Fastmarkets’ Fast Forward podcast

In the latest episode of Fastmarkets' Market Briefing podcast, Laura Varriale, regional editor for base metals covering Europe, Africa and the Middle East, speaks with Laura Roberts, strategic markets editor for base metals, about how low-carbon aluminium and copper markets are evolving, what drives premiums, and whether buyers are truly willing to pay more for greener metal.

As manufacturers work to reduce supply chain emissions, low-carbon metals are becoming an increasingly important part of procurement strategies. But while low-carbon aluminium has developed into a well-established premium market, low-carbon copper is still in its early stages.

Fastmarkets is your source of critical minerals and battery raw materials market analysis, forecasting and price data, keeping you ahead of the competition. To discover more about our products, visit https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/

Fastmarkets is your source of critical minerals and battery raw materials market analysis, forecasting and price data, keeping you ahead of the competition. To discover more about our products, visit https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/

From the US and Europe to Turkey and China, the discussion explores how rising energy and freight costs, partly driven by the Middle East conflict, are lifting prices despite weak steel demand.

With seasonal supply increases and cheaper alternatives like pig iron, the conversation examines shifting market balances, including diverging trends between prime and obsolete scrap and the impact of policy and trade flows.

Tune in for a concise overview of the forces shaping scrap pricing, the fragility of current price support, and the downside risks emerging across the near‑ to medium‑term outlook.

In this episode of Fast Forward, Andrea Hotter speaks with Stella Li, executive vice president at BYD, one of the world’s fastest-growing electric vehicle and battery companies.

From ultra-fast charging and vertical integration to global expansion and shifting consumer expectations, Stella explains how BYD is redefining what it means to be a carmaker, positioning the vehicle as a technology hub rather than simply a mode of transport.

Covering Europe’s complex market dynamics, China’s hyper-competitive EV landscape and the role of hybrids in accelerating electrification, the conversation explores the strategic and technological forces shaping the future of mobility.

Tune in for insights into EV innovation, global automotive competition and the technologies transforming the driving experience.

Fastmarkets is your source of critical minerals, battery raw materials and automotive market intelligence. To discover more about our products, visit https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/ 

In this episode of Fast Forward, Andrea Hotter sits down with Sir Mick Davis, former CEO of Xstrata and founder of Vision Blue Resources, to explore the paradox of mining finance. Despite unprecedented demand for critical minerals to fuel the energy transition, the rising cost of capital and complex risk landscape are stifling growth. From geopolitical challenges to permitting hurdles and the moral hazard of mining investment, Sir Mick shares his unique insights on the structural shifts reshaping the industry.  

Tune in for a deep dive into the future of mining, capital allocation and the urgent need for strategic action. Fastmarkets is your source of critical minerals and battery raw materials market analysis, forecasting and price data, keeping you ahead of the competition. To discover more about our products visit https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/   

In this episode of Fast Forward, host Andrea Hotter dives deep into the unpredictable world of copper markets with industry veteran David Lilley of Drakewood Capital Management. Together, they explore how copper has shifted from a supply-and-demand-driven commodity to one influenced by fear, forward expectations and geopolitical tensions. 

Discover why raw materials like copper could become the ultimate constraint in an AI-powered world, overshadowing manufacturing capabilities. From the impact of deglobalization and strategic stockpiling to the rise of electronic waste recycling, this episode unpacks the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of critical minerals. 

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of the global commodities landscape. Tune in to learn why "fear has become a fundamental" and how copper could define the next decade of innovation and resilience. 

Fastmarkets is your source of critical minerals and battery raw materials market analysis, forecasting and price data, keeping you ahead of the competition. To discover more about our products visit https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/   

As we wait for the next long‑form episode of Fast Forward, we introduce a shorter‑form market update that will be published across the year. Delivering timely, bitesize insights and stories from across the commodities landscape, these episodes are designed to help listeners keep pace with developments that have caught the attention of our editorial team.

In this episode, Fastmarkets editorial and pricing director Andrew Wells introduces the new format, which expands coverage beyond metals to include forest products, agriculture and carbon, offering timely headlines, price movements and key market developments in the time it takes to grab a morning coffee.

The first update comes from Solomon Cefai, senior price reporter covering technology and energy metals, who outlines a busy start to February for US critical minerals policy. US government initiatives have emerged as a positive for domestic producers, led by the announcement of Project Vault, a $12 billion critical mineral stockpile. Initially targeting cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements, gallium and germanium, the program is expected to expand to other strategic minerals including copper, graphite and silicon. While the long‑term goal is to protect automotive and technology supply chains, the stockpile is also expected to support new production at a time of limited downstream demand and heavy midstream concentration in China.

Solomon notes that the policy has been broadly welcomed, but highlights concerns around market distortion, supply tightness and the risk of squeezing existing consumers outside the US, particularly in Europe and Asia. The civilian stockpile differs from existing USDLA stockpiles and will rely on large trading houses to source material for strategic manufacturers, despite already tight supply due to previous Chinese export controls. Solomon also touches on proposed international critical mineral reference prices within a preferential trade zone, intended to de‑risk new supply chains, though details remain unclear, and growing political scrutiny, as senior US Democrats probe government investment and its implications for transparency and competition.

Eduardo Tinti, senior price reporter, then joins us with an update from the agriculture sector with developments in the soybean and biofuel markets. A social media post from US president Donald Trump suggested China could increase purchases of US soybeans sparked a rally in Chicago futures, while Brazilian cash premiums softened and Chinese crush margins came under pressure. Eduardo also highlights renewed Chinese buying from the US Gulf and expectations that China may auction imported soybeans to make room for incoming cargoes.

In biofuels, Eduardo explains that new EPA guidance proved bullish for US feedstocks, particularly soy oil, corn ethanol and animal fats, while excluding most imports from outside North America. Additional support came from trade developments with India, which may reduce or eliminate import taxes on a quota of US soy oil.

The episode concludes with a look ahead to upcoming long‑form interviews as part of our Fast Forward franchise.

For more information: https://www.fastmarkets.com/podcast/

This episode was recorded in the second week of February 2026.