[Daily SMM Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Continue to Rise Significantly on August 18]
The SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index price was 84,794 yuan/mt, up 2,069 yuan/mt MoM from the previous working day; battery-grade lithium carbonate prices were 82,500-86,700 yuan/mt, with an average of 84,600 yuan/mt, up 1,900 yuan/mt MoM from the previous working day; industrial-grade lithium carbonate prices were 81,600-83,000 yuan/mt, with an average of 82,300 yuan/mt, up 1,900 yuan/mt MoM from the previous working day.
Today, mainly due to news that a lithium chemicals producer in Qinghai may face production suspension due to mine permit issues, futures prices continued to climb, reaching over 90,000 yuan/mt. Meanwhile, uncertainties regarding future production at mines in Jiangxi further intensified market concerns about supply. From the current market performance, downstream procurement enthusiasm continues to increase, and market activity has strengthened. Due to some downstream enterprises' just-in-time procurement needs and the general sentiment among upstream producers and traders to hold back sales, the transaction price center for spot lithium carbonate has significantly shifted upward. Under the dual influence of tightening supply expectations and peak demand season, it is expected that spot lithium carbonate prices will still have upside room, and the price center may continue to move upward in the short term.