Lyten Launches All-American Lithium Foil Production
Lyten, a US-based developer of lithium-sulphur batteries, has produced a pilot batch of lithium foil using exclusively domestic raw materials. The company has fully localised the supply chain for materials used in sulphur cathodes and is now replicating this achievement for lithium anodes. This strategy eliminates dependence on foreign imports and neutralises the impact of recently announced US protective tariffs.
Lithium-sulphur batteries, which offer higher energy density and lower costs than lithium-ion alternatives, owe their advantages to the replacement of expensive cobalt or iron compounds with sulphur, and the use of metallic lithium rather than lithium-ion intercalation. These changes result in a specific energy of about 550 Wh/kg, compared to 150–260 Wh/kg for lithium-ion batteries.
As part of its growth strategy, Lyten has begun producing lithium alloy ingots, with Creative Engineers contracted to design and build the necessary equipment. The company extrudes and rolls foil from these ingots at its own facility. Sulphur, sourced as a by-product of the US oil refining and chemical industries, is readily available. Lyten has also secured domestic lithium supplies.
In December, Lyten secured $650 million in financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to support lithium-sulphur battery production and supply.
Global Nickel Market to Remain in Surplus
Global primary nickel production is forecast to grow by 5.9% in 2025, reaching 3.735 million tonnes, following an 11.1% increase to 3.526 million tonnes in 2024, according to the International Nickel Study Group. Output growth is expected in Indonesia, especially for nickel pig iron, and in China, driven by increased production of cathode nickel and nickel sulphate. However, nickel pig iron production in China is projected to decline.
Profitability challenges have led to production cuts or suspensions at several nickel facilities in Indonesia and China. Meanwhile, demand growth for nickel in electric vehicle batteries has underperformed expectations, partly due to competition from lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. Stainless steel production, however, is expanding and is expected to drive increased nickel consumption.
Global primary nickel consumption is projected to rise by 5.7% this year to 3.537 million tonnes, up from 3.347 million tonnes in 2024. Despite this growth, the market will remain in surplus, with production exceeding demand by 198,000 tonnes in 2025, up from surpluses of 179,000 tonnes in 2024 and 170,000 tonnes in 2023.
Xerion Advances US Cobalt Independence
Xerion Advanced Battery has commenced pilot-scale testing of pure cobalt production using its proprietary DirectPlate MSE technology at a facility with a five-tonne annual capacity. This one-step electrolytic process converts cobalt hydroxide into pure metal, outperforming traditional multi-stage methods.
The technology, originally developed for battery component production, has gained traction amid US efforts to secure domestic raw material supplies. Laboratory tests have demonstrated cobalt yields above 98% and purity exceeding 99%. DirectPlate MSE also offers energy efficiency, a closed water system, and eliminates the need for organic solvents, reducing waste and simplifying regulatory approvals.
With the US producing only 500 tonnes of cobalt in 2023 and 300 tonnes in 2024, and amid strained relations with China—the dominant cobalt refiner—Xerion plans to scale up production to meet rising domestic demand.
Kety Group Plans Acquisitions in Europe and the US
Poland’s Kety Group is pursuing a dual strategy of organic growth and acquisitions, focusing on aluminium profile and structure manufacturers in the US and Western Europe. The company is evaluating potential deals cautiously and plans to finance them using internal resources.
Kety Group already operates aluminium production facilities across Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia, Romania, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and the US. It withdrew from the Russian market following the onset of the conflict in Ukraine.
With limited acquisition opportunities remaining in Poland, the company sees greater potential in the European Union and the US, where some attractive assets have yet to be consolidated by major industry players. While not currently pursuing acquisitions in China or India, Kety Group has the financial capacity to consider such moves in the future. In the past year, it reported a net profit exceeding $136 million.
Almalyk Launches Rhenium Production
The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant in Uzbekistan has begun producing rhenium using feedstock from its copper smelter. This follows years of development, including successful laboratory production of 99.9% pure rhenium in 2021. A dedicated production facility equipped with German technology now produces up to three tonnes of rhenium annually, using ammonium perrhenate as raw material.
Rhenium, a rare metal found in copper, copper-molybdenum, and uranium ores, is prized for its high melting point, chemical resistance, and catalytic activity. Global rhenium production reached 62 tonnes last year, led by Chile (29 tonnes), followed by Poland, China, South Korea, the US, and Kazakhstan.
Rhenium’s applications include heat-resistant alloys for aerospace engines, catalysts for oil refining, thermocouples, and durable electrical contacts. Its production fluctuates with the mining and processing of its host ores.
