Fears for metal supplies linger, prices soon to surge savagely

Lithium and nickel supply levels were in the news this week, as questions were raised over their long-term availability for batteries and EVs. The first concern was raised by Lithium Australia’s managing director, speaking to Small Caps, saying that even a looming supply glut is not a positive sign, as long-term demand is still going to outstrip supply. The second warning stems from Bloomberg sources, quoting Independence Group NL, an Australian nickel producer, CEO Peter Bradford, who said that the production volumes of EVs and plug-in hybrids were putting strains on the supplies of class one nickel. The metal has increased in price by 35% in a year on the London Metal Exchange. Nickel is also a key ingredient in…