Business deals
Thai plastics producer Indorama to buy Vietnam bottle maker
Ngoc Nghia acquisition would expand presence in fast-growing market
Materials
Caixin
China textile and apparel makers clock off early for Lunar New Year
COVID pandemic dampens demand and disrupts supplies
Materials
Junkyard gold: Mitsubishi Materials scours globe using big data
Online platform links metal maker directly to suppliers of e-waste
Market Spotlight
Battery costs rise as lithium demand outstrips supply
Carmakers scramble for raw materials in a bid to win global electric vehicle race
Materials
Japan goes back to plastic use as COVID fuels food deliveries
Demand and production rebound after recent push for eco-friendly alternatives
Materials
Toray develops film enabling faster charging of electric vehicles
Capacitor material resists over 800 volts, can cut waiting time to 20-30 minutes
Materials
From samurai armor to rocket parts, Kanamori Alloy makes it all
Japanese company with 300-year history is still learning new tricks
Caixin
Once a China coal boomtown, Hegang now can't afford to hire
Many local governments in debt due to aging population, pandemic, economic change
Companies
Nippon Steel sues Mitsui & Co. over patent infringement
Japanese steelmaker says trading house was involved in Toyota-Baoshan deal
Commodities
2 Chinese rare-earth giants join forces as Beijing calls shots
Deal follows government plan to consolidate industry that holds economic leverage
Startups
Posco, Apple help turn South Korea's 'Steel City' into tech incubator
Nearly 90 startups involved in next-gen innovations call campus home
Materials
Lithium supply: Posco to build $830m plant in Argentina
South Korean steel group makes its latest investment in battery materials
Technology
SoftBank codevelops battery with twice the capacity of lithium-ion
Lithium-air technology shows promise for miniaturization of drones
Materials
South Korea's POSCO to split off steel operations
As new holding company, it will oversee development of new businesses
Materials
China's Ganfeng Lithium stakes out overseas claims in hot market
Lithium 'supermarket' aims to double production by 2025 as EV demand swells
Market Spotlight
Manufacturers rue dependence on China for supplies of magnesium
Auto companies and steelmakers reel from latest metals price spike
Materials
Mongolia pushes Rio for more concessions in $7bn mine talks
Government asks for full debt forgiveness after Australian company raises offer
Materials
Nippon Steel hikes profit forecast to record high for second time
Strong demand and tight China supply push up product prices and margins
Business deals
China's Ganfeng Lithium inks 3-year supply contract with Tesla
Deal starts next year for world's largest EV battery maker
G20 Summit
U.S., EU end steel and aluminum tariffs, target China's 'dirty' steel
Deal solves Trump-era spat, aims to combat climate change and overcapacity