These are the top 5 major trends I am following in 2018
1) Electric Vehicles [EVs], energy storage, and the EV metals
- Lithium miners - I expect to see some industry consolidation in 2018. Also, we will see Altura Mining [ASX:AJM] (OTCPK:ALTAF), Pilbara Minerals [ASX:PLS] (OTCPK:PILBF), and Tawana Resources (ASX:TAW) (OTCPK:TWNAF) start production.
- Cobalt miners - In 2018, we will see Glencore [LSX:GLEN] [HK:805] (OTCPK:GLCNF)/Katanga Mining [TSX:KAT] (OTCPK:KATFF) ramp up their cobalt and copper production. I expect the Australian cobalt juniors to shine. Ardea Resources [ASX:ARL] (OTCPK:ARRRF) PFS is expected by end March 2018, and Cobalt Blue [ASX:COB] (OTCPK:CBBHF) resource upgrade is expected by April 1 and its PFS by June 30, 2018.
- Graphite miners - Syrah Resources [ASX:SYR] (OTCPK:SYAAF) will ramp up its graphite production, and Kibaran Resources [ASX:KNL] (OTC:KBBRF) will progress and build its German pilot plant with up to 600tpa of unpurified spherical graphite.
- Nickel miners - I expect the nickel price recovery to continue and some juniors to progress towards production. RNC Minerals [TSX:RNX] (OTCQX:RNKLF) is quite likely to achieve a funding package in 2018 and progress towards 2019 construction, and thereafter, nickel-cobalt production. You can read more here.
China is likely to announce its internal combustion engine [ICE] ban plan date sometime in 2018. Then, by January 2019, the new China zero emission vehicle [ZEV] system will begin, boosting sales of longer range pure EVs.
Expect further advances in high-speed charging such as the Porsche Mission E that will use an 800V charger, to give 250 miles of range in only 15 minutes. The Mission E is planned to be on sale late 2018/early 2019.
Porsche Mission E - 15 minutes to charge for 250 miles of range
Electric vehicles have reached a critical point of adoption with China recently hitting 3.3% market share in December 2017. This will only improve in 2018, and get stronger in 2019 with the new China ZEV system beginning. Any announcement of a ban date for ICE vehicles in China will no doubt act as a strong catalyst to boost the sector, as it did in September 2017.
2) Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
The blockchain will most likely be the biggest trend of 2018. The blockchain is evolving to the point where all information will be able to be stored on it in a decentralized safe manner. Added to this, the ethereum blockchain allows smart contracts, which means we can do safe transactions via the blockchain. This will revolutionize how we store data and how we do transactions/contracts. The contracts maybe buying a house and verifying title, verifying personal or business IDs, or buying an item online or in a store. It will most likely be a huge evolution of how we transact in everyday life.
- Blockchain will grow rapidly into new sectors. Adoption by banks, financial services, medical, and legal industries.
- Cryptocurrencies to continue their wild ride. Those currencies that can create revenue streams beyond just selling their coin will do well. Some examples could be Selfkey [Key], Factom (Factoid), and Power Ledger.
Blockchain is becoming more widely used and accepted. This will be a major growth sector in 2018. The cryptocurrencies are harder to forecast, but will no doubt see huge trading speculation and volatility again. Most likely those currencies with secondary uses will do best, and some new ones will shine.
I will be releasing soon several articles on how best to invest in the blockchain boom that we are just entering now. One article will discuss a new blockchain ETF that offers a reasonable way to gain exposure to the blockchain. The ETF is the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK). The next article will look at some blockchain companies such as Global Blockchain Technologies [TSXV:BLOC] (OTCPK:BLKCF), Social Reality (SRAX), and Seven Stars Cloud Group (SSC) just to name a few.
3) Robots and drones
Both industrial and personal robots are expected to grow in the teens or a greater percentage. One estimate is that robots may replace 800 million workers by 2030. Expect to start seeing robots in our airports, bus and train stations, and shopping centers soon. Two excellent ETFs to play the trend are the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) and the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ).
Drones will continue to find their way into military service and other services such as delivery, aerial reconnaissance, border control, and much more.
Robots and drones will continue their stealth approach into mainstream society led by industrial robots to save costs and followed by gradual acceptance of robots in the public domain (airports, train, and stations etc) and to a lesser extent in our homes even initially just as personal assistants.
4) Internet connectivity and data storage
Internet connectivity will continue to spread both globally and within our own region. We will see 5G rolled out in the USA, much more video streaming, and widespread adoption of the Internet both at home and at work. More devices will be connected thanks to the Internet of Things, our cars will grow smarter and also connect via WiFi to the Internet. Cloud storage will continue at a rapid pace as will more data centers and data storage generally.
