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

21 mins ago

US Fed "Big Move" Coming? September 4 in Shanghai: One-Stop Decoding of Strategies for Stocks, Bonds, Forex, and Gold

21 mins ago

39 mins ago

U.S. Lithium-Ion Battery Imports Rise 26% QoQ in Q2

U.S. lithium-ion battery imports reached 215,942 tonnes in the second quarter of 2026, up 26% from the previous quarter but down 10% year-on-year. Total U.S. lithium-ion battery imports in the first half of 2026 reached 386,965 tonnes, down 31% from the same period last year. Imports of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage and other non-EV applications reached 193,370 tonnes in Q2, up nearly 29% quarter-on-quarter. EV battery imports totaled 22,572 tonnes, compared with 20,873 tonnes in the first quarter and 30,983 tonnes in the second quarter of 2025. China remained the largest source of U.S. lithium-ion battery imports, accounting for 66.5% of total Q2 imports.

39 mins ago

41 mins ago

[SMM Flash] Bradda Head Reports Surface Samples of Up to 3.90% Li₂O at Whistlejacket Project

Bradda Head Lithium reported additional surface sampling results from its Whistlejacket lithium project in Arizona, U.S., and announced the start of Phase 3 drilling. Of the latest 41 rock samples, 19 returned grades above 0.50% Li₂O, 15 exceeded 1.00% Li₂O, and 13 exceeded 1.50% Li₂O. The highest reported sample returned 3.90% Li₂O. The results represent the third and final batch from the company’s 2026 rock-chip sampling program. Bradda Head said Phase 3 drilling will focus on testing the continuity, geometry and scale of spodumene-bearing pegmatites at depth. The Whistlejacket project is being advanced under an option-to-joint-venture agreement with Kennecott Exploration.

41 mins ago