LiCarbonate Daily Insights - April 11th Edition

Published: Apr 11, 2024 17:32 (GMT+8)

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

42 mins ago

[SMM Flash]Canada's Import and Export Data of Sulfur and Sulfuric Acid in August

In August 2026, Canada's total monthly sulphur exports stood at 403,009 tonnes, down 9.24% month-on-month and up 19.26% year-on-year, with an average price of USD 1,161.791 per tonne; the major export destinations included the US, Chile, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Brazil, Australia, etc. Canada's monthly total imports of sulfur amounted to 1281.999 tons, a month-on-month increase of 42.76%, a year-on-year decrease of 8.03%, with an average price of 1050 US dollars per ton, and its major import sources include the US, China, etc. ; Canada's monthly total exports of sulfuric acid stood at 151,668 tonnes, down 5.08% month-on-month and up 6.48% year-on-year, with an average price of USD 226 per tonne; the main importing country was the US, with a very small volume destined for the United Kingdom; Canada's monthly total imports of sulfuric acid reached 10,944.72 tons, a month-on-month increase of 34.68% and a year-on-year increase of 39.58%, with an average price of 255 US dollars per ton, and the major exporting countries include the US and others. For details, please refer to the SMM analysis.

42 mins ago

51 mins ago

[SMM Analysis] Canada's Sulphur and Sulphuric Acid Import and Export Data for August

51 mins ago

1 hour ago

EVelution’s U.S. Cobalt Processing Project Qualifies for EB-5 Financing of Up to US$64.8 Million

According to EVelution Energy on October 6, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved the company’s Arizona cobalt processing project for the EB-5 investment program on September 30, potentially providing up to US$64.8 million in subordinated financing. EVelution aims to complete a bankable feasibility study in the first quarter of 2027, begin construction in 2027 and achieve commercial operations in 2029. The project is estimated to require approximately US$450 million in total investment and is designed to process about 24,000 tonnes per year of cobalt hydroxide feedstock. Planned output includes around 20,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade cobalt sulfate, equivalent to approximately 4,000 tonnes of contained cobalt, together with up to 3,000 tonnes per year of cobalt metal, for a combined cobalt capacity of about 7,000 tonnes per year. The project has previously received a non-binding financing indication of up to US$275 million from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and has established cobalt feedstock cooperation frameworks with EGC and Trafigura.

1 hour ago