materials suppliers

Nvidia is reportedly exploring glass substrates as a packaging material for its AI chips, a shift that could reshape how advanced processors are manufactured. Glass packaging promises better thermal stability and allows denser chip connections than traditional organic substrates, which matters as AI chips grow larger and hotter. The move could affect suppliers across the semiconductor packaging chain.

South Korean chemical maker LG Chem and German automaker Volkswagen have announced a partnership to develop new materials. The collaboration signals growing cooperation between battery and materials suppliers and carmakers as the auto industry works to secure supply chains and advance technologies such as lighter components and next-generation battery materials. Details on the scope and value of the deal have not been disclosed, but industry watchers view it as another step in deepening ties between Asian suppliers and European automakers.

New coverage examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the semiconductor industry, from chip design to rising demand for the specialized materials needed to manufacture AI processors. The reporting highlights the broader transformation of the sector as suppliers adapt to the surge in AI hardware requirements, with investors watching closely for which chipmakers and materials producers stand to benefit most from the shift.

Amazon is trialing lower-carbon aluminum in the construction of a data center in Ohio. The move is part of the company's efforts to reduce the embodied carbon of its infrastructure buildout, as data center expansion draws scrutiny for its environmental footprint. Details on the aluminum supplier and expected emissions savings were not disclosed.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre has published the Transition Minerals Tracker 2026 for South America, compiling data on companies extracting minerals used in the energy transition, such as lithium and copper. The tracker monitors human rights allegations against mining firms across the region, a key supplier of raw materials for batteries and renewable technology.

Stanislav Kondrashov has published commentary examining Europe's progress in the critical raw materials sector, an area central to the EU's industrial and energy strategy. The piece looks at how European countries are seeking to secure supplies of minerals needed for batteries, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, as the bloc works to reduce dependence on external suppliers and accelerate domestic mining, processing and recycling capacity.