SMM analysis: Chile’s lithium carbonate exports to China slumped MoM in November, but still 19.09% higher than the average for the year

According to Chilean customs data, Chile exported 19,857 mt of lithium carbonate in November, down 17.09% month-on-month, and up 8.37% year-on-year; the export unit price was 20,850.77 US dollars/mt, down 6% month-on-month and 44.93% year-on-year.
A total of 204,453 mt of lithium carbonate was exported by Chile from January to November, up 1.13% year-on-year.
Chile exported 13,592 mt of lithium carbonate to China in November, down 19.05% month-on-month, and up 35.04% year-on-year; the export unit price was 19,992.69 US dollars/mt, down 5.01% month-on-month, and down 48.09% year-on-year; from January to November, a total of 125,542 mt were exported to China, up 9.44% YoY.
Due to the long shipping time, there is a time lag between China’s imports of lithium carbonate from Chile and Chile’s exports of lithium carbonate to China. In October and November, Chile’s exports of lithium carbonate to China were 16,791 mt and 13,592 mt respectively.
China’s imports of lithium carbonate averaged 12,137 mt per month from January to October. It is expected that China’s lithium carbonate imports will remain at a high level in November and December, which will increase supply in the domestic market.