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May 27-28, 2021
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
11th Aluminum Raw Materials Summit
May 20-21, 2021
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
9th Magnesium Summit
April 15-16, 2021
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
13th World InBiGeGa Forum
March 25-26, 2021
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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May 23-24, 2019
Qingdao, Shandong, China
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May 16-17, 2019
Zhengzhou, Henan, China
11th Rare Earth Summit
May 9-10, 2019
Qingdao, Shandong, China
8th Magnesium Summit
April 11-12, 2019
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
12th World InBiGeGa Forum
March 14-15, 2019
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
6th World Manganese & Selenium Forum
May 21-22, 2018
Hainan Sanya, China
Interview with Qian Qiongwei, Managing Director and Yan Xiaoxiong, Sales & Marketing Manager of Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
Galaxy Lithium: Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) operating smoothly, lithium outlook promising
----Interview with Qian Qiongwei, Managing Director and Yan Xiaoxiong, Sales & Marketing Manager of Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
Asian Metal: Thank you for accepting the interview with Asian Metal. We know that Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. held opening ceremony on 7 March at new factory in Yangtse River International Industrial Park in Jiangsu. Please introduce the development of the production of your factory in recent several months.
Qian: We began to sign the first order of industrial grade lithium carbonate in May. In July, we started to produce battery grade lithium carbonate. Since July, we have produced 1,000t of materials including lithium carbonate of battery and industrial grade. In the first quarter of 2013, the factory is expected to operate at full production capacity. There are 170 employees of the factory, with a highly automatic continuous production process.
Asian Metal: At present, you mainly sell industrial grade lithium carbonate. Which industries do you sell to? How about the demand from downstream industries?
Qian: We sell lithium carbonate of industrial grade at the start. Firstly, the product gets to technical grade and then it achieved the battery grade in July. Secondly, usually, consumers from lithium battery industry have a trial process before they decide to use the product on a long-term basis.
In the near future, we will produce more battery grade lithium carbonate than industrial grade because demand for battery grade lithium carbonate increases much faster than that of industrial grade. I think demand for lithium carbonate of battery grade increases by around 20-30% year by year, while demand for industrial grade keeps relatively stable with a yearly consumption of 12,000-13,000t. In the past days of 2012, supply of both battery grade and industrial grade was relatively tight.
Asian Metal: Galaxy wholly owns the Mt Cattlin project near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia. Please introduce the mine.
Yan: It is the secondly largest lithium ore in the world. At full capacity, Galaxy will process 137,000tpy of spodumene concentrate and 56,000 lbs per annum of contained tantalum. The concentrated spodumene is shipped to Galaxy's wholly-owned Lithium Carbonate Plant in China's Jiangsu province.
Mt Cattlin project started at the same time with the project in Jiangsu. Mt Cattline project was as per schedule, while the project in Jiangsu was slower. For the time being, operations have been temporarily halted at Mt Cattlin project in Western Australia due to high internal inventory levels of spodumene ahead of the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant.
Recently improved spodumene production rates at the Mt Cattlin mine and processing plant, coupled with the Jiangsu Plant being in ramp-up phase, has resulted in a build-up of internal spodumene inventory levels to approximately 12 months’ supply of feedstock for the Jiangsu Plant.
The temporary halt of operations at Mt Cattlin will allow for reduction of spodumene stocks to more manageable levels. In addition, the temporary halt commenced from end-July.
Asian Metal: What's the advantage of your product?
Yan: Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. has advantage in cost because the company owns lithium mineral resources. On the other hand, the Jiangsu plant is close to wharf and the lithium ore coming from Australia can be unloaded in the yard of the company through belt conveyor. Thirdly, we can get raw materials such as sulfuric acid, sodium carbonate nearby to cut the freight. Furthermore, the company is with high degree of automation and only has 170 employees, so the labor cost is low.
Asian Metal: In recent two years, lithium products prices are on the upward tendency. Please talk about your opinions on the current lithium market and your expectations towards the future market.
Qian: I think the price change depends on demand and supply. In recent two years, lithium concentrates and lithium products prices go up. It shows that demand is strong and consumers buy in large volumes when price rises. Lithium battery is mainly applied to electronic products, electric bicycles, electric cars, stored energy etc. We are confident in the prospect of lithium industry.
Asian Metal: Lithium market sees mergers at the present time. Please share with us about your views on the future pattern changes in lithium market.
Qian: It shows that industry consolidation has become a trend. The merger between Galaxy Resources Limited and Lithium One also proves the tendency. There are different advantages of techniques of getting lithium products from lithium ore and brine. In the resources industry, the company who owns resources holds pricing right.
Asian Metal: Mr. Qian, Could you share your working experience with us?
Qian: I once worked as Project Manager, Production Manager with GE Motors, Investing Manager of Dechang Motor, Managing Director of Chengdu Tonglin Casting Industrial Co., Ltd, Managing Director of Shanghai Jintai Chemical Co., Ltd. I joined Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) in 2011.
Asian Metal: What’s the plan of your company in the next few years?
