SMM Analysis On China September Battery-grade Manganese Sulphate Production And October Forecast

In September 2024, China's production of high-purity manganese sulphate decreased both MoM and YoY. In September, the price of raw material sulphuric acid declined, weakening cost support. Market demand was not boosted by the traditional "September-October peak season," with most companies still fulfilling long-term contracts and spot order performance being poor. Due to these two factors, high-purity manganese sulphate companies faced significant pressure, with weak support for prices. Most companies responded to the market downturn by jointly reducing production to avoid the risks of oversupply and inventory buildup. As a result, production was very cautious, and market supply also decreased. Looking ahead to October, downstream ternary cathode precursor companies are expected to mainly purchase based on immediate needs, with some stocking demand possible. However, the supply-demand imbalance in the market is unlikely to ease, and high-purity manganese sulphate companies will continue cautious production. Overall, it is expected that China's production of high-purity manganese sulphate will slightly increase in October, but the extent will be limited.