Battery & Energy Storage Raw Materials Hub
Lithium, nickel and cobalt intermediates, manganese sulphate, graphite, foils, lead and antimony for cell and pack plants
The battery chain buys minerals as intermediates rather than metal. The IEA's Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 put lithium demand growth at nearly 30% in 2024 and nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth demand growth at 6-8%, with the energy sector taking 85% of the growth in those battery metals; lithium output rose 70% and nickel 20% between 2020 and 2024, and LFP cells now take almost half the electric-car market. The feed is sold on assay and impurity tables: spodumene at 6% Li₂O, lithium carbonate at 99.5% minimum, cobalt hydroxide at 30% cobalt minimum on a payable, manganese sulphate monohydrate at 32% manganese with alkali and alkaline-earth impurities below 50 ppm, spherical graphite above 99.95% carbon, copper foil at 6-10 µm and aluminium foil in 1235 and 1060 alloys at 10-15 µm. Lead-acid still takes about 86% of world lead, and its grid alloys carry 1.3-4.5% antimony. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company. We broker the mineral and chemical inputs against the producer's certificate of analysis and SGS, Alfred H. Knight or Intertek sampling at load, and because CBIL also runs a chartering desk (LaycanDesk) the Handysize concentrate parcel, the big-bag container string and the ISO-tank solvents are quoted with the cargo. The supply side is policy-shaped and the desk states the rules: Indonesia has banned nickel ore exports since 1 January 2020 and sells nickel as MHP and matte; the DRC replaced its February-October 2025 cobalt export suspension with ARECOMS quotas of 96,600 t/y for 2026 and 2027; Zimbabwe bans lithium concentrate exports from January 2027; China has licensed graphite exports since 1 December 2023 and antimony since 15 September 2024, and its October 2025 controls on lithium batteries, cathode and artificial-graphite anode materials are suspended until 10 November 2026. Black mass is out of scope: from 1 January 2025 it falls under Basel entries Y49 and A1181 and moves only under prior informed consent, which is not a brokerage trade.
Procurement & Freight Structure
Dual-loop execution: physical commodity brokerage + ocean charterparty.
One desk covers the bulk concentrate parcel, the licensed-export paperwork on controlled materials and the container and ISO-tank legs for refined chemicals, foils and solvents.
Procured Feedstocks & Maritime Profiles
Each raw material is contracted on chemical purity, physical particle sizing, and mandatory IMO/IMSBC code stowage factors to prevent liquefaction or contamination.
| Feedstock | Grade & Purity Spec | Form / Carriage | IMSBC Code | Stowage Factor | Typical Parcel | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spodumene Concentrate (SC6)LiAlSi₂O₆ | 6.0% Li₂O basis (SC5.5 – SC6); iron and mica on the concentrate assay | Grey-green flotation or DMS concentrate, bulk | Group A | Per shipper's declaration (mineral concentrate) (Per shipper's declaration (mineral concentrate)) | 25,000 – 55,000 MT (Handysize / Supramax) | Spec →Ship → |
| Lithium Carbonate & Lithium Hydroxide (Battery Grade)Li₂CO₃ / LiOH·H₂O | Li₂CO₃ 99.5% min battery grade; LiOH·H₂O battery grade per producer table | White powder in lined 25 kg bags or 500 – 1,000 kg big bags | Group C | Per pack (big bags in 20-ft containers) (Per pack (big bags in 20-ft containers)) | 20 – 200 MT container strings | Spec →Ship → |
| Nickel Intermediates (MHP & Nickel Matte) | MHP nickel-cobalt hydroxide cake and high-grade matte, paid on contained Ni and Co | Damp filter cake in lined big bags (MHP); granulated matte in bulk or big bags | Group A | Per pack (MHP big bags) / per shipper's declaration (matte) (Per pack (MHP big bags) / per shipper's declaration (matte)) | 500 – 5,000 MT container strings; matte by bulk parcel | Spec →Ship → |
| Cobalt HydroxideCo(OH)₂ | 30% Co min (payable against Fastmarkets standard-grade cobalt) | Pink-brown powder or cake in lined big bags | Group C | Per pack (big bags in 20-ft containers) (Per pack (big bags in 20-ft containers)) | 100 – 2,000 MT container strings | Spec →Ship → |
| Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (Battery Grade) & Manganese OreMnSO₄·H₂O | 32% Mn min; K, Na, Ca, Mg each < 50 ppm; heavy metals < 10 ppm; Fe < 5 ppm | Pale pink crystalline powder in 25 kg bags or big bags; ore in bulk | Group C | Per pack (bags / big bags) (Per pack (bags / big bags)) | 20 – 500 MT sulphate; ore by Supramax | Spec →Ship → |
