[SMM Analysis]The spot price of lithium carbonate remained temporarily stable, with market activity weakening but still supported by rigid demand

This week, the average prices of lithium carbonate remain relatively stable with fluctuations. From the market transaction, it mainly relies on traders and downstream enterprises. Because the upstream plants are maintaining strong pricing strategies, and their selling willingness is relatively weak. Yet the traders in order to sell the lower-quality production, they tend to facilitate transactions with downstream plants at a lower price point. Overall, this week, due to just-in-time procurement needs from some downstream enterprises, although transactions decreased than last week, the market remained relatively active.

Although the transaction is relatively well, the lithium carbonate output showed a continuous reduction for three consecutive weeks. Considering the continuous price decline, the production enthusiasm of upstream enterprises has somewhat decreased. We anticipate the lithium carbonate output of March is approxiamately 79,000 tons. And the output of April, we anticipate that it is hard to have increment.

Considering the supply and demand dynamics, the surplus situation of lithium carbonate is difficult to reverse. Coupled with the current downward trend in ore prices, it is challenging to provide strong support to the cost side of lithium carbonate. It is expected that the spot price of lithium carbonate will still have some downside room.