LiCarbonate Daily Insights - April 11th Edition

Published: Apr 11, 2024 17:32

Source: SMM

Save

Today's lithium carbonate market remained stable with the SMM index at 112,316 yuan/ton (~15,513.26 USD/ton), while futures dropped by 3.06%, reflecting cautious market optimism.

Market Pulse: Stability Amid Adjustments

Today's lithium carbonate market shows a nuanced equilibrium with the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index at 112,316 yuan/ton (~15,513.26 USD/ton), a slight decrease of 308 yuan. Despite this, battery-grade lithium carbonate prices remained stable, spanning 112,000 yuan/ton (~15,469.61 USD/ton) to 114,500 yuan/ton (~15,814.92 USD/ton), with an unwavering average of 113,250 yuan/ton (~15,642.27 USD/ton). The industrial-grade segment mirrored this steadiness, holding its ground with prices between 108,500 yuan/ton (~14,986.19 USD/ton) and 111,500 yuan/ton (~15,400.55 USD/ton), averaging at 110,000 yuan/ton (~15,193.37 USD/ton).

This general stability persists amidst firm pricing sentiment among lithium salt producers, most maintaining their quoted prices with only a few adjusting downwards, suggesting a strong market demand for more competitively priced lithium carbonate stocks from downstream sectors, such as cathode manufacturers, who are gradually increasing their purchasing volumes.

Futures Market Dynamics: A Downward Adjustment

The lithium carbonate (2407) main futures contract took a different path, experiencing a 3.06% decrease. Opening at 115,600 yuan/ton (~15,966.85 USD/ton) and settling at 112,500 yuan/ton (~15,538.67 USD/ton), the contract's trading volume stood at 195,122 lots, with open interest decreasing by 4,150 lots to 180,154 lots. This movement marks a period of correction, showcasing initial volatility followed by a stabilization towards the close.

Refreshing Perspectives: Adapting to Market Sentiments

The day's trading underscores a delicate balance where spot market prices remain steady against a backdrop of selective downstream purchasing, highlighting a preference for competitively priced lithium carbonate amidst broader market adjustments. This scenario reflects a trend of cautious optimism and strategic purchasing as stakeholders navigate through fluctuating price signals and supply-demand dynamics, emphasizing the importance of monitoring both supply-side sentiments and downstream purchasing patterns in understanding the market's direction amidst changing economic landscapes.

* You can subscribe to LiCarbonate Daily and it will be sent to your email daily; To subscribe, simply send an email to me : robinhe@smm.cn *

If you have any questions regarding the recent movement of lithium carbonate market (e.g. what caused it and how this can affect your business), or would like to know more comprehensive pricing info on Lithium Carbonate. Please feel free to reach out to me:

Robin He

SMM Li-ion Battery Materials Department

E: robinhe@smm.cn | T: +86-21-51595884

Futures market Market review Output SMM price price of metal metal prices Energy Storage EV New Energy new energy prices Lithium Prices

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

13 mins ago

Teako Completes 2026 Field Program at Norway’s Venna Copper-Cobalt-Zinc Project

According to Teako Minerals on September 16, the company has completed additional 2026 fieldwork at its Venna copper-cobalt-zinc project in central Norway. The program focused on geological mapping, geochemical sampling and target refinement, with the aim of improving the geological model and identifying priority areas for future drilling. Venna is 100%-owned by Teako and is a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) copper-cobalt-zinc project. The company said data collected from the latest field program will be integrated with existing geophysical surveys and historical exploration results to define higher-priority drill targets. Teako has also completed its 2026 field program at the Tynset copper-zinc-silver project and plans to continue geophysical work in October. No new cobalt resource estimate, cobalt grade or production capacity was disclosed in the latest update. The project remains at an early exploration stage, but the new work provides additional groundwork for evaluating the scale and continuity of potential copper-cobalt-zinc mineralization.

13 mins ago

1 hour ago

Electra Advances North American Nickel Refining and Battery Recycling Project, Cobalt Recovery Expected to Exceed 97%

According to Electra Battery Materials on September 16, the company released preliminary engineering results for its North American nickel refining and battery recycling project. Phase I is planned to establish approximately 20,000 tonnes per year of contained nickel capacity in battery-grade nickel sulfate, with preliminary process simulations indicating recovery rates of more than 97% for both nickel and cobalt. The recovered cobalt hydroxide could potentially serve as feedstock for Electra’s cobalt refinery in Ontario. Preliminary capital expenditure for Phase I is estimated at approximately US$530 million to US$675 million. Phase II is expected to add battery black mass processing capacity, providing an additional approximately 20,000 tonnes per year of contained nickel capacity while also recovering cobalt, lithium and graphite as by-products. Electra said its current priority remains completing and commissioning its Ontario cobalt refinery. As its nickel refining, battery recycling and existing cobalt refining projects become increasingly integrated, the company’s North American nickel and cobalt supply chain strategy is expected to be further strengthened.

1 hour ago

[SMM Hydrogen Cost Daily Review] 20260917

1 hour ago