On January 30, 2026, the Phase 3 chemical-grade spodumene concentrate expansion project at Talison successfully produced its first batch of qualified products and has now entered the production ramp-up stage. The project will provide a stable supply of raw materials for Tianqi Lithium's global production bases, enhance synergy across the industry chain, and is expected to further strengthen the company's profitability.

WestStar Industrial has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, SIMPEC, has secured a contract to deliver structural, mechanical and piping works at Tianqi Lithium’s plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. The contract, valued at approximately AUD 4 million, was awarded by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia, with work set to commence shortly. Managing Director Mark Dimasi stated that the project represents a major milestone for SIMPEC, strengthening its position as a trusted partner in complex industrial projects and highlighting its growing role in Australia’s lithium and clean energy sector. SIMPEC specialises in delivering high-quality engineering and asset management solutions, with expertise in structural, mechanical and piping, electrical and instrumentation, concrete products, and civil services.

SMM News on May 14: Today, driven by positive policy developments, the main lithium carbonate futures contract fluctuated upward after opening, surging over 3% during the session. By the close of the daytime session, the main contract closed up 3% at 65,200 yuan/mt, up 2,640 yuan/mt from the low of 62,560 yuan/mt set during the session on May 12, representing a 4.22% increase. In terms of spot prices, according to SMM's spot quotes, the spot price of battery-grade lithium carbonate also rose slightly by 100 yuan/mt today, trading at 63,600-65,800 yuan/mt, with an average price of 64,700 yuan/mt. 》Click to view SMM's spot quotes for new energy products Regarding the reasons for the rise in lithium carbonate futures prices, SMM believes it is mainly related to positive policy news. On May 12, the Ministry of Commerce website released a joint statement on the China-US Geneva Economic and Trade Talks, announcing that the US's 24% reciprocal tariff on Chinese products would be suspended for the initial 90 days. According to the latest news today, this tariff adjustment has been temporarily implemented. SMM understands that, overall, due to exemptions for NEVs and their parts before and after this reciprocal tariff adjustment, the change in reciprocal tariffs will have a greater impact on the export of ESS batteries, potentially prompting an anticipated rush in exports of Chinese ESS battery cells, thereby driving up the demand for lithium carbonate. Starting from May 14, the tariff on new energy end-use products exported from China to the US is as follows: SMM predicts that, given the installation rush demand for ESS storage mentioned in China's Document No. 136 regarding the "May 31" grid connection deadline, the ESS battery cells produced in May may not be able to meet the installation rush demand in time this month. Therefore, the market previously expected that the production volume of ESS battery cells in May might decrease by 5-10% MoM compared to April. However, influenced by the golden export window period brought about by the change in US tariffs, and considering that it takes approximately one month for transportation and customs clearance from China to the US, it is expected that the production schedule of ESS battery cells for top-tier enterprises will remain at a high level in May and June, and the growth rate of ESS battery cell production is expected to turn from negative to positive MoM. 》Click to view details Returning to the supply and demand dynamics of the lithium carbonate market, lithium carbonate prices are currently hovering near recent lows. Under the pressure of cost losses, upstream lithium chemical plants have shown a strong sentiment to stand firm on quotes. Currently, there is only a certain level of trading activity between traders and downstream enterprises. The positive expectations for an increase in end-use demand driven by the aforementioned policy developments may, to a certain extent, drive a rebound in lithium carbonate prices. However, it should also be noted that although lithium carbonate inventory levels have slightly decreased after the Labour Day holiday, the current cumulative inventory level of lithium carbonate remains high. Moreover, ore prices continue to hit new lows, and cost support is continuously weakening. Therefore, the overall price of lithium carbonate will continue to exhibit a fluctuating trend at lows. As the futures and spot prices of lithium carbonate rose together, the shares of energy metal companies, including Tengyuan Cobalt, Huayou Cobalt, YOUNGY, Zhongkuang Resources, Weiling