Core Viewpoint - The strong demand for energy storage is driving the lithium carbonate market, leading to a supply shortage and increasing prices, with expectations of a structural shortage by 2026 [1][2]. Industry Summary - The domestic demand for energy storage is robust, with expectations of a surge in electric vehicle purchases due to the phasing out of tax incentives by 2026, resulting in increased production of lithium batteries and upstream lithium-ion cathode materials [1]. - Major lithium material manufacturers are operating at full capacity, causing orders to overflow to smaller manufacturers, indicating a high level of activity in the supply chain [1]. - The demand for lithium carbonate is rising, with a reported inventory reduction of nearly 10,000 tons entering the fourth quarter, contributing to a continuous increase in lithium prices [1]. - According to a report by CITIC Securities, the monthly supply of lithium carbonate in November was approximately 115,000 tons, while demand reached 128,000 tons, resulting in a shortage of about 13,000 tons [1]. - The consumption during the off-season remains strong, with order support expected to continue into the next year, shifting the supply-demand dynamic from supply pressure to consumption-driven growth [1]. - Long-term forecasts indicate that global lithium resource supply will reach 2.089 million tons and consumption will be 2.004 million tons by 2026, suggesting a structural shortage despite a slight surplus when not considering certain factors [1]. - The lithium carbonate market is expected to transition from supply-driven pressures to demand-driven price increases [1]. Company Summary - Companies involved in the lithium carbonate supply chain include Ganfeng Lithium (01772), Tianqi Lithium (09696), and Zhongwei New Materials (02579), which are positioned to benefit from the improving market dynamics [3].
港股概念追踪|储能需求旺盛 机构看好碳酸锂价格中枢持续上行（附概念股）