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High Voltage: EV sales slow in April, but Tesla reaffirms market dominance
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Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.
INDUSTRY FOCUS
Global electric vehicle sales slowed in April after a record-breaking March. The EV Sales blog estimates 166,200 sales at an average market share of 2.1 per cent. Year-on-year sales growth is now at 52 per cent.
The sales data also shows that EV makers Tesla and BYD are playing in a completely different league to everyone else:
In the US, research firm IHS Markit reckons demand for electric vehicles, including hybrids, could rise to 1.28 million by 2026 – and Tesla will continue to dominate.
More than 25 per cent of the growing market in 2026 will be all Tesla, IHS says.
The remaining brands will fight over the rest — about 392,000 units, for an average of just 11,900 cars per brand.
- Scroll down for the recent performance of 200 ASX battery metal stocks >>>
In battery metals news, major miner Glencore will supply cobalt to Umicore, which has just bought the Finland-based Kokkola cobalt refining and cathode precursor operations for about $US150m.
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence called Umicore’s move “yet another example of vertical integration in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.”
And it’s positive news for ASX listed cobalt players.
“Umicore’s decision to acquire Kokkola demonstrates the long-term outlook for cobalt remaining in lithium ion battery cathodes is strong, despite claims for some in the industry that it can be removed,” Benchmark said.
Umicore’s move to acquire part of Freeport’s #cobalt business is further evidence of the need for cobalt in the lithium-ion #battery #cathode. Push to less intensive chemistries will happen long term, but shift has been slowed (particularly post-Chinese EV subsidy adjustment)
— Andrew Miller (@amiller_bmi) May 24, 2019
SMALL CAP SPOTLIGHT
It was a good week for battery metals — of the companies on our list, 61 lost ground, 65 were ahead and 65 were steady.
Lithium plays dominate the winner’s column this week, once again.
Chile, along with Bolivia and Argentina, form what is known as the “lithium triangle”, and together account for over half of the world’s lithium supply.
Lithium explorers that pick up ground in either Argentina or Chile seem to do well; for a while at least.
Just look at BMG Resources (ASX:BMG), which is up 425 per cent since early April, and Galan Lithium (ASX: GLN) which was a market darling before crashing back to earth in recent months.
Now it’s Lake Resources’ (ASX:LKE) time to shine. The stock was up 128 per cent over the past week after announcing strong results at its Cauchari Lithium Brine Project in Argentina.
The results compare very favourably to those at adjoining major pre-development projects subject to multi-billion dollar transactions, says Lake managing director Steve Promnitz.
“With a major project under development in the adjoining leases, these results reaffirm Cauchari’s potential to become a highly valuable project for Lake Resources, adding to our portfolio of wholly owned projects located in the heart of the Lithium Triangle,” he says.
