[SMM Cobalt Lithium spot Weekly] wait and see posture Cobalt Lithium continues to decline (0708 to 0712)

Published: Jul 12, 2019 23:07

SMM, July 12 / PRNewswire-Asianet /-

Power batteries, this week released new energy vehicles, power battery production, power battery installed capacity and other data. New energy vehicles: production of new energy vehicles was 134000 in June, up 19.4 percent from a month earlier, up 56.3 percent from a year earlier, and sales of 152000 vehicles were up 45.6 percent from a month earlier, up 80 percent from a year earlier, according to the Mid-term Association. Affected by the cut-off of the subsidized sloping transition period, the phenomenon of "rush loading" of new energy vehicles appeared again in June. Power battery production: according to data released by the China Automobile Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, China's power battery production totaled 6.4 GWhin June, down 35.7 percent from the previous month. Among them, the output of ternary battery decreased by 29.5%, accounting for 71.2% of the total output, and the output of lithium iron phosphate battery decreased by 27.3%, accounting for 26.5% of the total output. From January to June, the cumulative output of power batteries in China reached 43.4 GWh. among them, the cumulative production of ternary batteries was 27.4 GWhs, accounting for 63.2% of the total output, and that of lithium iron phosphate batteries was 13.9 GWhs, accounting for 32.0% of the total output, and 4.8% of batteries with other materials. Power battery installed: according to the SMM New Energy Database, the total installed capacity of power batteries in June was 6.61GWh. it was 16.3% higher than the previous month and 126.6% higher than the same period last year. Among them, the installed capacity of ternary batteries was 4.71GWh, accounting for 71.2%, up 5.2% from the previous month, and the installed capacity of lithium iron phosphate batteries was 1.71 GWh, accounting for 25.9%, down 4.5% from the previous month. According to SMM, due to the rapid expansion of battery production in the first quarter, the current inventory level in the industry will remain high, and the main product structure will be de-stocked and upgraded in July.

Electrolytic cobalt and cobalt hydroxide: this week, the price of cobalt continues to decline, downstream demand is stable, the new energy story has also entered a short period of downturn, the domestic electricity cobalt producer quotation is difficult and difficult, finally downgraded the quotation, the market actual transaction is relatively depressed, the future market still has the downward pressure. Cobalt hydroxide, downstream of the recent occasional inquiry, the market a small number of low-price transactions, a large number of transactions are still affected by the psychological price difference between buyers and sellers is difficult to land. The price of SMM electrolytic cobalt is 21.50-227000 yuan / ton, which is 5500 yuan / ton lower than that of last week. SMM cobalt hydroxide prices range from $8.2 to $8.40 per pound, down $0.1 per pound from last week.

Cobalt salt and nickel salt: affected by the low demand downstream and wait-and-see mentality, cobalt salt prices fell slightly again this week. Cobalt sulfate producers intend to stick to the 35000 yuan / ton mark. Some manufacturers ship at a low price in order to get money back. A small amount of low price transactions in the market. SMM cobalt sulfate price is 3.5-37000 yuan / ton, the average price is down 1000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The current price of SMM cobalt chloride is 4.2-44000 yuan / ton, the average price is 1000 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM nickel sulfate is 22500-26000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week.

Cobalt oxide: cobalt prices fell rapidly on Thursday, downstream psychological price of less than 150000 yuan / ton, large companies in the seller's market price concessions, this week is still strong 150000 yuan / ton gate, prices are expected to continue to fall in the future. The current price of SMM cobalt oxide is 15.2-154000 yuan / ton, which is 4000 yuan / ton lower than that of last week.

Ternary precursor: the price of the precursor is relatively strong, the decline of upstream nickel and cobalt raw materials is limited, the number of manufacturers' orders has been reduced, and the willingness to make price concessions has been reduced, so the quotation is firm. The price of SMM ternary precursor (523) is 7-72000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week. The price of SMM ternary precursor (622) is 7.6-78000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week.

Lithium carbonate: lithium carbonate prices continued to fall this week. The demand for battery-grade lithium carbonate has dropped sharply recently, and manufacturers say that downstream positive material enterprises have serious pressure on lithium carbonate suppliers, and that for battery-grade lithium carbonate with spodumene as raw material, the expected transaction price is 7-71000 yuan / ton. at present, the electric carbon price of spodumene concentrate as raw material is 7.1-73000 yuan / ton. Compared with battery-grade lithium carbonate, industrial-grade lithium carbonate demand has also weakened, and prices have gradually fallen. For the main content of more than 99.2%, but some impurities do not meet the standard of industrial carbon, there are low prices to about 60,000 yuan / ton in order to close the transaction. The price of SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate this week was 7-73000 yuan / ton, down 1000 yuan / ton from last week. This week, the price of zero-grade lithium carbonate in SMM industry was 6.2-65000 yuan / ton, down 1500 yuan / ton from last week.

