According to SMM, the SMM lithium carbonate battery-grade price index was RMB 95,801/mt on February 2, up RMB 71/mt from the previous working day. The battery-grade lithium carbonate price range was RMB 943,000-998,000/mt, averaging RMB 971,000/mt, unchanged from the previous working day. The industrial-grade lithium carbonate price range was RMB 880,000-910,000/mt, averaging RMB 895,000/mt, unchanged from the previous working day. Although inquiry activity in the market remains active, downstream companies are nearing the end of building long positions ahead of the holiday, and the significant increase in logistics costs before the festival has led to sluggish transactions nearing the Spring Festival, with actual traded volumes lower. The market situation today is relatively calm. Lithium carbonate and industrial grade lithium carbonate prices did not fluctuate due to light trading activity.

According to SMM, the SMM lithium carbonate battery-grade price index was RMB 95,640/mt on January 31, up RMB 94/mt from the previous working day. The battery-grade lithium carbonate price range was RMB 940,000-995,000/mt, averaging RMB 968,000/mt, unchanged from the previous working day. The industrial-grade lithium carbonate price range was RMB 880,000-904,000/mt, averaging RMB 892,000/mt, up RMB 200/mt from the previous working day.

Futures contracts outline minimum physical and chemical specifications for the underlying commodity so that each lot of material is standardised – this is a crucial parameter for consistent price discovery. As high-tech products Lithium-ion batteries have harsh and high-standard requirements on raw materials. However, as a chemical product, lithium carbonate qualities vary among producers. How to reasonably price them with different qualities based on the prices from the futures market is hard, which also incur many issues in the market.

SMM battery grade lithium carbonate index was 180,758 yuan/mt today, down 2,958 yuan/mt compared to the previous working day.

China's copper cathode output in July was 925,900 mt, an increase of 8,000 mt or 0.9% month-on-month, and a growth of 10.2% year-on-year; The output increased 23,800 mt compared with the expected 902,100 mt.

In July, China's lithium hydroxide output was 26,636 mt, a MoM increase of 3% and a YoY increase of 34%.

The index for SMM battery grade lithium carbonate was 274805 yuan/mt yesterday August 1, a decrease of 4295 yuan/mt compared to the previous working day; the price range of battery grade lithium carbonate was 267,000-281,000 yuan/mt, a decrease of 3500 yuan/mt compared to the previous working day; industrial grade lithium carbonate between 253,000-265,000 yuan/mt, down 3500 yuan/mt from the previous working day.

SHANGHAI, Jul 6 (SMM) – SMM battery grade lithium carbonate index was 308,300 yuan/mt on July 5, which was the same as the previous working day.