Dear Users and Partners,
Greetings!
SMM's weekly lithium carbonate inventory data has attracted significant market attention since its release. As the market participant base has continued to grow, with increasing complexity among producers, traders, warehouses, and other relevant participants, the representativeness of SMM's previous lithium carbonate inventory data has declined, causing varying degrees of confusion for different types of clients. SMM sincerely apologizes for this. Meanwhile, SMM has been continuously accumulating experience and improving its data methodology. The relevant adjustments are as follows:
Starting September 4, 2026 (Friday, 2:30 PM), the optimized SMM weekly lithium carbonate inventory (title-based) data and supporting indicators will be officially launched.
Core Contents of This Revision and Optimization Upgrade
1. Increase in Sample Coverage and Inventory Base
The sample now covers the major known holders of goods in the market. The revisions and adjustments include:
- Filling the inventory gap in the trading segment through direct title-based statistics and physical warehouse data;
- Adding inventory from battery cell manufacturers and other downstream segments (including LiPF6, etc.);
- Adding samples from upstream lithium chemical plants for lithium extraction from bauxite residue, tungsten ore associated lithium, and aluminum electrolysis waste slag, to cover market lithium carbonate output;
- Minor revisions to data from upstream smelters, battery cell manufacturers, and cathode material producers.
2. Unified Scope: Clarifying the Two Major Principles for Inventory Statistics
This upgrade clearly defines the scope of inventory statistics:
- Geographic boundary: Inventory must be within China's territory and inside customs, excluding goods in bonded areas that have not been cleared through customs.
- Title principle: Inventory is counted based on actual title ownership. Goods held on behalf of others are not counted as downstream inventory.
3. Historical Data Backdated to April 30, 2026
To ensure data continuity, the new-scope inventory data has been backdated to April 30, 2026.
4. Disclaimer
Since the communication and evaluation timing for all samples is affected by factors such as customs clearance timing and statistical cutoff points, weekly data may have certain deviations. We kindly ask for your understanding.
As the data may be interpreted differently by different clients, SMM, in consideration of fairness, impartiality, and transparency, prohibits any relevant internal personnel from disclosing the relevant data in advance.
Friendly reminder: Investment involves risk; trade with caution.
SMM
September 3, 2026