Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-11-17 13:28Core Viewpoint - The recent surge in lithium carbonate prices, driven by rising costs, demand, and market sentiment, suggests a potential new "super cycle" for lithium battery materials may be on the horizon [1][3][7] Price Movements - On November 17, 2023, lithium carbonate futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose by 9%, closing at 95,200 yuan per ton, with a daily increase of 7,840 yuan per ton [1] - Major lithium producers in the A-share market, Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium, saw significant stock price increases of 9.87% and 7.48%, respectively, on the same day [1] Demand and Supply Dynamics - Ganfeng Lithium's chairman indicated that if lithium carbonate demand grows over 30% next year, prices could exceed 150,000 yuan per ton, with potential to reach 200,000 yuan per ton if demand growth hits 40% [3] - The projected global demand for lithium carbonate is expected to reach 1.9 million tons by next year, with supply potentially increasing by 250,000 tons, leading to a balance in supply and demand [3] Cost Factors - The increase in lithium carbonate prices is attributed to rising costs, particularly due to expectations of higher lithium mica costs [5] - The cost of producing lithium carbonate from lithium mica is estimated to rise by approximately 3,500 yuan per ton, bringing the total production cost to around 77,000 yuan per ton [6] Storage Demand - The primary driver of the recent lithium carbonate price increase is the surge in demand for energy storage solutions, which is expected to significantly boost the demand for lithium batteries [7] - The domestic energy storage market is experiencing a turning point in economic viability, driven by marketization of renewable energy and capacity pricing [7] Supply Chain Considerations - The current supply situation for lithium carbonate differs significantly from previous cycles, with new lithium resources being developed globally [8] - There are concerns about potential supply bottlenecks, particularly with the Jianshanxia Mica Mine not expected to resume production in the short term, which could impact prices [8]