Qian: The annual production capacity of Jiangsu factory is 17,000t and we plan to produce with full capacity in the first half of next year. At the same time, our controlling corporation is active in integrating Lithium One. By 2015, the production capacity of lithium carbonate will get to 42,000t and 100,000-110,000t of potash fertilizer globally. In addition, we are going to expand production capacity in Jiangsu, with an annual capacity of 5,000t. We are optimistic about the outlook of lithium market and demand is foreseen to grow dramatically after 2014-2015.
Asian Metal: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with Asian Metal!
Yan: Thank you!
Qian: We began to sign the first order of industrial grade lithium carbonate in May. In July, we started to produce battery grade lithium carbonate. Since July, we have produced 1,000t of materials including lithium carbonate of battery and industrial grade. In the first quarter of 2013, the factory is expected to operate at full production capacity. There are 170 employees of the factory, with a highly automatic continuous production process.
Asian Metal: At present, you mainly sell industrial grade lithium carbonate. Which industries do you sell to? How about the demand from downstream industries?
Qian: We sell lithium carbonate of industrial grade at the start. Firstly, the product gets to technical grade and then it achieved the battery grade in July. Secondly, usually, consumers from lithium battery industry have a trial process before they decide to use the product on a long-term basis.
In the near future, we will produce more battery grade lithium carbonate than industrial grade because demand for battery grade lithium carbonate increases much faster than that of industrial grade. I think demand for lithium carbonate of battery grade increases by around 20-30% year by year, while demand for industrial grade keeps relatively stable with a yearly consumption of 12,000-13,000t. In the past days of 2012, supply of both battery grade and industrial grade was relatively tight.
Asian Metal: Galaxy wholly owns the Mt Cattlin project near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia. Please introduce the mine.
Yan: It is the secondly largest lithium ore in the world. At full capacity, Galaxy will process 137,000tpy of spodumene concentrate and 56,000 lbs per annum of contained tantalum. The concentrated spodumene is shipped to Galaxy's wholly-owned Lithium Carbonate Plant in China's Jiangsu province.
Mt Cattlin project started at the same time with the project in Jiangsu. Mt Cattline project was as per schedule, while the project in Jiangsu was slower. For the time being, operations have been temporarily halted at Mt Cattlin project in Western Australia due to high internal inventory levels of spodumene ahead of the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant.
Recently improved spodumene production rates at the Mt Cattlin mine and processing plant, coupled with the Jiangsu Plant being in ramp-up phase, has resulted in a build-up of internal spodumene inventory levels to approximately 12 months’ supply of feedstock for the Jiangsu Plant.
The temporary halt of operations at Mt Cattlin will allow for reduction of spodumene stocks to more manageable levels. In addition, the temporary halt commenced from end-July.
Asian Metal: What's the advantage of your product?
Yan: Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. has advantage in cost because the company owns lithium mineral resources. On the other hand, the Jiangsu plant is close to wharf and the lithium ore coming from Australia can be unloaded in the yard of the company through belt conveyor. Thirdly, we can get raw materials such as sulfuric acid, sodium carbonate nearby to cut the freight. Furthermore, the company is with high degree of automation and only has 170 employees, so the labor cost is low.
Asian Metal: In recent two years, lithium products prices are on the upward tendency. Please talk about your opinions on the current lithium market and your expectations towards the future market.
Qian: I think the price change depends on demand and supply. In recent two years, lithium concentrates and lithium products prices go up. It shows that demand is strong and consumers buy in large volumes when price rises. Lithium battery is mainly applied to electronic products, electric bicycles, electric cars, stored energy etc. We are confident in the prospect of lithium industry.
Asian Metal: Lithium market sees mergers at the present time. Please share with us about your views on the future pattern changes in lithium market.
Qian: It shows that industry consolidation has become a trend. The merger between Galaxy Resources Limited and Lithium One also proves the tendency. There are different advantages of techniques of getting lithium products from lithium ore and brine. In the resources industry, the company who owns resources holds pricing right.
Asian Metal: Mr. Qian, Could you share your working experience with us?
Qian: I once worked as Project Manager, Production Manager with GE Motors, Investing Manager of Dechang Motor, Managing Director of Chengdu Tonglin Casting Industrial Co., Ltd, Managing Director of Shanghai Jintai Chemical Co., Ltd. I joined Galaxy Lithium (Jiangsu) in 2011.
Asian Metal: What’s the plan of your company in the next few years?
Qian: The annual production capacity of Jiangsu factory is 17,000t and we plan to produce with full capacity in the first half of next year. At the same time, our controlling corporation is active in integrating Lithium One. By 2015, the production capacity of lithium carbonate will get to 42,000t and 100,000-110,000t of potash fertilizer globally. In addition, we are going to expand production capacity in Jiangsu, with an annual capacity of 5,000t. We are optimistic about the outlook of lithium market and demand is foreseen to grow dramatically after 2014-2015.
Asian Metal: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with Asian Metal!
Yan: Thank you!