August 22: Northern ports: Australian lumps 40.3-40.8 yuan/mtu, down 0.98% WoW; South African semi-carbonate 34.6-35.1 yuan/mtu, down 0.85% WoW; Gabonese 39.1-39.9 yuan/mtu, down 1.74% WoW; South African high iron 29.4-29.9 yuan/mtu, down 0.34% WoW; South African medium iron 35.1-35.6 yuan/mtu, down 0.28% WoW. Southern ports: Australian lumps 39.8-40.5 yuan/mtu, down 0.99% WoW; South African semi-carbonate 36.5-37 yuan/mtu, flat WoW; Gabonese 39.6-40.1 yuan/mtu, down 1.73% WoW; South African high iron 30.5-31 yuan/mtu, down 0.32% WoW; South African medium iron 36.5-37.2 yuan/mtu, down 0.27% WoW. Overall, this week, the downstream SiMn market sentiment was negative, with lower manganese ore inquiry activity compared to last week, and a growing tendency to drive down purchasing prices, leading to a decline in ore prices.

According to Xinhua News Agency, this innovation delivers a two- to threefold improvement in energy density and endurance compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The report notes that this breakthrough comes at a time when demand for high-capacity, long-lasting batteries is surging across sectors such as electric vehicles, consumer electronics, robotics, and the low-altitude economy. Although energy density is crucial, enhancing it has remained technically challenging.

According to Xinhua News Agency, this innovation increases the energy density and driving range of traditional lithium-ion batteries by 2 to 3 times. The report notes that this breakthrough comes at a time when there is a surge in demand for high-capacity, long-range batteries in fields such as EVs, consumer electronics, robotics, and the low-altitude economy. While energy density is crucial, its improvement has always faced technical challenges.

[Citi Raises 0-3 Month Price Target for China's Lithium Carbonate from $7,000/mt to $11,000/mt]

Separator Price Remained Stable This Week

[SMM Lithium Battery Electrolyte Market Weekly Review: Electrolyte Prices Stabilize This Week (2025.8.18-8.21)] From August 18 to August 21, 2025, electrolyte prices stabilized. Considering that the supply-demand relationship is unlikely to see substantial improvement in the short term, but with some raw material prices rising slightly, it was expected that electrolyte prices would rise slightly over the following period.

Cobalt sulphate prices continued to rise this week, while nickel sulphate prices were basically flat, and the prices of salt products such as lithium carbonate fluctuated. This week, the nickel and cobalt payable indicators for ternary and LCO black mass slightly increased with the rise in salt prices, while the lithium payable indicator began to decline after an earlier increase. The prices per % lithium for LFP black mass also fluctuated this week. Taking ternary black mass as an example: currently, the nickel and cobalt payable indicator for ternary pole piece black mass is 73-75%, up WoW, while the lithium payable indicator is 69-74%, down WoW.