Lithium hydroxide: battery grade lithium hydroxide prices continue to fall this week. According to a lithium hydroxide production enterprise, now the transaction is rare, before the cooperation of downstream customers are not active. Due to the storage characteristics of lithium hydroxide, it is not ruled out that there will be manufacturers to reduce production in July. This week, the price of SMM battery grade lithium hydroxide (coarse particles) is 7.9-81000 yuan / ton, the average price is 2000 yuan / ton lower than that of last week.

Lithium cobalt acid: lithium cobalt acid market demand is general, downstream worry that the future cobalt lithium prices still have room to fall, so although there is procurement demand, but the pressure is more serious, lithium cobalt acid manufacturers in order to receive orders have to reduce the pressure to transmit upstream, at the same time speed up the turnover of raw materials and finished products. The price of SMM4.35V lithium cobalt acid is 19.3-203000 yuan / ton, down 7000 yuan / ton from last week.

Ternary material: the impact of production reduction in power battery enterprises continues until this week, although some manufacturers said that the order situation in July has improved, but in order to ensure the flow of funds, the material factory will still be mainly to de-inventory. The price of SMM ternary material (523 type) is 12.5-133000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week. The price of SMM ternary material (type 622) is 14.1-148000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week.

Lithium iron phosphate (power type): the price of lithium iron phosphate is flat this week. Demand for dynamic lithium iron phosphate, which traded sporadically in early July, is still not picking up. Manufacturers revealed that the specific order improvement time is temporarily unknown, the start-up rate continues to remain low. This week, the price of SMM lithium iron phosphate (power type) is 4.6-49000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week.

Lithium manganate: lithium manganate trading this week is stable, power prices fell slightly. In the third quarter, affected by the off-season of the digital consumer industry, the demand for volume lithium manganate is light. This week SMM lithium manganate (volume type) price is 3-38000 yuan / ton, the average price is the same as last week. The price of SMM lithium manganate this week was 4.7-49000 yuan / ton, down 500 yuan / ton from last week.

Future forecast: SMM to maintain the previous point of view, the third quarter of the domestic consumer market is relatively stable, power market demand contraction, there are no obvious signs of recovery. The price of lithium salt decreased gradually, and the rising water of cobalt metal to cobalt salt gradually disappeared.

SMM Cobalt Lithium Research team

Hong Lu 021 51666814

Ning Ziwei 021 51666780

Qin Jingjing 021 51666828

 

 

 

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.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
[SMM Analysis] DRC Cobalt Exports Surge, Shifting Near-Term Bargaining Power to Buyers
23 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] DRC Cobalt Exports Surge, Shifting Near-Term Bargaining Power to Buyers
Read More
[SMM Analysis] DRC Cobalt Exports Surge, Shifting Near-Term Bargaining Power to Buyers
[SMM Analysis] DRC Cobalt Exports Surge, Shifting Near-Term Bargaining Power to Buyers
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's cobalt exports are gradually recovering, according to the country's mining report for the first half of 2026. The concentrated release of material should ease China's cobalt feedstock shortage and shift bargaining power toward buyers. With cobalt salt demand weak and smelter margins under pressure, additional arrivals will make it harder for sellers to hold firm, and price concessions will be needed to unlock transactions.
23 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] August Korea ESS Market Review: Greater Demand Visibility as Grid Policies Take Shape
Sep 11, 2026 18:17
[SMM Analysis] August Korea ESS Market Review: Greater Demand Visibility as Grid Policies Take Shape
Read More
[SMM Analysis] August Korea ESS Market Review: Greater Demand Visibility as Grid Policies Take Shape
[SMM Analysis] August Korea ESS Market Review: Greater Demand Visibility as Grid Policies Take Shape
Korea’s ESS market moved closer to actual procurement expansion in August as policy support for renewable integration and grid stability became more concrete. Attention focused on the next ESS centralized contract market, distribution-grid projects, and stronger non-price criteria such as safety and supply capability. Actual demand growth will depend on final tender volumes, project execution and battery shipments.
Sep 11, 2026 18:17
China Aims to Become Global Automotive Power by 2030 with NEV and Autonomous Tech Push
Sep 11, 2026 17:49
China Aims to Become Global Automotive Power by 2030 with NEV and Autonomous Tech Push
Read More
China Aims to Become Global Automotive Power by 2030 with NEV and Autonomous Tech Push
China Aims to Become Global Automotive Power by 2030 with NEV and Autonomous Tech Push
[MIIT and eight other departments: China to join ranks of world's automotive powers by 2030] The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and eight other departments have issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected NEV Industry. The plan proposes that by 2030, China's advantages across the entire intelligent connected NEV industry chain will be further consolidated, enabling the country to join the ranks of the world's automotive powers. In the Chinese market, passenger NEVs and commercial NEVs are expected to account for 70% and 40% of total new vehicle sales in their respective segments, and vehicles with autonomous driving functions will achieve large-scale application.
Sep 11, 2026 17:49