SHANGHAI, Jun 27 (SMM) - 

China's lithium carbonate imports stood at 9,676 mt in May, up 68% on the month and 13% on the year. The imports from Argentina increased by 47% and those from Chile rose by 68% on a year-on-year basis. The average import price of China's lithium carbonate was $40,858/mt in May 2022, an increase of 14% month-on-month and 659% year-on-year. Among them, the average price of imported lithium carbonate from Chile was $43,290/mt, an average price increase of 13% from April. In addition, among the total lithium carbonate imports, 41% went to Shanghai, 25% Fujian, and 20% Sichuan. From January to May, imports of lithium carbonate totalled 42,935 mt, up 17% year on year.

China exported 7,480 mt of lithium hydroxide in May 2022, a month-on-month increase of 31% and year-on-year increase of 22%. The exports to South Korea rose 56% on the month, while that to Japan dropped 9% on the month. The average export price was $47,789/mt in May 2022, a month-on-month increase of 48%, up 439% on the year. The average price of lithium hydroxide exported to South Korea was $57,372/mt, and that to Japan was $20,139/mt. From January to May 2022, China’s exports of lithium hydroxide totalled 30,750 mt, a year-on-year increase of 11%.

China imported 224,308 mt of spodumene concentrate in physical content in May 2022, up 7.65% on the month and 52.39% on the year. Among them, imports from Australia stood at 218,104 mt in physical content, accounting for about 97.2% of China’s monthly imports, among which 33% went to Sichuan, 24% Shanghai, 23% Jiangxi, 11% Jiangsu and 5% Fujian. From January to May, imports of spodumene concentrate totalled 963,868 mt in physical content (120,500 mt of LCE equivalent).