Fastmarkets: Asian lithium market steady; European, US prices boosted by tight supply - Global Mining Review

Battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices in China were stable this past week, with consumers continuing to purchase on an as-needed basis ahead of the next round of month-end restocking.

Fastmarkets’ assessment of the lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price range, ex-works domestic China was at 195 000 – 200 000/t (US$30 546 – US$31 330/t) on 18 November 2021, unchanged since 28 October 2021.

Fastmarkets’ assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price range, exw domestic China was 185 000 – 205 000/t on 18 November, also unchanged since 28 October 2021.

Multiple market participants in China noted tight availability of battery-grade lithium carbonate, while lithium hydroxide of the equivalent grade was easier to secure in the spot market due to a better outlook in China for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which on feed battery-grade lithium carbonate.

“There is room for the battery-grade lithium carbonate price to edge higher. The strength from the EV [electric vehicle] boom is strong, and LFP batteries will continue to outperform nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries in China, which will underpin the battery-grade lithium carbonate price in China,” a Chinese trader said.

“Amid the positivity toward LFP batteries and the expectation for battery-grade lithium carbonate [prices] to move even higher, suppliers are holding their units in tight hands, which tightens the availability of...



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