Sharp Output Cuts Led to Lithium Ore Shortages, High Import Prices Drove Lithium Salt Producers to Shut Down

Published: May 10, 2023 16:45

Source: SMM

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Lithium ore prices continued to stabilise last week. The current supply of lepidolite is still very limited. The mining volume has been reduced significantly, and the mining area has not been widened.

Leading mining companies such as Yichun Tantalum Niobium Mine are still in normal production, but the demand is so strong that these companies are about to stock out, which drove the mines to halt their sales. This increased inquiries under long-term contracts at other mining companies.

Import prices of spodumene remained high, and some lithium salt companies using imported cargoes continued to cut output or remained closed, or shifted their capacity into OEM capacity. Thanks to the stability of overseas prices under long-term contracts, production schedules of leading lithium salt enterprises will not be affected by the current prices of spodumene.

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