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Hybrid energy harvesting solutions that combine small photovoltaic (PV) panels with industrial grade rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries enable long-term power supply solutions for remote wireless devices connected to the IIoT.

Billions of wireless devices will soon be connected to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). While the vast majority of these will be powered by primary (non-rechargeable) lithium batteries, power management challenges can occur when a wireless device has a relatively high daily power consumption. This will prematurely exhaust the primary battery, which can become highly problematic—especially for devices being deployed in hard-to-access locations and extreme environments.

Of all the energy harvesting technologies currently available, the most popular remote power supply solution involves solar PV/Li-ion battery hybrid technology. These two highly synergistic technologies offer a time-proven and increasingly cost-effective solution for powering industrial grade applications, including:

• GPS sensors
• Asset trackers
• Environmental monitoring systems
• Smart agriculture (monitoring moisture, temperature, and rainfall)
• Marine buoys
• Machine-to-machine communication
• Systems control
• Data automation (SCADA) applications

London copper rebounded from a three-week low on Wednesday after losing nearly 2 percent in the previous session, although a deepening trade row between China and the United States capped any recovery in risk appetite.

Nickel, up more than 1 percent, was the top gainer while other metals including aluminium and zinc also edged up, but most were not far above multi-week lows reached on Tuesday.

“While the (trade) tariffs in themselves don’t derail the narrative of global economic growth, the prospect of further
punitive measures taken by both the U.S. and China certainly heightens that risk,” Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Vivek Dhar wrote in a report.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.2 percent at $6,855 a tonne by 0710 GMT, after initially hitting $6,807, its weakest level since May 31. The most-traded August copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed down 0.6 percent at 51,980 yuan ($8,036) a tonne.

* TRADE ROW: China has underestimated U.S. President Donald Trump’s resolve to impose more tariffs unless it changes its “predatory” trade practices, a White House trade adviser said.

Trump threatened on Monday to hit $200 billion of Chinese imports with 10 percent tariffs if Beijing retaliated against his previous targeting of $50 billion in imports, aimed at pressuring China to stop stealing U.S. intellectual property.

* RUSSIA RETALIATES: Russia said it would impose import duties on U.S. road-building machinery, a measure likely to help Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who was hit by U.S. sanctions and controls Russia’s biggest maker of road-building equipment.

* RUSAL: Sanctions-hit Russian aluminium producer Rusal said it had started shipping bauxite from its Dian-Dian bauxite project in Guinea to its alumina refineries in other countries.

* CHINA COPPER: China’s refined copper output rose 15.5 percent from a year ago to 767,000 tonnes in May, government data showed.

* GRAPHITE: Base metals explorer Metals Australia has signed a preliminary deal to develop a graphite mine in
Canada in partnership with a Chinese supplier to the battery industry for an unspecified amount of funding.

* OTHER METALS: LME nickel jumped 1.2 percent to $14,835 a tonne after hitting a three-week low on Tuesday.
Aluminium rose 0.6 percent to $2,183.50 a tonne after touching $2,167.50 on Tuesday, its weakest since April 10. Zinc added 0.7 percent to $3,022.50, recovering from the prior session’s six-week low.

* SHANGHAI: In Shanghai, aluminium ended 0.6 percent weaker at 14,200 yuan a tonne, but off an 11-week low,
and zinc eased 0.5 percent to 23,505 yuan.

* MARKETS: The dollar steadied against a basket of currencies, although persistent worries about the U.S.-China
tariff rift kept currencies on edge. Asian stocks rebounded.

Copper futures fell more than 1% Tuesday as an escalating trade row between the U.S. and China rippled through most markets, among them the industrial metals impacted by trade pacts directly and those hit by the risks for an economic slowdown in these two global economic powerhouses.

“China demand-driven commodity futures including iron ore, copper, zinc and aluminium have seen a sharp decline, as the U.S. considers imposing tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese exports to the U.S.,” said Hans Redeker, analyst at Morgan Stanley, in a note.