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Fellow lithium brine play, Utah-focused Anson Resources (ASX:ASN), also surged after revealing it had produced battery grade lithium “of exceptional quality”.
The sample beats the specifications of Anson’s prospective offtake partners, the company says.
Lithium explorers AVZ Minerals (ASX:AVZ) and Latin Resources (ASX:LRS) were also up 37 per cent and 33 per cent respectively, on no news.
Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop:
| Code | Name | 1 Week Price Change % | 1 Year Price Change % | Share Price [June 4] | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LKE | LAKE RESOURCES | 128 | -13 | 0.105 | $41,169,176.00 |
| DEV | DEVEX RESOURCES | 42 | -6 | 0.07 | $9,047,439.00 |
| AVZ | AVZ MINERALS | 37 | -37 | 0.077 | $187,222,272.00 |
| MTB | MOUNT BURGESS MINING | 33 | -50 | 0.004 | $1,903,517.63 |
| LRS | LATIN RESOURCES | 33 | -73 | 0.0015 | $7,014,851.50 |
| EME | ENERGY METALS | 33 | 45 | 0.16 | $33,549,330.00 |
| ASN | ANSON RESOURCES | 31 | 61 | 0.06 | $36,544,860.00 |
| NWC | NEW WORLD COBALT | 25 | -81 | 0.015 | $11,581,859.00 |
| AUT | AUTECO MINERALS | 25 | 25 | 0.005 | $5,012,323.50 |
| MEI | METEORIC RESOURCES | 25 | -44 | 0.021 | $17,780,066.00 |
| SBR | SABRE RESOURCES | 25 | -67 | 0.005 | $2,034,868.00 |
| SVD | SCANDIVANADIUM | 25 | -61 | 0.01 | $3,518,661.00 |
| TON | TRITON MINERALS | 24 | -19 | 0.057 | $57,482,552.00 |
| SVM | SOVEREIGN METALS | 24 | 0 | 0.105 | $37,723,736.00 |
| OAR | OAKDALERESOURCES | 23 | -30 | 0.016 | $3,333,685.75 |
| WKT | WALKABOUT RESOURCES | 21 | 138 | 0.36 | $120,090,712.00 |
| ARU | ARAFURA RESOURCES | 20 | -11 | 0.08 | $65,637,860.00 |
| NVA | NOVA MINERALS | 20 | -47 | 0.019 | $13,934,415.00 |
| TAR | TARUGA MINERALS | 17 | -84 | 0.034 | $4,940,853.50 |
| CAZ | CAZALY RESOURCES | 15 | -52 | 0.031 | $8,116,391.00 |
| BSM | BASS METALS | 14 | -75 | 0.008 | $22,478,996.00 |
| JRL | JINDALEE RESOURCES | 14 | 57 | 0.33 | $11,548,276.00 |
| SYR | SYRAH RESOURCES | 14 | -59 | 1.195 | $442,656,416.00 |
| CLA | CELSIUS RESOURCES | 11 | -81 | 0.038 | $30,288,724.00 |
| AUZ | AUSTRALIAN MINES | 11 | -68 | 0.03 | $95,585,600.00 |
| MQR | MARQUEE RESOURCES | 11 | -89 | 0.04 | $1,795,259.88 |
| FGR | FIRST GRAPHENE | 10 | 64 | 0.275 | $118,186,768.00 |
| GPX | GRAPHEX MINING | 10 | -8 | 0.28 | $24,221,944.00 |
| 4CE | FORCE COMMODITIES | 10 | -81 | 0.011 | $5,097,452.50 |
| PIO | PIONEER RESOURCES | 9 | -43 | 0.011 | $18,089,102.00 |
| CXO | CORE LITHIUM | 9 | -6 | 0.048 | $33,334,400.00 |
| AEE | AURA ENERGY | 9 | -45 | 0.013 | $14,541,609.00 |
| BUX | BUXTON RESOURCES | 9 | -8 | 0.125 | $16,326,652.00 |
| GWR | GWR GROUP | 9 | -29 | 0.12 | $30,422,092.00 |
| AML | AEON METALS | 9 | -38 | 0.245 | $168,267,424.00 |
| BEM | BLACKEARTH MINERALS | 9 | -52 | 0.063 | $5,269,285.50 |
| ESR | ESTRELLA RESOURCES | 8 | -38 | 0.012 | $6,894,983.00 |
| CNJ | CONICO | 8 | -72 | 0.013 | $4,572,857.50 |
| HNR | HANNANS | 8 | -13 | 0.013 | $25,843,410.00 |
| OKR | OKAPI RESOURCES | 8 | -67 | 0.13 | $4,464,572.50 |
