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1exchange and Ondo Finance Partner to Expand Access to Tokenized Equities

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1exchange and Ondo Finance explore opportunities around tokenized equities and regulated secondary market access for eligible investors in Asia.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2026 – 1exchange, a regulated real-world asset (RWA) exchange for the listing and trading of tokenized securities, today announced a collaboration with Ondo Finance to explore the potential availability of Ondo Stocks on 1exchange’s regulated marketplace, providing eligible investors in Asia with an additional venue to access tokenized equities through a MAS-regulated platform. Specific assets and availability remain subject to due diligence, applicable listing requirements and other relevant conditions.
Tokenized public equities have emerged as a growing category within the RWA market, giving investors on-chain access to traditional financial assets. As the market develops, the next phase is increasingly focused not only on issuance and primary distribution, but also on the infrastructure required for secondary trading, settlement and broader market participation.
A regulated secondary market provides a venue for tokenized assets beyond their primary distribution channels. Through 1exchange, eligible investors can trade listed RWA security tokens through an automated order-matching system, with transactions settled within the platform.
As part of its broader RWA strategy, 1exchange continues to engage with partners across the RWA ecosystem, including Ondo Finance, as it explores opportunities to expand its marketplace. Ondo Finance is a leading participant in the tokenized asset ecosystem, developing blockchain-based financial products that provide investors with access to tokenized real-world assets, including tokenized equities.
1exchange is building a diverse ecosystem of tokenized RWA securities, working with a range of issuers and market leaders to broaden the opportunities available through its platform. Powered by CapBridge, a Capital Markets Services licence holder supporting primary distribution, 1exchange provides an integrated infrastructure spanning the end-to-end RWA lifecycle — from tokenization and issuance to primary distribution and regulated secondary market trading.
“Tokenization has demonstrated how traditional assets can be represented on-chain. The next step is developing the market infrastructure that allows those assets to be accessed and traded beyond their primary distribution channels,” said Sheena Lim, CEO of 1exchange. “We are continuing to explore opportunities across the RWA ecosystem, including with partners such as Ondo Finance, as we continue to develop 1exchange as a regulated secondary market for tokenized securities.”

Hashtag: #RWA #Tokenization #TokenizedSecurities #TokenizedEquities #DigitalAssets #CapitalMarkets #FinTech #RealWorldAssets



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About 1exchange

1exchange, a member of FOMO Group, is a Recognised Market Operator (RMO) licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). 1exchange provides regulated market infrastructure for listing and secondary trading of tokenized securities and private market opportunities, supporting issuers and eligible investors across the evolving real-world asset ecosystem.
Visit www.1x.exchange for more information. For media inquiries, please contact media@1x.exchange.
Disclaimer
This announcement is made by 1exchange. References to Ondo Finance are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement, approval, partnership or participation by Ondo Finance.

The information contained in this article is provided strictly for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities or financial products listed or traded on 1exchange. Investments involve risks, including the possible loss of principal.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Readers should carefully consider their investment objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance, and conduct their own independent research. Where appropriate, readers are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Rothman Consumer Reputation Index 2026: In Central and Eastern Europe, China Is Closing the Consumer Trust Gap with the West

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Consumer trust in the four most reputable Asian countries, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, has strengthened significantly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) over the past five years. Western Europe’s reputation in the region has remained stable, but trust in the United States has declined sharply, the Rothman Intelligence Unit’s 2026 Consumer Reputation Index Survey of 12,000 consumers found.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2026 – First compiled in 2021, the Rothman Consumer Reputation Index (CRI) measures how much consumers trust a “country brand”, and how far a product’s “made in” label sways their purchase decisions. Country of origin is a major factor in consumer choices in Central and Eastern Europe: more important than online reviews, or even the product brand itself.

Rothman Consumer Reputation Index (CRI)
Rothman Consumer Reputation Index (CRI)

Research from multiple surveys between 2021 and 2023 identified which Asian countries have a positive reputation among Central and Eastern Europe’s roughly 110 million consumers, finding China, Singapore, Japan and South Korea as the most valuable Asian country brands. Since then, the survey has continued tracking how these Asian countries perform compared with their main Western European rivals, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and with the United States, in ten countries of the CEE region: Austria, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Serbia.

