Ed Conway
@edconway.bsky.social
Did I mention I wrote a book...?
Pinned
Ed Conway
@edconway.bsky.social
· Nov 13
That’s me in the hard hat, in front of the bucket of a terrifyingly enormous digger.
What you can’t really tell from the picture is that my head was spinning.
I’d just had one of those moments that change your life forever.
It would set me off on a journey around the world…!🧵
What you can’t really tell from the picture is that my head was spinning.
I’d just had one of those moments that change your life forever.
It would set me off on a journey around the world…!🧵
🎥 Why is the chancellor rolling the pitch for tax rises?
Because she's backed herself into a fiscal hole.
So what happens next?
The short answer is a VERY controversial Budget. A massive moment in UK economics and politics.
For the longer answer watch my 13 min (!) primer 👇 youtu.be/uminSMgTxjM?...
Because she's backed herself into a fiscal hole.
So what happens next?
The short answer is a VERY controversial Budget. A massive moment in UK economics and politics.
For the longer answer watch my 13 min (!) primer 👇 youtu.be/uminSMgTxjM?...
Ed Conway analysis: Is raising taxes the only option for the chancellor?
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
🎥 Why is the chancellor rolling the pitch for tax rises?
Because she's backed herself into a fiscal hole.
So what happens next?
The short answer is a VERY controversial Budget. A massive moment in UK economics and politics.
For the longer answer watch my 13 min (!) primer 👇 youtu.be/uminSMgTxjM?...
Because she's backed herself into a fiscal hole.
So what happens next?
The short answer is a VERY controversial Budget. A massive moment in UK economics and politics.
For the longer answer watch my 13 min (!) primer 👇 youtu.be/uminSMgTxjM?...
📽️What on earth are rare earths?
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Trade War Explained: The Rare Earth Metals China Dominates and US needs
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
October 14, 2025 at 9:28 AM
📽️What on earth are rare earths?
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Why do they matter so much?
Why do they nearly all come from China?
And how worried should we be about the latest chapter in the trade war?
These and more questions answered in my latest primer👇 youtu.be/vq4eRtwFjIc?...
Reposted by Ed Conway
today on The Broadside: how a rock from western NC is key to making basically every semiconductor in the world…and why it’s important to know where all the raw materials we need for our stuff actually comes from. featuring @edconway.bsky.social
www.wunc.org/podcast/the-...
www.wunc.org/podcast/the-...
The rock that runs the world
Arguably the most important mine in the world is located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. And we don’t have a backup.
www.wunc.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
today on The Broadside: how a rock from western NC is key to making basically every semiconductor in the world…and why it’s important to know where all the raw materials we need for our stuff actually comes from. featuring @edconway.bsky.social
www.wunc.org/podcast/the-...
www.wunc.org/podcast/the-...
Reposted by Ed Conway
If its not built of it its probably built by it but can #steel ever be green? Rare Earth @bbcsounds.bsky.social with @helenczerski.bsky.social @edconway.bsky.social @steelwatch.bsky.social @willarnoldengineer.bsky.social Also BBC R4 today midday
September 12, 2025 at 8:38 AM
If its not built of it its probably built by it but can #steel ever be green? Rare Earth @bbcsounds.bsky.social with @helenczerski.bsky.social @edconway.bsky.social @steelwatch.bsky.social @willarnoldengineer.bsky.social Also BBC R4 today midday
Reposted by Ed Conway
Last week, trying to find arguments to convince my colleagues to stop binning paper clips, I went on a deep dive about what it takes to make one. There was a lot of crossover with this thread. Also - paperclips are reusable almost to infinity.
That’s me in the hard hat, in front of the bucket of a terrifyingly enormous digger.
What you can’t really tell from the picture is that my head was spinning.
I’d just had one of those moments that change your life forever.
It would set me off on a journey around the world…!🧵
What you can’t really tell from the picture is that my head was spinning.
I’d just had one of those moments that change your life forever.
It would set me off on a journey around the world…!🧵
September 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Last week, trying to find arguments to convince my colleagues to stop binning paper clips, I went on a deep dive about what it takes to make one. There was a lot of crossover with this thread. Also - paperclips are reusable almost to infinity.
