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Founded in 1865 and based in Germany, BASF is the world's largest chemical company, with products spanning the full chemical spectrum of commodity to specialty. In addition, the company is a strong player in agricultural crop protection chemicals and emissions control catalysts for cars and trucks. Given its sheer size, BASF has a top-three market position in approximately 70% of its businesses. The company is undergoing a transformation where it will divest the surface technologies and agricultural solutions businesses over the next several years. These two segments combine to generate nearly 40% of total revenue.

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American Battery Technology&#39;s Ryan Melsert spoke to Benzinga about lithium production and what it means to be a vital metals supplier.

EXCLUSIVE: Federal Support Is &#39;Essential&#39; For Lithium Production, Says American Battery Technology CEO (CORRECTED)

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Battered tech sector suffers as global sell-off pulls markets towards bear territory. US unemployment uptick reignites recession fears. Nasdaq Composite worst hit.

Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon Erase $1.1 Trillion In Monday Sell-Off: Bubble Burst Or Market Correction?

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BASF SE (OTC: BASFY) and Encina Development Group, LLC, an ISCC PLUS certified circular chemicals manufacturer, announced a long-term supply agreement for chemically recycled circular benzene derived from post-consumer end-of-life plastics.

BASF-Encina Announce Long-Term Recycled Benzene Deal

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American Battery Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABAT#NASDAQ">ABAT</a>) CEO Ryan Melsert spoke to Benzinga about the latest company milestones, the state of the market and what it means to be a vital metals supplier for the burgeoning <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/clean-energy">green energy sector</a>. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: What&#8217;s your relationship like with the retail investment community?</h2>
Melsert: We&#8217;re definitely in the spotlight with retail investors. We also work with several different strategic partners, including big corporations that sell us products or feed and buy our products. It's important to have a balance between both. We&#8217;ve experienced significant growth over the past few years. The validation we&#8217;ve received from winning several corporate awards and securing various government projects has provided the community with technical validation of what we're doing and our business plan as we scale up.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: How does the company operate in three pillars: battery recycling, metal manufacturing, and resource development?</h2>
Melsert: On the battery recycling side, we completed the design about two years ago, and we built our first commercial factory last year, which is now up and running. We&#8217;re receiving large amounts of end-of-life waste from the field and are actually producing significant quantities of recycled battery-grade product that we're selling back into the market. The recycling plant is fully operational, and we're working to establish a closed-loop system within the U.S.
Last summer, we signed a partnership agreement with BASF (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>), one of North America&#8217;s largest battery metals customers. Working with them to receive material and sell our recycled products has been great. Recycling is crucial for closing the loop and ensuring that once materials are in the field, they stay there. However, because the number of batteries is growing so quickly, we also need to fill that loop for the first time, which is why we have our other business units.
For lithium specifically, there is almost zero production in the U.S. We have many resources, but very few refineries can access them, especially those considered unconventional. A few years ago, we analyzed various types of lithium resources within the U.S. and identified a sedimentary resource, or claystone, that holds large amounts of lithium. However, no one has yet developed a technology to access the lithium in that claystone. We worked at the laboratory and bench scales and developed our own mechanisms to access this lithium. We secured a Department of Energy grant to use that data to build a fully integrated pilot plant to process hundreds of tons of material and produce battery-grade product. Then, just last year, we won another grant with a federal cost share of $57 million to build a commercial refinery project.
Developing the claystone itself is one skill set—how we develop that mine and excavate that surface resource. But we've also developed our own refining technology, so we&#8217;re constructing a refinery right on top of it. We finished the pilot plant just a few months ago. In June, we announced that we are producing battery-grade product from this pilot facility.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: We've seen automotive companies engage with commodity producers to secure supplies. Are you open to different kinds of partnerships, perhaps more downstream, directly with vehicle manufacturers?</h2>
Melsert: Every week, we have a customer or strategic partner, often a big automotive OEM, on-site touring the facility. There are so few operations in the U.S. that can produce this battery-grade lithium product. So, there's a lot of interest in sourcing the output from this commercial refinery. It's very likely that we'll enter into a partnership with an OEM regarding the off-take of our primary lithium going forward.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: There is only one active lithium mine in the U.S.; Data shows it takes about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39870803/us-mine-development-delays-among-worlds-longest-second-only-to-zambia">29 years to develop a mine</a>. Was this one of the catalysts for you to focus on recycling?</h2>
Melsert: That was indeed a catalyst for us to focus on both. Recycling can be very quick to market. We produce nine different products from our recycling plant, which makes us more diversified than a typical mining operation. However, in terms of scale, our primary lithium claystone process will produce much more than the entire U.S. recycling industry combined. While recycling is great for time to market, when you want to scale, these primary systems will deliver that in the near term.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: Is there a danger if battery manufacturing and recycling don't eventually balance out? Could we end up with piles of old batteries lying around?</h2>
Melsert: Definitely. For a closed-loop economy, all sections of the loop need to be balanced and have a similar throughput. In the past few years, we've added dramatic amounts of capacity for battery manufacturing but very little for battery recycling. This imbalance could result in batteries being exported abroad to be recycled elsewhere, which wouldn't help our strategic mineral situation. Or, they might not be recycled at all and end up in landfills in the U.S. That's why we work so closely with partners in the battery manufacturing and automotive manufacturing sectors to ensure our throughput aligns with their facilities.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: Major oil producers like Exxon are venturing into <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/02/37182798/exxons-lithium-experiment-could-be-winner-for-oil-company-state-of-arkansas">lithium production</a> and experimenting with direct lithium extraction. What do you think about these initiatives?</h2>
Melsert: In the past year or so, many big oil companies have gotten involved in this space. I think it's great to see large corporations investing and recognizing the need to bring domestic resources to market. They bring different skill sets, particularly in chemical processing, and have mostly focused on brine-based resources due to the overlap with conventional oil extraction.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: You've previously met with President Joe Biden and spoken about issues in the sector. Are you currently engaged with the government?</h2>
Melsert: Yes, we have several grants underway with the Department of Energy, and we're always in contact with them about future opportunities as well. Ramping up critical material production is one of the few issues both political parties agree on. There's a real need to bring this capacity to U.S. shores, and we've received quite a bit of support from the federal government. I believe there are still a lot of programs moving forward.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: Lithium prices are now around $10,000 per metric ton, which is about where they were in 2019. Where do you see the market going from here?</h2>
Melsert: Everyone is trying to predict the future regarding market prices. The important thing is that there's still a large demand for electric vehicles and stationary grid storage batteries in the U.S. As long as those end-use demand sectors keep growing, they'll continue to pull on the upstream systems to ramp up capacity. It can be very quick, less than two years, to put up an electric vehicle factory or battery factory, but it takes many years to bring a primary resource online. So, as demand picks up, the limiting factor will be how quickly these primary resources can come online.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: BCA Research Chief Strategist Marko Papic told Benzinga that we're entering a capex-driven commodity super cycle. Where do you see opportunities for the fastest domestic commodity development outside of your own project?</h2>
Melsert: The biggest factor in speeding up product development is permit reform at the federal level. Just a few weeks ago, the Senate put forward a bill that would streamline permitting operations specifically for these types of critical materials. Having a more efficient system could help these projects in the U.S. come online much more quickly, and it would open up the business case for more resources to be developed domestically.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BZ: What's next for your company?</h2>
Melsert: The most important thing to watch for in this industry is who forms partnerships and alliances with other sectors, such as battery manufacturers and vehicle OEMs. I'd recommend keeping an eye on which companies are building the best relationships with those other strategic players in the sector as we move forward. I'm confident in our projects and have recently boosted my stake by an additional 390,000 shares.
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 Editor&#8217;s Note: This interview has been edited to reflect the correct cost of a commercial refinery project.

EXCLUSIVE: Federal Support Is 'Essential' For Lithium Production, Says American Battery Technology CEO (CORRECTED)

