LiCarbonate Daily - April 18th Edition

Published: Apr 18, 2024 17:18

Source: SMM

Save

Today's lithium carbonate market was stable with a minor decline, as the SMM index dropped to 110,825 yuan/ton (~$15,307.32 USD/ton), and futures fell by 0.73%.

Market Overview:

Today's lithium carbonate market showed general stability with a slight decrease in the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index to 110,825 yuan/ton ($15,307.32 USD/ton), down by 99 yuan. Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices remained constant, ranging from 110,000 yuan/ton ($15,193.37 USD/ton) to 113,000 yuan/ton ($15,607.73 USD/ton), with an average price holding steady at 111,500 yuan/ton ($15,400.55 USD/ton). Industrial-grade lithium carbonate also held steady, with prices between 107,800 yuan/ton ($14,889.50 USD/ton) and 109,500 yuan/ton ($15,124.31 USD/ton), averaging at 108,700 yuan/ton (~$15,013.81 USD/ton).

Supply and Demand Dynamics:

Lithium salt producers continued their cautious approach to spot sales, maintaining firm pricing despite the overall market stability. Downstream cathode manufacturers, having leveraged lower-priced sources through select lithium salt companies and trade markets, have decreased their purchasing volumes after preparing for the upcoming Labor's Day holiday, indicating that many have completed their stockpiling.

Futures Market Trends:

The lithium carbonate (2407) main futures contract experienced a minor decline, dropping by 0.73%. The contract opened at 109,900 yuan/ton ($15,179.56 USD/ton) and closed at 108,400 yuan/ton ($14,972.38 USD/ton), with trading volume standing at 131,581 lots and open interest reducing by 667 lots to 174,354 lots. The day began with a significant rise, peaking at 111,850 yuan/ton (~$15,448.90 USD/ton) before reversing to a downtrend, stabilizing with minor fluctuations towards the end of the trading session.

Implications and Market Sentiments:

The market is closely monitoring the interplay between supply chain constraints and fluctuating demand as stakeholders adjust their strategies. While the overall sentiment remains cautious, the persistent tightness in supply and strategic stockpiling by downstream players suggest a carefully balanced market, ready to respond to post-holiday demand fluctuations.

* 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

Inventory Futures market Market review Holiday Notice 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

1 hour ago

SMM Daily Review: Spot lithium carbonate prices continued to drift higher on September 18

Today, SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate spot prices continued to drift higher compared with the previous working day. The lithium carbonate 2701 contract opened higher at 132,000 yuan/mt today. After the open, bulls failed to extend the gains, and bears quickly entered to pressure prices, sending them consolidating lower and accelerating downward after breaking below the average price line. Around midday, prices dipped to a low of 125,200 yuan/mt. In the afternoon, bargain hunting emerged at low levels, lifting prices slightly to around 127,500 yuan/mt before they pulled back again. Near the close, prices moved sideways around 127,000 yuan/mt, eventually closing down 2.27% at 127,200 yuan/mt, with open interest up 9,528 lots. In the spot market, downstream pre-holiday stockpiling continued, and downstream users kept buying the dip today. Upstream lithium chemical plants maintained firm sentiment on spot orders, with spot order quotes remaining relatively strong. A small number of lithium chemical plants sold spot orders mainly by referencing the website's monthly average spot price. As upstream sellers continued to hold back from selling spot orders, downstream spot order purchases were mainly concluded with traders, with some taking delivery of warrants. With active downstream purchasing and stockpiling, and upstream holding prices firm and holding back from selling, the spot-futures price spread for industrial-grade and battery-grade lithium carbonate has continued to strengthen recently, and the price spread between industrial-grade and battery-grade material has narrowed somewhat. Overall, market inquiries and actual transactions remained active.

1 hour ago

Solid-State Battery Weekly | Industry Deepens TechnologyIteration Amid Ebb and Flow; Policy Push Intensifies

On the raw material, material, and cell sides, leading companies quietly made continuous breakthroughs in R&D and technology iteration, while startups increased external promotion efforts to build sufficient customer reserves before the commercialization wave of solid-state batteries arrives. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry.

1 hour ago

2 hours ago

[Solid-State Battery: Highpower Technology Deploys Three Solid-State Routes of Polymer/Oxide/Sulphide, Multiple Solid-State Electrolyte Patents Landed]

[Solid-state battery: Highpower Technology deploys three solid-state routes of polymer/oxide/sulphide, with multiple solid-state electrolyte patents granted] On September 17, 2026, Highpower Technology disclosed its solid-state battery layout during an institutional survey. The company is simultaneously developing three major solid-state electrolyte technology routes: polymer, oxide, and sulphide. In 2026, it has filed four core solid-state battery patents, covering composite solid-state electrolytes, solid-state electrolyte membranes, and gel polymer electrolytes, with a focus on solid-state battery development for I-end devices and robotics scenarios.

2 hours ago