Anyone fancy ten-plus minutes of non-emotive charts on what's really going on with immigration in the UK?
Well, either way, here you go👇 youtu.be/zTs3PDEkB2w?...
Well, either way, here you go👇 youtu.be/zTs3PDEkB2w?...
UK immigration: What the numbers really show
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
September 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Anyone fancy ten-plus minutes of non-emotive charts on what's really going on with immigration in the UK?
Well, either way, here you go👇 youtu.be/zTs3PDEkB2w?...
Well, either way, here you go👇 youtu.be/zTs3PDEkB2w?...
Great news 🤓
Happy to report that since this book was published, this Mining Engineering degree at @exeter.ac.uk has been reinstated.
August 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Great news 🤓
📖A few years ago I wrote a book about the materials that make the world go round.
It was pretty relevant then. I think it's still pretty relevant (maybe even more relevant) today.
Anyway it's on offer TODAY ONLY👇
Have a read & let me know what you think shorturl.at/ONyBZ
It was pretty relevant then. I think it's still pretty relevant (maybe even more relevant) today.
Anyway it's on offer TODAY ONLY👇
Have a read & let me know what you think shorturl.at/ONyBZ
August 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM
📖A few years ago I wrote a book about the materials that make the world go round.
It was pretty relevant then. I think it's still pretty relevant (maybe even more relevant) today.
Anyway it's on offer TODAY ONLY👇
Have a read & let me know what you think shorturl.at/ONyBZ
It was pretty relevant then. I think it's still pretty relevant (maybe even more relevant) today.
Anyway it's on offer TODAY ONLY👇
Have a read & let me know what you think shorturl.at/ONyBZ
Reposted by Ed Conway
If you have not already bought @edconway.bsky.social Material world then do so today - one day kindle offer, £1.99 - a steal www.amazon.co.uk/Material-Wor...
Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future
Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future eBook : Conway, Ed: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
www.amazon.co.uk
August 4, 2025 at 8:44 AM
If you have not already bought @edconway.bsky.social Material world then do so today - one day kindle offer, £1.99 - a steal www.amazon.co.uk/Material-Wor...
Reposted by Ed Conway
We already knew about the scale of waste from these kinds of retailers, this is eye opening about the environmental impact of the shipping. All that stuff from Chinese e-commerce is getting *flown*.
📽️What ACTUALLY happens when you buy an item - some cheap clothes or a trinket - from an e-commerce site like Shein or Temu?
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
The trade loophole that's costing the UK economy billions
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
We already knew about the scale of waste from these kinds of retailers, this is eye opening about the environmental impact of the shipping. All that stuff from Chinese e-commerce is getting *flown*.
📽️What ACTUALLY happens when you buy an item - some cheap clothes or a trinket - from an e-commerce site like Shein or Temu?
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
The trade loophole that's costing the UK economy billions
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:28 AM
📽️What ACTUALLY happens when you buy an item - some cheap clothes or a trinket - from an e-commerce site like Shein or Temu?
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
Our deep dive into the fascinating way e-commerce is changing trade. Raising ENORMOUS questions along the way. Feat @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtqw...
How on earth did one of the world's most cost-competitive chemicals plants become unsustainable in only a couple of decades? Here's what happened to the ethylene cracker at Wilton - and one or two wider lessons... edconway.substack.com/p/a-dying-in...
A dying industry dies a bit more
How did one of the world's most cost-competitive plants become unsustainable in only a couple of decades? Here's what happened to the ethylene cracker at Wilton - and one or two wider lessons
edconway.substack.com
June 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
How on earth did one of the world's most cost-competitive chemicals plants become unsustainable in only a couple of decades? Here's what happened to the ethylene cracker at Wilton - and one or two wider lessons... edconway.substack.com/p/a-dying-in...
Campbell's Soup, tin cans and tariffs.
Here's the story of the unexpected economic chain reaction that links the closure of a blast furnace in Wales with one of the most iconic American products in history... open.substack.com/pub/edconway...
Here's the story of the unexpected economic chain reaction that links the closure of a blast furnace in Wales with one of the most iconic American products in history... open.substack.com/pub/edconway...
