London, April 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (Benchmark Minerals) is delighted to announce that José Hofer has joined from SQM, one of the world’s foremost lithium producers, and has been appointed Senior Analyst – Forecasting.
José was previously Business Intelligence Manager for SQM, based in Santiago, Chile.
At Benchmark Minerals, José will be responsible for our growing portfolio of quarterly forecasting subscriptions that presently include lithium, cobalt and graphite and will soon include a wider spread of critical electric vehicle (EV) and battery raw materials including nickel, copper, and manganese.
José Hofer said:
“Benchmark has taken the lead in bringing people with industry experience to their team and I look forward to being a part of this.”
“I have spent years working on lithium ion battery research and market intelligence at SQM and the Critical Materials Institute in Chile. I feel very passionate about it and I am up to the challenge.”
“It was clear from working within the industry that Benchmark Minerals is a special company in this space with outstanding people and I am truly positive about its eminent role along the entire electric vehicle supply chain in the coming years.”
Andy Leyland, Head of Benchmark Minerals’ Forecast & Consultancy Division, said:
“José brings leading industry experience to Benchmark Minerals at a time when the lithium sector is about to face its biggest challenge yet: financing and bringing online over 1.2m tonnes LCE of consistent battery-grade material over the coming decade.”
“This is another step in the growth of our Forecast & Consultancy Division as the team continue to deliver a range of lenders market reports, strategic workshops and input to feasibility studies, not just in raw materials, but along the entire lithium ion to electric vehicle supply chain.”
Simon Moores, Managing Director, commented:
“Having someone of the calibre of José eager to join the Benchmark Team is a sign of how far we have come in four years."
“Our world-class, specialist focus on the lithium ion to EV supply chain back in 2014 was deemed too niche for the major publishers. Now, the entire commodity price data and research industry is heading down the path that has been cut by our special team – they are all reading from the Benchmark Playbook.
“José adds true industry-expertise which allows us to double down on our number one position in the lithium, battery and EV sectors. While he will focus on forecasting, his specialist knowledge across the supply chain and involvement with the entire Benchmark team will add to our lithium price assessments as they evolve from a reference to a benchmark price in industry contracts.”
“Our special team has just got that little bit more special today and I am delighted to have José with us.”
ABOUT BENCHMARK MINERAL INTELLIGENCE
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (Benchmark Minerals) is the world’s leading voice and most trusted provider of data and advisory services in the lithium ion battery and electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.
Benchmark Minerals is globally known for setting the lithium industry’s reference price which is relied upon to negotiate contracts between actors in the industry, including lithium extraction operators, cathode manufacturers, battery cell producers and automotive OEMs. The Company also produces regular price assessments on cobalt chemicals and graphite anode and also tracks lithium ion megafactory capacity build out.
Benchmark Minerals also provides Forecasting & Consultancy services that are relied upon by a wide range of customers, from governments, electronics manufacturers, EV makers, battery cell producers, and mining companies. Premium Quarterly Forecast reports are provided for the lithium, cobalt and graphite industries, including cost curves and a fully linked supply and demand model allowing easy scenario analysis.
Our single-client advisory services provide actionable and implementable recommendations in the form of supply chain workshops, lenders market reports and input to feasibility studies.
To complement its publishing activities, Benchmark Minerals has created the industry’s leading platform to discuss the subject – The Benchmark World Tour. Starting in 2015, the annual series offers free investment and industry seminars, and has grown to 17 cities in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.
Benchmark Minerals also hosts an industry gathering for the lithium ion supply chain in Q4 of each year. Benchmark Minerals Week consists of two main conferences, Graphite & Anodes and Cathodes, and is the world’s meeting place to negotiate deals and network.
Benchmark Minerals’ data, insight, and understanding of the subject is unrivalled, as witnessed by repeat testimony to the US Senate in 2017 and 2019. In addition, Benchmark Minerals has been invited to give guest lectures at the University of Oxford, Stanford University, the Royal Institution, and advised the UK Government.
The EV and battery cell supply chain is Benchmark Minerals’ sole focus and speciality.