After Beijing’s retaliation against U.S. planned tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, U.S. President Donald Trump asked U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer late Monday to identify $200 billion more in Chinese products that could be subject to tariffs of 10%. Trump also threatened to find $200 billion more worth of goods if China tried to retaliate against those additional tariffs.

A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce said China will have no choice but to take comprehensive measures in response to the U.S.’s trade moves, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

In Comex futures trading, July copper HGN8, -0.21% fell 1.4% to $3.0635 a pound. If these losses hold, the contract will be down nearly 2.6% so far in this young week. On the London Metal Exchange, copper at one point hit a near three-week low at $6,838.50 a metric ton before improving.

Analysts said copper prices are underpinned by resilient construction and industrial demand in China, especially if its central bank eases monetary policy as some indications show. Labor talks in top producer Chile and the likelihood that miners there will fall short of production are supporting supply.

July platinum PLN8, -0.31% edged down by 0.4% to $880.80 an ounce, while September palladium PAU8, +0.20% changed hands at $976.30 an ounce, down 0.7%.

Gold and silver, typically haven hiding places during market turmoil, were so far drawing limited demand tied to the China-U.S. tensions. August gold GCQ8, -0.31% edged higher Tuesday by 0.1% to $1,281.70 an ounce after booking the lowest settlement since December on Monday and producing a roughly 1.9% weekly decline on Friday. Stocks were hit by the trade developments and the U.S. dollar DXY, +0.18% moved higher.

Among other goods, iron and rebar are on the U.S. list of Chinese goods that are to be subjected to a 25% tariff beginning July 6.

In China, the most-active futures contracts for iron ore and steel have today fallen for a time by 5.5% and 3.5%, respectively, on Tuesday. Moves were accelerated in part because Chinese market reaction to the latest political developments were delayed because markets were closed Monday for a holiday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Commerce Department has determined that Chinese common alloy aluminium sheet products are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value and will be subject to preliminary anti-dumping duties of 167.16%, the Aluminum Association said on Monday.

Gold and silver prices are modestly lower in early-afternoon U.S. trading Tuesday. Gold fell to a six-month low and silver hit a four-week low today.

The precious metals have fallen victim to a general sell off in the raw commodity sector amid fears of a major world trade war developing. Adding to downside pressure on the metals today is a surging U.S. dollar index that hit an 11-month high today. August Comex gold futures were last down $2.20 an ounce at $1,277.90. July Comex silver was last down $0.105 at $16.335 an ounce.

World and U.S. stock markets were solidly lower today as risk aversion is high after the Trump administration has threatened China with still more trade tariffs, and China has again responded with its own latest threats. The world’s two largest economies appear headed for a full-blown trade war that could significantly impact the entire world economy if the matter deteriorates.

There was some safe-haven demand seen for gold in overnight trading. However, gold and silver once again opted to trade in line with the raw commodity sector, instead of as safe-haven assets for much of the day today. I still suspect that gold will garner at least some safe-haven demand if the trade situation with major U.S. trading partners deteriorates further.

The key “outside markets” today see the U.S. dollar index higher and hitting another 11-month high today. Meantime, Nymex crude oil prices are lower and trading just below $65.00 a barrel. The sell-off in the oil has been especially bearish for the metals.

Technically, the gold bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. A nine-week-old downtrend is in place on the daily bar chart. Gold bulls’ next upside near-term price breakout objective is to produce a close above solid technical resistance at $1,300.00. Bears’ next near-term downside price breakout objective is pushing prices below solid technical support at the December low of $1,251.90. First resistance is seen at today’s high of $1,286.80 and then at $1,293.10. First support is seen at today’s low of $1,272.60 and then at $1,265.00. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 3.5

The silver bears have the overall near-term technical advantage. Silver bulls’ next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at last week’s high of $17.35 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at the May low of $16.07. First resistance is seen at $16.50 and then at this week’s high of $16.635. Next support is seen at today’s low of $16.24 and then at $16.07. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 3.0.

July N.Y. copper closed down 555 points at 305.10 cents today. Prices closed nearer the session low. The copper bears have the overall near-term technical advantage amid the steep sell off recently. Copper bulls’ next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at 320.00 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the March low of 295.85 cents. First resistance is seen at 308.00 cents and then at 310.10 cents. First support is seen at today’s low of 304.10 cents and then at 301.00 cents. Wyckoff’s Market Rating: 3.5.

