Declines in lithium carbonate prices extend to lithium metal

Published: Sep 11, 2018 17:27
Demand for battery-grade lithium metal from bike sharing services and electronic cigarette has decreased year on year

SHANGHAI, Sep 11 (SMM) – As downstream demand continued to weaken, declines in prices of lithium carbonate spread across the lithium metal market as of Tuesday September 11. 

Demand for battery-grade lithium metal from bike sharing services and electronic cigarette has decreased year on year.

As of September 11, SMM assessed prices of domestic battery-grade lithium (≥99% Li) at 870,000-890,000 yuan/mt, down an average 10,000 yuan/mt from September 10. Prices stayed flat from mid-August till September 10. 

Poor demand in the battery industry began to weigh on the lithium carbonate market at the end of last year. SMM assessed prices of domestic battery-grade 99.5% lithium carbonate at 82,000-86,000 yuan/mt as of September 11, down 3,000 yuan/mt from a week ago, and down over 80,000 yuan/mt from the end of 2017.

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.

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Declines in lithium carbonate prices extend to lithium metal - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)