碳酸锂期货价创两年来新高后回调超3% 业内观点：市场未全面紧缺 难撑单边大涨

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the recent fluctuations in lithium carbonate futures prices, which reached a two-year high before experiencing a pullback, indicating a complex market influenced by both strong demand and short-term supply mismatches [1][4][7]. - On January 14, the main contract for lithium carbonate (lc2605) closed at 161,900 yuan/ton, down 3.53% from the previous day, after peaking at 173,400 yuan/ton during the day [1][4]. - The trading volume for lithium carbonate futures on that day was significant, amounting to 97.41 billion yuan, reflecting active market participation [1]. Group 2 - In 2025, lithium carbonate prices experienced dramatic fluctuations, initially declining to a low of 59,000 yuan/ton in June before rebounding due to increased downstream demand and supply disruptions, ultimately reaching a high of 134,500 yuan/ton in December [2]. - The current market is characterized by a slight oversupply, with a supply-demand gap of 47,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) expected to persist into 2026 [8]. - Despite the optimistic outlook from leading lithium companies regarding demand, experts caution that the recent price increases are primarily driven by temporary factors, including supply constraints and unexpected demand surges [7][9]. Group 3 - The rising prices of lithium carbonate have directly increased production costs for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) materials, with estimates indicating that the cost of producing one ton of LFP has risen by approximately 2,550 yuan due to the price increase of lithium carbonate [10]. - Major LFP manufacturers are responding to cost pressures by either raising prices or halting production for maintenance, while simultaneously accelerating expansion plans to capture market share in anticipation of future demand growth [10][13]. - The competitive landscape is intensifying, particularly with the potential entry of South Korean companies into the U.S. market, which could pose additional challenges for Chinese exporters [13]. Group 4 - The demand for energy storage is expected to grow significantly, driven by the rapid development of wind and solar energy, with new energy storage installations in China increasing by 75% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025 [14]. - As investment economics for energy storage projects improve, this sector is projected to become a significant driver of lithium demand, with estimates suggesting a demand increase of 60.5 thousand tons of LCE by 2026 [15]. - The recent adjustments in export tax policies for battery products may have contributed to short-term price increases for lithium carbonate, highlighting the interconnectedness of market dynamics [15]. Group 5 - The rising costs of lithium carbonate are impacting the overall cost structure of energy storage systems, with projections indicating that a 10% increase in battery costs could lead to a 3% rise in EPC costs and a decrease in internal rate of return (IRR) by 0.66 percentage points [16]. - The cost of producing energy storage cells is significantly affected by lithium carbonate prices, with calculations showing that each 10,000 yuan increase in lithium carbonate price raises the cost of producing 1 kWh of cells by approximately 5.7375 yuan [16]. - The overall cost of core raw materials, including lithium carbonate, constitutes about 26% of the total cost of energy storage batteries, underscoring the importance of stable pricing in this sector [16].