This week, the average coefficient of nickel-cobalt-lithium in SMM ternary battery powder is 75%, while for ternary electrode powder, it is 77%. The average price of lithium in ternary electrode powder is 4700 yuan per lithium point, and in iron-lithium electrode powder, it is 4500 yuan per lithium point. The coefficient of lithium cobalt oxide in lithium cobaltate electrode powder is 77%, and in lithium cobaltate battery powder, it is 75%.
This week, the prices of lithium points for iron-lithium and ternary electrode powder have slightly increased in the market. On the demand side, with the weak performance of nickel-cobalt-lithium salt prices, wet-process factories have shown weaker acceptance of high-priced black powder. Last week, prices were still in a state of upstream and downstream bargaining, but in recent days, some recycling companies have gradually purchased some high-priced black powder to maintain low-speed operation of production lines. The market transaction prices have gradually shifted upwards. However, some wet-process factories without hedging or OEM demands have serious discrepancies between the coefficient and cost of black powder, choosing to mix cobalt intermediate products for production or switch to purchasing brine, electrolytes, nickel-cobalt slag, and crude carbon.
On the supply side, although the prices of nickel-cobalt-lithium salt have fluctuated, with the market's long-term tight supply and incremental demand, circulating raw materials are relatively tight, and the main pricing power still lies with the upstream trading ports. Additionally, due to the continuous decline in nickel-cobalt-lithium salt prices in the second half of last year, most powder mills and traders suffered significant losses. Out of a mindset of profit recovery, powder mills and trading ports have a strong tendency to support prices. It is expected that black powder prices will continue to run relatively strong in the short term.