Co., Ltd., and Tianqi Lithium, also "rose", with multiple stocks increasing by over 1%. Dazhong Mining also responded today on the investor interaction platform regarding the progress of the lithium mine tunnel in Hunan. The company stated that as of now, the lithium mine tunnel in Hunan has been completed, laying a certain foundation for the early commissioning of mining and beneficiation operations. According to the "Lithium Exploration Report of the Tongtianmiao Ore Block in the Jijiaoshan Mining Area, Linwu County, Hunan Province" reviewed and filed by the company for its resource reserves, the associated minerals of the Jijiaoshan lithium mine in Hunan include metals such as rubidium, niobium, tantalum, tin, and tungsten. Institutional Comments Xinhu Futures commented that there are no significant positive factors in the short-term fundamentals, making it difficult for lithium prices to reverse their trend. However, at the current price level, it is necessary to be cautious about the rising expectations of supply-side disruptions and the capital-driven nature of low valuations. Given the relatively high channel inventory levels across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, this will also limit the rebound space for lithium prices. Yide Futures stated that, on the supply side, the CIF price of Australian ore has fallen to $687.5/mt, while the price of African ore has remained stable at $637/mt. Port lithium ore inventory has increased, and the planned production of lithium carbonate nationwide for May has increased MoM, with the latest weekly production data showing a significant increase. On the demand side, the planned production of cathode materials, including ternary materials and LFP, has increased MoM. Based on the current production schedule, the supply and demand fundamentals still maintain a surplus pattern. In terms of inventory, the latest weekly inventory has decreased by 464 mt. Specifically, the significant increase in smelter production has not yet been transferred downstream or to traders, leading to a noticeable increase in their inventory, while the inventory of downstream traders has decreased. In the short term, the combination of front-loaded consumption and collapsing costs has led to a significant pullback in lithium carbonate prices. From a long-term industry perspective, the market requires a more thorough exit of the resource side. SDIC Futures stated that the total market inventory has decreased by 500 mt to 132,000 mt, with downstream inventory decreasing by 3,000 mt to 42,000 mt and smelter inventory increasing by 3,800 mt to 55,000 mt. The intermediate links are actively destocking. In terms of inventory structure, there is a weak willingness for downstream restocking, while passive restocking has occurred upstream, reflecting differences in market sentiment. The latest quote for Australian ore is $700, with a decline of over 15% in the past month, basically reflecting a downward shift in the price center. The midstream production has recovered rapidly, with a 28% increase in production MoM in the first week after the holiday, and an improvement in supply and demand still needs to be awaited. The futures price of lithium carbonate is in a downward channel, and short positions are being maintained.

In the long run, as an important raw material in the new energy battery industry, lithium carbonate, despite facing challenges such as short-term price fluctuations and market competition, still has broad demand prospects driven by the continuous growth of markets like NEVs and ESS.

Today, driven by favorable policy developments, the main lithium carbonate futures contract fluctuated upward overall after the opening bell, surging over 3% at one point during the daytime session. By the close of the daytime session, the main lithium carbonate futures contract closed up 3% at 65,200 yuan/mt, up 2,640 yuan/mt from the low of 62,560 yuan/mt set during the session on May 12, representing a 4.22% increase. Regarding the reasons for the rise in lithium carbonate futures prices, SMM believes it is mainly related to favorable policy news. On May 12, the website of the Ministry of Commerce released a joint statement on the China-US Geneva Economic and Trade Talks, stating that the US's 24% reciprocal tariff imposed on Chinese products would be suspended for the initial 90-day period. According to the latest news today, this tariff adjustment has been temporarily implemented. SMM understands that, overall, as the reciprocal tariff adjustment includes exemptions for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and their parts, the change in reciprocal tariffs will have a greater impact on the export of energy storage system (ESS) batteries. This may drive an anticipated surge in exports of Chinese ESS battery cells, thereby boosting the demand for lithium carbonate.