Cadmium pigments refer to a class of pigments that contain cadmium as one of the chemical components. Cadmium is predominantly used in batteries, which is followed by their use in pigments. Apart from these, cadmium pigments are used in glasses, ceramics, plastics, and other products.

The booming consumer goods industry, which accounts for large volume consumption of plastics is tremendously contributing to the growth of the cadmium pigments market. The plastics sector accounts for almost 75% of the consumption of cadmium pigments. The pigment has the ability to diffuse in several polymers and provides tinting strength, superior cooling, and high opacity. On top of this, cadmium pigments display excellent quality of color fastness in polymers that often lasts a lifetime.

Cadmium pigments are increasingly being used in advanced complex polymers. Complex polymers such as high density polyethylene, silicone resins, nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonates, and other thermoplastic polymers extensively use cadmium pigments as these polymers are processes at very high temperature, which rules out the possibility of use of organic pigments and most of the inorganic pigments.

The major factors driving the cadmium pigments market are due to the properties of cadmium of resistance to high temperature, low melting point, good electrical conductivity, and high corrosion resistance. Cadmium pigments are also extensively used in industrial paints. The chemical inertness and high temperature resistance of cadmium pigments make them suitable for steam pipes and chemical containers. Due to the physical and chemical properties of cadmium pigments, there are no substantial alternatives and are rarely imitated by other inorganic pigments. The unavailability of suitable alternatives acts as a major driver for the cadmium pigments market.

However, the growth of the cadmium pigments market is restrained due to several factors. Individuals exposed to cadmium are subject to health problems with kidney and lungs being mostly affected due to prolonged exposure to cadmium pigments. Cadmium pigments are non-essential for human beings and their proper disposal is of prime importance. Cadmium if released in the soil or water bodies enters the food chain from where it is absorbed into the human body.

In 2011, the European Union banned the use of cadmium pigments for all plastics. This development is restraining the growth of the Europe cadmium pigments market. Mostly all countries discourage the extensive use of cadmium pigments due to its inherent environmental concerns. Nevertheless, lack of safer alternatives to cadmium pigments will lead to a steady growth of the global cadmium pigments market in the foreseeable future.

Battery and portable power solutions group Lithium Werks B.V. has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Taipei, Taiwan-based distributor Endrich Co., Ltd to bolster its support for Asian customers.

“Demand for lithium batteries from Asian customers has been strong for a long time, but even so, we’ve seen nothing yet. We expect an enormous uptick in demand in the years ahead,” said T. Joseph Fisher III, CEO and co-founder of Lithium Werks.

“With its unrivaled knowledge of Asian markets, Endrich is a trusted supplier to a number of tier-one ODMs (original design manufacturers) and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

“Together, we will continue to develop ever closer relationships with customers in markets such as Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and, not least, China, where we are preparing to build a lithium battery giga factory,” he said.

“I have known Endrich for a long time, so I already know that this partnership will be beneficial, not only for them and for us, but also for our manufacturing and development customers, and therefore it will benefit consumers too,” Mr Fisher said.

“Our tier-one ODM and OEM customers are impressed with Lithium Werks’ ability to deliver long-lasting, safe and reliable battery solutions that are not only lighter and smaller than those offered by other companies, but often more cost-effective too,” said Olivia Chang, CEO, Endrich.

“Lithium Werks is already a world leader in Lithium Iron Phosphate cells, modules and scalable power systems, to name but one area of strength,” she said.

“This partnership will forge even closer relationships with tier-one ODMs and OEMs, and as we grow together, I am convinced that Lithium Werks’ R&D (research and development) teams will continue to come up with revolutionary solutions,” she said.

Lithium Werks specialises in Lithium Iron Phosphate technology, a lithium-ion chemistry that offers high thermal and chemical stability and is seen as the safest lithium-ion technology available today. The strategic cooperation builds on an existing relationship that has now become even stronger.