【SMM Analysis】Post-holiday Work Resumption Delays Cause Cobalt Sulfate Increase to Fall Short of Expectations

In April 2024, the average monthly price of 280Ah square lithium iron phosphate storage battery cell was 0.38 yuan/Wh, a decrease of 8% compared to the previous month; the average monthly price of 100Ah square lithium iron phosphate storage battery cell was 0.44 yuan/Wh, a decrease of 2% compared to the previous month.

Progress of Rongbai's overseas Lithium iron manganese phosphate: The construction of the 20,000 mt LMFP in the second phase of the Korean base is being accelerated.

Today's lithium carbonate market remained stable with a slight uptick in the SMM index to 110,762 yuan/ton (~$15,277.52 USD/ton) and futures rising by 1.33%.

Today's lithium carbonate market saw a minor decline with the SMM index at 112,124 yuan/ton (~15,486.74 USD/ton) and futures closing down 0.49%, reflecting subtle market shifts.

On March 13th, lithium carbonate futures rose by 0.38% to 118,800 yuan/ton, with spot prices reaching 111,000 yuan/ton, signaling a market in cautious optimism.

This wave of lithium salt market sentiment has also driven up prices for raw materials and downstream cathode materials both domestically and abroad, showing signs of a broad revival. The future market trend needs to monitor the actual production situation of downstream battery plants in March. If battery production has not significantly increased, cathode plants' acceptance of high-priced lithium salt will also decline.

SMM Weekly Review: Continued Pressure from Downstream Customers Leads to Slight Decline in Anode Material Prices]

[SMM Analysis: NPC Deputy and Chairman of Times Electric Li Donglin: Accelerate Improving Standards System and Regulatory Mechanisms for New Energy Storage Industry] SMM News March 7: During the Two Sessions, Li Donglin, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and chairman of Times Electric, submitted four proposals to the conference, including the "Proposal on Accelerating the Improvement of Standards System and Regulatory Mechanisms for the New Energy Storage Industry". Regarding some issues exposed in the rapid development of the new energy storage industry, Li Donglin proposed that regulatory authorities such as the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration should take the lead in further optimizing the standards system for new energy storage and accelerating the improvement of market regulatory mechanisms.

【SMM Cobalt-Lithium Morning Meeting Summary: Lithium Carbonate Prices Rose Overall on Monday. On the supply side, some lithium salt companies were still in the early stages of resuming production after maintenance, resulting in relatively limited supplies available for spot sales beyond long-term contract orders. Some lithium salt companies have intentions for subsequent deliveries, but overall, lithium salt companies continue to sell long-term contract orders while pricing spot orders firmly. Their spot prices continue to rise. However, downstream companies like cathode material producers have given feedback that due to the recent continuous increase in lithium carbonate prices, while the pricing transmission of their products lags behind the lithium carbonate price hikes, the current pricing transmission situation makes it difficult to fully pass on the increased raw material costs to downstream customers, gradually squeezing production profits...】

【Samsung SDI Finalizes Plans for Third Factory in Hungary, Second Factory Expected to Complete in September】According to foreign media reports, Samsung SDI has finalized its investment plan to build its third battery factory in Hungary. Sources say the company is expected to spend more than 6 trillion won on overall facility expansion this year, of which over 1 trillion won will be used to build the third factory.