高库存持续压制，锂价震荡偏弱

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - Supply side: This week, China's lithium carbonate production increased by 335 tons week - on - week to 18,500 tons. Due to the reduction in lithium ore costs, subcontractors are gradually resuming work, and there is an expected increase in non - integrated supply in June. In May, the volume of lithium carbonate exported from Chile to China was 9,700 tons, a significant month - on - month decrease of 38%. This week, China's social inventory of lithium carbonate increased by 1,352 tons week - on - week to 134,900 tons. The inventories in smelters, downstream, and other sectors were 58,600 tons, 40,400 tons, and 35,900 tons respectively. There was a slight inventory build - up in smelters and other sectors, and the overall inventory remains at a high level. In the medium - to - long - term, the pressure of oversupply of lithium carbonate in the next two years is still significant [7]. - Demand side: According to research, downstream demand may increase slightly month - on - month in June, and the industry is gradually entering the off - season. The production schedule in the power sector has declined, and there is a certain behavior of rushing to export in energy - storage cells. The terminal market maintains a relatively fast growth rate. From June 1st to 15th, the retail sales of the national new - energy passenger vehicle market reached 402,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 38% [7]. - Cost side: This week, the price of spodumene concentrate remained basically flat week - on - week, while the price of lepidolite concentrate decreased by 1.2% week - on - week. Overseas mines have a strong sentiment to hold prices, but downstream lithium salt factories have low willingness to purchase due to their pessimistic expectations for future prices [7]. - Strategy: Demand is gradually entering the off - season, while supply remains relatively high. Near the end of the second quarter, both upstream and downstream have certain inventory management needs. High inventory exerts a certain downward pressure on lithium prices, but further price drops are likely to trigger supply disruptions. It is expected that lithium prices will fluctuate weakly. In the short term, it is not advisable to chase short positions. In the medium term, maintain the idea of shorting on rallies and pay attention to the trends at the mine end [7]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Supply Side - 5 - month lithium spodumene import volume decreased slightly month - on - month: From January to May, China's lithium spodumene import volume was 2.92 million tons. In May, China's lithium spodumene import volume was 605,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 2.9%. Among them, in May, 371,000 tons were imported from Australia, a month - on - month increase of 24.1%; 52,500 tons were imported from South Africa, a month - on - month increase of 29.9%; and 97,000 tons were imported from Zimbabwe, a month - on - month decrease of 8.2% [11]. - The decline of lithium concentrate has slowed down: This week, the price of spodumene concentrate remained basically flat week - on - week, and the price of lepidolite concentrate decreased by 1.2% week - on - week. Overseas mines on the spodumene side have a strong sentiment to hold prices, with the SC6 quotation remaining above $630 per ton. Downstream lithium salt factories have low willingness to purchase due to their pessimistic expectations for future prices [14]. - China's lithium carbonate production may increase slightly month - on - month in June: In May, SMM's total lithium carbonate production decreased by 2% month - on - month and increased by 15% year - on - year. By raw material, the production of lithium carbonate from spodumene and recycling decreased by 4% and 13% month - on - month respectively, while the production of lithium carbonate from lepidolite and salt lakes increased by 2% and 3% month - on - month respectively. According to research, the profitability of subcontractors has improved, and the production of the salt - lake side has increased with the warming of the weather. It is expected that China's lithium carbonate production will increase slightly month - on - month in June [18]. - Lithium carbonate import volume: From January to April, China's lithium carbonate import volume was 78,900 tons, a year - on - year increase of 26.8%. Among them, 53,200 tons were imported from Chile, a year - on - year increase of 9.8%, and 22,600 tons were imported from Argentina, a year - on - year increase of 80.7%. According to Chilean customs, the volume of lithium carbonate exported from Chile to China in May was 9,700 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 38%. It is expected that this part of lithium carbonate will arrive in China from late June to July [21]. - Spot price remained basically flat week - on - week: This week, the spot price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 60,400 yuan per ton, remaining basically flat week - on - week. Market transactions were relatively dull. Lithium salt factories were