[SMM Weekly Review] Second-Life Battery Market Prices Held Steady, Pre-Holiday Stockpiling Saw Limited Increase, High-Level Market Under Pressure, 4.27-4.30, 2026

Published: Apr 30, 2026 15:55

Save

This week, the second-life battery cell market maintained overall price stability. Cost side, lithium carbonate prices fluctuated upward this week, nickel sulphate prices climbed steadily, while cobalt sulphate prices continued their weak downward trend. Overall, raw material futures showed divergent trends, but the strengthening of lithium and nickel categories would push up battery cell recycling and processing production costs. However, there was a certain time lag in the top-down transmission of raw material price changes to the battery cell market, forming strong bottom support for the market. Supply side, at the current stage, the overall supply volume of second-life and Grade A/B battery for well-known mobile phone cell markets remained stable, battery cell enterprises maintained orderly shipments pace, market circulating sources showed no significant incremental changes, and the supply side overall maintained a loose and balanced pattern without causing notable disruption to prices. Demand side, as the Labour Day holiday approached, some downstream enterprises initiated pre-holiday restocking and stockpiling activities, driving a slight recovery in rigid market demand. However, driven by the transmission of earlier high costs, second-life battery market prices had already risen last week, and the current overall price level was already in a relatively high level range. End-user terminals showed weak willingness to accept high-priced sources and remained cautious about purchasing at high prices. The demand side could hardly continue to drive prices to rise, with most participants purchasing as needed. Under the counterbalance of multiple factors, second-life battery market prices this week basically maintained a sideways and steady trend.

SMM April 30 News:

Second-life application weekly update:

Second-life battery cell market prices remained stable overall this week. Cost side, lithium carbonate prices fluctuated upward this week, nickel sulphate prices rose steadily, while cobalt sulphate prices continued their weak downward trend. Overall raw material futures showed divergent trends, but the strengthening of lithium and nickel categories will push up battery cell recycling and processing production costs. However, there is a certain time lag in the top-down transmission of raw material price changes to the battery cell market, forming strong bottom support for the market. Supply side, the overall supply volume of second-life and Grade A/B battery for well-known mobile phone cell markets remained stable at the current stage, with battery cell enterprises maintaining orderly shipments pace. Market circulating sources showed no significant incremental changes, and the supply side maintained a loose and balanced pattern overall, causing no notable disturbance to prices. Demand side, as the Labour Day holiday approached, some downstream enterprises initiated pre-holiday restocking and stockpiling activities, driving a slight recovery in rigid market demand. However, driven by the transmission of earlier high costs, second-life battery market prices already rose last week, and the current overall price level was already in a relatively high level range. End-user terminals showed weak willingness to accept high-priced sources and maintained a cautious attitude toward purchasing at high prices. The demand side could hardly continue to drive prices to rise, with most participants purchasing as needed. Under the counterbalance of multiple factors, second-life battery market prices basically maintained a sideways and steady trend this week.

SMM New Energy Research Team

Wang Cong 021-51666838

Ma Rui 021-51595780

Feng Disheng 021-51666714

Lv Yanlin 021-20707875

Lei Yue 021-20707873

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

20 hours ago

[Geely's Gan Jiayue: Zeekr 9X to enter markets in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe from Q3]

On April 29, during Geely's Q1 2026 results conference, Gan Jiayue, CEO of Geely Auto Group, stated that the Zeekr 9X will be exported to the Middle East in June, launched in Central Asia in Q3, and enter the European market in Q4. Gan also revealed that the Zeekr 8X will be promoted in overseas markets from Q4 this year to Q1 next year. Data shows that in the first quarter, deliveries of the Zeekr 9X reached 22,000 units.

20 hours ago

[LG Energy Solution posts Q1 operating loss of 207.8 billion won]

LG Energy Solution reported consolidated revenue of 6.6 trillion won in the first quarter, up 1.2% quarter-on-quarter (including approximately 189.8 billion won in North American production incentives). During the same period, it recorded an operating loss of 207.8 billion won. Shipments of pouch-type electric vehicle (EV) batteries declined due to inventory adjustments by major North American customers.

20 hours ago

[SMM Analysis] Why has lithium hydroxide trade reversed as imports continuously exceed exports?

20 hours ago