| BYH | BRYAH RESOURCES | 8 | -39 | 0.079 | $5,039,450.00 |
| RDS | REDSTONE RESOURCES | 8 | -27 | 0.014 | $6,635,500.50 |
| PAN | PANORAMIC RESOURCES | 7 | -38 | 0.36 | $205,027,632.00 |
| CGN | CRATER GOLD MINING | 7 | -21 | 0.015 | $18,412,438.00 |
| LPD | LEPIDICO | 7 | -24 | 0.031 | $102,176,888.00 |
| GBE | GLOBE METALS AND MINING | 7 | 7 | 0.015 | $6,988,835.50 |
| SEI | SPECIALITY METALS INTERNATIONAL | 7 | 48 | 0.031 | $19,781,344.00 |
| IDA | INDIANA RESOURCES | 7 | -57 | 0.032 | $3,391,836.00 |
| THR | THOR MINING | 7 | -58 | 0.016 | $13,071,350.00 |
| EUR | EUROPEAN LITHIUM | 5 | -49 | 0.096 | $55,388,720.00 |
| AUR | AURIS MINERALS | 5 | -76 | 0.02 | $8,173,627.00 |
| NZC | NZURI COPPER | 5 | 28 | 0.34 | $102,087,392.00 |
| AGY | ARGOSY MINERALS | 4 | -76 | 0.072 | $73,044,152.00 |
| ERX | EXORE RESOURCES | 4 | 52 | 0.074 | $33,984,592.00 |
| SRK | STRIKE RESOURCES | 4 | -14 | 0.05 | $7,266,713.50 |
| COB | COBALT BLUE | 4 | -87 | 0.17 | $18,631,878.00 |
| HAV | HAVILAH RESOURCES | 3 | -26 | 0.145 | $33,828,604.00 |
| BGS | BIRIMIAN | 3 | -71 | 0.155 | $40,999,068.00 |
| PLL | PIEDMONT LITHIUM | 3 | -3 | 0.16 | $110,612,760.00 |
| FCC | FIRST COBALT | 3 | -78 | 0.17 | $61,421,196.00 |
| E25 | ELEMENT 25 | 3 | -24 | 0.19 | $15,953,226.00 |
| LI3 | LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED | 3 | -9 | 0.077 | $6,993,303.50 |
| CLQ | CLEAN TEQ | 2 | -73 | 0.325 | $205,276,560.00 |
| BDC | BARDOC GOLD | 2 | -39 | 0.059 | $72,351,744.00 |
| INF | INFINITY LITHIUM | 1 | -2 | 0.086 | $16,354,715.00 |
| MRR | MINREX RESOURCES | 0 | -76 | 0.012 | $1,150,532.75 |
| KLH | KALIA | 0 | -81 | 0.0015 | $3,771,521.00 |
| A4N | ALPHA HPA | 0 | 7 | 0.125 | $70,887,504.00 |
| PUR | PURSUIT MINERALS | 0 | -84 | 0.018 | $3,213,492.00 |
| EUC | EUROPEAN COBALT | 0 | -76 | 0.02 | $15,233,947.00 |
| BAU | BAUXITE RESOURCES | 0 | -18 | 0.049 | $10,506,694.00 |
| PSC | PROSPECT RESOURCES | 0 | -56 | 0.017 | $34,783,956.00 |
| KAI | KAIROS MINERALS | 0 | -60 | 0.015 | $13,636,365.00 |
| PM1 | PURE MINERALS | 0 | -6 | 0.016 | $5,562,865.00 |
| AZI | ALTA ZINC | 0 | -59 | 0.003 | $5,464,903.00 |
| BPL | BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING | 0 | -83 | 0.019 | $2,809,784.50 |
| CZI | CASSINI RESOURCES | 0 | 45 | 0.097 | $40,304,188.00 |
| FEL | FE | 0 | -42 | 0.018 | $7,716,503.50 |
| PNN | PEPINNINI LITHIUM | 0 | -85 | 0.003 | $3,714,035.25 |
| IEC | INTRA ENERGY | 0 | 8 | 0.014 | $5,428,136.50 |
| ARM | AURORA MINERALS | 0 | -63 | 0.021 | $1,288,466.13 |
| CFE | CAPE LAMBERT RESOURCES | 0 | -70 | 0.011 | $10,199,278.00 |
| MTH | MITHRIL RESOURCES | 0 | -61 | 0.006 | $2,111,946.00 |
| CMC | CHINA MAGNESIUM | 0 | 11 | 0.02 | $9,248,771.00 |
| TLG | TALGA RESOURCES | 0 | -29 | 0.57 | $124,691,176.00 |
| AOU | AUROCH MINERALS | 0 | -20 | 0.07 | $7,035,248.00 |
| HWK | HAWKSTONE MINING | 0 | -18 | 0.026 | $18,638,586.00 |
| CZN | CORAZON MINING | 0 | -70 | 0.003 | $4,142,066.00 |
| RTR | RUMBLE RESOURCES | 0 | -21 | 0.056 | $20,832,716.00 |
| NXE | NEW ENERGY MINERALS | 0 | -88 | 0.023 | $3,470,595.25 |
| GPP | GREENPOWER ENERGY | 0 | -71 | 0.0015 | $3,379,490.75 |
