Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-12-17 14:24Core Viewpoint - Lithium mining stocks experienced a pre-market surge, driven by rising prices in the lithium iron phosphate sector, with major companies initiating price negotiations with clients, indicating a potential price increase trend lasting until Q4 of next year [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Sigma Lithium (SGML.US) rose over 8% in pre-market trading [1] - Chilean mining company SQM (SQM.US) and Albemarle (ALB.US) both increased by over 4% [1] - Lithium Americas (LAC.US) saw a 2% rise [1] Group 2: Price Trends - Starting from early December, several lithium iron phosphate companies began discussions with clients regarding price increases, with proposed hikes ranging from 2000 to 3000 yuan per ton [1] - Some leading companies anticipate that the upward price trend will continue into Q4 of next year [1] Group 3: Cost Drivers - The price increase in lithium iron phosphate is attributed to rising demand from energy storage and increased costs of raw materials, particularly lithium carbonate [1] - Analysts noted that for every 10,000 yuan per ton increase in lithium carbonate, the cost of lithium iron phosphate as a cathode material would rise by approximately 2300 to 2500 yuan per ton [1]