SMM Data: China’s LCO Output In August And Forecast For September

SHANGHAI, Sep 15 (SMM) – In August, China's LCO production reached 6,796 mt, with an increase of 2% MoM and an increase of 20% YoY. On the supply side, there was a slight increase in LCO cathode supply from July, mainly due to the ramp-up of production capacity from a leading cathode company, while other LCO companies saw slight decreases or maintained stability in output. The digital terminal market continued to perform weakly in August, leading to fewer and more frequent orders for battery manufacturers, who sought to lower their raw material inventory risk as much as possible. In response to poor demand, cathode material factories cleared inventory at reduced prices to secure more downstream orders and maintain sales volume. At the end of August, the temporary release of a new terminal model increased market activity and attention, resulting in increased orders for LCO battery companies and cathode factories. As there are still new models expected to be released in September, a small boost in demand for digital consumer products is anticipated, along with a further increase in production schedules. It is estimated that LCO production in September will reach 7,418 mt, with an increase of 9% MoM and an increase of 6% YoY.