[China's Lithium Hydroxide Exports Outpace Imports in June, Back to Net Exporter]

Published: Jul 21, 2026 16:19

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According to customs data, China's lithium hydroxide imports reached 4,400 tonnes in June 2026, up 12% month-on-month and nearly tripling year-on-year. By source country, imports from South Korea totaled 1,159 tonnes, accounting for 26% of the total; Chile ranked second with 993 tonnes; notably, imports from Indonesia remained at a low level, with only 774 tonnes arriving in June.

On the export side, China's lithium hydroxide exports in June amounted to 6,018 tonnes, an increase of 70% month-on-month, mainly driven by end-of-quarter shipment concentration and a modest recovery in overseas demand. Among these, exports to South Korea were 5,032 tonnes, and to Japan 679 tonnes.

Overall, exports significantly exceeded imports for the month, meaning China's lithium hydroxide trade has temporarily returned to a net export position after several months.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

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