SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Fell Steadily on August 3

[SMM Daily Comment: Spot Lithium Carbonate Fell Steadily on Aug 3]

The SMM spot price of battery-grade lithium carbonate fell steadily today from the previous working day. The lithium carbonate 2609 contract opened low at 137,500 yuan/mt today, then fluctuated lower and dipped quickly, hitting a low of 135,600 yuan/mt; subsequently, bulls stepped in to push prices to a choppy rebound, and the morning session saw fluctuations around the average price line; near midday, bulls concentrated their strength, prices quickly surged past 140,000 yuan/mt and shot up to 140,800 yuan/mt; in the afternoon, faced with bearish selling pressure and profit-taking, prices consolidated and pulled back, and near the close, moved sideways in the 138,800-139,000 yuan range, finally settling down 1.15% at 138,900 yuan/mt, with open interest decreasing by 3,474 lots.

In the spot market, coinciding with the first working day of the month, downstream material plants gradually received long-term contract and customer-supplied shipments. Spot order purchases were cautious, only purchasing as needed when prices were relatively low; upstream lithium chemical plants continued to hold prices firm for spot sales, mainly relying on long-term contracts and additional contract volumes to ensure supply at the beginning of the month. Overall, market inquiries and actual transaction activity decreased.