Lithium Ore 8.18-8.21 Market Update [SMM Weekly Review]

This week, the futures and spot prices of lithium carbonate experienced a "rise then fall," leading to significant fluctuations in the lithium ore market. In terms of sentiment, at the beginning of the week, some miners took advantage of the rising futures to increase their willingness to sell, with even sporadic auction shipments; mid-week, the lithium carbonate futures plummeted, and overseas mines immediately became reluctant to sell, with their willingness to quote prices sharply declining. On the demand side, psychological price levels were continuously adjusted according to the fluctuating prices of lithium chemicals, with the overall pace resonating with the lithium carbonate futures prices.

Customs data showed that in July, lithium ore imports surged MoM to 750,000 mt, equivalent to approximately 67,000 mt LCE, providing ample raw material buffer for domestic spodumene smelting.