Ganfeng Lithium’s 50,000 mt/year lithium hydroxide project to commission in Q4

The industry chain remained in the doldrums overall this week, with some products stabilizing briefly, but demand-side improvement was limited. Electrolysis product prices stopped falling and rebounded, driven mainly by a phased increase in purchasing, though sustainability remains to be seen. The intermediate product market stayed in a stalemate, with upstream price-holding and low-price transactions intensifying the standoff; if low-priced supply persists, the price center still faces downside risk. Cost support for salt products continued to weaken, as low-cost recycled materials and low-price selling by some enterprises intensified market competition, while downstream purchase willingness remained cautious, leaving prices clearly under pressure. Co3O4 and cobalt chloride were broadly stable, but with both supply and demand weak and inventory digestion slow, there was little upward momentum in the short term. Cobalt powder quotations continued to edge lower, dragged down by weak demand from the cemented carbide sector. Ternary cathode precursors and ternary cathode materials continued to weaken under the impact of falling nickel and lithium raw material prices and reduced end-user orders, with production schedules also trending downward. LCO's traditional peak season performance fell short of expectations, with weak end-user stockpiling; falling costs and insufficient demand created dual pressure, and the market is expected to consolidate on a weak note in the short term.

According to Capchem (300037), the first public announcement of the environmental impact assessment for the Phase II battery chemicals project of Chongqing Capchem New Materials Co., Ltd. has been made. The announcement shows that this project is the Phase II battery chemicals project of Chongqing Capchem, located at No. 5, Huanan Bazhi Road, Yanjia Street, Changshou District, Chongqing. The total plant area covers 168 mu, and the expansion project will be constructed on reserved land within the plant area. The construction content and scale are as follows: In Phase II, Plant Building No. 1, Plant Building No. 6, and the tank farm will be expanded, and a new Class A Plant Building No. 2, Warehouse No. 3, and a temporary parking lot for tank truck turnaround will be built.

On September 14th, 2026, London-listed Premier African Minerals agreed with Canmax Technologies to extend the long stop date under their restated offtake and prepayment agreement for the Zulu lithium and tantalum project in Zimbabwe, originally signed in August 2023, to December 31. Premier, Zulu Lithium Private, and Canmax also signed a tripartite priority and subordination agreement, giving Canmax contractual priority over amounts owed by Zulu Lithium to Premier and other Premier group members. Other terms remain unchanged. Amounts owed to Canmax, including outstanding prepayment and accrued interest, rank as senior indebtedness about $48.73-million as at September 10. Amounts owed by Zulu Lithium to Premier, including loans, advances, and intercompany balances, rank as subordinated indebtedness about $55.75-million. Premier MD Graham Hill said the extension provides time and certainty to progress Zulu and reach a long-term resolution with Canmax, while the subordination agreement clarifies creditor positions and preserves Premier's claims against Zulu Lithium.