The battered tech sector continued to suffer on Monday as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40167312">a global sell-off of stocks and other assets</a> pulled markets towards bear territory.
A slight uptick in U.S. unemployment, published on Friday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/08/40131214/market-turmoil-july-jobs-report-geopolitical-risks-spark-stock-sell-off-as-traders-flee-to-treasur">reignited fears of a recession that rippled across the globe</a>. Some indices saw historical drops, including Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40156460/bloodbath-in-asia-and-europe-japans-index-crashes-13-gold-near-record-highs-global-markets-update-wh">which dropped more than 13.4% at its lowest point on Monday</a>.
The Nasdaq Composite has been the worst affected among the main U.S. averages.
Some Saw It Coming: The correction <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39676340/market-correction-highly-likely-before-2024-election-says-morgan-stanley-cio">had been anticipated by several analysts</a> for at least a month before the downturn began. Wedbush's Daniel Ives minimized the panic, calling the sell-off <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40151107/tech-sell-off-takes-qqq-to-correction-territory-nvidia-sheds-over-5-for-week-analys">"just a white knuckle moment in a multi-year bull run for tech stocks</a>."
Ives and other pundits have argued against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40165496/what-are-stock-bubbles-and-when-do-they-burst-what-to-know-as-nvidia-tech-sector-sink#google_vignette">fears of a market bubble bursting around AI-oriented stocks</a>.
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk has said that renowned investors like Warren Buffett <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40152088/elon-musk-says-warren-buffett-is-clearly-expecting-a-correction-after-berkshire-sold-nearly-half-of">were "clearly expecting a correction</a>." Tesla stock is down over 3% on Monday at the time of this writing, with the EV maker losing over 13% in the past five trading days.
On Monday, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40165638/warren-buffetts-apple-sell-off-echoes-chevron-move-what-it-means-for-investors">got rid of half its stake in </a>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), causing the tech giant to lose almost 10% of its value after the market bell rang on Monday morning. The company quickly recovered throughout the day, and is down 5.5% on an intraday basis at the time of writing.
<ul>
<li>Berkshire itself has also been hit by the sell-off, and is down over 5% in the last five trading days.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>At its worst point on Monday, Apple&#8217;s market cap lost $364 billion in just a few minutes when compared to its closing price on Friday. That exceeds the combined market cap of 3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), Dow Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOW#NYSE">DOW</a>), DuPont de Nemours Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>) and BASF SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has also been struck by the market panic, losing over 12% in the last five trading days. The company is down 4.1% on Monday alone. At its lowest point on Monday, Amazon's market cap was down by $171 billion when compared to Friday's closing price. That's more than Intel Corp&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) entire market cap.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is down by 7.3% in the last five trading days and 2.8% on Monday. The company&#8217;s market cap was down $172 billion at its lowest point on Monday, or three times the combined market caps of American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), United Airlines Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>) and Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>).</li>
</ul>
Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40166870">Google&#8217;s Bold AI Ad Backfired Amidst Olympic Fervor, Stirring Public Debate On Technology Versus Human Creativity As Shares Tumble 6.59% At Opening</a>
Nasdaq Takes The Worst Blow: The Nasdaq Composite <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40157665/nasdaq-r2k-futures-tumble-over-4-vix-spikes-over-100-bitcoin-plunges-hard-as-global-sell-off-deepen">has been the worst hit among the major indices</a>. The average, which covers the tech-heavy Nasdaq exchange, has lost about 6% of its value in the last five days.
ETFs following the 100 biggest companies in the Nasdaq have also taken a hit. Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQM#NASDAQ">QQQM</a>) is down 5.3% in the last five days, following a similar trajectory of its sibling fund Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/08/40142331/chip-stocks-staring-at-another-bloodbath-as-intel-tumbles-nvidia-dips-4-asml-crumbles-over-6-whats-a">Semiconductor stocks continued to lead the drop</a> after a months-long rally that took major players to record market caps.
<ul>
<li>Intel Corp has been one of the worst hit in the sell-off, losing more than 34% in the last five trading days, with losses of almost 6% on Monday alone. The generalized market panic was added <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40136668/intels-stock-plummets-after-earnings-what-to-know">on top of the company's worse-than-expected quarterly results</a> last week.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) has lost 10% of its value in the last five trading days and 6.4% on Monday alone. The company saw losses of more than 13% on Monday at the market open, quickly recovering throughout the day. Nvidia&#8217;s market cap was down by $407 billion at its lowest point on Monday, when compared to its Friday closing price. That's about half the entire government spending on Medicare for 2023.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) experienced a drop of over 10% at its worst point on Monday, but quickly recovered and is down 2% at the time of this writing, with losses of over 8% in the last five trading days.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>), the largest ETF following the semiconductor sector, has lost 11% of its value in the last five trading days and is down 2.1% on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) and SPDR S&amp;P Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XSD#NYSE">XSD</a>), which also follow the chips sector, have experienced a similar trend.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/40166877">Will Bitcoin Or Ethereum Recover More Faster From The Crash? Here&#8217;s What Technical Analysis Says</a></li>
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Image created using Shutterstock photos.

BASF SE (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>) and Encina Development Group, LLC, an ISCC PLUS certified circular chemicals manufacturer, announced a long-term supply agreement for chemically recycled circular benzene derived from post-consumer end-of-life plastics. This marks a significant move in sustainable sourcing, as BASF strengthens the circular economy by integrating more chemically recycled, circular-based raw materials into its production processes. BASF plans to use chemically-recycled benzene for its broad Ccycled product portfolio.
BASF stated that incorporating benzene from post-consumer plastics into its value chains underscores the company&#39;s ongoing commitment to transitioning toward non-fossil and circular alternatives. The company emphasized that its partnership with Encina is driving this transformation by increasing the use of recycling-based feedstocks, enabling BASF to offer more Ccycled products to customers in the packaging, textiles and automotive industries.
Encina&#39;s circular chemicals play a crucial role in the production of everyday and novel plastics. Utilizing proprietary catalytic technology, Encina produces high-yield, drop-in quality circular feedstocks. The company expressed pride in partnering with BASF, a leader renowned for its commitment to innovation and sustainability. It highlighted that this agreement represents a significant step towards a truly circular economy, where waste is minimized and resources are maximized for a more sustainable future.
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<h3>BASF SE Price and Consensus</h3>
<img alt="BASF SE Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/0d/1719230415.png" style="height:265px; width:577px" title="" />
BASF SE price-consensus-chart | BASF SE Quote
</div>
BASF&#39;s approach to achieving circularity involves the increasing use of recycled and renewable feedstocks, reshaping material cycles and creating new business models. The collaboration with Encina exemplifies BASF&#39;s dedication to implementing advanced solutions to accelerate feedstock transformation.
Encina added that the agreement with BASF demonstrates that circularity is not just a concept but a tangible reality within reach.
In the past year, BASF&#39;s shares have moved up 3.2% compared with the&nbsp;industry&#39;s 4.8% fall in the same period.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/ec/69331.jpg?v=788579325" /> 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Other Key Picks</h3>
BASF currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/crs#NYSE">CRS</a>), ATI Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ati#NYSE">ATI</a>), and Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ecl#NYSE">ECL</a>). While Carpenter Technology sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), ATI and Ecolab carry a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS&#39;s current-year earnings is pegged at $4.31, indicating a year-over-year rise of 278%. CRS&#39; earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters while matching it once, the average earnings surprise being 15.1%. The company&#39;s shares have soared 91.9% in the past year.
ATI&#39;s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average earnings surprise being 8.34%, on average. The stock has rallied 35.1% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ecolab&#39;s current-year earnings is pegged at $6.59, indicating a rise of 26.5% from the year-ago levels. ECL beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average earnings surprise being 1.3. The stock has rallied nearly 35.2% in the past year.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2292349/basf-basfy-encina-announce-long-term-recycled-benzene-deal?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2292349">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

WASHINGTON — Amid the global search for lithium for electric vehicle batteries, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/03/37857275/exclusive-battery-companies-back-small-miners-for-long-term-provide-bright-spot-as-funding-ma">major automakers are</a> eyeing production from American Battery Technology Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABAT#NASDAQ">ABAT</a>), CEO Ryan Melsert said this month at a mining conference.
The company is developing one of the largest lithium deposits in the United States at its Tonopah Flats mining and refining project in Nevada to provide lithium in addition to the company's battery recycling business.
American Battery Technology is funding its operations with revenue from recycling and U.S. Department of Energy grants but plans to augment that in the medium term with project financing and lithium offtake agreements with strategic partners.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/06/39204696/us-lithium-industry-gets-a-win-as-piedmont-saga-advances-but-permitting-remains-a-headwind"> US Lithium Industry Gets A Win As Piedmont Saga Advances, But Permitting Remains A Headwind</a>
"We have the automakers on site almost every week," Melsert told Benzinga on the sidelines of a recent&nbsp;Benchmark Mineral Intelligence&nbsp;battery metals conference in Washington.
He declined to name the companies but said "it's all the automakers and manufacturers you would think of."
American Battery Technology already has a partnership with German multinational chemical company BASF (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>), one of the largest battery cathode manufacturers in North America. Both companies have received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium, a subsidiary of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, which is a collaborative automotive technology company for Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) and Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>).
EV Demand Increasing With No Short-Term Lithium Alternatives
Automaker interest in lithium from American Battery Technology comes as electric vehicle manufacturers around the world scramble to source lithium for batteries.&nbsp;
If nations were to fully meet all their current national energy and climate goals, the International Energy Agency said in a recent report that it expects global lithium demand to rise from 165 thousand metric tons in 2023 to 1.6 million metric tons by 2050. The electric vehicle industry is projected to account for about 90% of this demand growth.
Meanwhile, the agency says that new mine projects beyond those already in production or announced will have to be developed to meet lithium requirements after 2030, when demand will outstrip currently projected production.
In their quest to secure sources of lithium, Ford, GM, Mercedes Benz Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBGYY#OTC">MBGYY</a>), Mitsubishi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSBHF#OTC">MSBHF</a>) and Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), have inked deals to buy directly from mining or refining companies or made direct investments elsewhere in the lithium battery supply chain.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk once said on social media that "lithium batteries are the new oil."
Melsert is no stranger to Tesla. He worked there from 2015 to 2019 as a founding member of the Gigafactory design team and battery materials processing research and development manager.
As a person familiar with battery technology, Melsert doesn't think lithium-based battery storage will go away anytime soon, despite research into alternatives.
The International Energy Agency agrees. "Lithium-ion batteries' role in fueling the growth of the EV industry remains unchallenged in the near term," the IEA said in its recent report. 
"Alternative technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and vanadium flow batteries begin to take some shares from lithium-ion batteries in low-range vehicles and storage markets, but they do not materially alter the prospects for lithium demand in climate-driven scenarios," the agency said.
Company May Face Less Environmental Angst Than Competitors
As global demand for lithium grows, western governments are trying to diversify supply chains for minerals critical to the energy transition. China dominates lithium refining and the electric vehicle battery market.
As the domestic lithium mining industry ramps up, tensions with conservationists and locals, including indigenous people, have increased in the American West, South America and Europe. In Nevada, Lithium Americas Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAC#NYSE">LAC</a>) Thacker Pass and Ioneer Ltd.'s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSCCF#OTC">GSCCF</a>) Rhyolite Ridge projects have faced opposition.
It appears that American Battery Technology's Tonopah Flats project may face fewer headwinds, at least in terms of conservationist concerns.
"When we look at places like Thacker Pass and Rhyolite Ridge, we see high levels of biodiversity," said Patrick Donnelly, a Nevada-based director with the Center for Biological Diversity. "Endemic species, greater sage-grouse and sensitive groundwater-dependent ecosystems are found at both sites. This is part of why they&#8217;ve engendered such pushback."
Tonopah Flats doesn't have those issues, or issues with surface water sources, Donnelly told Benzinga.
"Strictly from a biological point of view, there are fewer potential impacts to biodiversity from development in that area," he said.
Read Next:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/05/39007586/lithium-market-may-have-turned-a-corner-but-dont-expect-2022-style-rally">Lithium Market May Have Turned A Corner, But Don&#8217;t Expect 2022-Style Rally</a>
Benzinga Mining is the bridge between mining companies and retail investors. Reach out to <a href="mailto:_licensing@benzinga.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">_licensing@benzinga.com</a> to get started!
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EXCLUSIVE: Major Automakers Target Lithium Supply From American Battery Technology Co.

