Can the national reserve lithium carbonate be bought and sold latest news

What happened to Fastmarkets lithium carbonate DDP?

Fastmarkets’ lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price ddp Europe and US was last assessed at $37-41 per kg on Thursday June 1, a drop from historic highs at $80-82 per kg on December 15, 2022. The price followed the downward price trend in China when the weakening in the Chinese electric vehicle market subdued demand.

Will lithium carbonate prices go up in 2022?

Lithium carbonate prices surged to a record high of almost 600,000 yuan per ton in November 2022, more than 12 times January 2021 prices. Wood Mackenzie similarly forecasts that the overall lithium market will see a supply surplus in the coming years.

What's going on with China's Lithium carbonate market?

One measure of prices — for lithium carbonate in China — is about 80 per cent below its levels at the peak of a boom in 2022. The market is still grappling with inflated inventories from that period. There are also growing divergences between different products as the supply chain matures.

Why is lithium becoming a commodity?

Ballooning demand from batteries and electric vehicles has transformed lithium from a niche metal into a closely watched commodity. Photo by Peter J. Thompson/National Post The world’s lithium miners — facing an unprecedented demand surge and wild price swings — are shaking up the way the commodity is bought and sold.

Why do miners buy lithium?

“It allows miners to get the price of the day and it means that the contracts on which most material is sold are truly reflective of market dynamics.” Ballooning demand from batteries and electric vehicles has transformed lithium from a niche metal into a closely watched commodity pulling investment in the tens of billions of dollars.

Does Albemarle sell lithium?

Albemarle Corp., the No. 1 lithium supplier, has held a series of auctions since March where potential buyers compete for cargoes via bids. These sales are a significant step for lithium, which until relatively recently was largely sold at prices fixed in long-term contracts.