SHANGHAI, Jan 11 (SMM) – China's lithium carbonate output stood at 14,700 mt in December, down 1% from the previous month. In December, the domestic demand for lithium carbonate was 20,883 mt, with a large gap. In January 2021, some domestic plants in Sichuan and Jiangxi are expected to implement maintenance in the middle of the month. However, on the supply side, Yichun Yinli was commissioned in early December, and Jiangxi Feiyu New Energy will increase productivity in January.
The price spread between industrial and battery-grade lithium carbonate shrank sharply, and the increase in demand for LFP stimulated the sharp rise in prices of industrial-grade products.
SMM battery grade and industrial grade lithium carbonate prices
The total output in January is expected to decline only slightly from the previous month. 70% of the spot restocking were completed in late January, but there is still a gap in the raw materials for small and medium-sized enterprises. Prices are expected to continue to rise amid bullish sentiment.
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