Imports of Lithium Concentrates and Lithium Carbonate were 529,000 mt and 27,500 mt Respectively in Q1

SHANGHAI, Apr 22 (SMM) - According to customs data, in the first quarter of 2022, China imported 529,000 mt of lithium concentrate, of which about 502,000 mt were imported from Australia, accounting for about 95%. The import volume of lithium carbonate was 27,500 mt, while the export volume was 2,100 mt, and the net import volume was 25,400 mt. The import volume of lithium hydroxide was 5,00 mt, the export volume was 17,500 mt, and the net export volume was 17,000 mt.
 When compared with the same period in 2021, the import of lithium concentrate was basically flat in Q1, while the net import of lithium carbonate increased by about 40%, and the net export of lithium hydroxide increased by about 9%. Given no obvious increase in the supply of lithium concentrate overseas, China should speed up the development of domestic lithium resources, especially in Qinghai, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Tibet.