Shang Hai Zheng Quan Bao·2025-12-22 04:01Group 1 - The main contract for lithium carbonate surged to a high of 116,460 yuan/ton, marking the highest price of the year, with a midday increase of 5.16% [1] - The lithium sector index rose nearly 3%, with Tianqi Lithium, Shengxin Lithium Energy, and Rongjie Co., Ltd. leading in gains [1] - Trading volume reached 5680 contracts, with a total open interest of 575,000 contracts and a daily increase of 32,064 contracts [2] Group 2 - The resumption of operations at the Jiangxi lithium mine by CATL is currently hindered by environmental assessments, mining rights changes, and safety permits, with the mining rights change being a critical bottleneck [5] - The optimistic timeline suggests that trial production could begin by June 2026, while a conservative estimate pushes this to September 2026, indicating limited supply pressure in the first half of 2026 and strong short-term upward momentum for lithium prices [5] - The Yichun Natural Resources Bureau has announced plans to revoke 27 mining rights, with ecological restoration obligations falling to the original rights holders [5]