Carbon neutrality stocks have attracted market attention recently. In December 2020, the Central Economic Work Conference determined that promoting a peak in coal consumption and carbon neutrality are one of the key tasks to be focused in 2021. China is aiming to improve the system that caps both national carbon intensity－carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP－and energy consumption, as it strives to reach a peak in carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Carbon neutrality refers to achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by balancing carbon dioxide emissions with removal (often through carbon offsetting) or simply eliminating carbon dioxide emissions altogether. It is used in the context of carbon dioxide-releasing processes associated with transportation, energy production, agriculture, and industrial processes. Carbon neutrality is expected be an important part of the "Two Sessions" and the "14th Five-Year Plan” to be held this week. 

China's new energy vehicle market demand has grown rapidly, leading to stronger demand for ternary and iron-lithium materials. The global supply of nickel and cobalt raw materials is tightening, and the increase in downstream demand will support the rise of lithium prices in 2021.

Automobile sales have shown a gradual recovery trend since April. China automobile production and sales have achieved year-on-year growth for eight consecutive months as of November.

China's new energy vehicle market demand has grown rapidly, leading to stronger demand for ternary and iron-lithium materials. The global supply of nickel and cobalt raw materials is tightening, and the increase in downstream demand will support the rise of lithium prices in 2021, said SMM’s senior cobalt-lithium analyst Miranda Mei.

According to SMM survey, cobalt prices trended lower in September-October but have stabilised recently. Inquiries for cobalt raw materials and trades rose. A small number of producers reported that they planned to delay the arrivals of raw materials at ports from September to early October, and the overall arrivals are expected to rise from October to November.

At present, the capacity of lithium carbonate (industrial grade and battery grade) smelters in Sichuan accounts for 20% of the China's total capacity, and the capacity of lithium hydroxide accounts for 37% of the country's total. Expansion is in progress.

In this three part webinar series, our analysts will share their views on the trending topics across the China domestic ferrous, non-ferrous and new energy sectors during this unprecedented period.

China has taken a leading position in global new energy industry despite source starvation; mining and battery sectors are highly concentrated in the global new energy value chain, while smelters and material producers, who are in the middle of the value chain, are less concentrated and suffer from thin gross profits and overcapacity, said Racket Hu, vice president of SMM.

In February, SMM will be hosting a 4-session special webinar series on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesdays and Fridays, 5pm CST.