| Natural Flake & Spherical Graphite (Anode Grade)C | Flake concentrate 94 – 97% C; spherical / purified graphite > 99.95% C | Flake in 25 kg bags or 1 MT big bags; spherical graphite in lined big bags | Group C | 53 cu.ft/MT (bagged graphite, 1.50 m³/t) (1.50 m³/t (bags) · 0.57 – 0.99 m³/t (bulk)) | 20 – 500 MT container strings | Spec →Ship → |
| Electrolytic Copper Foil & Copper CathodeCu | ED foil 6 – 10 µm for anode current collectors; cathode LME Grade A | Foil reels on pallets in containers; cathode in strapped bundles | Group C | Per pack (reels / bundles) (Per pack (reels / bundles)) | 5 – 100 MT foil; 25 – 500 MT cathode | Spec →Ship → |
| Cathode Aluminium Foil (1235 / 1060)Al | 1235 (Al ≥ 99.35%) and 1060 alloys, 10 – 15 µm, plain or carbon-coated | Foil reels on pallets in containers | Group C | Per pack (reels on pallets) (Per pack (reels on pallets)) | 5 – 100 MT | Spec →Ship → |
| Refined Lead & Antimony (Lead-Acid Batteries)Pb / Sb | Lead 99.97% – 99.99% ingot; antimony ingot 99.65% min and antimony trioxide | Lead ingots in strapped bundles; antimony ingots or trioxide in bags | Group C | Per pack (bundles / bags) (Per pack (bundles / bags)) | 25 – 500 MT lead; 5 – 50 MT antimony | Spec →Ship → |
| Electrolyte Carbonate Solvents (EC, DMC, EMC, DEC)C₃H₄O₃ / C₃H₆O₃ / C₄H₈O₃ / C₅H₁₀O₃ | Battery grade on the producer's certificate (water and metal ions in ppm) | EC solid (mp 39 – 40°C) in drums or heated ISO tanks; DMC, EMC, DEC liquids in ISO tanks and drums | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Per ISO tank / drum load (Per ISO tank / drum load) | 20 – 200 MT | Spec →Ship → |
Spodumene Concentrate (SC6)
Australian and African hard-rock lithium feed for Chinese and emerging non-Chinese converters. Theoretical spodumene is 8.03% Li₂O; commercial concentrate carries feldspar, quartz and mica gangue and is sold on a 6% basis with Li₂O adjustments. Zimbabwe's concentrate export ban applies from January 2027.
Lithium Carbonate & Lithium Hydroxide (Battery Grade)
Chilean brine carbonate and Australian and Chinese hydroxide for LFP and high-nickel cathode plants. Priced against Fastmarkets and Benchmark battery-grade assessments; bought on the full impurity table (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, SO₄, Cl, moisture) and particle size.
Nickel Intermediates (MHP & Nickel Matte)
Indonesian HPAL and RKEF product replacing ore since the 1 January 2020 ore export ban: about ten MHP projects with some 440,000 t/y nickel nameplate, 2024 MHP output expected at 325,000 – 345,000 t nickel, and Indonesia at 12% of world cobalt in 2024. Nickel matte (linked) carries its own page.
Cobalt Hydroxide
DRC intermediate for sulphate and precursor plants. Exports were suspended from February to 15 October 2025 and now move under ARECOMS quotas: 3,625 t for October 2025, 7,250 t for each of November and December, and 96,600 t/y for 2026 and 2027 (87,000 t pro-rata plus a 9,600 t strategic reserve). Each cargo carries its quota allocation.
Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (Battery Grade) & Manganese Ore
Precursor feed for NCM cathodes and the manganese input to LMFP. The battery-grade sulphate is a Chinese-priced product (Fastmarkets 32% Mn min exw China); the ore behind it is the manganese ore page linked here. No dedicated sulphate page yet: quoted by enquiry on the producer's impurity table.
Natural Flake & Spherical Graphite (Anode Grade)
Mozambican, Malagasy, Tanzanian and Chinese flake for spheronisation and coating; artificial graphite from needle coke is the alternative anode route. China's export licensing of natural flake, spherical, expanded and high-purity synthetic graphite has applied since 1 December 2023; the October 2025 controls on artificial-graphite anode materials are suspended until 10 November 2026.
Electrolytic Copper Foil & Copper Cathode
Electrodeposited copper foil, typically 10 µm and as thin as 6 µm, for anode current collectors, plus the LME Grade A cathode (linked under refined base metals) that foil plants dissolve. Bought on thickness tolerance, tensile strength, elongation and surface roughness on the mill certificate.
Cathode Aluminium Foil (1235 / 1060)
Cathode current-collector foil in 1235, 1060 and 1070 alloys, standard or etched at 10 – 15 µm, with carbon-coated variants for LFP. Bought on alloy, temper, thickness tolerance and pinhole count.