In the first survey, “Made in Germany” had the highest value in all ten countries, with the United States and France also scoring above 7. Since then, Japan has overtaken France and the United States, taking second place behind Germany in most of the countries in the region, and this year it became the most trusted country brand in Poland, as Polish consumers now rate it (7.5) above Germany (7.0), the first time an Asian country has topped a national ranking anywhere in the region.

Japan, however, is far from the biggest winner in terms of improvement. While Japan’s average score has risen by 0.43 points since 2021, trust in China as a country of origin improved by 0.63 points, Singapore’s score rose by 0.66 points, and South Korea’s by 0.72 points over the past five years.

The survey also shows a more mixed picture since 2023 on the regional average, as South Korea and Singapore, the two biggest winners over the five years, and Japan made most of their advance by 2023 and have since consolidated well above their 2021 levels, while China is the only one that has continued to climb. China’s rise mirrors the decline of the United States, which has lost exactly as much as its biggest global rival has gained – 0.63 points. As a result, the average consumer trust gap between China and the United States has narrowed from 2.0 points in 2021 to 0.74 in 2026.

In Austria, all four Asian economies now outscore the United States, and South Korea also edges ahead of the United States in Bulgaria and Slovenia. Singapore’s strongest ground is Central Europe – Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Slovenia, where Singaporean origin scores above 6 and ranks ahead of “Made in China”.

The “Asian four” are the biggest gainers overall since 2021, increasing their average reputation score by 0.61 points, while Germany and France have remained stable, adding 0.13 and 0.16 points to their 2021 scores respectively.

The 2026 results confirm that a product’s country of origin remains a stronger purchase driver in Central and Eastern Europe than the brand itself: 59% of consumers say where a product is made matters to their choice, against 55% for online reviews and 50% for the brand.

Price is still the dominant factor (86%), followed by recommendations from friends and family (64%).

As Zsofia Balatoni, Chief Strategy Officer at Rothman, highlights, “Three years ago our survey already showed that Asia had momentum in Central and Eastern Europe. The 2026 results show the trend has held. Japan now competes with Germany for first place in Poland, China has never been rated higher, and South Korea and Singapore have closed more than half of their gap with America since 2021. Consumers in Central and Eastern Europe buy the country before the brand, and Asia’s country brands are increasingly valued.”
Hashtag: #Rothman #ConsumerReputationIndex #CRI #China #Japan #Singapore #SouthKorea #CEE #Europe #Asia


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Methodology

The Rothman Consumer Reputation Index survey, completed by the Rothman Intelligence Unit on 1 September 2026, was conducted in twelve countries, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia, with 1,000 respondents in each country (n = 12,000), representative by age, gender, place of residence and education, using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI; CAPI in Serbia and Montenegro). The margin of error is ±3.2 percentage points for shares and about ±0.2 points for index scores at country level. The Consumer Reputation Index (CRI) records how positively or negatively a product’s country of origin would influence a purchase decision on a scale of 0 to 10. Scores above 5 indicate positive sentiment. Montenegro and North Macedonia were surveyed for the first time in 2026. Regional averages and all comparisons with the 2021 and 2023 waves use the ten countries surveyed in every wave.

Rothman

Rothman Intelligence Unit (formerly Rothman & Roman Intelligence Unit) is a think-tank providing data analysis, research and intelligence about emerging economies, including Central and Eastern Europe, mapping CEE’s economic potential, political landscape and the region’s role in forming EU regulations. Rothman Intelligence Unit is part of Rothman, a strategic communications and advisory firm headquartered in Singapore.

For more information, please visit:

EU Rules and Supply Limits Test Asia’s Access to Key Export Markets as Plasticity Forum Returns to Malaysia for Solutions

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Why manufacturers, businesses, brands and policymakers across Asia-Pacific should be in the room as new rules reshape how materials move.


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 October 2026 – Companies selling into Europe are about to find out whether their supply chains are ready for the rules. On 21 November, the European Union will ban plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries, and its new vehicle and packaging regulations will increasingly require recycled content in the products they sell. Just days before, on 16 and 17 November, the Plasticity Forum Kuala Lumpur (KL) 2026 will bring brands, manufacturers, plastic makers, and policymakers to M Hotel in Kuala Lumpur to ask how the region secures the materials it needs and stays competitive as the rules tighten.

