SMM Daily Review: January 22 Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Fluctuate Upward

[SMM Daily Review: 3 August – Spot Lithium Carbonate Continues to Fall] Today, SMM’s spot price for battery-grade lithium carbonate continued to fall compared with the previous working day. The lithium carbonate 2609 contract opened lower today at 137,500 yuan per tonne; following the opening, it fluctuated lower and quickly dipped, touching a low of 135,600 yuan per tonne; Subsequently, long positions drove a volatile rebound, with the price fluctuating around the moving average line during the morning session; as the morning session drew to a close, long positions intensified, propelling the price to rapidly break through the 140,000 yuan mark and surge to 140,800 yuan per tonne. In the afternoon, the price retreated amid selling pressure from short positions and profit-taking, and consolidated within a narrow range of 138,800–139,000 yuan per tonne towards the close, eventually closing down 1.15% at 138,900 yuan per tonne, with open interest decreasing by 3,474 contracts. In the spot market, as it was the first working day of the month, downstream material manufacturers began dispatching goods under long-term contracts and for customer orders; spot buyers remained cautious, purchasing only on an as-needed basis when prices were relatively low. Upstream lithium salt producers continued to maintain their willingness to support prices for spot sales, with the focus at the start of the month on ensuring supply through long-term contracts and contract volume increases. Overall, the level of activity in market enquiries and actual transactions declined somewhat.