China has responded to the Group of Seven (G-7) nations&#8217; criticism of its trade practices, accusing them of exaggerating the issue of overcapacity.
What Happened: The G-7 finance ministers and central bankers claimed on Saturday that China&#8217;s non-market policies harm global economies, Bloomberg<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-27/china-slams-g-7-for-hyping-overcapacity-as-trade-tensions-soar?srnd=homepage-asia"> reported</a> on Monday.
During a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning dismissed these allegations. 
She stated, &#8220;The G-7 hypes up the so-called overcapacity of China and attempts to set obstacles and limitations to China's progress.&#8221; 
Mao further described the G-7&#8217;s stance as &#8220;essentially protectionism&#8221; and not beneficial to any party.
The dispute highlights the escalating tensions between China and industrialized nations. On Friday, the Biden administration announced the reimposition of tariffs on hundreds of Chinese imports and increased duties on Chinese electric vehicles. Additionally, the European Union has been investigating China&#8217;s EV industry and is close to deciding on raising levies.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/39020792/bitcoin-to-hit-1-million-in-next-10-to-18-months-says-crypto-analyst-were-still-so-early-i?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin To Hit $1 Million In Next 10 To 18 Months, Says Crypto Analyst: &#8216;We&#8217;re Still So Early In The Bitc</a>
Why It Matters: The ongoing trade tensions between China and the G-7 nations are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/39025251/china-launches-47-5b-state-fund-to-bolster-semiconductor-industry-amid-global-chip-war">part of a broader conflict</a> affecting various sectors. Recently, China launched a $47.5 billion state fund to boost its semiconductor industry, a move seen as a response to the global chip war.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38795043/yellen-calls-for-fair-trade-with-china-urges-other-central-banks-to-limit-currency-interventions"> called for fair trade with China</a> and urged central banks to limit currency interventions.
China&#8217;s response to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38928610/china-strikes-back-at-bidens-tariffs-with-new-investigation-into-plastics-imports-6-stocks-caught-in">Biden administration&#8217;s tariffs</a> included launching an investigation into U.S. plastics imports, affecting companies like Basf (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>) and Asahi Kasei (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AHKSY#OTC">AHKSY</a>).
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38998354/nvidia-preparing-for-the-worst-as-the-chipmaker-reportedly-cuts-prices-of-its-flagship-ai-chips-in-c?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia &#8216;Preparing For The Worst&#8217; As The Chipmaker Reportedly Cuts Prices Of Its Flagship AI Chips In China Amid Intensifying Competition From Huawei</a>
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Pooja-Rajkumari" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pooja Rajkumari</a>

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China Slams US And Other G7 Countries For Hyping Up Trade Overcapacity: 'Attempts To Set Obstacles And Limitations'

China has taken a new step in the ongoing economic battle with the west, launching a new anti-dumping probe of plastics <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">made in the U.S. and the European Union</a>.
The move can be read as a possible retaliation against recent protectionist measures by Western countries, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38824198/biden-announces-massive-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-to-protect-us-industries-clean-energy-solar-stock">a recent increase of tariffs on Chinese imports led by President Joe Biden</a>.
The Chinese probe was announced on Sunday by the country's commerce ministry, looking into imports of polyoxymethylene copolymer, a type of plastic widely used in consumer electronics, household items, car parts as well as in industrial applications.
Public companies manufacturing this material include Celanese Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CE#NYSE">CE</a>),&nbsp;BASF SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>), DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>), Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTLHY#OTC">MTLHY</a>), Asahi Kasei Corporation (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AHKSY#OTC">AHKSY</a>) and SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SABRY#OTC">SABRY</a>).
Over the next year, China will look into imports of the chemical, also known acetal or POM, coming from the U.S., Japan, Taiwan and the EU, in efforts to find out if imports are being priced at equal levels to their domestic markets.
In an anti-dumping probe, a country will try to assess whether companies from a different country are pricing items at lower prices in order to gain market share and take out the local competition.
The probe could be extended for a period of six months after the one-year period is completed.
Also read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38915754">Chinese EV Maker Li Auto Misses Q1 Revenue Expectations Despite Surging Vehicle Sales, Stock Tanks</a>
Is China Striking Back? Biden's measures from last week struck a nerve in China as the U.S. government pushed forward a plan to further protect U.S. manufacturing jobs by imposing higher tariffs on Chinese goods.
The heavy taxes include a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum, a new 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, a 25% tariff on EV batteries and critical minerals, upsized tariffs on Chinese solar panels, raised from 25% to 50%, and a new 50% tariff on semiconductors made in China.
The move is said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38839620/bidens-new-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-are-a-clear-giveaway-to-these-two-tesla-rivals-jim-cramer-">to directly benefit U.S. carmakers Ford Motor Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>)&nbsp;and General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>)</a>.
Biden's recent measures are part of an all-out campaign to attract undecided voters by pushing protectionist measures aimed at safeguarding U.S. jobs and industrial capabilities. His GOP opponent Donald Trump, who has boasted the more protectionist, anti-China discourse in recent years, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/05/38923614/trump-vs-biden-hush-money-trial-fails-to-dampen-support-trump-maintains-1-point-lead-in-2024-ele">maintains a one-point lead, according to the most recent polls</a>.
EU Eyes Chinese EVs, Steel, More: Biden's new tariffs build on previous ones imposed by Trump during the previous White House administration. The new tariff announcement synced with another blow to Chinese international commerce coming from across the Atlantic.
The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, is halfway through a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/01/36751546/xi-jinping-representative-slams-eu-for-unfair-probe-into-ev-subsidies-mostly-targeted-at-china"> probe looking at whether the bloc should impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles</a>, following the example of the U.S. 
Last week, the EU announced several new probes aimed at finding out whether Chinese companies are benefiting from state subsidies that could allow them to market cheaper products in Europe, therefore displacing European companies.
The investigations, being carried out by the European Commission, are centered on iron or steel products coming from China, as well as wood flooring and medical devices.
Several Chinese products associated with the production of clean energy, including wind turbines, solar panels, are also being researched by the bloc, according to Reuters.&nbsp;
Now read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38912375">&#8216;Oh My Word:&#8217; Tesla FSD Wows Boris Johnson As It Drives His Family Around &#8216;Hair-Raising&#8217; LA Roads; Ex-UK Leader Reveals New Feature In Works</a>
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China Strikes Back At Biden's Tariffs With New Investigation Into Plastics Imports: 6 Stocks Caught In Crossfire

The recent North American Battery Series, hosted by J.P. Morgan, provided crucial insights into the battery industry&#8217;s future. The event featured experts and corporations from various segments of the battery value chain. Key themes emerged, shedding light on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/electric-vehicles">the industry's trajectory</a>, innovation focus, and supply chain strategies.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EV Sales Projected To Grow 20%-23% YoY In 2024</h2>
J.P. Morgan&#8217;s Global EV Battery team, led by Parsley Ong, shared an optimistic outlook for global EV sales, projecting a 20%-23% year-over-year growth in 2024.
China will lead this growth, while the U.S. and European markets will align with more muted expectations.
In this light, stocks of China-based EV makers such as Xiaomi Corp (OTCPK:XIACF) (OTCPK:XIACY), Li Auto Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>), Nio Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), VinFast Auto Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFS#NASDAQ">VFS</a>), XPeng Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPEV#NYSE">XPEV</a>), Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) and ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZK#NYSE">ZK</a>) should be on investors&#8217; radar.
Adequate battery material capacity will support up to a 25%-30% growth rate, with potential temporary price increases if demand exceeds this range. Battery volume recovery will be gradual and weighted towards the second half of the year, with prices bottoming in the second quarter.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-sellers/24/05/38882666/vinfast-auto-surges-30-in-5-days-charts-signal-strong-bullish-trend-more-than-just-a-short-squeeze">VinFast Auto Surges 30% In 5 Days: Charts Signal Strong Bullish Trend, More Than Just A Short Squeeze</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Battery Innovation Now Focused On Fast Charging &amp; Cost Reductions</h2>
Despite softer growth in EV demand outside China, the full battery value chain heavily invests in scaling and innovating.
Dr. Shashank Sripad from And Battery Aero emphasized the shift in battery innovation objectives from improving range to fast charging and cost reductions. The focus is on enhancing the battery&#8217;s performance, with significant interest in superfast charging and brand reputation.
Novel technologies, while promising, will likely remain limited to electric aviation and high-end EV markets for the next few years due to high costs and specific energy requirements.
Silicon and lithium-metal are the most mature advanced anode options, with the potential to significantly boost specific energy and fast charging capabilities.
Long-term, the industry will shift towards cathode innovation, which has remained relatively unchanged for several years. Popular companies in the cathode materials space include BASF SE (OTCQX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTCQX">BASFY</a>), 3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), POSCO Holdings Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKX#NYSE">PKX</a>), and Kureha Corp (OTCPK:KURCF).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Competitive Landscape and Cost Dynamics</h2>
The competitive battery supply chain highlights the need for cost improvements and innovation. With some plants operating at only 30% capacity, the focus is on cost competitiveness and advancements in fast charging, higher nickel-content NMC batteries, and higher silicon-content anodes.
Battery costs will fall below $100/kWh, making EVs cost-competitive with internal combustion engine vehicles globally.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Impact of Localization Trends</h2>
Recent U.S. tariffs on Chinese exports highlight the geopolitical importance of domestic battery material and cell supply chains. The U.S. prioritizes supply chain localization, particularly for lithium.
Tariffs on EVs, lithium-ion batteries, and natural graphite will increase significantly in 2024. While this could create inflationary pressures for U.S. EVs, it also presents an opportunity for U.S. battery material producers. U.S. EV makers include Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Rivian Automotive Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) should see a rise in material cost, to the extent they buck the localization trend.
The Biden Administration's move to increase tariffs underscores the need to build a domestic supply chain for EVs, potentially benefiting U.S. battery startups.
JPMorgan&#8217;s recent note highlighted the battery industry&#8217;s commitment to innovation and cost reduction amid evolving market dynamics. Focusing on fast charging, supply chain localization, and advanced anode technologies, the battery sector will experience significant growth and transformation.
Investors should monitor these trends closely, as they will shape the future of the EV and battery markets.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38889323/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-to-hold-ai-day-next-week-as-teslas-event-stands-canceled-over-copycat-concern">Chinese EV Maker XPeng To Hold AI Day Next Week As Tesla&#8217;s Event Stands Canceled Over Copycat Concerns</a>
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EV Market Set For 20-23% Growth, Led By China-Based Companies Like Nio, XPeng, Li Auto: JPMorgan