Mr. Douglas Woodring, Founder of the Plasticity Forum
Mr. Douglas Woodring, Founder of the Plasticity Forum

Southeast Asia’s supply of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is already feeling the shift. Thailand and Indonesia halted plastic scrap imports in January 2025, and Malaysia has tightened its plastic waste import rules and, since April 2026, banned e-waste imports outright. That material is critical to products destined for the EU. Under the EU’s vehicle rules, new vehicle models must contain at least 15% recycled plastic from 2032, rising to 25% from 2036, and its packaging rules set recycled-content minimums from 2030. Wider eco-design rules are also expected to reach products such as electronics and textiles in the coming years. Manufacturers will need reliable, compliant supply to keep selling into major markets.

“The old model of shipping waste to wherever it is cheapest to process is ending, and the rules are changing faster than many businesses have planned for,” said Mr. Douglas Woodring, Founder of the Plasticity Forum.

“It is the best of times for corporate pledges and the hardest of times for operational reality. You cannot make a product to the new standards if the raw material is locked behind borders or left in landfill. The businesses that start building compliant supply chains now will be the ones still selling into these markets.”

Over two days, the Plasticity Forum KL 2026 will tackle the policy and market questions behind that challenge, from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and investment to consumer demand and the UN Plastics Treaty, with sector sections on electronics, automotive, and food-grade plastics. A candid panel of brands, plastic makers, and recovered plastic suppliers will cover the good, the bad, and what works in practice, and roundtables will feed into a closing session, “From Plasticity 2026 to the World”, gathering the messages delegates want to take to brands, regulators, investors, and the UN.

“Southeast Asia is where this shift is being felt most keenly, and Kuala Lumpur is the right place to work out what comes next. The region has a chance to build higher-value, more resilient circular material systems rather than simply react to new rules,” Mr. Woodring added.

Since its launch at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in 2012, the Plasticity Forum has been staged in 13 cities around the world and returns to Greater Kuala Lumpur, which also hosted the forum in 2018. The Plasticity Forum KL 2026 will take place on 16 and 17 November at M Hotel for anyone with a role in the plastics supply chain who wants to help shape what comes next.

Organisations can take part in Plasticity KL 2026 by attending, by contributing insights and sharing the event with their networks, or by supporting the forum as a sponsor, exhibitor or supporter. For registration and partnership details, visit Plasticity Forum.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

BAR LEONE, HONG KONG, IS THE WORLD’S BEST BAR AS THE LIST OF THE 50 BEST BARS 2026 IS REVEALED

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  • Bar Leone, Hong Kong is named The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier, and The Best Bar in Asia
  • Shingo Gokan is awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award
  • Melbourne’s Three Horses receives the Campari One to Watch Award
  • The Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award goes to Line, Athens
  • Bar Mauro in Mexico City takes the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, entering at No.10
  • Athens’ The Bar in Front of the Bar secures the Nikka Highest Climber Award, rising 28 places to No.19
  • Paradiso, Barcelona is named Rémy Martin Legend of the List
  • Schmuck, New York, claims the Three Cents Best New Opening Award
  • Isa Mejia from Ecuador receives The 50 Best Bars Scholarship
  • Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is given to Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons
  • The SevenRooms Best Bar Design Award goes to Saikindō, Abu Dhabi
  • Takuma Watanabe was named Altos Bartenders’ Bartender and Alquímico, Cartagena, received the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award

MILAN, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The annual list of The 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, was unveiled this evening in Milan, Italy. The 18th edition once again united the global bar community in recognition of those at the forefront of the international cocktail scene.

Bar Leone in Hong Kong is named No.1 in The 50 Best Bars 2026, sponsored by Perrier, for the second year in a row at the live awards ceremony held in Milan on 7 October.
Bar Leone in Hong Kong is named No.1 in The 50 Best Bars 2026, sponsored by Perrier, for the second year in a row at the live awards ceremony held in Milan on 7 October.

For the full 1-50 list, click here

Co-founded by Lorenzo Antinori, Bar Leone draws inspiration from the traditional bars of Rome’s Trastevere district. Rather than chasing trends or theatrical techniques, the bar’s philosophy of Cocktail Popolari -“cocktails for the people” – focuses on straightforward hospitality and impeccable drinks while the design combines vintage Italian references with a welcoming neighbourhood atmosphere.

The 2026 list features bars from 26 cities with 14 new entries. Other bars in the top five are Milan’s Moebius Milano (No.2), Cartagena’s Alquimíco (No.3), Bangkok’s Bar Us (No.4) and Athens’ Line (No.5).

