The lithium carbonate market on March 7th experienced a slight increase in futures while the spot prices saw a modest rise, indicating a cautiously optimistic sentiment in the market.
Futures Market Dynamics: The lithium carbonate 2407 main contract showed a minor uptick of 0.27%, opening at 115,000 yuan/ton and closing at 113,000 yuan/ton. The trading volume was reported at 365,677 lots, with open interest climbing to 215,643 lots, an increase of 3,639 lots from the previous day. The price trend for the day was initially stable, followed by a downward fluctuation and then a steady decline until the end of the morning session. A recovery began in the afternoon, leading to a sharp drop towards the close but ultimately ended with a 0.27% increase.
Spot Market Overview: Spot prices for battery-grade lithium carbonate were quoted between 105,000 and 112,000 yuan/ton, with an average price of 108,500 yuan/ton, an increase of 1,000 yuan/ton from the previous working day. The SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index reached 106,712 yuan/ton, up 1,248 yuan/ton. Industrial-grade lithium carbonate prices ranged from 93,000 to 105,000 yuan/ton, with an average of 99,000 yuan/ton, marking an increase of 1,500 yuan/ton. While most lithium salt companies kept their prices relatively stable, some adjusted their spot sale prices upwards.
Market Insights: Despite the stability in most lithium salt prices, the day saw a gradual elevation in the purchasing price point for immediate needs among cathode companies, who continued to rely on long-term contracts and customer-supplied sources for raw material supplementation. A few cathode companies also reported supplementing their raw material supplies through warehouse receipt purchases. The overall sentiment in the lithium carbonate spot market remains tense between supply and demand, with a keen eye on the pace of production recovery on the lithium salt front.
Conclusion: March 7th in the lithium carbonate market was characterized by a slight increase in futures and a gentle rise in spot prices, reflecting a market in delicate balance. Both suppliers and buyers are navigating through ongoing adjustments, with future market movements highly contingent on production recovery and demand stabilization.
If you have any questions regarding the industry data (e.g. how this can affect your business), or would like to know more comprehensive pricing info on Lithium Carbonate. Please feel free to reach out to me:
Robin He
SMM Li-ion Battery Materials Department
E: robinhe@smm.cn | T: +86-21-51595884