reluctant to sell at low prices, but downstream buyers mostly adopted a wait - and - see attitude and mainly made purchases based on rigid demand. This week, the price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 58,800 yuan per ton, remaining basically flat week - on - week [22]. Demand Side - The global new - energy vehicle market started well: The new - energy vehicle industry accounts for about 62% of the global lithium carbonate demand. In Q1 2025, global electric vehicle sales reached 4.1 million units, a year - on - year increase of 29%. Among them, European sales in Q1 were 900,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 22%, North American sales were 500,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 16%, and Chinese sales were 2.4 million units, a year - on - year increase of 36%. The Chinese and European markets had strong growth, while the growth rate in the US declined due to political factors [27]. - Power battery production maintained a high growth rate: In May, the total production of power and other batteries in China was 123.5 GWh, a month - on - month increase of 4.4% and a year - on - year increase of 47.9%. From January to May, the cumulative production of power and other batteries in China was 568.1 GWh, a cumulative year - on - year increase of 62.6%. In May, the sales of power and other batteries in China were 123.6 GWh, a month - on - month increase of 4.7% and a year - on - year increase of 58.1%. Among them, the sales of power batteries were 87.5 GWh, accounting for 70.8% of the total sales, a month - on - month increase of 1.0% and a year - on - year increase of 55% [37]. - China's mobile phone shipments increased slightly year - on - year: In the first quarter of 2025, China's smartphone market shipments were 71.6 million units, a year - on - year increase of 3.3%. From January to December 2024, the production of electronic computer complete machines in China's first quarter was 85.322 million units, a year - on - year increase of 9.6%, with two consecutive quarters of positive growth. Behind this data is the upgrading of the entire industrial chain driven by technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence [42]. - May energy - storage installation maintained a high growth rate: According to incomplete statistics from CNESA DataLink, the installed capacity of newly commissioned new - type energy - storage projects in China in May this year totaled 6.32 GW/15.85 GWh, a year - on - year increase of 193%/228%. The "531" rush to install contributed a certain increment. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Promoting the Development of New - Type Energy Storage", clarifying that "new - energy projects shall not be required to be equipped with energy storage compulsorily". After the cancellation of compulsory energy - storage installation, the proportion of energy - storage installation will decrease, which may affect the demand for lithium iron phosphate by about 3% [47]. - June downstream production schedule increased slightly month - on - month: This week, the theoretical production profit of ternary material enterprises was 3,630 yuan per ton, an increase of 200 yuan per ton compared with last week. The profit of ternary material enterprises increased slightly month - on - month, but the overall profitability was not optimistic. According to research, downstream demand may increase slightly month - on - month in June. The production schedule in the power sector declined, and there was a certain behavior of rushing to export in energy - storage cells [53]. Other Indicators - Non - integrated lithium salt factories had cost inversion: Recently, as the price of lithium concentrate stabilized, the production cost of lithium salt factories increased slightly. The theoretical production cost of manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene was 70,169 yuan per ton, a month - on - month decrease of 74 yuan per ton. At the current lithium price, manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene have fallen into losses. The theoretical production profit of manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene was - 9,869 yuan per ton, a month - on - month decrease of 426 yuan per ton [50]. - This week, the basis widened: This week, the basis of lithium carbonate was 1,500, with the spot price higher than the futures price. The closing price of the main futures contract of lithium carbonate this week was 589,020 yuan per ton, and the basis of the contract widened. The price difference between battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate remained flat month - on - month, with a price difference of 1,600 yuan per ton [56]. - The price difference between contracts widened: This week, the term structure of lithium carbonate contracts was a horizontal structure, and the price difference between the first - nearby contract and the nearby contract was negative. The price difference between the first - nearby contract and the nearby contract was - 460, a decrease of 420 compared with last week, and the price differences between different contracts widened [59].