[SMM Flash] Zimbabwean Spodumene Concentrate Prices Fall Across All Grades, Led by 5% Li₂O Down 1.99%

Published: Aug 11, 2026 21:16 (GMT+8)

Save

Zimbabwean spodumene concentrate prices, CIF Chinese main ports, declined across all three tracked grades on August 7, with the lower-grade material posting the steepest percentage drop. The 6% Li₂O grade (SMM-Li-SC-005) settled at $2,010/tonne, down $25 (-1.23%), trading in a $1,970-$2,050 range. The 5.5% Li₂O grade (SMM-Li-SC-006) closed at $1,885/tonne, down $30 (-1.57%), within a $1,860-$1,910 band. The 5% Li₂O grade (SMM-Li-SC-007) fell hardest, settling at $1,725/tonne, down $35 (-1.99%), with the widest daily range of the three at $1,660-$1,790.

The pullback widened the grade differential at the lower end of the curve: the 6%-5.5% spread stood at $125/tonne, while the 5.5%-5% spread widened to $160/tonne, up from typical spread levels, pointing to comparatively softer demand for lower-grade Zimbabwean material relative to higher-Li₂O concentrate on the day.

SMM View: The broad-based decline across all three Zimbabwean spodumene grades tracks the wider softness in China's lithium chemical complex, with lower-grade material bearing the brunt of the pullback as buyers favour higher-grade feedstock amid cautious purchasing. SMM will continue to monitor whether the widening 5.5%-5% spread persists into the next pricing session or reflects a single-day liquidity effect.

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

17 hours ago

INNOX Lithium Signs Long-Term Marketing Agreement With Trafigura for Up to 30,000 Tonnes Through 2029

INNOX Lithium, a subsidiary of INNOX Advanced Materials, announced on October 6 that it signed a long-term lithium hydroxide marketing agreement with global commodities trader Trafigura. According to the company, supplies of high-purity lithium hydroxide could total up to 30,000 tonnes through 2029. Trafigura will supply the material to global EV manufacturers and cathode material producers.

17 hours ago

20 hours ago

[SMM Flash] California Opens Expanded Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Factory

American Lithium Energy has opened its expanded lithium-ion battery factory in Vista, California, increasing the site from 23,000 to 82,000 square feet for aerospace, defense, industrial and high-value storage applications. The expansion received more than USD 13 million in state grants and helped mobilize a further USD 40 million to USD 50 million from private and federal sources to scale 18650-cell production and validate high-capacity silicon-anode prismatic batteries. No annual output figure was disclosed, so the milestone confirms an operating factory and pilot production capability but does not establish a specific GWh-scale nameplate capacity.

20 hours ago

[SMM PV Flash] Nala Acquires 100 MW Ready-to-Build Finnish Battery Project

Fu-Gen has completed the sale of the 100 MW Kärppiö standalone battery project in Teuva, Finland, to Nala Renewables, with the asset at the ready-to-build stage and construction expected to begin during 2026. The transaction is the third closing under the parties’ Finnish battery portfolio framework signed in 2025 and expands Nala’s related pipeline in the country to 275 MW/550 MWh. Transaction value was not disclosed, and the milestone confirms ownership transfer and construction readiness rather than operational commissioning.

20 hours ago