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China’s lithium prices have increased more than six-fold since the beginning of 2021 due to the surge in demand in the electric vehicle (EV) sector and limited availability of spot units.
The supply of lithium salts has failed to keep up with record demand for EVs, supporting lithium prices in China.
Fastmarkets’ price assessment for lithium carbonate, 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price range exw domestic China was 350,000-370,000 yuan ($55,166-58,319) per tonne on January 20, up by 10,000-20,000 yuan per tonne from 330,000-360,000 yuan per tonne a week earlier, and up by 300,000-312,000 yuan per tonne (566.67%) from 50,000-58,000 yuan per tonne on January 7, 2021.
Fastmarkets’ assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate, LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price range, exw domestic China was 290,000-310,000 yuan per tonne on January 20, up by 25,000-30,000 yuan per tonne from 265,000-280,000 yuan per tonne a week earlier, and up by 249,000-264,000 yuan per tonne (589.66%) from 41,000-46,000 yuan per tonne on January 7, 2021.
“The supply of lithium salts has failed to keep up due to limited spodumene supply. Lithium salt lakes in China’s Qinghai province also saw seasonal production cuts of brine in winter, affecting lithium carbonate production,” a Chinese lithium producer source said.
The scarcity of spodumene – the feedstock used to produce lithium salts – and the resulting high prices have also supported China’s lithium prices.
China depends heavily on spodumene imports from Western Australia, and the shutdown of Altura Lithium’s Pilgangoora project for care and maintenance due to low global lithium prices, at the time, constrained spodumene supply in China.
Fastmarkets’ price assessment for spodumene 6% Li2O min, cif China was at $2,500-2,750 per tonne on January 21, up by $100-150 from $2,400-2,600 per tonne two weeks earlier, and $2,050-2,290 per kg (476.92%) up by from $450-460 per kg on January 27, 2021.
China’s high lithium prices are not set to go away soon, sources said, even if subsidies for consumers are reduced and battery and automotive makers bemoan the high prices.
This is largely due to a positive outlook for the EV sector, as well as limited alternatives for battery makers.
“Battery producers don’t have any other options than to accept lithium prices at such high levels. There are currently very limited alternatives to lithium salts in terms of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) or NCM battery production,” a Chinese lithium trader said.
Demand for lithium salts remains strong and buyers have already accepted that lithium prices will remain high.
Some have locked in long-term supply of lithium salts, including three-to-five year term contracts for the supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate, a Chinese lithium producer source told Fastmarkets.
Tesla recently secured a three-year lithium supply contract with Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest producer of battery-grade lithium.
China’s lithium prices have posted strong gains every week since November 25, 2021, with buyers actively restocking to prepare for production during the Lunar New Year holidays from January 31 to February 6.
Spot units of lithium salts have also gradually dried up due to the continuous appetite.
Market participants told Fastmarkets that such an uptrend was likely to continue after Chinese New Year, since the imbalance between supply and demand will not ease soon.
The price of cobalt sulfate in China, another key raw material for batteries, has also kept its upward momentum due to the optimism caused by the EV boom and delays in cobalt hydroxide shipments from South Africa to China.
Fastmarkets’ price assessment for cobalt sulfate, 20.5% Co basis, exw China was 106,000-107,000 yuan per tonne on January 21, up by 2,000 yuan per tonne from 104,000-105,000 yuan per tonne on January 19, and up by 80.51% from 58,000-60,000 yuan per tonne on January 6, 2021.
“Buyers from the NCM precursor materials sector are still cautious in purchasing materials due to the higher prices. But considering the rising prices for raw material cobalt hydroxide, and the reduced supply caused by delayed shipments from South Africa to China, we have no choice but to increase our offers,” a cobalt sulfate producer source said.
A slower-than-expected recovery in cobalt hydroxide shipments from South Africa to China continues to constrain spot supply, causing cobalt hydroxide prices to remain elevated.
Fastmarkets’ calculation of cobalt hydroxide index, 30% Co min, cif China stood at $29.75 per lb on January 21, up by $0.04 per lb from $26.01 per lb a week earlier. The price stood at $13.77 per lb on January 8, 2021.