Lithium carbonate price drop may slow down, given sustained losses of smelters

For the week ending December 14, there was a consistent decline in lithium carbonate prices. Lithium salt producers, aiming to meet their year-end sales targets, showed reduced interest in sustaining high prices. One enterprise resumed operations post-maintenance, while others continued their maintenance. From the demand perspective, several cathode material companies planned to keep their year-end inventories low, showing little interest in short-term procurement. However, considering the ongoing losses of lithium salt companies dependent on purchased lithium ore and the price of battery-grade lithium carbonate nearing the production costs of integrated lithium salt firms, a gradual slowdown in the price decline of lithium carbonate might occur.