POSCO Strengthens Lithium Supply Chain Through Agreements in Australia and Argentina
Investment in Lithium Resources: POSCO Holdings announced a KRW 1.1 trillion investment to secure lithium resources in Australia and Argentina, enhancing its supply chain for the secondary battery materials sector.
Acquisition of Stake: The company plans to acquire a 30% stake in an intermediate holding company under Mineral Resources for approximately $765 million, ensuring stable access to 270,000 tons of lithium concentrate annually.
Expansion of Lithium Portfolio: POSCO is also investing $65 million to acquire shares of Lithium South’s Argentine subsidiary, gaining additional mining rights in a high-grade lithium region.
Market Position and Performance: Despite a 24% year-to-date increase in PKX shares, the company holds a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell), while other stocks in the Basic Materials sector show stronger rankings and growth potential.
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- Earnings Season Kickoff: Cleveland-Cliffs opened the first-quarter earnings season for the steel sector early Monday, signaling an improved outlook that may set the stage for subsequent company performances.
- STLD and Nucor Breakout: During Monday's regular session, Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Nucor stocks showed strong performance, reflecting market optimism about the steel industry's recovery, which could bolster investor confidence.
- Tariff Boost: Steel Dynamics' Q1 results revealed a significant surge in earnings, largely attributed to tariffs implemented by the Trump administration, providing the company with a competitive edge and enhancing profit margins.
- Positive Market Reaction: As the overall earnings outlook for the steel sector improves, investor interest in related stocks is increasing, potentially leading to capital inflows and further stock price appreciation, thereby invigorating the market.

- Joint Venture Announcement: J S W Steel and Posco have formed a joint venture to establish a new integrated steel plant in India.
- Production Capacity: The new plant is expected to have a production capacity of 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

- Partnership Announcement: POSCO Future M has secured a deal to supply battery materials to an unidentified global automaker.
- Industry Impact: This partnership is expected to enhance the supply chain for battery production in the automotive sector.
- Disappointing Performance: Cleveland-Cliffs reported flat sales in Q4, failing to meet analysts' expectations for mid-single-digit growth, resulting in a 25% drop in stock price despite a 50% increase over the past six months.
- Loss Exceeds Expectations: The company's quarterly loss was greater than anticipated, although it showed improvement compared to the previous year, highlighting ongoing challenges amid a sluggish automotive market and weak Canadian demand.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: CEO Lourenco Goncalves noted improvements entering 2026, having signed multi-year contracts with major automotive customers, reduced unit costs, extended debt maturities, and lowered capital expenditures, indicating proactive measures to address challenges.
- Expected Shipment Growth: Cleveland-Cliffs anticipates a shipment volume increase of about 3.4% in 2026, aligning with Nucor's 5% growth forecast, suggesting a recovery in steel demand, while investors await further details on strategic partnerships.
- Net Income Decline: POSCO Holdings reported a net income of 660 billion won for FY2025, a significant 39.4% decrease compared to the previous year, indicating a notable weakening in profitability that may impact investor confidence moving forward.
- Operating Income Pressure: The pre-tax income from continuing operations was 1.11 trillion won, down 11.2% year-over-year, reflecting pressure on core business profitability that may necessitate strategic adjustments to address market challenges.
- Revenue Decrease: Operating income for FY2025 was 1.83 trillion won, a 15.7% decline, suggesting difficulties in sales and market demand that could hinder overall business growth prospects.
- Sales Drop: FY2025 sales totaled 69.09 trillion won, down 5.0% from last year, highlighting intensified market competition and weak demand, which may prompt the company to reassess its market strategies to regain growth.








