锂电池“血液”涨价传导提速，头部厂称满产满销，议价能力有望提升

Core Insights - The price of electrolyte, a crucial component in lithium batteries, has recently rebounded strongly, with the price for lithium iron phosphate battery electrolyte reaching 23,900 yuan per ton as of November 13 [1][2] - The significant increase in the price of hexafluorophosphate lithium, a key material, has doubled since mid-September, reaching an average of 119,800 yuan per ton, contributing to the upward trend in electrolyte prices [1][2] - The demand for electrolytes is driven by a booming energy storage market, with new energy storage installations in China exceeding 100 million kilowatts, representing over a 30-fold increase compared to the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan [2][6] Price Trends - The price of lithium-ion battery electrolyte has shown a notable short-term increase, rising from approximately 17,500 yuan per ton at the beginning of the year to 23,900 yuan per ton in November, marking a month-on-month increase of 14.35% [2][3] - The average price of hexafluorophosphate lithium in November has increased by 42.25% compared to October, while the price of the additive VC has risen by 21.33% [2][3] - The overall average price of electrolytes in November has increased by 16.73% month-on-month, driven by both rising costs and increased demand [2][3] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The supply of hexafluorophosphate lithium is currently constrained, with inventory levels at only 1,500 tons, which is at a low point historically [3] - The electrolyte supply chain is characterized by low elasticity, with new production capacity taking 12-18 months to come online, even if expansion is initiated now [3] - The supply of VC is also tight, exacerbated by production halts at leading companies due to equipment failures, leading to strong upward price pressure [3][4] Long-term Contracts and Market Strategy - In response to supply constraints and rising prices, downstream battery and energy storage manufacturers are securing long-term contracts to lock in supplies [4] - Recent contracts signed by Tianqi Materials for a total of 8.7 million tons of electrolyte products highlight the strong demand in the market, with the total value of these contracts approaching 40 billion yuan [4] Industry Outlook - The current price increases for electrolytes are not keeping pace with the rising costs of raw materials, indicating that electrolyte producers may have room to improve their bargaining power [5] - The market is expected to maintain a tight balance for hexafluorophosphate lithium in the short term, with optimistic projections suggesting a 50% growth in energy storage demand by 2026 [6] - The anticipated supply gap for hexafluorophosphate lithium could widen to 7,000 tons in the first half of 2026, with price levels expected to stabilize between 80,000 and 120,000 yuan per ton [6]