| GED | GOLDEN DEEPS | 0 | -36 | 0.027 | $4,627,281.50 |
| RIE | RIEDEL RESOURCES | 0 | -86 | 0.01 | $4,180,697.00 |
| BOA | BOADICEA RESOURCES | 0 | 100 | 0.17 | $8,983,679.00 |
| AYR | ALLOY RESOURCES | 0 | -75 | 0.003 | $3,386,555.25 |
| ZNC | ZENITH MINERALS | 0 | -68 | 0.056 | $12,978,490.00 |
| SI6 | SIX SIGMA METALS | 0 | -55 | 0.005 | $2,287,515.75 |
| SCI | SILVER CITY MINERALS | 0 | -78 | 0.009 | $2,643,392.25 |
| TKM | TREK METALS | 0 | -80 | 0.004 | $1,249,214.50 |
| BAR | BARRA RESOURCES | 0 | -50 | 0.025 | $12,933,378.00 |
| SYA | SAYONA MINING | 0 | -78 | 0.012 | $17,225,744.00 |
| ORN | ORION MINERALS | 0 | -33 | 0.031 | $62,103,692.00 |
| WCN | WHITE CLIFF MINERALS | 0 | -94 | 0.005 | $2,351,749.50 |
| AXE | ARCHER EXPLORATION | 0 | -33 | 0.08 | $15,704,343.00 |
| VML | VITAL METALS | 0 | 10 | 0.01 | $19,168,724.00 |
| VRC | VOLT RESOURCES | 0 | -39 | 0.017 | $24,743,128.00 |
| HIG | HIGHLANDS PACIFIC | 0 | -25 | 0.105 | $114,737,056.00 |
| MZN | MARINDI METALS | 0 | -77 | 0.003 | $6,397,113.00 |
| RLC | REEDY LAGOON | 0 | -55 | 0.005 | $2,011,358.50 |
| CHN | CHALICE GOLD MINES | 0 | 6 | 0.115 | $30,655,336.00 |
| BDI | BLINA MINERALS | 0 | -33 | 0.001 | $4,543,882.50 |
| AJM | ALTURA MINING | 0 | -71 | 0.105 | $223,173,552.00 |
| CGM | COUGAR METALS | 0 | -83 | 0.001 | $1,176,583.25 |
| LML | LINCOLN MINERALS | 0 | -75 | 0.006 | $3,449,902.00 |
| LCD | LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED | 0 | -56 | 0.014 | $3,852,506.00 |
| AVL | AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM | 0 | -56 | 0.018 | $37,503,032.00 |
| KOR | KORAB RESOURCES | 0 | -15 | 0.029 | $9,024,766.00 |
| POS | POSEIDON NICKEL | 0 | 0 | 0.037 | $97,779,968.00 |
| SGQ | ST GEORGE MINING | 0 | -11 | 0.12 | $35,773,944.00 |
| RMX | RED MOUNTAIN MINING | 0 | -56 | 0.004 | $3,112,147.00 |
| GME | GME RESOURCES | 0 | -63 | 0.052 | $26,048,104.00 |
| JRV | JERVOIS MINING | 0 | -31 | 0.24 | $53,583,120.00 |
| PMY | PACIFICO MINERALS | 0 | -54 | 0.006 | $13,878,628.00 |
| ARL | ARDEA RESOURCES | 0 | -56 | 0.425 | $44,581,080.00 |
| BSX | BLACKSTONE MINERALS | 0 | -68 | 0.075 | $9,165,357.00 |
| MTC | METALSTECH | 0 | -88 | 0.016 | $1,871,262.25 |
| TRT | TODD RIVER RESOURCES | 0 | -50 | 0.049 | $7,420,964.00 |
| LPI | LITHIUM POWER | 0 | -12 | 0.26 | $68,253,616.00 |
| KTA | KRAKATOA RESOURCES | 0 | -29 | 0.02 | $2,937,500.00 |
| KDR | KIDMAN RESOURCES | 0 | -18 | 1.885 | $761,019,136.00 |
| OMH | OM HOLDINGS | -1 | -21 | 0.78 | $557,660,608.00 |
| JMS | JUPITER MINES | -1 | 23 | 0.3525 | $685,646,848.00 |
| SO4 | SALT LAKE POTASH | -2 | -2 | 0.55 | $113,861,320.00 |
| NMT | NEOMETALS | -2 | -21 | 0.225 | $125,114,080.00 |
| PLS | PILBARA MINERALS | -3 | -23 | 0.68 | $1,295,994,240.00 |
| INR | IONEER | -3 | -64 | 0.16 | $243,372,272.00 |
| DEG | DE GREY MINING | -3 | -55 | 0.091 | $39,353,488.00 |
| GXY | GALAXY RESOURCES | -3 | -58 | 1.48 | $614,013,504.00 |
| KNL | KIBARAN RESOURCES | -3 | -7 | 0.14 | $40,966,936.00 |
| VMC | VENUS METALS | -4 | -17 | 0.135 | $11,133,763.00 |
| MNS | MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES | -5 | -49 | 0.205 | $128,338,560.00 |
