【SMM Analysis】Weekly Market Review of Lithium Ore from April 14 to April 18

This week, lithium ore prices continued the weak downward trend from last week. With lithium carbonate prices remaining low, demand-side acceptance of CIF SC6 ore prices at $830/mt and above continued to weaken, leading to a continuous decline in transaction prices and an overall downward shift in market prices. However, due to cost factors, the lower price range of CIF SC6 at $800/mt has become a critical period for upstream suppliers to stand firm on quotes, and the recent rate of price decline has slowed. In the lepidolite sector, despite upstream suppliers maintaining a firm stance on quotes, downstream smelters showed weak purchase willingness for high-priced lepidolite concentrate amid low lithium carbonate prices. Additionally, the recent spread between futures and spot prices left traders without suitable hedging points, and toll processing willingness also declined, forcing a downward shift in lepidolite concentrate market prices.