Today, the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index price was 75,478 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous working day. Battery-grade lithium carbonate was quoted at 74,700-76,300 yuan/mt, with an average price of 75,500 yuan/mt, also unchanged from the previous working day. Industrial-grade lithium carbonate was quoted at 71,800-72,800 yuan/mt, with an average price of 72,300 yuan/mt, remaining stable compared to the previous working day.
Earlier this week, supported by multiple bullish factors, spot prices of lithium carbonate increased. Subsequently, lithium carbonate prices exhibited sideways movement, with the transaction center largely stable. Based on current market transactions, prices rebounded earlier in the week, but downstream material plants showed significantly weaker purchasing sentiment. As prices gradually returned to normal transaction levels, transaction activity slightly improved due to some material plants' stocking demand ahead of the Chinese New Year. Upstream lithium chemical plants maintained a sentiment to stand firm on quotes, and some traders' offers slightly increased compared to before. Considering that lithium chemical plants will gradually enter pre-holiday maintenance and downstream material plants still have some stocking demand, combined with the market's circulating lithium carbonate inventory levels, spot prices of lithium carbonate are expected to fluctuate rangebound.