Faye Huggett, Director of Community for The 50 Best Bars, says: “It is with immense pride that we once again announce Bar Leone as The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Perrier. To be the first No.1 from Asia was already an outstanding achievement but to retain the title for a second year shows the true impact of Cocktail Popolari. Beyond the No.1, this year’s rankings are a powerful reflection of the extraordinary talent, dedication and hospitality that continue to elevate bar culture around the world.”

Media centre:
mediacentre.the50.com 

The 50
The 50

XPENG G9L Completes First Production Trial in Europe

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  • XPENG’s Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV G9L has successfully completed its production trial at Magna’s complete vehicle facility in Graz, Austria, becoming the fourth XPENG model to be produced in Europe after the G6, G9 and P7+.
  • Following the successful production trial, the first European G9L will travel 1,324 kilometers from Graz to Paris ahead of its global premiere at the Paris Motor Show on October 12, demonstrating the vehicle’s safety, charging and driving dynamics under real-world conditions enabled by the cutting-edge AI technologies.
  • The G9L marks another step in XPENG’s European localization strategy, combining local manufacturing in Europe with global vehicle development and standards.

GRAZ, Austria, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XPeng Inc. (“XPENG” or “the Company,” NYSE: XPEV; HKEX: 9868), a leading global Physical AI company, today announces that its Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV G9L has successfully completed its first production trial at Magna in Graz, Austria, marking a new milestone in its European manufacturing expansion.

The G9L is the fourth XPENG model to undergo production at the Austrian facility, where XPENG’s G6, G9 and P7+ are actively being produced. The milestone comes one year after XPENG and Magna began local production in Graz and signals the latest expansion of their European manufacturing partnership.

The first pre-production G9L will now travel 1,324 kilometers from Graz to Paris ahead of its global launch at the Paris Motor Show on October 12, putting the vehicle through a real-world journey focused on charging, safety and driving performance before it is displayed at XPENG’s stand.

The milestone builds on XPENG’s accelerating growth in Europe. The company has delivered more than 100,000 vehicles overseas to date, including over 60,000 in Europe. In France alone, more than 6,000 vehicles have been delivered since entering the market two years ago. In the second quarter of 2026, XPENG’s overseas deliveries surpassed 20,000 units for the first time, up 81% year-on-year, with overseas markets contributing 25% of first-half revenue at an average selling price exceeding €40,000.

A Global Vehicle Built to Global Standards

The G9L is being developed as a global model, with plans to launch across 64 countries and regions. The vehicle has been developed and validated against global standards from the outset, and its global validation program has covered 26 countries and regions over three years, with approximately 6.74 million kilometers of road testing.

The G9L has completed 192 crash tests and more than 110 testing protocols, including validation for both left- and right-hand-drive configurations. It is engineered to meet four major global five-star safety standards (E-NCAP, A-NCAP, C-NCAP and C-IASI) and incorporates active and passive safety systems alongside redundant safety architecture.

The testing program also included an industry-first seven-stage “720-degree” safety challenge spanning land, water and air conditions.

Next-Gen AI Technology Meets Advanced Driving Dynamics

The G9L combines XPENG’s latest AI capabilities with a chassis system designed to balance ride comfort and driving dynamics. Its standard chassis specification includes dual-chamber air suspension, intelligent variable damping and rear-wheel steering with up to 15 degrees of steering angle.

The rear-wheel steering system is designed to improve maneuverability at low speeds while supporting vehicle stability during higher-speed driving.

Deepening Local Manufacturing in Europe

XPENG’s collaboration with Magna marks the company’s first European local manufacturing program. Production at Magna’s Graz facility officially began in the third quarter of 2025. One year into the partnership, the two companies are expanding their cooperation to support XPENG’s growing portfolio of vehicles for European and global markets.

The G9L will be manufactured at Magna’s Graz facility, a site with a long-standing track record in producing vehicles for premium automotive brands, combining Magna’s experience in high-end vehicle manufacturing with XPENG’s advanced electric vehicle and AI technologies.

“The G9L marks another important milestone in our collaboration with XPENG,” said Roland Prettner, President of Magna Complete Vehicles. “It demonstrates how strong teamwork can translate XPENG’s product vision and technical requirements into robust production processes, supported by our vehicle manufacturing expertise and a shared commitment to quality.”