German chemicals giant&nbsp;BASF SE&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>) inked a deal with&nbsp;ENN Energy Holdings Limited&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XNGSY#OTC">XNGSY</a>) to purchase natural gas for its Zhanjiang Verbund site in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.basf.com/tw/en/media/news-releases/asia-pacific/2024/04/basf-signed-a-15-year-contract-with-enn-to-purchase-natural-gas-.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">China</a>.&nbsp;
As per the contract, ENN Energy will invest in the construction of the needed supporting natural gas gate stations and pipelines to aid a stable natural gas supply to BASF&#8217;s Zhanjiang Verbund site.
The Zhanjiang Verbund site will be BASF&#8217;s largest investment to date with around €10 billion upon completion.
The deal will also further boost the clean energy supply capabilities of Donghai Island in the Zhanjiang area.
Marko Murtonen, Senior Vice President, New Verbund Site China, BASF &amp; General Manager, BASF Integrated Site (Guangdong) Co. Ltd said, &#8220;This is a crucial milestone for BASF to secure one of the essential energies required for our Zhanjiang Verbund site. As one of the important fuels and raw material sources, natural gas plays a significant role in the energy and raw material balance for BASF&#8217;s Zhanjiang Verbund site in both its construction phase and operation phase.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&#8220;We are delighted to successfully establish this long-term partnership with ENN Energy. BASF is dedicated to building our Zhanjiang Verbund site as a role model of sustainable production. We are convinced that this partnership will not only benefit both parties but also contribute to building the Donghai Island into a world-class industrial cluster for a joint sustainable future of Zhanjiang.&#8221;
Last month, BASF broke ground on a methyl glycols (MG) plant at its Verbund site in Zhanjiang,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.basf.com/tw/en/media/news-releases/asia-pacific/2024/03/p-24-152.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">China</a>.&nbsp;
Price Action: BASFY shares are down 0.61% at $14.57 on the last check Friday.
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BASF Lights Up China's Mega-Project with ENN Energy Gas Deal

BASF SE&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bffaf#OTC">BFFAF</a>) (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>) announced that Dr. Markus Kamieth (53) will take over as Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, effective after the annual meeting on April 25, 2024.&nbsp;
Dr. Kamieth, a member of the Board of Executive Directors since 2017, will succeed Dr. Martin Bruderm&uuml;ller (62), who has been Chairman since 2018 and a Board member since&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/news-releases/2023/12/p-23-381.html" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">2006</a>.
Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BASF SE, commended Dr. Bruderm&uuml;ller for his leadership since 2018.&nbsp;
Under his direction, BASF navigated exceptionally challenging times, with significant contributions towards the company&#39;s long-term success and focus on transformation towards climate neutrality.&nbsp;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/12/36139525/german-chemical-giant-basf-takes-differentiated-approach-to-steering-businesses-for-more-profita" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">German Chemical Giant BASF Takes Differentiated Approach To Steering Businesses For More Profitability: Details</a>
Dr. Bock highlighted that Dr. Kamieth is a highly competent and experienced successor known for his excellent results in diverse roles within BASF in Germany, the United States, and Asia.&nbsp;
The company is actively reducing operating costs and cutting jobs in response to declining earnings, mainly due to Germany&#39;s energy crisis following Russia&#39;s cessation of gas supplies and weakened demand.&nbsp;
BASF announced restructuring plans earlier this month by carving out two divisions to enhance profitability.&nbsp;
This decision is part of a broader effort to adapt to economic challenges, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-20/basf-appoints-new-ceo-as-chemical-maker-seeks-efficiencies?srnd=premium-europe&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">reports</a>.
Additionally, BASF, a manufacturer of agricultural products, coatings, and plastics, plans to reduce its investments by &euro;4 billion over the next four years. This strategic move aims to manage the company&#39;s financial pressures.
The broader chemical industry in Germany is experiencing a significant downturn, as the VCI Chemical Industry Association reported.&nbsp;
The industry is in a deep recession, with expectations of a recovery not likely before 2025.&nbsp;
A survey indicated that almost 10% of respondents are permanently shutting down production processes due to the challenging industrial environment in Germany, according to Bloomberg.
This situation reflects the broader struggles within the sector and the need for companies like BASF to adapt and strategize for survival and growth in a challenging economic climate.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/08/33985586/cheniere-energy-inks-long-term-lng-deal-with-basf" style="color:#4a6ee0; background:transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt" target="_blank">Cheniere Energy Inks Long-Term LNG Deal With BASF</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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BASF's Leadership Shakeup: What's Next Under New Chairman Dr. Markus Kamieth?

BASF SE&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>) disclosed a&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/news-releases/2023/12/p-23-372.html" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">strategic move</a>&nbsp;to transform into a customer-focused organization.
The company plans to adjust its specific business models and processes further, with businesses less deeply integrated into the Verbund to gain more space to meet the needs of their particular customer industries while keeping the benefits of an integrated company.&nbsp;
The company plans to apply this approach to Battery Materials and Coatings in the Surface Technologies segment and Agricultural Solutions.
&quot;We are combining the benefits of a more differentiated approach to steering individual businesses with the advantages provided by the Verbund and our setup as an integrated company,&quot; said Dirk Elvermann, Chief Financial Officer.
BASF will continue to manage its Verbund businesses, which include the Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition &amp; Care segments.&nbsp;
New KPIs: As of January 2024, BASF plans to change the KPIs, with a stronger emphasis on EBITDA before special items and cash flows in the short to medium term.
BASF has also introduced new KPIs for its operating divisions, with targeted EBITDA before special items margins of 23% or higher in the midterm for Agricultural Solutions, 30% or higher (excluding metals) by 2030 for Battery Materials, 17% over the cycle for Verbund businesses and 15% or higher in the midterm for Coatings businesses.
Emission target:&nbsp;By 2030, BASF targets reducing its specific Scope 3.1 emissions by 15% vs. 2022 across the portfolio &ndash; from 1.57 to 1.34 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of raw material bought.
Also, the company commits to achieving net-zero Scope 3.1 emissions by 2050.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/08/33985586/cheniere-energy-inks-long-term-lng-deal-with-basf" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">Cheniere Energy Inks Long-Term LNG Deal With BASF</a>
Price Action: BASFY shares traded higher by 2.01% at $12.16 on Thursday.
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German Chemical Giant BASF Takes Differentiated Approach To Steering Businesses For More Profitability: Details

Big chemical companies had a major win on Monday, as a court of appeals reversed a decision by a lower court that would have allowed 11.8 million Ohio residents to sue for the presence of "forever chemicals"<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/23/11/35958038/this-junior-miner-recently-secured-massive-investment-from-a-big-3-automaker-a-closer-look-at"> in their blood.</a>
The lawsuit targeted 3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>), DuPont de Nemours Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>), Corteva Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTVA#NYSE">CTVA</a>), Chemours Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CC#NYSE">CC</a>), and others, aiming to hold these companies accountable for the presence of per- and polyfluorinated substances, commonly known as PFAS, in the human body.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Are ‘Forever Chemicals'?</h3>
PFAS were first developed in the mid-20th century and were quickly introduced to the market for their outstanding water-repellent and non-stick properties. DuPont was the first company to introduce the widespread use of PFAS in the development of Teflon.
PFAS can be found today in thousands of consumer products, including coated cardboard and paper wrappers for food products, water-repellent clothes, non-stick cookware as well as personal hygiene products, <a href="https://www.ewg.org/what-are-pfas-chemicals">according</a> to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit focused on toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants and corporate accountability.
PFAS can be found in the blood of most Americans, including newborn babies, as well as in the water supplies of many jurisdictions, affecting at least 19 million people in 43 states. They accumulate in the body and don't break down in the environment, which is why they're referred to as "forever chemicals."
While initially believed to be inert, PFAS have been associated with the onset of cancer, reproductive disease, reduced immunological response and more illnesses.
Several efforts have been made at the federal and state levels to limit the amount of PFAS and related chemicals that can legally be found in drinking water, yet the Environmental Protection Agency has not set legal boundaries, and no regulation can be found across the country except for a handful of states.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/11/35984290/amazons-aws-pushes-ai-boundaries-with-new-chips-and-nvidia-partnership">Amazon&#8217;s AWS Pushes AI Boundaries With New Chips And Nvidia Partnership</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Ohio Case</h3>
On Monday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from Cincinnati rejected a previous decision by a lower Ohio court, filed by plaintiff Kevin Hardwick, which attempted to make 10 companies in the chemical industry liable to lawsuits by Ohio residents on account of PFAS present in the blood, Reuters reported.
In 2020, a study commissioned by the EPA found that more than 50 water systems in Ohio contained PFAS. A separate study from 2021 by the <a href="http://epa.ohio.gov/News/Online-News-Room/News-Releases/ohio-epa-completes-testing-drinking-water-under-ohio-pfas-action-plan">Ohio Environmental Protection Agency</a> found the chemicals in more than 100 public water systems.
The plaintiff&#8217;s case was based on the fact that five chemicals in the PFAS category were found in his blood. Hardwick is a former firefighter, and PFAS are a main ingredient in Firefighting foam.
According to Circuit Judge Raymond M. Kethledge, "Hardwick does not know what companies manufactured the particular chemicals in his bloodstream; nor does he know, or indeed have much idea whether those chemicals might someday make him sick."
Additionally, a challenge to Hardwick&#8217;s case was the fact that, among the thousands of companies that manufacture PFAS, he specifically targeted only 10 companies for the lawsuit.
3M and Chemours are, nonetheless, among the top 12 producers of PFAS globally, along with AGC (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASGLY#OTC">ASGLY</a>), Arkema SA (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKAY#OTC">ARKAY</a>), Daikin Industries (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DKILY#OTC">DKILY</a>), Solvay S A (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLVYY#OTC">SLVYY</a>), Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Bayer AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAYRY#OTC">BAYRY</a>), BASF SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>), Honeywell International Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), as per ChemSec data.
"Seldom is so ambitious a case filed on so slight a basis," wrote the judge, noting that Hardwick's class action attempted to represent "every person residing in the State of Ohio—some 11.8 million people."
Hardwick's inability to prove that the compounds caused any damage to his health, as well as his inability to trace those chemicals back to the companies he accused, were enough for the court to vacate the case.
Now Read:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35984611/feds-income-shortfall-puts-pressure-on-treasury-as-interest-expenses-soar-to-1-tril"> Fed&#8217;s Income Shortfall Puts Pressure On Treasury As Interest Expenses Soar To $1 Trillion</a>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Legal