Tinned Soup and Tariffs
A dive down the rabbit hole of what it actually takes to make a seemingly simple supermarket product - and what happens when that product gets embroiled in a trade war
open.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Campbell's Soup, tin cans and tariffs.
Here's the story of the unexpected economic chain reaction that links the closure of a blast furnace in Wales with one of the most iconic American products in history... open.substack.com/pub/edconway...
Here's the story of the unexpected economic chain reaction that links the closure of a blast furnace in Wales with one of the most iconic American products in history... open.substack.com/pub/edconway...
🧵Some thoughts re inflation.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
June 18, 2025 at 10:25 AM
🧵Some thoughts re inflation.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
Not the data today, but two deep issues we should prob spend more time thinking about.
1. While economists and policymakers may have convinced themselves that the cost of living squeeze is over, for millions of households, it doesn't feel that way.
📽️Here's a film @aoifey.bsky.social and I have been working on for a while. About a slightly off piste topic (for me) - but one that matters.
It's about what happened to Leicester in the wake of all those "fast fashion" scandals a few years ago. In short: not good www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArF1...
It's about what happened to Leicester in the wake of all those "fast fashion" scandals a few years ago. In short: not good www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArF1...
How Leicester's 'sweatshop' scandal devastated the city's fashion industry
YouTube video by Sky News
www.youtube.com
May 28, 2025 at 9:05 AM
📽️Here's a film @aoifey.bsky.social and I have been working on for a while. About a slightly off piste topic (for me) - but one that matters.
It's about what happened to Leicester in the wake of all those "fast fashion" scandals a few years ago. In short: not good www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArF1...
It's about what happened to Leicester in the wake of all those "fast fashion" scandals a few years ago. In short: not good www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArF1...
Still waiting for someone to guess right...
👀Sneak preview from a short film @aoifey.bsky.social and I have been working on for a while...
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
May 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Still waiting for someone to guess right...
👀Sneak preview from a short film @aoifey.bsky.social and I have been working on for a while...
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
May 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
👀Sneak preview from a short film @aoifey.bsky.social and I have been working on for a while...
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
Just putting the finishing touches to it. Coming to a screen near you tomorrow.
Bonus points for anyone who can guess what they make/do at this plant👇
🇨🇭The first rule of a Swiss-style deal with the EU is that you never talk about a Swiss style deal.
But make no mistake: yesterday's "EU reset" puts Britain on the road to a Swiss style deal
news.sky.com/story/uk-eu-...
But make no mistake: yesterday's "EU reset" puts Britain on the road to a Swiss style deal
news.sky.com/story/uk-eu-...
UK-EU deal tips Britain down path towards Swiss-style arrangement
If you're someone who believe Britain is fated to edge gradually closer to Europe, ending up decades hence with what one might describe as a "Swiss-style deal" with Europe, then Monday's events will h...
news.sky.com
May 20, 2025 at 6:49 AM
🇨🇭The first rule of a Swiss-style deal with the EU is that you never talk about a Swiss style deal.
But make no mistake: yesterday's "EU reset" puts Britain on the road to a Swiss style deal
news.sky.com/story/uk-eu-...
But make no mistake: yesterday's "EU reset" puts Britain on the road to a Swiss style deal
news.sky.com/story/uk-eu-...
📽️It's a deal!
But how big a deal is the one just unveiled between the UK and the EU? In numerical terms, at least, possibly not quite as big as Keir Starmer might want you to believe.
Here's my primer on what just got announced today 👇
youtu.be/HsJiN6wyj6M?...
But how big a deal is the one just unveiled between the UK and the EU? In numerical terms, at least, possibly not quite as big as Keir Starmer might want you to believe.
Here's my primer on what just got announced today 👇
youtu.be/HsJiN6wyj6M?...
Analysis: Is the new UK-EU deal really that good?
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
May 20, 2025 at 5:45 AM
📽️It's a deal!
But how big a deal is the one just unveiled between the UK and the EU? In numerical terms, at least, possibly not quite as big as Keir Starmer might want you to believe.
Here's my primer on what just got announced today 👇
youtu.be/HsJiN6wyj6M?...
But how big a deal is the one just unveiled between the UK and the EU? In numerical terms, at least, possibly not quite as big as Keir Starmer might want you to believe.
