China's lithium carbonate output likely to rise 24% in 2019

SHANGHAI, Mar 12 (SMM) – China's production of lithium carbonate in 2019 is likely to increase by 28,000 mt from last year, and output of lithium hydroxide will rise by 19,000 mt, SMM estimated after surveyed new capacity for 2019. These marked year-on-year increases of 24% and 37.5%, respectively. 

In 2018, China produced some 116,500 mt of lithium carbonate and 50,200 mt of lithium hydroxide, SMM data showed. 

SMM expects prices of lithium carbonate to continue to weaken in the second quarter, when most capacity additions are scheduled to commission. Downstream cathode material producers showed no plan to step up purchases as of Tuesday March 12.