Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a mass-market option for grid-scale storage and lower-cost urban EVs, with CATL already selling sodium-ion passenger vehicles and utility systems exceeding 1 GWh, but they do not displace lithium in high-energy-density applications. Because sodium is geologically ubiquitous—essentially salt at 2.3% of the crust—the bottleneck moves from scarce deposits like Greenbushes and the Lithium Triangle to midstream processing and gigafactory-scale manufacturing. China now controls over 90% of installed and announced sodium-ion manufacturing capacity, deepening Western dependence despite abundant raw sodium.

Kryton International will debut at EXPONOR in Chile this month, showcasing its Hard-Cem® integral hardening technology already deployed in British Columbia mining infrastructure. Hard-Cem is added directly to concrete to improve abrasion and erosion resistance in high-wear elements such as haul road slabs, ore passes and crusher foundations, aiming to extend service life without increasing cement content. For mine operators, the pitch centres on reduced shutdowns for resurfacing, lower lifecycle concrete volumes and more predictable performance in aggressive, high-impact environments.

US efforts to revive primary aluminium hinge on securing long-term, industrial-scale power contracts of 500+ MW per smelter, with advocates warning that data centres and hyperscalers are outbidding producers for grid capacity. Imports of Canadian primary aluminium fell from 2,745 kt in 2024 to 1,950 kt in 2025 after Section 232 tariffs rose to 50%, even as Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium plan the first new US smelter since 1980 in Oklahoma, still stalled pending a power deal. Rio Tinto’s $1.5 billion AP60 low-carbon smelter expansion in Quebec and EU CBAM-driven demand are meanwhile pulling more Canadian hydropower-based metal towards Europe, risking longer-term diversion of supply away from the US.