ARKAY

ASGLY

BAYRY

CTVA

DKILY

SLVYY

PFAS's Forever Problem: Ohio Lawsuit Against Chemical Companies Fizzles Out

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union initiated a strike against Detroit&#39;s three major automakers following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/09/34555080/stand-up-not-out-uaws-strike-imminent-union-president-shawn-fain-just-rattled-the-big-3s-cage">expiration of their contracts</a>.
The strike, historically unprecedented in its scale, targets Ford Motor Co&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/f#NYSE">F</a>), General Motors Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>)&nbsp;and Stellantis NV (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stla#NYSE">STLA</a>).
The core dispute revolves around a wide gap in wage and benefit expectations.
Potential Implications: As attention remains&nbsp;fixated on the Big 3, repercussions of the strike may ripple through the auto suppliers that&nbsp;provide vital components and services to the automakers.
The Biden administration is considering extending emergency financial support to the affected auto suppliers. The exact form of aid is still under discussion, with&nbsp;proposals including&nbsp;potential grants from the Labor Department for impacted workers and preferential loan terms via the Small Business Administration, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/14/biden-aid-to-auto-suppliers-uaw-strike/70852542007/">reported</a> on Friday.
As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/09/34594975/ford-ceo-farley-calls-upon-uaw-to-negotiate-a-deal-before-strike-deadline">Ford CEO Jim Farley</a> said Thursday, the automaker will have to start closing plants within &ldquo;hours or days&rdquo; of the strike. Here&rsquo;s what stocks to watch.
Supplier Overview and Recent Price Action:
Lear Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lea#NYSE">LEA</a>)
Services: Supplies seating systems and electronic systems.
Clients: Ford, GM, Stellantis
5-Day Price Action: -2.87%
Denso Corp (OTCMKTS: DNZOY)
Services: Produces advanced automotive technology, systems, and components.
Clients: Ford, GM
5-Day Price Action: +0.02%
Magna International Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mga#NYSE">MGA</a>)
Services: Offers mobility technology solutions, including body exteriors and structures.
Clients: Ford, GM
5-Day Price Action: -1.13%
BASF SE (OTCMKTS: BASFY)
Services: Provides chemicals for automotive coatings and other applications.
Clients: GM
5-Day Price Action: +2.42%
Aptiv PLC (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aptv#NYSE">APTV</a>)
Services: Delivers software capabilities, computing platforms and networking architecture.
Clients: Stellantis
5-Day Price Action: +0.84%
Adient PLC (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adnt#NYSE">ADNT</a>)
Services: Produces automotive seating systems.
Clients: GM
5-Day Price Action: -0.34%
Dana Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dan#NYSE">DAN</a>)
Services: Supplies drivetrain and e-propulsion systems.
Clients: Ford, GM
5-Day Price Action: -3.47%
Autoliv Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/alv#NYSE">ALV</a>)
Services: Develops and manufactures automotive safety systems.
Clients: Ford
5-Day Price Action: -3.29%
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nue#NYSE">NUE</a>)
Services: Provides steel and steel products.
Clients: GM
5-Day Price Action: -3.42%
Continental AG (OTCMKTS: CTTAY)
Services: Produces automotive parts, especially tire systems.
Clients: Ford
5-Day Price Action: -0.83%
While the UAW strike puts a direct spotlight on the Big 3 automakers, the potentially extended ramifications on their suppliers cannot be ignored.
The strike, which began on Friday, affected all three automakers at the GM assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri;&nbsp;the Stellantis assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio;&nbsp;and the Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/09/34589612/diamond-hands-softbank-isnt-leaving-arm-holdings-keep-as-much-as-possible-as-long-as-possible">Diamond Hands: SoftBank Isn&#39;t Leaving Arm Holdings, &#39;Keep As Much As Possible, As Long As Possible&#39;</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Mid Cap

Topics

ADNT

APTV

CTTAY

DNZOY

10 Big 3 Auto Suppliers To Watch With UAW On Strike

On CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/08/24/final-trades-cheniere-energy-bg-foods-more.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&quot; Joshua Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management named Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lyv#NYSE">LYV</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/08/34037894/fear-greed-index-moves-to-fear-zone-ahead-of-powells-speech"> as his final trade</a>.
The Beverly Hills, California-based company reported better-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/07/33430228/live-nation-entertainment-q2-eps-1-02-beats-0-63-estimate-sales-5-63b-beat-4-95b-estimate">second-quarter financial results</a>.
And earlier this month, &quot;Mad Money&quot; host Jim Cramer recommended holding Live Nation because it&#39;s &quot;worth a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/23/08/33540574/jim-cramer-hold-this-entertainment-stock-its-worth-a-tremendous-amount-of-money">tremendous amount of money</a>.&quot;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/08/34039589/us-stocks-eye-strong-open-even-despite-powell-jitters-this-analyst-says-market-moves-indicate-inves">US Stocks Eye Strong Open Despite Powell Jitters</a>
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lng#NYSE">LNG</a>), which is a liquid natural gas play. Their volume of exports are increasing, he added.
Cheniere Energy disclosed that its subsidiary, Cheniere Marketing, LLC penned a long-term liquefied natural gas sale and purchase agreement with BASF SE (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>).
Jenny Harrington of Gilman Hill Asset Management said B&amp;G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bgs#NYSE">BGS</a>) has a 6.25% yield, is paying down debt and also operating well.
B&amp;G Foods posted better-than-expected results for the second quarter.
Don&rsquo;t forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> 
Price Action: B&amp;G Foods shares gained 0.4% to settle at $12.15, while Cheniere Energy shares fell 3.3% to close at $160.97 on Thursday. Live Nation Entertainment shares slipped 0.5% to close at $83.70 on Thursday.
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/23/08/34038296/intuit-hibbett-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday"> Intuit, Hibbett And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday </a>

Small Cap

Live Nation Entertainment, B&G Foods And This Energy Stock: CNBC's 'Final Trades'

Cheniere Energy Inc&nbsp;(AMEX: LNG) disclosed that its subsidiary, Cheniere Marketing, LLC&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/08/b33981607/cheniere-and-basf-sign-long-term-lng-sale-and-purchase-agreement" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">penned a long-term liquefied natural gas sale and purchase agreement</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;BASF&nbsp;SE&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>).
Per the terms, BASF will purchase up to 0.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas on a free-on-board (FOB) basis from Cheniere Marketing.
The purchase price is indexed to the Henry Hub price plus a fixed liquefaction fee.&nbsp;
The liquefied natural gas deliveries will start in mid-2026.&nbsp;
Subject to a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) concerning the first train of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Expansion Project in Louisiana, the deliveries will increase to around 0.8 mtpa upon the start of commercial operations of Train Seven.&nbsp;
The term of the sale and purchase agreement will extend through 2043.
&quot;This SPA demonstrates the critical role US natural gas plays in providing long-term secure, sustainable and affordable energy for Europe. With this agreement, we are supporting the objectives of one of Europe&#39;s key industrial end-use consumers to ensure stability of its supply chain,&quot; said Anatol Feygin, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.&nbsp;
In June, Cheniere Marketing inked a long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement with&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/06/33007943/cheniere-energy-pens-new-20-year-deal-with-enn-natural-gas" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">ENN LNG (Singapore) Pte. Ltd</a>.
Earlier this month, LNG reported Q2 EPS of $5.61, beating the consensus of $2.37 and sales of $4.10 billion, missing a&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/08/b33544508/cheniere-reports-second-quarter-2023-results-and-raises-2023-financial-guidance" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">$5.2 billion estimate</a>.&nbsp;
As of June 30, 2023, total consolidated available liquidity stood at around $12.7 billion.
Price Action: LNG shares are trading higher by 1.84% at $167.06 on the last check Tuesday.

Cheniere Energy Inks Long-Term LNG Deal With BASF

Germany could be moving forward with a plan to limit exports of key chemicals to China <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31515648/are-us-sanctions-on-china-working-china-tech-etfs-paint-a-picture">used in the manufacturing of semiconductors.</a>
German leaders are taking lessons from recent history, as the country continues to face the consequences of an over-reliance on Russian gas imports.
People familiar with the matter <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-27/germany-in-talks-to-limit-the-export-of-chip-chemicals-to-china?srnd=premium-europe&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">told</a> Bloomberg that the move is part of a package proposed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an effort to limit the country's dependence on Chinese commerce, as CCP leader Xi Jinping <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31430875/putin-agrees-to-discuss-dear-friend-xi-jinpings-ukraine-plans-over-kremlin-dinner">continues to show friendliness to Russia's Vladimir Putin.</a>
Parallel to the shadow of Russia's expansion efforts looming over Europe is an increasingly explicit race between the U.S. and China to lead the supply of semiconductors, which have become some of the most ubiquitous pieces of technology of present times, making them a key element in everything from consumer electronics to military instruments.
Merck KGaA and BASF SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BASFY#OTC">BASFY</a>), two German giants of the chemical industry, with a combined market value of over €111 billion ($122 billion), produce key elements used in the semiconductor supply chain, which has already experienced disruptions in recent years due to difficulties in global transportation and sourcing of raw materials.
Merck KGaA's website states that "almost every chip in the world uses one of [its] products or services," as the company also provides very specialized solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, like cleaning, etching, photolithograpy, chemical mechanical planarization, and wet deposition.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31299672/us-india-ink-semiconductor-deal-to-counter-chinas-growing-tech-dominance-under-xi-jinping">US-India Ink Semiconductor Deal To Counter China&#8217;s Growing Tech Dominance Under Xi Jinping</a>
The German government could bar the companies from exporting semiconductor products and services to China by adding those products to the country&#8217;s dual-use list, which imposes export controls on civilian-use items that are also liable to be used in military operations, according to Bloomberg.
This would further stall China's development of an advanced semiconductor industry, which today continues to lag behind Taiwan's and Korea's. China has been investing heavily in developing its own advanced chip making capabilities, including a $143 billion investment plan announced late last year.
If Germany were to only supply to the U.S. and its allies, the move could help boost the U.S. government's plan to onshore chip manufacturing, part of the CHIPS Act that President Joe Biden signed in 2022. The plan includes massive subsidies for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31922901/semiconductor-sector-mostly-moves-to-the-green-despite-tsmcs-pessimistic-guidance-find-out-why">the development of two plants in Arizona by Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd </a>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>), which are expected to cost about $40 billion to build.
Based on the news, BASF SE was down 3.8% at the time of publication on Thursday.
ETFs in the semiconductor sector were moving slightly higher.
<ul>
<li>VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) was up 0.7%.</li>
<li>BlackRock&#8217;s iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) was up 0.2%</li>
<li>Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXL#NYSE">SOXL</a>) was up 0.45%</li>
</ul>
Other major stocks in the semiconductor sector experienced diverse trends.
<ul>
<li>Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>) was up 1%.</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) was up 1%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) was down 0.1% .</li>
<li>Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) was up 2.1%</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>TSMC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) was up 1.7%</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) almost didn't experience any change.</li>
</ul>
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31930916/taiwan-reportedly-urges-us-to-tone-down-chip-rhetoric-amid-china-invasion-fears">Taiwan Reportedly Urges US To Tone Down Chip Rhetoric Amid China Invasion Fears</a>

