[SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Drifted Lower on July 24]
SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate spot prices drifted lower compared with the previous working day. In the futures market, the lithium carbonate 2609 contract opened lower at 144,200 yuan/mt today, drifted lower after opening, moved sideways below the average price line (143,800 yuan/mt) in the morning, and hit a low of 141,300 yuan/mt; around midday, bulls and bears repeatedly struggled in the 141,000–144,000 yuan/mt range, with trading volume increasing in stages; in the afternoon, bulls briefly exerted strength, pushing the price to surge to 145,800 yuan/mt, before it encountered bearish selling pressure and drifted lower. The contract then consolidated at lows around 144,300 yuan/mt in the late session, finally closing down 0.88% at 144,300 yuan/mt. Open interest decreased by 13,209 lots.
In the spot market, downstream purchase willingness moderated, with purchasing mainly as needed; upstream lithium chemical plants continued to hold prices firm and hold back from selling for spot orders, trading more with downstream through long-term contracts. Overall, market inquiries and actual transactions relatively slowed down.
![Cobalt Product Quotes in the Doldrums, Refined Cobalt Dropped Over 20,000 Yuan in a Single Week, Cobalt Sulphate Extends Losing Streak to Five Days [Weekly Observation]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/MjfPv20251217171728.jpg)
![H1 Battery Materials Import and Export Data Released, Lithium Carbonate Imports Surge over 50%, How About Other Segments? [SMM Special]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/JmyWy20251217171729.png)
![[SMM Manganese Ore Weekly Review] Overseas markets broadly decline, coupled with weak demand, manganese ore prices continue to grind lower.](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/NPpAM20251217171723.jpeg)
