The demand for lithium is on the rise due to its role as a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems. Major oil and gas companies such as Equinor and ExxonMobil are seizing opportunities in this growing market. ExxonMobil is constructing a lithium production facility in Arkansas and has recently secured […]
How large can the AI market grow?
Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud computing, and other technologies are leading to rapid implementation in various industries around the world. These developments have only been possible due to recent increases in computing power and availability of vast datasets needed to train AI programs. This along with improved algorithms for training […]
Where’s the lithium: Supplying the U.S.’s growing gigafactory industry
Demand for lithium from the EV industry is growing rapidly as the energy transition moves forward. One of the interesting things for the U.S., is that the production of EV batteries for this industry is being onshored, partly due to the growing market and partly due to provisions of the recently enacted IRA place sourcing […]
2023 Mining and Metals Outlook: Fueling an energy transition
The global mining sector had a wild ride in 2022, plagued by supply-chain and labor shortages and geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended markets, sending many commodities to record highs, only then to fall quickly. Several nations issued wide-ranging sanctions against Russia and further sanctions are still being debated as the conflict […]
New materials and chemistries for lithium-ion batteries
The surging prices and demand for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are a matter of concern for their end-use markets such as critical infrastructure, automotive electrification, renewables, and other smart devices. What makes LiBs a preferable choice is their longer life spans, faster charging, size customizability, low self-discharge rate, and extended run times. Surging LiBs prices and […]
2022 Metals and Mining Outlook: Digging deeper into recovery after ‘rocky’ conditions
During these unprecedented times, mining operators are learning to navigate through many challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, mining operators pursued resiliency, investor confidence, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, and capital and operational discipline. Moving forward in 2022, these megatrends will still be relevant to the mining industry with some added complexities […]
Chemical Shorts Podcast Episode 1 – Mining Chemicals
ADI Chemical Market Resources, an ADI Analytics business, is introducing Chemical Shorts, a new podcast hosted by our analyst, Jacqueline Unzueta. Tune in every month to gain quick insights from our analyst team on polymers, plastics, chemicals, petrochemicals, and more. For our first podcast episode, analysts Swati Singh and Jacqueline Unzueta discussed mining chemicals. What […]
Will silver be driven by the energy transition, too?
Silver is known most for its use in lush jewelry and silverware. However, these applications account for less that 50% of its consumption. In fact, the estimated domestic uses for silver in 2020 were electrical and electronics (28%), jewelry and silverware (26%), coins and medals (19%), photography (3%), and other applications (24%). Other applications for […]
How are geopolitics and climate change impacting alumina markets?
While 90% of alumina is used for aluminum production, alumina can be used in industrial abrasives, refractories, glass, and engineered ceramics. Alumina is primarily derived from bauxite ore through a series of chemical reactions known as the Bayer process. The alumina produced through the Bayer process is in the form of a white powder, but […]
Digitalization in mining
The mining industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies due to the scale and complexity of its operations, and the heavy costs that come with this change. However, mining is now seeing the growing implementation of new digital technology and related innovations. There are three themes that are expected to be central to […]