| MXR | MAXIMUS RESOURCES | -5 | -46 | 0.062 | $2,158,542.75 |
| S32 | SOUTH32 | -5 | -12 | 3.23 | $16,415,866,880.00 |
| LIT | LITHIUM AUSTRALIA | -6 | -28 | 0.084 | $39,767,868.00 |
| WML | WOOMERA MINING | -6 | -75 | 0.033 | $3,719,246.25 |
| KSN | KINGSTON RESOURCES | -6 | -28 | 0.015 | $22,631,414.00 |
| MLM | METALLICA MINERALS | -6 | -69 | 0.015 | $4,860,711.00 |
| ORE | OROCOBRE | -6 | -46 | 3.09 | $819,052,352.00 |
| GLN | GALAN LITHIUM | -6 | 10 | 0.22 | $28,453,542.00 |
| EMH | EUROPEAN METALS | -6 | 3 | 0.365 | $53,524,412.00 |
| BKT | BLACK ROCK MINING | -7 | 92 | 0.093 | $53,870,680.00 |
| CNB | CARNABY RESOURCES | -7 | 0 | 0.13 | $12,477,833.00 |
| PGM | PLATINA RESOURCES | -8 | -40 | 0.049 | $12,678,059.00 |
| TKL | TRAKA RESOURCES | -8 | -73 | 0.012 | $5,301,136.50 |
| RIO | RIO TINTO | -8 | 32 | 98.65 | $140,302,745,600.00 |
| VXR | VENTUREX RESOURCES | -8 | -10 | 0.175 | $48,975,964.00 |
| DGR | DGR GLOBAL | -8 | 17 | 0.11 | $67,450,008.00 |
| TMT | TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA | -8 | -53 | 0.225 | $19,261,916.00 |
| MIN | MINERAL RESOURCES | -9 | -21 | 14.33 | $2,676,642,560.00 |
| TNG | TNG | -9 | -26 | 0.1025 | $96,346,744.00 |
| IRC | INTERMIN RESOURCES | -9 | -39 | 0.105 | $23,538,846.00 |
| ANW | AUS TIN MINING | -9 | -41 | 0.011 | $21,493,226.00 |
| ADN | ANDROMEDA METALS | -9 | 25 | 0.009 | $13,554,992.00 |
| AMD | ARROW MINERALS | -9 | -57 | 0.011 | $3,145,406.00 |
| CZR | COZIRON RESOURCES | -9 | -38 | 0.01 | $17,855,512.00 |
| BAT | BATTERY MINERALS | -9 | -64 | 0.019 | $26,361,830.00 |
| RNU | RENASCOR RESOURCES | -10 | -32 | 0.019 | $21,915,062.00 |
| CRL | COMET RESOURCES | -10 | -40 | 0.028 | $6,720,000.00 |
| POW | PROTEAN ENERGY | -10 | -76 | 0.009 | $2,802,935.25 |
| N27 | NORTHERN COBALT | -11 | -85 | 0.041 | $2,575,349.75 |
| ENT | ENTERPRISE METALS | -11 | -65 | 0.008 | $3,211,302.00 |
| TNO | TANDO RESOURCES | -11 | -72 | 0.062 | $13,629,465.00 |
| DTM | DART MINING NL | -13 | -13 | 0.007 | $7,079,633.00 |
| HXG | HEXAGON RESOURCES | -13 | -50 | 0.1 | $29,178,340.00 |
| VMS | VENTURE MINERALS | -14 | -33 | 0.019 | $12,375,544.00 |
| PSM | PENINSULA MINES | -14 | -73 | 0.003 | $2,978,616.25 |
| ADV | ARDIDEN | -14 | -82 | 0.003 | $5,044,140.50 |
| HMX | HAMMER METALS | -14 | -25 | 0.027 | $8,429,130.00 |
| OAU | ORA GOLD | -15 | -45 | 0.011 | $7,107,054.50 |
| MZZ | MATADOR MINING | -16 | -25 | 0.24 | $14,091,875.00 |
| CDT | CASTLE MINERALS | -17 | -75 | 0.006 | $1,118,979.88 |
| CUL | CULLEN RESOURCES | -17 | -68 | 0.01 | $1,694,648.25 |
| LTR | LIONTOWN RESOURCES | -18 | 191 | 0.098 | $149,781,744.00 |
| CHK | COHIBA MINERALS | -20 | 0 | 0.009 | $5,316,914.00 |
| SRN | SUREFIRE RESOURCES | -20 | -69 | 0.004 | $2,012,614.50 |
| DHR | DARK HORSE RESOURCES | -20 | -82 | 0.004 | $7,904,346.50 |
| HGM | HIGH GRADE METALS | -20 | -92 | 0.004 | $1,811,751.50 |
| MCT | METALICITY | -22 | -73 | 0.007 | $4,217,246.00 |
| MLS | METALS AUSTRALIA | -25 | -73 | 0.001 | $4,037,696.75 |
| SUH | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING | -41 | -42 | 0.035 | $3,096,431.50 |
| ARE | ARGONAUT RESOURCES | -44 | -76 | 0.005 | $7,771,903.00 |