Here's my primer on what just got announced today 👇
youtu.be/HsJiN6wyj6M?...
📽️Is this new trade agreement with the US a good deal for Britain?
In short: it depends.
Compared with right now, yes. Compared with what we had last year: no.
Here's my v brief instant primer on some of the numbers👇
More to come when we actually get the small print... youtu.be/m2hwcodwaXM?...
In short: it depends.
Compared with right now, yes. Compared with what we had last year: no.
Here's my v brief instant primer on some of the numbers👇
More to come when we actually get the small print... youtu.be/m2hwcodwaXM?...
Was Trump-Starmer love-in the 'real deal'? Well, it's complicated...
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
May 9, 2025 at 7:16 AM
📽️Is this new trade agreement with the US a good deal for Britain?
In short: it depends.
Compared with right now, yes. Compared with what we had last year: no.
Here's my v brief instant primer on some of the numbers👇
More to come when we actually get the small print... youtu.be/m2hwcodwaXM?...
In short: it depends.
Compared with right now, yes. Compared with what we had last year: no.
Here's my v brief instant primer on some of the numbers👇
More to come when we actually get the small print... youtu.be/m2hwcodwaXM?...
📽️What on earth is "de minimis"?
Here's my 3m primer on the latest issue at the heart of Donald Trump's trade war, an obscure customs loophole that changed the world of e-commerce & contributed to the rise of Chinese mega firms like Temu & Shein...
It's about to disappear!👇 youtu.be/OaJmVQqakUY?...
Here's my 3m primer on the latest issue at the heart of Donald Trump's trade war, an obscure customs loophole that changed the world of e-commerce & contributed to the rise of Chinese mega firms like Temu & Shein...
It's about to disappear!👇 youtu.be/OaJmVQqakUY?...
A look into price hikes as US ends duty-free imports from China
YouTube video by Sky News
youtu.be
May 1, 2025 at 1:40 PM
📽️What on earth is "de minimis"?
Here's my 3m primer on the latest issue at the heart of Donald Trump's trade war, an obscure customs loophole that changed the world of e-commerce & contributed to the rise of Chinese mega firms like Temu & Shein...
It's about to disappear!👇 youtu.be/OaJmVQqakUY?...
Here's my 3m primer on the latest issue at the heart of Donald Trump's trade war, an obscure customs loophole that changed the world of e-commerce & contributed to the rise of Chinese mega firms like Temu & Shein...
It's about to disappear!👇 youtu.be/OaJmVQqakUY?...
Here's a 👀 datapoint.
In January a whopping 67% of ALL UK exports to America were gold bars.
Ponder that for a moment.
67% of EVERY PHYSICAL THING the UK exported to the US (by value)
Totally unprecedented. Further evidence of the scale of gold outflows from Britain to America
In January a whopping 67% of ALL UK exports to America were gold bars.
Ponder that for a moment.
67% of EVERY PHYSICAL THING the UK exported to the US (by value)
Totally unprecedented. Further evidence of the scale of gold outflows from Britain to America
May 1, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Here's a 👀 datapoint.
In January a whopping 67% of ALL UK exports to America were gold bars.
Ponder that for a moment.
67% of EVERY PHYSICAL THING the UK exported to the US (by value)
Totally unprecedented. Further evidence of the scale of gold outflows from Britain to America
In January a whopping 67% of ALL UK exports to America were gold bars.
Ponder that for a moment.
67% of EVERY PHYSICAL THING the UK exported to the US (by value)
Totally unprecedented. Further evidence of the scale of gold outflows from Britain to America
Reposted by Ed Conway
Very much enjoyed @edconway.bsky.social book Material World. A fascinating look at the raw materials essential to our lifestyle. Prescient about the importance of our interconnected world. An insightful discussion on net zero. Will now lend to a friend.
April 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Very much enjoyed @edconway.bsky.social book Material World. A fascinating look at the raw materials essential to our lifestyle. Prescient about the importance of our interconnected world. An insightful discussion on net zero. Will now lend to a friend.
Reposted by Ed Conway
April 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
V wise move 🙏
just bought @edconway.bsky.social's latest book, Material World. Seems important right now.
April 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM
V wise move 🙏