AVGO

QCOM

SOXL

Germany's Possible Export Ban On Semiconductor Chemicals To China: What It Means For The U.S

The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) declined by 9.62% in September &ndash; its largest decline in 2022. The Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/oneq#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA: DIA) mimicked this downward trend, showing monthly decreases in September of 10.54% and 8.98%, respectively.
OTC Markets Group Inc.&rsquo;s (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/otcm#OTCQX">OTCM</a>) regulated markets experienced a slight increase in total monthly volume, recording $39.5 billion in September compared to $39.3 billion in August.&nbsp;
<h3>A Dive Into The OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s Most-Active List</h3>
The OTCQX Best Market recorded $7.3 billion in trading volume in September, a slight increase over the $6.9 billion traded in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/penny-stocks/22/09/28827948/a-quick-look-at-the-otc-markets-most-active-securities-in-august-heres-what-you-need-to-know">August</a>.
Despite Ethereum&rsquo;s successful completion of the Merge, trading volume in Grayscale Ethereum Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ethe#OTCQX">ETHE</a>) waned in September, dropping the security to third on the OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s Most Active list. Steadfast performers Roche Holding AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rhhby#OTCQX">RHHBY</a>) and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>) slotted into first and second place, respectively.&nbsp;
Additionally, OTCQX&rsquo;s top 10 most-active securities experienced a slight reshuffle in September, welcoming previously familiar faces in Danone (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/danoy#OTCQX">DANOY</a>) and in Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dtegy#OTCQX">DTEGY</a>) and Akzo Nobel N.V. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/akzoy#OTCQX">AKZOY</a>). The three newcomers displace BASF SE (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTCQX">BASFY</a>), Anglo American PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ngloy#OTCQX">NGLOY</a>) and Imperial Brands PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/imbby#OTCQX">IMBBY</a>) in the top 10 most-active securities list.&nbsp;
Other notable movers:
<ul>
<li>J Sainsbury PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jsaiy#OTCQX">JSAIY</a>) claimed the 28th spot on the OTCQX&rsquo;s Most Active list, experiencing a 203% increase in trading volume.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adrny#OTCQX">ADRNY</a>) claimed the 15th spot on the OTCQX&rsquo;s Most Active list, experiencing a 127% increase in trading volume.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h3>The OTCQB Venture Market Experiences A Reshuffle</h3>
The OTCQB Venture Market recorded $642.6 million in trading volume in September, an increase from both July&rsquo;s $463 million and August&rsquo;s $601 million trading volume figures.
Like the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market&rsquo;s top 10 Most Active list for the month saw new entries. Specifically, Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tomdf#OTCQB">TOMDF</a>) and American Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/liacf#OTCQB">LIACF</a>) made way for Global Tech Industries Group Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gtii#OTCQB">GTII</a>) and Know Labs Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/knwn#OTCQB">KNWN</a>).
Similar to August, the OTCQB Venture Market witnessed a number of novelties in September. In addition to two new companies on the top 10 Most Active List, the constituents of the list experienced a shakeup. Biotechnology company CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cydy#OTCQB">CYDY</a>), for example, dropped from most traded to seventh-most traded security, while newcomer Global Tech Industries took a giant leap all the way to first place. Lithium miner Lake Resources N.L. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/llkkf#OTCQB">LLKKF</a>) experienced a similar jump, rising to second place from eighth place last month.&nbsp;
Other notable movers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Silver Mountain Resources Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/agmrf#OTCQB">AGMRF</a>) climbed to 11th place on the Most Active list and recorded an $8.9 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Know Labs Inc. climbed to 10th place on the Most Active list for the OTCQB Venture Market and recorded a $7.7 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>BioLargo Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blgo#OTCQB">BLGO</a>) climbed to 23rd place on the Most Active list and recorded a $2.3 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
The OTCQX And OTCQB Top 10
Below are the top 10 most actively traded securities on the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market in September.&nbsp;
OTCQX Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
September Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Roche Holding Ltd.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/RHHBY/quote">RHHBY</a>
</td>
<td>
$1,707,901,205
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GBTC/quote">GBTC</a>
</td>
<td>
$785,442,416
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETH)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ETHE/quote">ETHE</a>
</td>
<td>
$685,952,488
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
adidas AG
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ADDYY/quote">ADDYY</a>
</td>
<td>
$317,175,529
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
BNP Paribas
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BNPQY/quote">BNPQY</a>
</td>
<td>
$295,090,950
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Deutsche Telekom AG
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DTEGY/quote">DTEGY</a>
</td>
<td>
$268,213,144
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Computer Services Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CSVI/quote">CSVI</a>
</td>
<td>
$216,708,362
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Akzo Nobel N.V.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/AKZOY/quote">AKZOY</a>
</td>
<td>
$167,395,328
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Danone
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DANOY/quote">DANOY</a>
</td>
<td>
$167,340,096
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Infineon Technologies AG&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/IFNNY/quote">IFNNY</a>
</td>
<td>
$158,503,975
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
OTCQB Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
September Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Global Tech Industries Group Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GTII/quote">GTII</a>
</td>
<td>
$119,304,739
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Lake Resources N.L.&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LLKKF/quote">LLKKF</a>
</td>
<td>
$24,528,742
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Stemtech Corp.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/STEK/quote">STEK</a>
</td>
<td>
$22,459,406
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NWBO/quote">NWBO</a>
</td>
<td>
$21,313,034
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
American Battery Technology Co.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ABML/quote">ABML</a>
</td>
<td>
$16,729,817
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Fannie Mae&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FNMA/quote">FNMA</a>
</td>
<td>
$15,086,158
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
CytoDyn Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CYDY/quote">CYDY</a>
</td>
<td>
$14,135,987
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Netlist Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NLST/quote">NLST</a>
</td>
<td>
$13,413,921
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Freddie Mac&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FMCC/quote">FMCC</a>
</td>
<td>
$12,995,635
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Know Labs Inc.&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/KNWN/quote">KNWN</a>
</td>
<td>
$10,652,167
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Most Active On The OTC Markets In September – A Look Back As October Comes To A Close

<ul>
<li>Stellantis NV&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stla#NYSE">STLA</a>) owned&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.media.stellantis.com/em-en/citroen/press/citroen-oli-all-e-radical-responsible-and-optimistic-approach-initiates-audacious-future-intentions-for-the-brand" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">French automobile company, Citreon, has unveiled</a>&nbsp;a new electric vehicle concept, Oli, made from recycled materials.</li>
<li>It is expected to weigh 1000kg and deliver a 400km range. Limiting top speed to 110km/h to maximize efficiency makes consumption of 10kWh/100km possible.</li>
<li>Customers can expect to see many of the concepts and innovations showcased in oli flowing through to Citro&euml;n&#39;s future electric family vehicles.</li>
<li>Also Read:<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/09/29027383/stellantis-uber-eye-frances-ev-market" style="background-image:initial; background-position:initial; background-size:initial; background-repeat:initial; background-attachment:initial; background-origin:initial; background-clip:initial; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; color:#4a6ee0" target="_blank">&nbsp;Stellantis, Uber Ramp Up Focus On France&#39;s EV Market</a></li>
<li>Oli&#39;s bonnet, roof, and rear panels are made from recycled corrugated cardboard formed into a honeycomb sandwich structure between fiberglass reinforcing panels, co-created with German chemical company&nbsp;BASF SE&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>).</li>
<li>They are coated in Elastoflex Polyurethane resin covered in a protective layer of tough, textured Elastocoat, which is often used on parking decks or loading ramps, and painted with waterborne BASF R-M Agilis paint.</li>
<li>The weight is reduced by 50% compared to an equivalent steel roof construction without compromising durability and load-bearing capacity.</li>
<li>Price Action:&nbsp;STLA shares are trading lower by 5.21% at $11.93 on the last check Thursday.</li>
<li>Photo Via Company</li>
</ul>

