[SMM Analysis] Lithium Ore Market Review for the Final Week of 2024

Published: Jan 6, 2025 09:47

Source: SMM

Save

Last week, lithium ore prices were basically flat WoW.

Last week, lithium ore prices were basically flat WoW. For spodumene, Australian and Brazilian mines showed no significant change in their stance of standing firm on quotes, with offers remaining at or above CIF $850/mt. African ore, due to the continued sideways movement of futures prices recently, saw miners and traders mostly conducting transactions based on these prices, resulting in relatively small WoW changes. Domestic ore experienced a certain reduction in output in recent months due to low temperatures affecting mining costs and production levels, leading to increased reluctance to sell. Most sales were through long-term contracts, with few spot orders available.

For lepidolite, as some enterprises with higher operating rates maintained demand for lepidolite, and given the lack of significant improvement in current supply, high-grade lepidolite prices remained at elevated levels with little WoW change.

Additionally, for this month, lithium ore production showed a certain reduction WoW. For spodumene, output decreased by approximately 17% due to lower temperatures in Sichuan and Xinjiang, while lepidolite production remained relatively stable.

In the short term, lithium ore prices are expected to continue fluctuating rangebound alongside lithium carbonate prices.

Market forecast Market review

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 to learn 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

12 mins ago

Capacity and Shipments of AI Server Products Across the Entire Industry Chain Are Expected to Achieve Leapfrog Growth

The plan proposes that by 2028, the capacity and shipments of products across the entire AI server industry chain will achieve leapfrog growth, and the global market share of products in key areas such as core chips, memory, printed circuit boards (PCBs), power supply and energy storage, optical modules, and passive components will increase significantly; breakthroughs will be achieved in core chips and key products, a group of “specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises and “single-product champion” enterprises with strong technological capabilities and significant market advantages will be cultivated in a tiered manner, and an industrial echelon featuring the coordinated development of large, medium-sized, and small enterprises will take shape.

12 mins ago

59 mins ago

Solid-State Battery Price Transmission and Commercialization Resonance

This week solid-state battery material prices showed structural divergence: sulphide-route LPSC and lithium sulphide prices declined, while oxides remained stable. On the industrial side, the Taiblue–Yadea two-wheeler semi-solid-state battery achieved commercial rollout; BTR’s solid electrolyte orders surged; and WELION New Energy’s 2 billion yuan project was sited in Huadu, Guangzhou. Upstream price cuts resonated with downstream deployment, accelerating the commercialisation process.

59 mins ago

1 hour ago

[SMM Analysis] Ternary Cathode Payables May See Modest Increase in Q2

Although domestic NEV sales have fallen short of expectations, seasonal recovery combined with overseas export rush demand has driven a notable rebound in domestic EV market orders during March.

1 hour ago