“The latest production milestone represents an important step in our journey from entering Europe to building for Europe. By combining global vehicle development and AI technology with established local manufacturing expertise, we are bringing the next-gen XPENG vehicles closer to customers in Europe and around the world,” said Zhang Li, Vice President of Global Manufacturing at XPENG.

From Graz to Paris for the Global Premiere

The first European pre-production G9L will leave Graz for Paris ahead of its global debut on October 12. The 1,324-kilometer journey will provide a real-world demonstration of the vehicle’s charging capability, safety systems and driving performance across Europe.

At the Paris Motor Show, XPENG will officially unveil the G9L to global audiences and open orders for its Next-Gen AI Flagship SUV, representing the latest step in its expansion of its European manufacturing and product portfolio as the company continues to develop vehicles to global standards and produce them locally to serve customers worldwide.

If you are interested in XPENG’s Paris Motor Show event, please contact:
pr@xiaopeng.com 

XPENG Paris Motor Show Press Kit:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I8SLTqDREdDCzeY5YUu8LjLe7jlPI6e2

About XPENG

XPENG is a leading global Physical AI company, dedicated to bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world to reshape future mobility and smart living. Through in-house R&D, XPENG has developed a full-stack Physical AI architecture spanning Turing AI chips, world foundation models, and highly integrated software and hardware applications. This unified technology foundation of XPENG powers an expansive product portfolio of smart EVs, robotaxis, and humanoid robots, advancing the deployment of Physical AI at scale. Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, XPENG is dual-primary listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. With global capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, XPENG drives continuous technological innovation and fosters an open Physical AI ecosystem, making life smarter, safer, and better for users worldwide. For more information, please visit https://www.xpeng.com/.

Mitrade Appoints Veteran Brokerage CEO Christopher Brankin as Global Markets Advisor; Global Macro Volatility Pushes Australian Interest Rates To 15-year Highs

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MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Melbourne-founded CFD broker Mitrade has enlisted Christopher Brankin as Global Markets Advisor. A veteran markets voice featured on CNBC, Bloomberg and Reuters, Brankin ran TD Ameritrade Singapore for more than a decade and later headed regional expansion for a CFD brokerage.

The need for that global perspective is growing, as the forces moving Australian markets are increasingly being set overseas. When the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate to 4.60% in late September, it cited higher global energy prices. Yet the Australian dollar still slipped below 70 US cents that day, with oil above US$105 a barrel and rates at their highest since November 2011, as ABC News noted in its market coverage.

Spanning Chicago floor trading pits to leading major Asian brokerages, Brankin brings over two decades of battle-tested leadership in market structure and retail trading dynamics. He is a frequent speaker on Asia-Pacific fintech stages and an established media commentator.

“There’s no such thing as an isolated local market anymore. Every trading screen responds to the same macro forces. Whether it’s geopolitical friction, energy supply shocks, or central bank pivots, those decisions hit local order books immediately. Mitrade understands that retail traders need raw context, not diluted noise, and I’m looking forward to giving them an unfiltered, global perspective,” said Christopher Brankin, Global Markets Advisor, Mitrade Group.

In this role, Brankin will regularly unpack macroeconomic trends, rate dynamics, and market volatility through actionable analysis, and executive commentaries.

About Mitrade
Mitrade is an award-winning CFD trading platform founded in Melbourne, trusted by 7M+ traders worldwide. It operates under top-tier financial regulators—Australia’s ASIC (AFSL398528), Cyprus’ CySEC (CIF438/23), UAE’s CMA (License No. 20200000397), Cayman Islands’ CIMA (SIB1612446), South Africa’s FSCA (54842), and Mauritius’s FSC (GB20025791)—delivering a secure, seamless, and intuitive trading experience.

The platform provides 1,000+ CFDs on indices, forex, commodities, ETFs, and shares. Mitrade redefines trading with millisecond execution, razor-thin spreads, robust risk management, and multi-device compatibility.

Trading involves risks. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or a solicitation.

Visit https://www.mitrade.com for more information. 

Air Liquide to build new Air Separation Unit at its Fairfield facility in New South Wales

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MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Liquide announces a new investment to build and operate a new Air Separation Unit (ASU) and its related infrastructure at its existing Fairfield Facility located in Yennora, New South Wales – Australia. This will enhance local supply chain reliability for industrial and medical gases across Australia.

