Battery grade lithium carbonate price to rise after the Spring Festival holiday
2013-02-05 08:46:07 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 5 Feb 13 – Since lithium ore and brine prices go up, producers are negotiating with consumers about the price rising of battery grade lithium carbonate. With the Spring Festival holiday coming, very few consumers making procurement, but suppliers have sent the signals of raising price after the Spring Festival holiday, but it is not certain for the rising scope because supply is expected to increase in the future. It is generally believed that mainstream price of battery grade lithium will probably move up from the current level of RMB42-44/kg (USD6.68-7.00/kg).
A producer in Jiangxi, whose output of lithium carbonate of battery grade is 200tpm, reported to Asian Metal that battery grade lithium carbonate market does not see active transactions with the approaching of the Spring Festival holiday. At the same time, they have sent the signal of raising lithium carbonate of battery grade after the long holiday. The source, whose price is about RMB44/kg (USD7.00/kg), revealed that they are not sure how much the price of battery grade lithium carbonate will rise though both lithium ore and brine prices rise.
“Demand from lithium battery industry will pick up from March and the price of battery grade lithium carbonate is expected to rise. However, supply is increasing too, so it is difficult to predict the rising scope for lithium carbonate of battery grade,” said the source.
A lithium iron phosphate producer in Shandong disclosed that producers have negotiated with them about the price rising, but they have not decided how much the price will be moved up. Previously, they prepared high stock at RMB43/kg (USD6.84/kg) for battery grade lithium carbonate and the inventory will last for the production until March, so they are watching the market now.
“Demand is weak from lithium battery sector before the Spring Festival holiday and consumers are not interested in buying,” said the source whose output of lithium iron phosphate is 400tpy. He does not think the price will rise dramatically because prices of downstream products fall. He revealed that their price of lithium iron phosphate is RMB110/kg (USD17.49/kg) now and RMB160/kg (USD25.44/kg) in 2011 because competition becomes intense in lithium iron phosphate market. Some producers even sell at RMB60-80/kg (USD9.54-12.72/kg) for promotion.
A producer in Jiangxi, whose output of lithium carbonate of battery grade is 200tpm, reported to Asian Metal that battery grade lithium carbonate market does not see active transactions with the approaching of the Spring Festival holiday. At the same time, they have sent the signal of raising lithium carbonate of battery grade after the long holiday. The source, whose price is about RMB44/kg (USD7.00/kg), revealed that they are not sure how much the price of battery grade lithium carbonate will rise though both lithium ore and brine prices rise.
“Demand from lithium battery industry will pick up from March and the price of battery grade lithium carbonate is expected to rise. However, supply is increasing too, so it is difficult to predict the rising scope for lithium carbonate of battery grade,” said the source.
A lithium iron phosphate producer in Shandong disclosed that producers have negotiated with them about the price rising, but they have not decided how much the price will be moved up. Previously, they prepared high stock at RMB43/kg (USD6.84/kg) for battery grade lithium carbonate and the inventory will last for the production until March, so they are watching the market now.
“Demand is weak from lithium battery sector before the Spring Festival holiday and consumers are not interested in buying,” said the source whose output of lithium iron phosphate is 400tpy. He does not think the price will rise dramatically because prices of downstream products fall. He revealed that their price of lithium iron phosphate is RMB110/kg (USD17.49/kg) now and RMB160/kg (USD25.44/kg) in 2011 because competition becomes intense in lithium iron phosphate market. Some producers even sell at RMB60-80/kg (USD9.54-12.72/kg) for promotion.
Lithium Carbonate 99.5%min CIF China
Unit:USD/kg
China lithium carbonate 99%min producers' inventory to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
