PRICING NOTICE: Launch of China nickel sulfate price

After a consultation period, Metal Bulletin has today launched this assessment in response to a growing market for lithium-ion batteries produced in China in recent years.

Although compositions vary, two batteries have become dominant in the market: the lithium-ion nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery and the nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) battery. More recently, a shift toward batteries being increasingly nickel-weighted has become evident.

Nickel sulfate – a key material for NCM and NCA batteries – is largely produced and consumed in China. With demand expected to grow in China in the coming years, seaborne suppliers are anticipated to enter the market.

The specification, delivery terms and publication timing are as follows: 
Price: China nickel sulfate, ex-works
Grade: Nickel content min 21%, max: 22.5%; cobalt 10ppm max
Type: assessed range 
Currency/unit: yuan per tonne
Min Lot size: 1 tonne 
Payment terms: bank acceptance (other payment are normalized)
Publication: Weekly on Tuesdays by 4pm London time

Metal Bulletin has no financial interest in the level or direction of this assessment.

To provide feedback on this price assessment or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Jon Mulcahy and Violet Li by email at pricing@metalbulletin.com. Please add the subject heading FAO: Jon Mulcahy, Violet Li, re: proposed nickel sulfate price.

 To see all Metal Bulletin’s pricing methodology and specification documents go to www.metalbulletin.com/prices/pricing-methodology