Lepidolite Price To Stabilize While Spodumene Price To Drop Further

Recently, lepidolite price is under pressure. Top lithium salt smelter Zhicun in Jiangxi have announced maintenance notices in October, which will decrease 3,000 mt of lithium carbonate. Some lithium salt factories in Jiangxi have also reduced their operating rates accordingly. On the supply side, there are reports of potential production cuts in some Jiangxi mines due to the downward trend in lithium prices. With the dual reduction in supply and demand, lepidolite price may stabilize in the short term. Domestic buyers of lithium minerals still have a relatively low willingness to import. Currently, negotiations are ongoing between domestic lithium salt smelters and Australian mines regarding long-term pricing for the fourth quarter. Although Australian mines have shown some willingness to lower prices in consideration of shipment volumes, lithium mineral buyers anticipate a continued decline in lithium salt prices, leading to a low willingness to enter into new contracts. Spot purchases prices in some regions outside Australia, have already started to decrease, and spodumene price is expected to continue to weaken in the coming quarter.