Lithium Ore Prices Remain Bearish

SHANGHAI, Sep 22 (SMM) –The price of lepidolite was steady for the week ending September 21. There's a significant shortage of lepidolite supply. Rumours suggested top mines were hiking prices amid falling lithium salt prices. SMM research showed market prices remained consistent. A leading lithium salt factory sources lepidolite directly from brine and lithium sulphate suppliers because of severe raw material shortages, fuelling raw material premium rumours. Lithium salt factories in Jiangxi have reported production cuts, largely due to high lepidolite prices. Costs for factories buying lepidolite externally now exceeded selling prices. With both supply and demand dropping, lepidolite prices are predicted to stay stable short-term.

Spodumene concentrate prices dropped for the week ending September 21. Australian mine quotes remained high, but supplies from Africa have reduced the market's lowest price and expectations. Customs data shows a 46% decrease in imports from Australia in August, primarily due to a 120,000 mt drop in shipments from Hedland port to merely 70,000 mt in July. In August, this port's exports were just 75,000 mt. Consequently, arrivals at domestics in September were predicted to stay low. Q4 negotiations between lithium salt factories and mines were ongoing. The primary pricing method was set to change, with import prices of spodumene (6% LiO) under long-term contracts potentially falling below $2,000/mt. Thus, spodumene prices are likely to decrease short-term.