Refined Lead & Antimony (Lead-Acid Batteries)
Lead-acid batteries take about 86% of world lead consumption. Grid alloys run 3 – 4.5% antimony in conventional automotive designs and 1.3 – 1.6% in low-antimony positive grids. Antimony (ingot and trioxide page linked) has been under Chinese export licensing since 15 September 2024. Used lead-acid batteries and battery paste (Basel A1160) are not brokered.
Electrolyte Carbonate Solvents (EC, DMC, EMC, DEC)
Carbonate solvents for LiPF₆ electrolytes: ethylene carbonate (bp about 248°C, solid at room temperature), dimethyl carbonate (bp 91°C, flammable liquid) and ethyl methyl and diethyl carbonate co-solvents, often blended 1:1:1 EC/DMC/DEC. No dedicated page yet; MEG (linked) is the nearest glycol-chain page. Quoted by enquiry.
Ocean Chartering & Laycan Programme
Plant downtime and demurrage at loading/discharge terminals can rapidly exceed commodity trading margins. LaycanDesk synchronizes vessel size matching, Notice of Readiness (NOR) tenders, and continuous laytime tracking.
COA & Maritime Execution Rules
Concentrates under IMSBC Group A
Spodumene, nickel matte and manganese concentrates are mineral concentrates that may liquefy. Shipper's declaration, Transportable Moisture Limit certificate and can tests precede loading; LaycanDesk fixes tonnage against the TML paperwork.
Export Licences and Quotas Travel with the Cargo
DRC cobalt hydroxide carries its ARECOMS quota allocation; Chinese graphite and antimony exports carry MOFCOM licences with end-user statements; Zimbabwean lithium concentrate stops in January 2027. Bookings are made only once the licence or allocation is in hand.
Packaged Chemicals: Lined Bags, Dry Containers, Heated EC
Lithium carbonate, MHP cake and cobalt hydroxide travel in lined big bags in dry 20-ft containers; lithium hydroxide is UN 2680 Class 8. Ethylene carbonate is carried heated or in drums because it solidifies below 39°C; DMC is a Class 3 flammable liquid.
Black Mass and Battery Scrap are Waste, Not Cargo
Since 1 January 2025 black mass and partially processed battery material fall under Basel entries Y49 (Annex II) and A1181 (Annex VIII) and move only under prior informed consent between competent authorities. The desk does not broker black mass, used lead-acid batteries or battery paste.
- • Port Hedland, Esperance & Bunbury (Australia - spodumene)
- • Antofagasta & Mejillones (Chile - lithium carbonate)
- • Obi Island, Morowali & Weda Bay jetties (Indonesia - MHP, nickel matte)
- • Durban & Dar es Salaam (DRC cobalt hydroxide by road-rail to port)
- • Balikpapan & Mozambique (Balama) (graphite)
- • Shanghai, Ningbo & Busan (foils, manganese sulphate, electrolyte solvents)
- • Callao & Antwerp (refined lead)
- • China (Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Qingdao, Lianyungang)
- • Korea & Japan (Busan, Gwangyang, Ulsan, Nagoya)
- • Europe (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Gdańsk)
- • North America (Savannah, Charleston, Houston, Vancouver)
- • India & Southeast Asia (Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Port Klang, Ho Chi Minh)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which battery materials does CBIL actually broker?
Mined and refined inputs: spodumene, lithium carbonate and hydroxide, MHP and nickel matte, cobalt hydroxide, manganese ore and battery-grade manganese sulphate, flake and spherical graphite, copper and aluminium foils, refined lead and antimony, and carbonate electrolyte solvents. Black mass, used batteries and battery paste are excluded as Basel-controlled waste.
How are concentrates and intermediates priced?
On contained metal: spodumene on a 6% Li₂O basis, MHP and cobalt hydroxide as a payable percentage of the reference metal price, lithium chemicals against Fastmarkets or Benchmark battery-grade assessments, foils as LME metal plus conversion. Assays are settled on independent sampling at load and discharge.
What export rules apply in September 2026?
Indonesia's nickel ore ban (since 2020), DRC cobalt quotas of 96,600 t/y for 2026 – 2027, Zimbabwe's lithium concentrate ban from January 2027, Chinese licensing on graphite (since December 2023) and antimony (since September 2024), and the suspended-until-10-November-2026 Chinese controls on lithium batteries, cathode and artificial-graphite anode materials. Each enquiry is checked against the rule in force on the shipment date.
Can LaycanDesk fix a bulk spodumene or matte parcel?
Yes. Handysize and Supramax voyage charters from Western Australian and Indonesian load ports are fixed against the TML and shipper's declaration, with container and ISO-tank legs for the refined chemicals arranged on liner terms.
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