Sulfur Supply Risk, Aluminum/Bauxite Outlook, China Five-Year Plan

Mar 13, 2026

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Rock Stock Recap breaks down the biggest market-moving trends in critical minerals, battery materials, and global supply chains. In this episode, Howard Klein, Matt Fernley, and Rodney Hooper discuss how the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions could impact sulfur, sulfuric acid, aluminum, bauxite, graphite, rare earths, EVs, and lithium markets.

The conversation covers why sulfur may be the most overlooked supply chain risk, how aluminum smelters could face major disruption, and why bauxite could become a more interesting investment theme. The team also explores China’s latest five-year plan, the outlook for rare earth demand driven by robotics, drones, and defense, and what slowing Chinese EV sales could mean for global battery materials demand. The episode closes with a lithium market update, including spodumene pricing, upstream shortages, and recent strategic offtake activity.

If you follow lithium stocks, rare earth stocks, aluminum markets, EV supply chains, battery metals, or China industrial policy, this episode is packed with timely insights.

Topics covered:
- Iran war supply chain disruptions
- Sulfur and sulfuric acid market risks
- Aluminum price outlook
- Bauxite market and Guinea exports
- Graphite demand and oil price links
- Rare earth supply chain challenges
- China five-year plan analysis
- Chinese EV sales and exports
- Lithium market update
- Battery materials investing trends

Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(04:24) Sulfur Supply Risk
(11:21) Aluminum Squeeze Risk
(15:59) Bauxite Market Outlook
(21:27) Graphite And Rare Earths
(26:43) Rare Earth Supply Limits
(30:43) China’s Five-Year Plan
(38:55) China EV Sales
(42:40) Lithium Market Update
(45:11) Closing Remarks