Ternary market supply and demand both slightly weakened [SMM Ternary Cathode Material Market Weekly Review]

Ternary cathode material prices continued to rise significantly this week. On the raw material side, nickel sulphate prices dropped slightly, cobalt sulphate prices were basically flat, manganese sulphate prices rose slightly, while lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide saw a noticeable rebound. The market generally held bullish expectations for cobalt and lithium prices in December and early next year, supporting cathode material enterprises in maintaining a strong willingness to raise quotes.

Regarding the commercial terms for next year's long-term contracts, the final negotiation results are expected to take time to clarify. Against the backdrop of strong uncertainty in raw material price trends, some producers tended to shorten order cycles to control risks.

Demand side, with the end of the traditional peak season, both domestic power and consumer markets showed a pullback trend. Producers currently focused mainly on inventory control, downstream battery cell manufacturers maintained rigid demand purchasing pace, and the overall production pace in the cathode material sector slowed down.