The scrap battery recycling industry has long faced two major price pain points: ▲ High Recycling Costs : The traditional process is cumbersome, leading to high recycling costs and severely compressing the profit margins of enterprises. ▲ Chaotic Pricing Mechanism : Informal channels disrupt the market through low-price competition, making it difficult for legitimate businesses to stand in price wars. How to Eliminate Price Barriers? How Can the Scrap Battery and Secondary Lead Industries Break Through? [This Time, We Will Make a Concession on Price!] GBRC 2025 SMM Battery Recycling and Circular Industry Conference , will be held on August 14-15, 2025 , in Ningbo, Zhejiang . Super Early Bird Price: Register before May 30th and enjoy a super early bird discount, saving 800 yuan! [At Previous Battery Recycling Conferences, These Companies Were All Present (Only Some Listed)!] (Among the previous attendees, 35% were Chairmen and General Managers ; 39% were Sales and Procurement Executives ) ▲Lead Battery Recycling Companies: Zhejiang Tianeng Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Chilwee Bafang Recycling Industry Co., Ltd. Shanghai Xinyun Guixi Metal Recycling Co., Ltd. Anhui Hongyu Qian Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangmen Leen Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Nantong Lishi Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Chengdu Xupai Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Suzhou Blue Port Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. Sichuan Rongsheng Changhong Renewable Resources Recycling Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Jieyu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Kuaidian New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ▲Secondary Lead Smelters: Taihe County Dahua Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Anhui Lukong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. Camel Group (Anhui) Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Anhui Tianshuo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Tianeng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Henan Yuguang Gold Lead Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Hongda Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Juxin Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. ▲Power Battery Recycling Companies: GEM Co., Ltd. Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd. Guangdong Guanghua Sci-Tech Co., Ltd. Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Miracle Golden Tiger Cobalt Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Hao Peng Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang New Era Zhongneng Technology Co., Ltd. CNGR Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. Anhui Xunying Power Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Tengyuan Cobalt Co., Ltd. Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. Shanghai BYD Co., Ltd. Lv Xun New Energy Technology (Foshan) Co., Ltd. ▲Battery Companies: Tianeng Battery Group Co., Ltd. Chilwee Group Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. Guangzhou Great Power Energy & Technology Co., Ltd. Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. REPT Battero Energy Co., Ltd. Phylion Battery Co., Ltd. SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. Desay Battery Technology Co., Ltd. EVE Energy Co., Ltd. Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd. Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited BYD Company Limited Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. SEVB Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. Xupai Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jingjiu Power Technology Co., Ltd. Fengfan Co., Ltd. Jujiang Power Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Camel Group Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Just Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd. [Detailed Conference Agenda] [ Supply and Demand & Closed-Door Meetings | August 14] 08:00-10:00 Registration 10:00-12:00 Closed-Door Discussion on Secondary Lead, Closed-Door Seminar on Power Battery Recycling 10:00-12:00 Supply and Demand Exchange for the Battery Recycling Industry (Endless Business Opportunities) 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch [ Main Forum | August 14] 13:30-13:50 Opening Remarks of the Conference 13:50-14:20 Current Situation and Future Development Trends of the Battery Recycling Market Guest Speaker: Li Shilong, Chairman, China Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance for Resources Recycling Industry (CIAR) 14:20-14:50 Competition and Cooperation Between Lead-Acid Batteries and Lithium Batteries Under the "Dual Carbon" Goals Invited Company: Leoch International Technology Co., Ltd. 14:50-15:20 Market Prospects Analysis of the Dual Drive of "Old-for-New" Policy on Battery Consumption and Recycling Invited Company: Zhejiang Tianeng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. 