A Car Made Out Of Cardboard? French Car Maker Citreon Reveals New Concept

While July gave markets around the world a breather, August reestablished 2022&rsquo;s choppy financial conditions.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) declined by 4.08% in August, its fifth month of decline in 2022. The Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/oneq#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA: DIA) mirrored this downward trend, showing monthly decreases of 4.59% and 3.96%, respectively, in August.
Given the possibility &mdash; some think <a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/interest-rate">probability</a> &mdash; that the Federal Reserve will hike rates yet again in September, and the fact that global economies are <a href="https://blogs.imf.org/2022/07/26/global-economic-growth-slows-amid-gloomy-and-more-uncertain-outlook/#:~:text=Inflation%20this%20year%20is%20anticipated,projected%20to%20remain%20elevated%20longer.">experiencing</a> growing inflationary pressures, investor sentiment appears to have altered course in August when compared to July. While some warn that the U.S. may be heading into a <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/long-moderate-and-painful-what-next-us-recession-may-look-like-1.1787303">prolonged</a> recession, others report that recent macroeconomic data &mdash; like a 3.7% <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/economy-politics/calendar">unemployment</a> rate &mdash; do not support this argument.
Even as ambiguity surrounds the market&rsquo;s future movements, OTC Markets Group Inc.&rsquo;s (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/otcm#OTCQX">OTCM</a>) regulated markets experienced a slight increase in total monthly volume in August, recording $39.3 billion in trades for the month compared to $37.3 billion in July. Additionally, two Ethereum-based securities found themselves in improved positions on the OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s Most Active list.&nbsp;
Finally, a number of new securities have emerged on the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market, which could potentially be of interest to investors despite the relatively bearish sentiment experienced throughout the month and year so far. Both the OTCQX Best Market and the OTCQB Venture Market maintained a significant international presence in August, with over half of the top most-traded securities across both markets being composed of international operators.
<h3>A Dive Into The OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s Most-Active List</h3>
The OTCQX Best Market recorded $7 billion in trades in August, a figure that has been relatively unchanged since July.&nbsp;
Grayscale Ethereum Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ethe#OTCQX">ETHE</a>) rose to the top of OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s most-active list, while steadfast performers Roche Holding AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rhhby#OTCQX">RHHBY</a>) and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>) slotted in as the second and third most-traded securities.&nbsp;
Additionally, OTCQX&rsquo;s top 10 most-active securities experienced a slight reshuffle in August, welcoming Imperial Brands PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/imbby#OTCQX">IMBBY</a>), a multinational tobacco company, and Computer Services Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csvi#OTCQX">CSVI</a>). The two displace Danone S.A. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/danoy#OTCQX">DANOY</a>) and Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/zurvy#OTCQX">ZURVY</a>), two usuals in the OTCQX&rsquo;s Top 10 Most Active list.
Despite poor market conditions around the globe, the OTCQX Best Market has managed to maintain its hold on a number of industries, as demonstrated by the constituents of its Most Active list. Below are some of the companies on the list along with their relevant specialties:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Infineon Technologies AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ifnny#OTCQX">IFNNY</a>): Semiconductor solutions.</li>
<li>BASF SE (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTCQX">BASFY</a>) (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bffaf#OTCQX">BFFAF</a>): Chemical manufacturing.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>): Digital currency investment product</li>
<li>Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tcnnf#OTCQX">TCNNF</a>): Cannabis sales and cultivation.</li>
<li>Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/heiny#OTCQX">HEINY</a>): Alcohol manufacturing and distribution.</li>
</ul>
Of the 30 securities on the Most Active list, 22 were international operators. Some of these were new faces like the United Kingdom&rsquo;s Imperial Brands and Canada&rsquo;s Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/recaf#OTCQX">RECAF</a>), while some regulars like Germany&rsquo;s Adidas AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/addyy#OTCQX">ADDYY</a>) and the United Kingdom&rsquo;s Anglo American PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ngloy#OTCQX">NGLOY</a>) were also present.
Other notable volume movers:
<ul>
<li>Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/etcg#OTCQX">ETCG</a>) claimed the 23rd spot on the OTCQX&rsquo;s Most Active list, experiencing a 112% increase in trading volume.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The OTCQB Venture Market Experiences A Reshuffle In August</h3>
The OTCQB Venture Market recorded $601 million in trades in August, an increase from July&rsquo;s $463 million figure.
Like the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market&rsquo;s Top 10 Most Active list saw two new entries. Specifically, American Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/liacf#OTCQB">LIACF</a>) and Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tomdf#OTCQB">TOMDF</a>) made their way into the top 10.
Similar to July, the OTCQB Venture Market witnessed a number of novelties in August. In addition to two new companies on the Top 10 Most Active list, the second, third and fourth most-active securities also changed. Computer memory subsystems specialist Netlist Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nlst#OTCQB">NLST</a>), mortgage financiers Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac) (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fmcc#OTCQB">FMCC</a>), and Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fnma#OTCQB">FNMA</a>) made way for Stemtech Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stek#OTCQB">STEK</a>), Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nwbo#OTCQB">NWBO</a>) and American Battery Technology Co. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/abml#OTCQB">ABML</a>).&nbsp;
Thirteen international securities landed a spot on the OTCQB Venture Market&rsquo;s Most Active list. Of these, four are Australian, six are Canadian, one is Israeli, one is South African and one is from Hong Kong.&nbsp;
Other notable movers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Snowline Gold Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/snwgf#OTCQB">SNWGF</a>) climbed to 12th place on the Most Active list and recorded an $8.6 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
<li>Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hgtxu#OTCQB">HGTXU</a>) climbed to 13th place in the Most Active list and recorded an $8.5 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
<li>DSG Global Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dsgt#OTCQB">DSGT</a>) climbed to 17th place on the Most Active list and recorded a $5.5 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
</ul>
The OTCQX And OTCQB Top 10
Below are the top 10 most actively traded securities on the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market in August.&nbsp;
OTCQX Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
August Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETH)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ETHE/quote">ETHE</a>
</td>
<td>
$1,114,134,926
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Roche Holding Ltd.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/RHHBY/quote">RHHBY</a>
</td>
<td>
$935,026,316
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GBTC/quote">GBTC</a>
</td>
<td>
$921,411,988
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
adidas AG
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ADDYY/quote">ADDYY</a>
</td>
<td>
$302,833,956
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Computer Services Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CSVI/quote">CSVI</a>
</td>
<td>
$292,875,479
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
BNP Paribas
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BNPQY/quote">BNPQY</a>
</td>
<td>
$291,431,930
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Anglo American plc
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NGLOY/quote">NGLOY</a>
</td>
<td>
$195,164,216
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Infineon Technologies AG&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/IFNNY/quote">IFNNY</a>
</td>
<td>
$168,045,608
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Imperial Brands PLC
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/IMBBY/quote">IMBBY</a>
</td>
<td>
$167,522,020
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
BASF SE
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BASFY/quote">BASFY</a>
</td>
<td>
$153,897,600
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
OTCQB Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
August Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
CytoDyn Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CYDY/quote">CYDY</a>
</td>
<td>
$64,363,191
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Stemtech Corp.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/STEK/quote">STEK</a>
</td>
<td>
$49,237,636
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NWBO/quote">NWBO</a>
</td>
<td>
$25,610,301
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
American Battery Technology Co.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ABML/quote">ABML</a>
</td>
<td>
$21,298,838
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Netlist Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NLST/quote">NLST</a>
</td>
<td>
$17,770,131
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Fannie Mae&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FNMA/quote">FNMA</a>
</td>
<td>
$17,430,475
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Lake Resources N.L.&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LLKKF/quote">LLKKF</a>
</td>
<td>
$14,688,357
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
American Lithium Corp.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LIACF/quote">LIACF</a>
</td>
<td>
$14,031,588
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Freddie Mac&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FMCC/quote">FMCC</a>
</td>
<td>
$13,769,993
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Todos Medical Ltd.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TOMDF/quote">TOMDF</a>
</td>
<td>
$13,610,935
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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A Quick Look At The OTC Markets' Most-Active Securities In August - Here's What You Need to Know

