[SMM Analysis] China's Spodumene Imports Hit a New High in March 2026, Reaching 837,400 Physical Tonnes

In March 2026, China's spodumene imports hit a new record, reaching 837,400 physical tonnes, up 50% month-on-month, equivalent to approximately 81,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Customs data show that spodumene imports in March rebounded significantly from February, hitting a new record of 837,400 physical tonnes. By source country: African shipments increased notably – imports from Nigeria reached 125,100 tonnes, up 63% month-on-month; shipments from Zimbabwe that were dispatched earlier arrived at 112,600 tonnes, up 61% month-on-month; Canada broke the zero-import trend seen in January–February, with 58,600 tonnes arriving in March; while Australia saw a month-on-month decline in shipments due to vessel scheduling.

According to SMM's screening and analysis, the total volume arriving in March was equivalent to 81,000 tonnes of LCE. Of the total import volume, lithium concentrate accounted for 72%, down slightly from the same period last year, mainly due to a notable increase in the volume of raw ore arriving from South Africa. It is worth noting that driven by pricing and the development of local concentrators, shipments from Nigeria have increased substantially – not only has the volume of raw ore risen significantly, but the proportion of concentrate has also notably improved compared to last year.

Source: China Customs, SMM