China spodumene concentrate import price edged up in February, prices in long-term contracts fell

SHANGHAI, Mar 24 (SMM) – China imported some 120,000 mt in physical content of spodumene concentrate in February, with the average import price down 30.4% on the year to $541.1/mt, the latest customs data showed. On a monthly basis, the average import price was 4.1% higher due to greater imports of technical-grade spodumene concentrate.

The amounts of imports used to produce lithium salts stood at 110,000 mt in February, down 19.5% on the year while up 40% on the month, with the average import price at $491/mt, 36.8% lower on the year and 0.2% lower on the month. No seaborne spodumene raw ore entered China in February. 

Last month, China's major lithium compounds producer Ganfeng Lithium remained the top importer of spodumene concentrate, as it took about 6,400 mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) from overseas, which was used to produce lithium salts. The average import price stood at $398/mt on a cif basis, and the proportion of imports with grades of 5-6% increased significantly. 

Yabao Lithium was the second-largest Chinese importer of spodumene concentrate last month, who took 3,700 mt of LCE in February. Import prices of the company averaged $521/mt on a cif basis.

Major adjustments have seen in the purchasing prices set in long-term contracts between miners and smelters in February. For instance, the price of spodumene concentrate with a grade of 6.1% purchased by Ganfeng Lithium declined 15% to $442/mt and Yabao Lithium’s purchasing price of spodumene concentrate was adjusted to $521/mt, 25% lower from 2019. 

It is expected that Tianqi Lithium, another key importer of spodumene concentrate in China, also mulls adjustment to the purchasing prices.  

The fast-spreading coronavirus has impacted production and logistics in many countries around the world. While mining and shipments at spodumene miners in Australia maintain normal so far, a lack of improvement in demand from China’s power battery market and production disruption at European carmakers keep prices of lithium salts under pressure and triggered the price negotiations between smelters and miners.