碳酸锂：需求疲软，挤压上游利润，偏弱震荡

Report Overview - Report Date: April 27, 2025 [1] - Report Title: Lithium Carbonate: Weak Demand Squeezes Upstream Profits, Trades in a Weak Range [2] - Analyst: Shao Wanyi, Investment Consulting Qualification Number: Z0015722 [3] Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the report Core Viewpoints - The lithium carbonate market faces a situation of weak supply and demand. Weak demand squeezes upstream production profits, leading to a reduction in upstream output. In the short term, with weak demand, the price rebound space is limited, and the market will mainly trade in a weak range [4][6] - The price of the LC2507 contract is expected to trade in the range of 67,000 - 71,000 yuan/ton [7] - For trading strategies, it is recommended to conduct range - bound operations for single - side trading, focus on reverse spreads for inter - period trading, and suggest a 30% buy - hedge ratio and a 10% sell - hedge ratio [7][8] Summary by Directory 1. Market Data - Price Trends: The LC2507 contract broke through 70,000 yuan/ton and then oscillated around 68,000 yuan/ton. The 2507 contract closed at 68,180 yuan/ton, down 2,000 yuan/ton week - on - week; the 2505 contract closed at 68,380 yuan/ton, down 1,940 yuan/ton week - on - week; the spot price was 69,800 yuan/ton, down 1,650 yuan/ton week - on - week. The SMM basis (2505 contract) strengthened by 290 yuan/ton to 1,420 yuan/ton, and the spread between the 2505 - 2507 contracts was 200 yuan/ton, strengthening by 60 yuan/ton [3] - Lithium Industry Chain Spot Prices: Most products in the lithium industry chain showed price declines. For example, industrial - grade lithium carbonate (99.2% industrial zero - grade) was 68,050 yuan/ton, down 2.30%; battery - grade lithium carbonate was 69,800 yuan/ton, down 2.31% [12] 2. Supply Side of Lithium Salt Upstream - Lithium Ore - Supply: This week, lithium carbonate production continued to decline. Due to the cost - price inversion, many external - mining enterprises began to reduce or stop production since mid - April. As lithium prices fall, upstream companies' price - holding mentality is strong, which may lead to a decrease in long - term contract purchases and an increase in spot market purchases, further strengthening the basis [4] 3. Consumption Side of Lithium Salt Midstream - Lithium Salt Products - Demand: Affected by US tariffs on China, battery cell manufacturers postponed order notifications to cathode material manufacturers in May. Cathode material manufacturers are in a loss state, and there are concerns about a possible month - on - month decline in production volume. As of last week, the annual new energy vehicle sales were 2.92 million units, with a cumulative year - on - year growth of 33%, but the growth rate was lower than expected [4] - Inventory: The number of futures warehouse receipts was 32,000 tons, and the social inventory was basically the same as last week, about 132,000 tons [5] 4. Consumption Side of Lithium Salt Downstream - Lithium Batteries and Materials - Production and Operation of Downstream Products: The production and operation data of downstream products such as lithium iron phosphate, ternary materials, and lithium batteries are presented through various charts, including monthly production, monthly operating rates, import and export volumes, and installed capacity [28][29]