15:20-15:50 Comparison of China's "Whitelist" System and Germany's Dual-Track System (GRS and PRO Systems) on Recycling Efficiency Invited Guest: Wang Qi, Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences 15:50-16:20 The "Technological Watershed" in Lithium Battery Recycling: Commercial Competition Between Pyrometallurgy and Hydrometallurgy Invited Company: Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. 16:20-16:50 Roundtable: Lead-Acid vs. Lithium: Full Life Cycle Tracking 1. Current Status of Lead-Acid and Lithium Battery Recycling Market 2. Impact of Trade-In Policy on the Battery Recycling Market Proposed Companies to Invite: Zhejiang Chilwee Bafang Recycling Industry Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tianneng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd., Anhui Lukong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., Tianqi Lithium Corporation, GEM Co., Ltd., Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., Lvxun New Energy Industry (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. 16:50-17:20 Interpretation of the Impact of Increased China-US Tariffs on the Battery Import and Export Market Proposed Company to Invite: China Industrial Association of Power Sources [ Secondary Lead Forum| August 15, Morning] 09:00-09:25 Policies, Regulations, and Reverse Invoicing: A Policy Framework for Promoting the Development of the Circular Economy Proposed Guest Speaker: He Yi, Hazardous Waste Department, Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Technology Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment 09:25-09:50 Breakthrough Strategies for Enterprises Amidst Overcapacity in the Secondary Lead Industry Proposed Company to Invite: China Nonferrous Metals Recycling Industry Association 09:50-10:15 Extraction Technologies for By-Products from Comprehensive Polymetallic Recycling and Smelting: Antimony, Bismuth, Tin, etc. Proposed Company to Invite: Central South University 10:15-10:35 Analysis of the Supply-Demand Pattern of Lead-Containing Scrap in the Next 3-5 Years Guest Speaker: Wang Meili, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 10:35-11:00 Interpretation of Policies and Market for Secondary Lead Going Global Proposed Guest Speaker: Chen Wenkai, President, Malaysia Non-Ferrous Metals General Chamber of Commerce 11:00-11:25 Current Status of the Waste Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Market: A Case Study of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Regions Proposed Guest Speaker: Dong Chenglin, Chengdu Xinjuxin Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. 11:25-11:50 2025-2026 Fundamentals and Price Analysis of Lead Ingot Consumption Guest Speaker: Xia Wenming, Senior Analyst, Lead and Zinc Industry Research Group, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch [ Power Battery Recycling Forum| August 15, Morning] 09:00-09:25 Global Analysis of the Power Battery Recycling and Reuse Market Proposed Company to Invite: Hydrometallurgy Branch, China National Resources Recycling Association 09:25-09:50 New Approaches to Building the Lithium Battery Recycling System from the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Recycling System for Lithium-Ion Batteries from Electric Bicycles" Proposed Guest Speaker: Zan Xiangming, Secretary General, Anhui Province New Energy Vehicle Power Battery Recycling Industry Alliance 09:50-10:15 Demand Analysis and Market Entry Strategies for Lithium Battery Recycling in Overseas Emerging Markets Proposed Guest Speaker: Zhou Jiang, Vice President, International Business Department, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited 10:15-10:35 Technological Breakthroughs and Applications of Targeted Leaching Strategies Based on Primary Cell Effects in Lithium Battery Recycling Proposed Guest Speaker: Li Jinhui, Professor, Tsinghua University 10:35-11:00 Practical Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Intelligent Sorting and Process Optimization for Lithium Battery Recycling Proposed Guest Speaker: Dou Dejing, Professor, Fudan University 11:00-11:25 Industry Dynamics and Trends Following the Implementation of Black Mass Import Policies Guest Speaker: Lin Ziya, Lithium Battery Recycling Industry Analyst, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. 11:25-11:50 Roundtable: The New Ecosystem of Lithium Battery Recycling: How Can Automakers, Battery Manufacturers, and Recycling Enterprises Break Through in the Billion-Dollar Market? Proposed Invited Enterprises: BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd., Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, Tianqi Lithium Corporation, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Gotion High-tech Power Energy Co., Ltd. 12:00-13:30 Buffet Lunch