface figures and examine in depth the structural mechanisms behind the entire chain from lithium geological deposits to battery cathode material. Source:

[SMM Tungsten Express] SMM May 7: APT CIF Rotterdam prices remained stable at $2,900-3,200/mtu this week, flat WoW. However, market pessimism was strong in the European market this week, with end-users mostly adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Despite no change in the tight supply landscape, there was virtually no substantial trading in the market this week, and buyers and sellers were in a stalemate. In the Indian market, FOB prices for scrap tungsten drill bits were quoted at $100-120/kg, with an average price of $110/kg, down $30 WoW. Market demand was weak, and panic sentiment among scrap dealers intensified, accelerating the price decline.

SMM News Flash: Indian steel mills sold around 200,000 tonnes of HRC at 580-600 USD/tonne CFR Vietnam since mid-April, while current SAE-grade offers increased to 600-610 USD/tonne CFR Vietnam. The higher offers reflect firmer regional pricing and tightening availability following previous transactions. Market sentiment is firm but cautious, with buyers becoming more resistant at elevated price levels.

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced the preliminary results of its administrative review of the antidumping (AD) duty order on large diameter welded pipe from India for the period of May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. The DOC preliminarily found that Welspun Corp Limited and its affiliates did not sell the subject merchandise at less than normal value, assigning a dumping margin of 0.00%. Additionally, the review was rescinded for 12 other Indian companies as they had no reviewable shipments during the period. This preliminary zero-margin finding for a major producer suggests a potential easing of trade barriers for specific Indian pipe exports, though final results are pending.

India's crude steel production rose by 6% year-on-year in April 2026 to reach 12.1 million metric tons (Mt). Domestic finished steel consumption outpaced production growth, increasing by 8% to 11.3 million mt, driven by strong infrastructure activity. During the month, finished steel output stood at 11.6 million mt (+5.5% YoY), while imports jumped 12% to 0.6 million mt and exports fell by 15% to 0.5 million mt. The data confirms India's status as a primary driver of global steel demand, with strong domestic absorption reducing export surpluses and making the country a net importer for the period, which may support global steel prices amid tightening regional supply.

India, the world’s second-largest bullion market, has seen gold and silver imports grind to a halt for five weeks since April 1, driving domestic prices to a premium of over $20 an ounce above international levels for the first time since early February.

JSW Steel delivered record production and sales in FY2024-25, but weaker steel realizations dragged down revenue and margins, creating a clear growth paradox: higher volumes but lower earnings quality. As India’s largest steelmaker, JSW’s next challenge is to turn its scale into more resilient earnings through higher VASP contribution, stronger raw material security, selective overseas improvement, technology partnerships, and decarbonization readiness.

AGI Greenpac has started construction of its aluminum beverage can manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh, India, with an investment of about INR 10 billion (USD 105 million). The 34-acre project is expected to begin operations by June 2027 with an initial capacity of 1.3 billion cans per year, expandable to 1.6 billion and eventually over 2 billion cans annually. The company said the facility will use advanced high-speed production systems to supply ready-to-drink beverages, energy drinks, beer and soft drinks. Rising premiumization, urban demand and sustainable packaging trends continue to support growth in India’s aluminum can market.

India’s Ministry of Steel has extended the mandatory BIS certification exemption for stainless steel flat products, including semi-finished and final products, until October 26, 2026. This extension, covering IS 14650 standards, aims to bridge a domestic supply deficit caused by energy shortages and geopolitical tensions. Market observers noted that the relaxed origin tracking effectively facilitates direct Chinese imports, bypassing previous indirect routes. Leveraging strong price advantages, Chinese suppliers are rapidly reclaiming market share in grades like 304 and 316, placing significant competitive pressure on other exporters, particularly Chinese Taiwan mills.

Indian manufacturer Solex Energy signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to invest $420 million in a vertical integration project. The plan includes a 5 GW solar cell facility (2 GW + 3 GW phases) and a 10 GW BESS plant to complement its existing 4 GW module capacity. Solex is currently co-developing high-efficiency back-contact (BC) technology with Germany’s ISC Konstanz, targeting a 24.6% module efficiency. This expansion aligns with the company’s 2030 goal of reaching 10 GW of integrated capacity across the PV value chain to bolster India’s domestic energy ecosystem.