News

Australia's Atlantic Lithium has obtained approval from Ghana's parliament to develop the Ewoyaa project—the country's first lithium mine—and will be subject to revised royalty terms linked to market prices.

In 2026, the correction in lithium carbonate prices drove up lithium battery production costs. Coupled with uncertainties in lithium resources supply, cost pressure across the new energy industry became increasingly prominent. Leveraging the advantages of abundant sodium resources, balanced distribution, and controllable costs, sodium-ion batteries have leapt from being a “backup option” for lithium batteries to a key direction for industry breakthrough...

[SMM Weekly Review of the Lithium Battery Electrolyte Market: Electrolyte Prices Remained Temporarily Stable This Week (2026.3.16-3.19)] From March 16 to March 19, 2026, electrolyte prices remained temporarily stable. Considering the overall trend in cost-side changes and the supply-demand pattern, electrolyte prices are expected to remain temporarily stable in the short term.

Spot Lithium Carbonate Fluctuated Downward from 3.16-3.19.

Raw material side, this week lithium carbonate and nickel sulphate prices fluctuated, while cobalt sulphate prices began to drop slightly after remaining stable for an extended period.

This week，the solid-state battery industry showed a dual-engine momentum driven by "intensive breakthroughs on the technology front and targeted solutions on the policy front." CATL disclosed a sulphide patent, Zhongkeyuanben's 20Ah all-solid-state battery passed third-party detection, and Dreame Technology released a 450Wh/kg product; Guangdong took the lead in incorporating diversified solid-state battery technology routes and eVTOL scenarios into provincial-level action plans.

[SMM Lithium Battery Electrolyte Market Weekly Review: Electrolyte Prices Declined This Week (2026.3.2-3.5)] From March 2 to March 5, 2026, electrolyte prices declined. Considering the trend in changes on the cost side and the supply-demand pattern, electrolyte prices were expected to remain in the doldrums in the short term.

This week, prices in the second-life Grade B battery cell market showed an upward trend. Cost side, spot lithium carbonate prices fluctuated more sharply this week and, overall, showed a clear downward trend, creating some expected pressure on the cost side going forward; nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate prices fluctuated within a range, with nickel sulphate prices rebounding, while remaining relatively stable overall and causing no significant disruption to current costs. Overall, the industry chain’s cost side remained within the previous range of fluctuating at highs. Supply side, the second-life battery market gradually returned to its normal supply pace seen before the Chinese New Year; enterprise operating rates rebounded steadily. However, affected by current fluctuations in lithium chemicals prices, some inventory-holding enterprises adopted a wait-and-see stance on sales willingness, and the pace of releasing effective market circulation volumes slowed somewhat. Overall, the supply side showed a pattern of “recovery, but not rushing shipments.” Demand side, demand recovered significantly compared with the Chinese New Year holiday period. Downstream enterprises generally maintained destocking operations, and purchase willingness increased markedly. Among them, demand growth in the ESS sector was particularly notable, with new project starts and supporting demand continuing to be released, becoming the core driver boosting overall demand growth.

SMM Feburary 26 News: This week, nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate prices were basically flat, while lithium carbonate prices fell before rising again.