July gave world markets a breather from 2022&rsquo;s poor financial conditions.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) increased 9.21% in July, its highest monthly price ascension since November 2020. The Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/oneq#NASDAQ">ONEQ</a>) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEARCA: DIA) displayed similar optimism, showing monthly increases of 12.51% and 6.78%, respectively, in July.
The market has reacted favorably to some recent developments, including The Federal Reserve&rsquo;s decision to maintain rather than increase interest rates as well as the release of this <a href="https://www.bls.gov/">report</a>, which reveals that 528,000 jobs have been added to the economy. Some expert traders, however, remain skeptical of July&rsquo;s bullish movement, noting the similarity of this rally to the one experienced in 2008. The latter was followed by a second wave of downward movement that stretched over months.
As ambiguity simmers surrounding market sentiment, OTC Markets Group Inc.&rsquo;s (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/otcm#OTCQX">OTCM</a>) regulated markets experienced a slight decrease in total monthly volume, recording $37.3 billion in July compared to $45.2 billion in June.
Despite the decrease, a number of new securities have emerged onto the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market, possibly demonstrating the ability to attract interest in a wide range of industries. Both the OTCQX Best Market and the OTCQB Venture Market maintained a significant international presence, with over half of the top most-traded securities across both markets composed of international operators.
<h3>A Dive Into The OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s Most-Active List</h3>
The OTCQX Best Market recorded $7 billion in trading volume in July, a decrease from June&rsquo;s $9 billion.
Weathering the storm of decreasing volume are the OTCQX Best Market&rsquo;s steadfast volume performers Roche Holding AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rhhby#OTCQX">RHHBY</a>), Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>) and Grayscale Ethereum Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ethe#OTCQX">ETHE</a>). In July, Roche Holding reaped the most trading volume as opposed to Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which took that spot in June.
Additionally, OTCQX&rsquo;s top 10 most-active securities experienced a slight reshuffle in July, welcoming BASF SE (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTCQX">BASFY</a>) and Zurich Insurance Group Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/zurvy#OTCQX">ZURVY</a>) in place of Experian plc (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/expgy#OTCQX">EXPGY</a>) and Tesco PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tscdy#OTCQX">TSCDY</a>).
Despite decreasing month-on-month volume figures, the OTCQX Best Market has managed to maintain its hold on a number of industries, as demonstrated by the constituents of its Most Active list. Below are some of the companies and their relevant specialties:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Danone S.A. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/danoy#OTCQX">DANOY</a>): Healthcare.</li>
<li>Infineon Technologies AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ifnny#OTCQX">IFNNY</a>): Semiconductor solutions.</li>
<li>BASF SE (OTCQX: BASFY; BFFAF): Chemical manufacturing.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTCQX">GBTC</a>): Cryptocurrency mining.</li>
<li>Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tcnnf#OTCQX">TCNNF</a>): Cannabis sales and cultivation.</li>
<li>Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/heiny#OTCQX">HEINY</a>): Alcohol manufacturing and distribution.</li>
</ul>
Similar to June, 23 of the 30 Most Active constituents on the OTCQX Best Market were international operators. Some of these included new faces like Switzerland&rsquo;s Zurich Insurance Group and Germany&#39;s BASF SE, but regulars like Germany&rsquo;s Adidas AG (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/addyy#OTCQX">ADDYY</a>) and the United Kingdom&rsquo;s Anglo American PLC (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ngloy#OTCQX">NGLOY</a>) were also present.
Other notable movers:
<ul>
<li>Ayr Wellness Inc. (OTCQX: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ayrwf#OTCQX">AYRWF</a>) claimed the No. 30 spot on the OTCQX&rsquo;s list of most-traded securities, experiencing a 150% change in trading volume from last month.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The OTCQB Venture Market Experiences A Reshuffle In July</h3>
The OTCQB Venture Market recorded $463 million in trading volume in July, a decline from June&rsquo;s $603 million figure.
July introduced several new entities to the OTCQB&rsquo;s Top 10 Most Active list. Stem-cell specialist Stemtech Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stek#OTCQB">STEK</a>) and mining operator Brazil Minerals Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmix#OTCQB">BMIX</a>) were among the new additions.
Similar to June, the OTCQB Venture Market witnessed a number of novelties in July. In addition to three new companies, all three of the most-traded securities in the market changed. June&rsquo;s OTCQB Most Active leaders Freddie Mac (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fmcc#OTCQB">FMCC</a>) and Lake Resources (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/llkkf#OTCQB">LLKKF</a>) made way for biotech operator CytoDyn Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cydy#OTCQB">CYDY</a>) and computer memory subsystems specialist Netlist Inc. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nlst#OTCQB">NLST</a>).
Thirteen international securities landed a spot on the OTCQB Venture Market&rsquo;s Most Active list. Of these 13, three are Australian, eight are Canadian, one is British and one is from Hong Kong.
Other notable movers:
<ul>
<li>Snowline Gold Corp. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/snwgf#OTCQB">SNWGF</a>) climbed to 15th place in the Most Active list and recorded a $3.8 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.&nbsp;</li>
<li>88 Energy Ltd. (OTCQB: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eeenf#OTCQB">EEENF</a>) climbed to 13th place in the Most Active list and recorded a $3.5 million rise in trading volume compared to last month.</li>
</ul>
The OTCQX And OTCQB Top 10
Below are the top 10 most actively traded securities on the OTCQX Best Market and OTCQB Venture Market in July.&nbsp;
OTCQX Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
July Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Roche Holding Ltd.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/RHHBY/quote">RHHBY</a>
</td>
<td>
$1,174,038,337
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (BTC)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GBTC/quote">GBTC</a>
</td>
<td>
$1,171,194,870
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETH)
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ETHE/quote">ETHE</a>
</td>
<td>
$824,696,740
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
adidas AG
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ADDYY/quote">ADDYY</a>
</td>
<td>
$242,545,358
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Danone
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DANOY/quote">DANOY</a>
</td>
<td>
$236,789,470
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
BNP Paribas
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BNPQY/quote">BNPQY</a>
</td>
<td>
$221,832,673
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Infineon Technologies AG&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/IFNNY/quote">IFNNY</a>
</td>
<td>
$155,256,947
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
BASF SE
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BASFY/quote">BASFY</a>
</td>
<td>
$133,635,750
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Anglo American plc
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NGLOY/quote">NGLOY</a>
</td>
<td>
$129,304,530
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Zurich Insurance Group Ltd.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ZURVY/quote">ZURVY</a>
</td>
<td>
$125,075,924
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
OTCQB Top 10:&nbsp;
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Company Name
</td>
<td>
Symbol
</td>
<td>
July Dollar Volume
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
CytoDyn Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CYDY/quote">CYDY</a>
</td>
<td>
$37,078,914
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Netlist Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NLST/quote">NLST</a>
</td>
<td>
$34,113,360
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Freddie Mac&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FMCC/quote">FMCC</a>
</td>
<td>
$30,241,752
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Fannie Mae&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FNMA/quote">FNMA</a>
</td>
<td>
$27,396,005
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Northwest Biotherapeutics Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NWBO/quote">NWBO</a>
</td>
<td>
$22,674,446
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
American Battery Technology Co.
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ABML/quote">ABML</a>
</td>
<td>
$16,153,987
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Humbl Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/HMBL/quote">HMBL</a>
</td>
<td>
$14,817,569
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Stemtech Corp.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/STEK/quote">STEK</a>
</td>
<td>
$12,940,312
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Lake Resources N.L.&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LLKKF/quote">LLKKF</a>
</td>
<td>
$11,131,503
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Brazil Minerals Inc.
</td>
<td>
<a href="https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BMIX/quote">BMIX</a>
</td>
<td>
$7,447,947
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice.
Featured photo by Annie Spratt on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/hWJsOnaWTqs">Unsplash</a>

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OTC Markets' Most Active Securities Sees A Shake-up In July

The month of July saw $37.3 billion in trading volume for stocks that trade on the OTCQK and OTCQB. While some of the stocks that trade over-the-counter are considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/best-penny-stocks">penny stocks</a> based on their share price, they are also some of the largest companies in the world and represent a diverse list of sectors.
The total in July was down from $45.2 million in June, as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/07/27971151/these-were-the-most-traded-otc-stocks-in-june-where-do-danone-adidas-and-grayscale-bitcoin">reported </a>by Benzinga.
Here were the top 10 traded stocks in July on the OTC by trading volume:
1. Roche Holdings&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rhhby#OTC">RHHBY</a>)
Volume: $1.17 billion
June Rank: #2
52-Week Price Range: $37.88 to $53.86
Current Price: $41.23
What the Company Does: One of the largest biotechnology companies in the world, Roche operates across several lines of the healthcare industry including pharmaceutical products, oncology therapies, diagnostics and oncology products. The Swiss company has a market capitalization of more than&nbsp;$250 billion.
2. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbtc#OTC">GBTC</a>)
Volume: $1.17 billion
June Rank: #1
52-Week Price Range: $11.92 to $55.05
Current Price: $14.21
What the Company Does: Launched in 2013, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust offers investors a way to gain exposure to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) without the challenges of buying and storing the cryptocurrency.
3. Grayscale Ethereum Trust (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ethe#OTC">ETHE</a>)
Volume: $824.7 million
June Rank: #3
52-Week Price Range: $6.85 to $47.40
Current Price: $12.14
What the Company Does: Launched in 2017, the Grayscale Ethereum Trust was one of the first securities that were solely invested in the price of Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>). Investors get exposure to Ethereum as a security and pay a premium to not have to worry about buying and keeping the cryptocurrency safe on their own.
4. Adidas AG (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/addyy#OTC">ADDYY</a>)
Volume: $242.5 million
June Rank: #6
52-Week Price Range: $76.70 to $199.44
Current Price: $87.61
What the Company Does: Competing with Nike Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>) and Under Armour (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ua#NYSE">UA</a>)(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/uaa#NYSE">UAA</a>), Adidas is one of the largest apparel and footwear companies in the world. The company has grown its exposure to new audiences recently with its Kanye West partnership for the Yeezy brand and a partnership with NFT collections Bored Ape Yacht Club and PUNKS Comics. Adidas moved up two places in the top 10&nbsp;in July and saw its share price rise.
5. Danone (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/danoy#OTC">DANOY</a>)
Volume: $236.8 million
June Rank: #4
52-Week Price Range: $10.21 to $15.38
Current Price: $10.99
What the Company Does: Danone is well known as one of the largest dairy and infant nutrition companies in the world. The company&rsquo;s three operating segments are dairy and plant-based products, specialized nutrition and bottled water.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-buy-otc-stocks">How To Buy OTC Stocks</a>
6. BNP Paribas (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bnpqy#OTC">BNPQY</a>)
Volume: $221.8 million
June Rank: #5
52-Week Price Range: $20.36 to $38.48
Current Price: $25.08
What the Company Does: BNP Paribas is one of the largest banks in France and has operations in around 80 countries around the world.
7. Infineon Technologies (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ifnny#OTC">IFNNY</a>)
Volume: $155.3 million
June Rank: #7
52-Week Price Range: $21.49 to $49.99
Current Price: $28.42
What the Company Does: European chipmaker Infineon Technologies was spun off of Siemens AG (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/siegy#OTC">SIEGY</a>) in 2000. The company produces automotive semiconductors used for safety and powertrain segments of the auto industry. The stock held steady in seventh place and saw its share price rise in July.
8. BASF SE (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/basfy#OTC">BASFY</a>)
Volume: $133.6 million
June Rank: Not in top 10
52-Week Price Range: $9.99 to $20.50
Current Price: $11.30
What the Company Does: One of two newcomers to the top 10&nbsp;volume leaders in July, BASF is the world&rsquo;s largest chemical company. The company is a large player in specialty chemicals and agricultural crop protection.
9. Anglo American PLC (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ngloy#OTC">NGLOY</a>)
Volume: $129.3 million
June Rank: #9
52-Week Price Range: $14.76 to $27.80
Current Price: $17.54
What the Company Does: Anglo American is one of the largest mining companies operating commodities such as copper, coal, iron ore and platinum. The company is one of the largest platinum miners in the world and also among the largest palladium miners. Anglo also owns 85% of De Beers, one of the largest diamond suppliers in the world.
10. Zurich Insurance Group (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/zurvy#OTC">ZURVY</a>)
Volume: $125.1 million
June Rank: Not in top 10
52-Week Price Range: $41.20 to $49.95
Current Price: $43.84
What the Company Does: Insurance company Zurich operates with three main segments of general insurance, life insurance and Farmers Management Services.
For the OTCQB, these were the five stocks with the most volume in July:
CytoDyn Inc (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cydy#OTC">CYDY</a>): $37.1 million
Netlist, Inc. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nlst#OTC">NLST</a>): $34.1 million
Freddie Mac (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fmcc#OTC">FMCC</a>): $30.2 million
Fannie Mae (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fnma#OTC">FNMA</a>) $27.4 million
Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nwbo#OTC">NWBO</a>): $22.7 billion
Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/aleksandrsmuiznieks">Aleksandrs Muiznieks</a>&nbsp;via Shutterstock
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