As the Financial Times' San Francisco-based commodities correspondent, Hodgson illuminates the complex web of minerals, markets, and geopolitics powering the global energy transition. Her reporting spans:
"The real story isn't in the boardroom – it's in the port logistics of Namibia and the patent offices of Seoul."
With 5K+ engaged followers on X/Twitter, Hodgson actively shares insights on emerging mining jurisdictions and industrial policy shifts. Her work remains essential reading for policymakers, commodity traders, and clean tech executives navigating the resource challenges of decarbonization.
Camilla Hodgson has carved a niche as a leading voice in global commodities reporting, with a career spanning tech, climate, and resource geopolitics. Her trajectory reflects a deliberate focus on intersectional issues shaping the 21st-century economy:
This 2024 investigation revealed how Chinese export controls on graphite are reshaping global EV supply chains. Hodgson tracked price fluctuations across three continents, interviewing mine operators in Mozambique and battery manufacturers in Tennessee. The piece highlighted how Western automakers are scrambling to secure alternative supplies, with particular emphasis on emerging African mining projects. Her analysis predicted the current 47% surge in graphite exploration permits across the OECD nations.
"The battery materials race isn't just about technology – it's a geopolitical chess match where mineral-rich nations suddenly hold all the pawns."
Amid the 2023 nuclear energy resurgence, Hodgson exposed the uranium supply gap threatening reactor projects. By analyzing 15 years of mining permits and interviewing IAEA officials, she demonstrated how current production meets only 74% of projected demand. The article sparked debates about prioritizing mine approvals versus recycling initiatives, cited in six parliamentary hearings on energy security.
This ground report from Solvay's La Rochelle facility detailed Europe's first major rare earths processing expansion in a decade. Hodgson combined chemical engineering insights with trade data to show how EU producers are circumventing Chinese dominance in magnet metals. The piece influenced the European Critical Raw Materials Act's 2024 amendments.
Hodgson prioritizes stories about novel extraction methods and circular economy solutions rather than incremental mining improvements. Pitches should highlight technologies like bioleaching for nickel recovery or blockchain-enabled cobalt tracking, as seen in her March 2024 piece on Congolese mining reforms. Avoid generic "green mining" narratives without measurable impact metrics.
Her work consistently frames commodity markets through the lens of international relations. Successful pitches might explore how ASEAN trade pacts affect tin pricing or analyze African lithium nationalism movements. A recent scoop on Zimbabwe's lithium export taxes exemplifies this approach, blending policy shifts with market forecasts.
Hodgson's most impactful pieces connect disparate data points across regions. Provide access to proprietary datasets showing price differentials between Chilean copper and Indonesian nickel markets, or labor cost comparisons across battery megafactories. Her November 2023 investigation into cobalt arbitrage routes demonstrates this appetite for complex, data-rich narratives.
While formal awards aren't documented in public sources, Hodgson's influence is evident through:
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Business, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
