LCO prices decline, market adopts wait-and-see attitude

Published: May 8, 2025 18:41
["[LCO Prices Decline, Market Adopts Wait-and-See Attitude] In April 2025, LCO production increased by 27% MoM. On the demand side..."]

》Check SMM's quotes, data, and market analysis for cobalt and lithium products

》Subscribe to view historical price trends of SMM's cobalt and lithium product spot cargo

In April 2025, the production of lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) increased by 27% MoM. On the demand side, in H2, consumer electronics companies will gradually release new products. Stockpiling began in April, and the market is in a peak demand season, with a significant increase in downstream demand. On the supply side, the price of LCO is mainly influenced by the prices of upstream cobalt tetroxide and lithium carbonate. Recently, cobalt prices have surged significantly due to the impact of policies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The market generally expects cobalt prices to rise in the future. Therefore, the willingness to sell in large quantities is low, and the main approach is to purchase on an as-needed basis. In May, the downstream consumer market is expected to grow steadily. Downstream battery cell manufacturers will increase their purchases of the main material, LCO. It is anticipated that the production schedule of LCO enterprises will also increase accordingly, with a potential MoM growth of 15%.


SMM New Energy Research Team

Wang Cong 021-51666838

Yu Xiaodan 021-20707870

Ma Rui 021-51595780

Xu Ying 021-51666707

Feng Disheng 021-51666714

Liu Yujun 021-20707895

Lv Yanlin 021-20707875

Zhou Zhicheng 021-51666711

Zhang Haohan 021-51666752

Wang Zihan 021-51666914

Ren Xiaoxuan 021-20707866

Liang Yushuo 021-20707892

Wang Jie 021-51595902

Xu Yang 021-51666760

Yang Lianting 021-51595835

Wang Zhaoyu 021-51666827

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
Post-Holiday Cobalt Product Spot Prices Mostly Held Steady, Refined Cobalt Rose 3,500 Yuan, What Is Expected for May Prices? [Weekly Observation]
15 hours ago
Post-Holiday Cobalt Product Spot Prices Mostly Held Steady, Refined Cobalt Rose 3,500 Yuan, What Is Expected for May Prices? [Weekly Observation]
Read More
Post-Holiday Cobalt Product Spot Prices Mostly Held Steady, Refined Cobalt Rose 3,500 Yuan, What Is Expected for May Prices? [Weekly Observation]
Post-Holiday Cobalt Product Spot Prices Mostly Held Steady, Refined Cobalt Rose 3,500 Yuan, What Is Expected for May Prices? [Weekly Observation]
15 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] April Sodium-Ion Battery Market Review: Steady Momentum, Bottlenecks, and Opportunities Ahead
17 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] April Sodium-Ion Battery Market Review: Steady Momentum, Bottlenecks, and Opportunities Ahead
Read More
[SMM Analysis] April Sodium-Ion Battery Market Review: Steady Momentum, Bottlenecks, and Opportunities Ahead
[SMM Analysis] April Sodium-Ion Battery Market Review: Steady Momentum, Bottlenecks, and Opportunities Ahead
According to SMM data, compared with the rapid growth of cathode and anode materials, the electrolyte and battery cell markets maintained high YoY growth but were affected in the short term by factors such as cost control, capacity alignment, and the pace of end-use demand release, presenting an operational landscape of "stability with adjustments."
17 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] Sodium-Ion Battery  Cathode and Anode Supply-Demand Recovery and Capacity Expansion Accelerate
18 hours ago
[SMM Analysis] Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode and Anode Supply-Demand Recovery and Capacity Expansion Accelerate
Read More
[SMM Analysis] Sodium-Ion Battery  Cathode and Anode Supply-Demand Recovery and Capacity Expansion Accelerate
[SMM Analysis] Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode and Anode Supply-Demand Recovery and Capacity Expansion Accelerate
As the sodium-ion battery scaling and commercialization process continues to accelerate, industry dividends are being released at a faster pace in 2026. April, as a key period at the start of Q2, saw a notable recovery in the sodium-ion battery cathode and anode materials market. Demand-side stockpiling willingness increased, capacity expansion pace accelerated, product mix differentiation became more prominent, and the industry as a whole moved toward a positive supply-demand synergy.
18 hours ago
LCO prices decline, market adopts wait-and-see attitude - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)