Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide Prices still in Downturn

US solid-state battery developer Factorial has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea's SK On to jointly evaluate the feasibility of manufacturing Factorial's solid-state batteries using SK On's existing lithium-ion battery production infrastructure. The collaboration aims to explore scalable manufacturing pathways and accelerate the commercialization of next-generation solid-state battery technologies.

On August 4th, Andrada Mining Limited said it has extended the identified lithium mineralized trend at its Lithium Ridge Project in Namibia's Erongo Region by 50%, from six kilometers to nine kilometers, following completion of a license wide surface sampling programme. The sampling forms part of the first stage of an earn-in agreement with Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA (SQM), conducted through its subsidiary SQM Australia. Andrada is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market and the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). Several surface samples returned lithium grades exceeding 3.5% Li₂O, with additional mineralized pegmatites identified outside the main Lithium Ridge trend. Grab samples also returned tin grades of up to 7.38% and tantalum levels of up to 3,192 parts per million. Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoen said the results confirm high-grade lithium mineralization across multiple new pegmatites, together with significant associated tin and tantalum mineralization, and complement earlier drilling that confirmed lithium mineralisation from surface to depth. Lithium Ridge is part of Andrada's broader Namibian critical minerals portfolio, alongside its established tin production operations.

[SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Unchanged on August 4] Today, SMM battery-grade spot lithium carbonate prices remained flat from the previous working day. The lithium carbonate 2609 contract opened lower at 138,800 yuan/mt today, fluctuated lower and quickly dipped, hitting a low of 137,300 yuan/mt. Subsequently, bulls stepped in, pushing prices to rebound quickly, and in the morning session, prices shot up to around 141,400 yuan/mt. Around midday, bulls and bears wrestled repeatedly in the 139,500–141,400 yuan/mt range, during which prices shot up to 141,400 yuan/mt twice but were met with selling pressure from bears each time. In the afternoon, prices pulled back amid consolidation, and in late trading, moved sideways within the 139,300–139,500 yuan/mt range. It eventually closed up 0.84% at 139,400 yuan/mt, with open interest declining by 8,337 lots. In the spot market, downstream material plants made just-in-time procurement on price dips. Inquiries were relatively active, but actual transactions showed a slowdown. Upstream spot orders continued to hold prices firm, and at the beginning of the month, deliveries were mainly based on long-term contracts. Overall, market transactions were relatively sluggish.