Sharp Output Cuts Led to Lithium Ore Shortages, High Import Prices Drove Lithium Salt Producers to Shut Down

Published: May 10, 2023 16:45

Source: SMM

Save

Lithium ore prices continued to stabilise last week. The current supply of lepidolite is still very limited. The mining volume has been reduced significantly, and the mining area has not been widened.

Leading mining companies such as Yichun Tantalum Niobium Mine are still in normal production, but the demand is so strong that these companies are about to stock out, which drove the mines to halt their sales. This increased inquiries under long-term contracts at other mining companies.

Import prices of spodumene remained high, and some lithium salt companies using imported cargoes continued to cut output or remained closed, or shifted their capacity into OEM capacity. Thanks to the stability of overseas prices under long-term contracts, production schedules of leading lithium salt enterprises will not be affected by the current prices of spodumene.

More popular news:

'Bond King' Jeffrey Gundlach Says Sharp Fed Rate Cuts By Year-End Will Push Up Gold Prices

US Treasury Bill Rates Soar to Record High on Debt Ceiling Jitters

Russia is Accelerating Technology to Become Top Liquefied Natural Gas Supplier by Tripling Exports By 2030

Rio Tinto Warns of Risks for Paying High Premiums for Lithium Mines after Plunging Lithium Prices Triggered Acquisition Rush

SMM Daily Comments (May 5): LME Base Metals Rose across the Board, SHFE Nickel Plunged

IMF Slashes Saudi Arabia GDP Growth 2023-2024, Saying the Country Can’t Achieve Budget Balance This Year unless International Oil Prices Surge to $81 per Barrel

JPMorgan Asset Management: US Treasury Bonds will Strengthen

JPMorgan: How to Invest Amid a Likely Recession? Investors are Turning to Gold and Tech Stocks

A Bull Gold Market Has Just Begun

Market forecast Market review Output

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.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

1 hour ago

M2i, Volato, and Regenerate Technology Global Partner to Advance Sustainable Battery Recycling in the U.S.

M2i Global, Inc. and Volato Group, Inc., together with Regenerate Technology Global, have formed a strategic partnership announced on April 20, 2026, to develop and deploy advanced battery recycling technology in the United States. The new approach is designed to be much more efficient and environmentally friendly, reducing energy use by more than 80% and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by around 90% compared to conventional smelting processes. It can process different types of batteries, including lithium-ion, lead-acid, and alkaline, and enhances recycled “black mass” to produce high-purity materials suitable for new battery manufacturing more quickly and efficiently.

1 hour ago

9 hours ago

[Lithium Battery: Zhaoxin Shares Establishes Joint Venture Company]

On April 21, news emerged that Zhaoxin Shares disclosed an announcement regarding its wholly-owned subsidiary's external investment to establish a joint venture company. The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Qinghai Ruiqi New Material Technology Co., Ltd., plans to sign a "Joint Venture Operating Agreement" with Shenzhen Chaochuang Sanre New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. to jointly invest in establishing a joint venture company, deepening upstream and downstream supply chain cooperation in salt lake resources. The company aims to achieve deep synergy in areas such as the development and utilization of salt lake resources, waste battery recycling, and lithium-containing raw materials.

9 hours ago

[Lithium Battery: Tianqi Lithium's Q1 2026 Net Profit Expected To Reach 2 Billion Yuan]

On April 20, Tianqi Lithium Corporation released its performance forecast for the first quarter of 2026. The company expects its first-quarter performance to show a significant year-on-year increase, with net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company ranging from 1.7 billion yuan to 2.0 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1530.31% to 1818.01%. On the one hand, benefiting from the development of the new energy industry and growth in downstream demand, the company's operating revenue for the first quarter increased significantly compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, the company's investment income from its associate SQM increased significantly year-on-year.

9 hours ago