Lithium Hydroxide Oversupply Intensified in February as Demand Growth Failed to Keep up with Supply Increment

Public records show Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Battery Co. completed a registration change on Sept 15, with registered capital rising about 10% from RMB 3.18bn to RMB 3.51bn. Founded in 2011, the company develops, produces and sells lithium-ion power batteries, fuel cells and energy storage batteries. The increase is expected to support its power and energy storage battery expansion.

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.