GLOBAL LITHIUM WRAP: China lithium market, logistics resume; price unchanged post-holiday

China's domestic lithium spot market showed limited buying activity with prices unchanged in the first week after the Lunar New Year holiday, while transportation of lithium compounds has resumed and more market participants are due to return after the Lantern Festival next week.

Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices static after the holiday on thin buying interest. Lithium hydroxide prices rangebound at current level post-holiday. Transportation of lithium compounds has resumed but some market participants are still away until after the Lantern Festival. Prices in the Asian cif China, Japan & Korean market and the rest of the world held steady.China's battery-grade lithium carbonate market remained quiet with no concluded deals reported in the spot market. Most consumers and suppliers are back in the market this week while some remain on holiday.

Fastmarkets' last assessed the Chinese domestic spot battery-grade lithium carbonate price (min 99.5% Li2CO3) at 73,000-81,000 yuan ($10,779-11,961) per tonne on Thursday 14, unchanged from the previous week.

Transportation of lithium compounds has resumed this week in anticipation of an increase in market activity after the Lantern Festival, lithium consumers and producers told Fastmarkets.

"Our factory hasn't started production this week as workers will be back after the Lantern Festival next week. Currently, the market is stable and prices have not fluctuated because the holiday just passed. I think there will be more inquires from next week," a producer told Fastmarkets.

"Transportation has resumed for some of the deliveries scheduled for this week," a second producer told Fastmarkets.

The battery-grade lithium hydroxide market in China also remained slow and quiet after the holiday, with limited transactions reported while some cathode makers undertake maintenance work.

"We just got back to work this week to do some equipment maintenance. We will officially start production of our cathode material next week," a cathode producer said.

Fastmarkets IM's assessment for the battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) market price was at 99,000-109,000 yuan per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from last week.

Asian seaborne lithium price stationary
The battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices, cif China, Japan and Korea, both held unchanged this week with buyers holding back on procuring material while waiting for clear price indications in China and negotiating contracts with their suppliers.

Fastmarkets IM's assessment for the battery-grade lithium carbonate (min 99.5% Li2CO3) price cif China, Japan and Korea was at $12.50-14.50 per kg on February 14, stable week on week.

While the assessment for the lithium hydroxide (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) market price held at $15-17 per kg on a cif China, Japan and Korea basis on Thursday, unmoved from the previous week.

"We are still negotiating contract prices with our overseas suppliers but different price expectations have been delaying the decision," a distributor told Fastmarkets. "In the meantime, we have been looking to the spot market, but haven't made any purchase as off yet."

Flat European, US market
The European and US spot markets remained unchanged week on week due to thin trading activity.

Fastmarkets assessed the battery-grade lithium carbonate (min 99.5% Li2CO3) price at $13-15 per kg, duty paid to Europe and US, on Thursday February 14, on par with last week.

While the Fastmarkets IM assessment for the lithium hydroxide (min 56.5% LiOH.H2O) market price was at $15-17 per kg on a delivered duty-paid to Europe and the United States on February 14, unchanged week on week.

"The battery-grade spot market has had thin trading activity and we haven't seen any price changes week on week according to conversations with our consumers," a third producer told Fastmarkets.

Fastmarkets' trade log for battery-grade lithium carbonate in China for February includes all trades, bids and offers reported to Fastmarkets.

Learn more about Fastmarkets' lithium pricing methodology here and read the latest lithium price spotlight here.

All lithium carbonate, hydroxide and spodumene prices are available in our Battery Raw Materials Market Tracker. Get a sample of the report here.

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