China imports greater lithium concentrate, less raw ore in Q4

SHANGHAI, Feb 2 (SMM) – China imported some 183,500 mt in physical content of lithium raw ore in the fourth quarter of 2018, down 77% from the third quarter and down 78.17% from the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the latest release of customs data. 

Imports of lithium concentrate, however, grew 3.06% on the quarter and 35.12% on the year, to stand at 397,800 mt in physical content in the last quarter of 2018. 

In December, imports of lithium concentrate fell 14.13% on the month but grew 37.07% on the year, to 141,400 mt. Imports of lithium raw ore registered 1,414 mt, sharply down 98.49% from November and down 99.53% from December 2017. 

Import prices of lithium raw ore gained 26.86% month on month and 8.99% year on year, averaging $130/mt in December. Lithium concentrate saw its import prices dip 1.71% on the month, but rise 25.9% on the year, to $754/mt. 

China's imports of lithium raw ore totalled 2.87 million mt in 2018, up 40.89% from a year earlier. Imports of lithium concentrate reached 1.37 million mt, up 37.01% on the year. Both were in physical content.