LiCarbonate Daily - April 18th Edition

Market Overview:

Today's lithium carbonate market showed general stability with a slight decrease in the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index to 110,825 yuan/ton ($15,307.32 USD/ton), down by 99 yuan. Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices remained constant, ranging from 110,000 yuan/ton ($15,193.37 USD/ton) to 113,000 yuan/ton ($15,607.73 USD/ton), with an average price holding steady at 111,500 yuan/ton ($15,400.55 USD/ton). Industrial-grade lithium carbonate also held steady, with prices between 107,800 yuan/ton ($14,889.50 USD/ton) and 109,500 yuan/ton ($15,124.31 USD/ton), averaging at 108,700 yuan/ton (~$15,013.81 USD/ton).

Supply and Demand Dynamics:

Lithium salt producers continued their cautious approach to spot sales, maintaining firm pricing despite the overall market stability. Downstream cathode manufacturers, having leveraged lower-priced sources through select lithium salt companies and trade markets, have decreased their purchasing volumes after preparing for the upcoming Labor's Day holiday, indicating that many have completed their stockpiling.

Futures Market Trends:

The lithium carbonate (2407) main futures contract experienced a minor decline, dropping by 0.73%. The contract opened at 109,900 yuan/ton ($15,179.56 USD/ton) and closed at 108,400 yuan/ton ($14,972.38 USD/ton), with trading volume standing at 131,581 lots and open interest reducing by 667 lots to 174,354 lots. The day began with a significant rise, peaking at 111,850 yuan/ton (~$15,448.90 USD/ton) before reversing to a downtrend, stabilizing with minor fluctuations towards the end of the trading session.

Implications and Market Sentiments:

The market is closely monitoring the interplay between supply chain constraints and fluctuating demand as stakeholders adjust their strategies. While the overall sentiment remains cautious, the persistent tightness in supply and strategic stockpiling by downstream players suggest a carefully balanced market, ready to respond to post-holiday demand fluctuations.

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If you have any questions regarding the recent movement of lithium carbonate market (e.g. what caused it and how this can affect your business), or would like to know more comprehensive pricing info on Lithium Carbonate. Please feel free to reach out to me:

Robin He

SMM Li-ion Battery Materials Department

E: robinhe@smm.cn | T: +86-21-51595884