Air Liquide to build new Air Separation Unit in New South Wales
Air Liquide to build new Air Separation Unit in New South Wales

The new ASU will produce nitrogen and oxygen, critical gases to support the daily operations and long-term growth of key Australian sectors, including food and beverage processing, healthcare and medical facilities, mining and advanced manufacturing.

The ASU is expected to start-up in 2028.

Tim Kehoe, Managing Director of Air Liquide Pacific said: “Expanding our air gas capacity demonstrates Air Liquide’s long-term commitment to fueling the growth of Australian industries with essential gases they depend on every day. With the new ASU in New South Wales, we are reinforcing our commitment to serving our customers and enhancing our supply chain resilience.”

Air Liquide Australia

Air Liquide Australia started its operations in 1957 and currently employs 400+ employees across Pacific. In Australia, Air Liquide operates air separation plants, CO₂ plants and gas filling facilities. Air Liquide provides innovative and customer-focused solutions and services and supports the Australian economy through a unique blend of advanced equipment, processes & systems, supported by a highly engaged and competent workforce.

Air Liquide is a leader in gases, technologies, and services for numerous economic sectors. As an invisible yet essential cornerstone of industry and healthcare for more than a century, the Group’s molecules pave the way for progress by delivering useful and innovative solutions to customers, patients, and society.

Present in 59 countries with approximately 65,000 employees, the Group serves 4.3 million customers and patients. With revenues close to 27 billion euros in 2025 and solid foundations, Air Liquide combines performance with lasting value creation for all its stakeholders. With “Beyond”, its strategic plan through 2030, the Group has set an ambitious roadmap to accelerate its profitable growth trajectory and continue inventing the future.

Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good, and Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe indexes.

 

LG Energy Solution Secures Multi-Year Supply of Canadian Spodumene Concentrate from Elevra

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  • 240,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate to be supplied from operational Canadian mine over four years
  • Local supply supports growing North American ESS demand and strengthens regional value chains
  • Securing spodumene concentrate enhances raw material flexibility across EV and ESS markets

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) today announced it has signed a multi-year binding offtake agreement with Elevra Lithium for spodumene concentrate.

Elevra Lithium is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada, United States, and a joint venture in Western Australia.

Starting later this year, Elevra Lithium will supply LG Energy Solution with 240,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate over a four-year period. The spodumene concentrate will be produced at Elevra’s North American Lithium (NAL) project in Quebec, Canada, which is already operational.

With spodumene concentrate set to be sourced from an operational North American mine and supply expected to commence later this year, LG Energy Solution is well positioned to strengthen its responsiveness to local customer needs while supporting the rapid growth of the regional ESS market.

To proactively respond to the rising market demand for energy storage systems (ESS) in North America, LG Energy Solution has five standalone and joint venture facilities in the region that are meeting customers’ growing demand for reliable and scalable ESS solutions powered by LFP batteries.

NextStar Energy, the standalone facility in Windsor, Canada, has been serving as a cornerstone of Canada’s growing battery ecosystem since commencing production last year.

Backed by more than CAD 5 billion in investment and expected to create up to 2,500 direct jobs at full-scale production, the facility, combined with local supply of spodumene concentrate, will reinforce the local value chain in Canada.

Securing a stable supply of spodumene concentrate not only diversifies the company’s raw material sourcing portfolio beyond lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide but also provides greater flexibility to optimize production based on evolving electric vehicle (EV) and ESS market demand and market conditions. As a key intermediate feedstock that can be processed into either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, spodumene concentrate enables greater production scalability, while enhancing supply chain resilience and supporting a stable supply of critical battery materials.

“This agreement with LG Energy Solution represents an important step in implementing the commercial strategy we outlined with our FY26 annual results. It provides Elevra with a committed customer for a meaningful portion of NAL’s production while retaining exposure to spodumene concentrate market pricing,” said Lucas Dow, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Elevra Lithium. “Securing a leading global battery manufacturer as a customer further strengthens the commercial position of NAL and supports our strategy of building a diversified portfolio of high-quality customers as we increase production and progress the NAL expansion.”

“This agreement marks another important step in strengthening our raw material supply chain in North America and supporting the region’s rapidly growing ESS market,” said Kang Yeol Lee, Procurement Center Leader of LG Energy Solution. “By securing a stable supply of spodumene concentrate from an operational North American source, we are enhancing both the flexibility and resilience of our supply chain while reinforcing our ability to meet evolving customer demand with greater speed and scale.”

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With more than 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 100,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution’s ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

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