SHANGHAI, Mar 17 (SMM) - In early February, LFP prices dropped on declining costs. The companies gradually resumed production one after another, pushing up the operating rates. In terms of raw materials, lithium carbonate and iron phosphate prices fell under the influence of poor demand. In mid-February, the traded prices trended lower. Demand from the power battery sector recovered slowly, and orders from the energy storage sector were relatively stable, driving up some LFP companies' shipments. However, the LFP companies that carried high in-plant stocks of finished products still had to cut their quotes to ship. In late February, the prices declined further on the rapid fall in lithium carbonate prices and fewer new orders placed by battery cell makers.