Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. Core Viewpoints - The lithium carbonate market in the first half of 2025 showed lower volatility compared to last year. Although short - term factors may disrupt the rhythm, the market still develops around its fundamentals. The overall supply - demand pattern of lithium carbonate is difficult to change, with an oversupply situation. Before significant production cuts in the mining and lithium salt plants, the lithium carbonate market may continue the process of oscillating and bottom - hunting. The price is expected to range between 45,000 - 70,000 yuan/ton in the second half of 2025. For industrial customers and investment institutions, they can seize the staged downward market [6][23][24]. - On the supply side, there are disturbances in the mining end, but the over - capacity of lithium salt is still large. If the lithium price does not rebound significantly and remains below 70,000 yuan/ton for a long time in the second half of 2025, some high - cost mines and recycling enterprises are expected to gradually reduce production or exit, and new projects may be postponed. The total supply is expected to be 1.65 million tons of LCE, still in an oversupply pattern [8][24]. - On the demand side, new energy vehicles and energy storage are still the two main drivers of consumption growth. In 2024, China's new energy vehicle production and sales reached 12.888 million and 12.866 million respectively, with year - on - year growth of 34.4% and 35.5%. In 2025, the domestic new energy vehicle production and sales data still maintained a high growth rate. It is expected that China's new energy vehicle sales will reach about 16.5 million in 2025, a year - on - year increase of 28%, and global sales will reach about 23 million, a year - on - year increase of 26%. In the energy storage sector, the growth rate is expected to remain high, with an annual year - on - year growth rate of about 40%. Overall, the consumption growth rate of lithium carbonate in 2025 is expected to be about 22% [9][10]. - In terms of balance, the oversupply situation will continue in the second half of 2025, and the inventory pressure will continue to increase. It is expected that the annual oversupply will be 210,000 tons of LCE [11][12]. - Regarding inventory, smelters contribute the main inventory increase, and attention should be paid to the delivery inventory. It is expected that the lithium salt inventory will continue to accumulate in the second half of the year [13]. - Conclusion: The lithium carbonate price may continue to bottom - hunt. Although the supply - demand situation shows a double - increase pattern in 2025, the oversupply situation remains unchanged. Due to the price drop, the supply growth rate may slow down, and the degree of oversupply will decrease. The price is expected to fluctuate between 45,000 - 70,000 yuan/ton in the second half of 2025 [14]. Section Summaries Strategy Summary - In the first quarter of 2025, lithium carbonate futures prices were relatively stable. The 2505 contract rebounded from 77,800 yuan/ton at the beginning of the year to 81,680 yuan/ton, a 4.99% increase, and then fell to 74,160 yuan/ton. In the second quarter, due to the impact of the Sino - US tariff war, the demand growth rate declined, and the industry returned to the inventory accumulation rhythm. The 2507 contract fell from 74,500 yuan/ton in early April to the annual low of 58,460 yuan/ton, a 21.53% decrease. Later, with the extension of the US tariff exemption and the call to eliminate backward production capacity, the price rebounded to around 64,000 yuan/ton, a nearly 10% increase [5]. Price Review - In the first half of 2025, the lithium carbonate futures price first rose and then fell. In the first quarter, it was relatively stable. In the second quarter, it was affected by the Sino - US tariff war and demand slowdown, and the price dropped significantly. In June, with the relaxation of the tariff war and the support of energy storage exports, the price rebounded [5][22]. Market Outlook - In the second half of 2025, the overall supply - demand pattern of lithium carbonate is difficult to change, with an oversupply situation. The price is expected to range between 45,000 - 70,000 yuan/ton. If the lithium price does not rebound significantly, some high - cost mines and recycling enterprises may reduce production or exit, and new projects may be postponed [23][24]. Supply - side Situation - From January to June 2025, China's domestic lithium carbonate production was about 429,600 tons, a 43.91% year - on - year increase, and the annual production is expected to be about 900,000 tons, a 33% increase. Lithium hydroxide production was about 142,200 tons, a 18.56% year - on - year decrease. The overall production is expected to continue to increase. The over - capacity of lithium salt smelting is large, and some high - cost enterprises may reduce production or stop production [42]. Lithium Mine Production Cuts, Start - ups, and Cost Tracking - Resource - end Increment: In 2025, the total supply of the resource end is expected to be 1.57 million tons of LCE. Africa, domestic mines, and salt lakes, as well as South American salt lakes and Australian mines, will contribute to the increment [47]. - Production Cost and Profit of Lithium Carbonate: The cost of using salt lakes for production is relatively low, at 30,000 - 50,000 yuan/ton. Self - owned mine enterprises have a cash cost of 40,000 - 60,000 yuan/ton. The cost of purchasing ore is relatively high, and most of the time this year, they are in a loss situation. It is expected that the global lithium mine oversupply situation will be difficult to change, and the lithium mine price may further decline [50][51]. Import - Export - From January to May 2025, China's lithium spodumene imports reached 2.92 million tons, a 39.97% year - on - year increase. Lithium carbonate imports were 100,000 tons, a 15.3% increase, and the annual import is expected to reach 250,000 tons. Exports were 2,100 tons, and the annual export is expected to be 4,000 tons. Lithium hydroxide exports were 21,600 tons, a 59.9% year - on - year decrease, and imports were 6,470 tons, with a significant year - on - year increase [61][63]. Consumption - side - Lithium Consumption: In 2025, lithium consumption is mainly driven by new energy vehicles and energy storage. From January to May, the production of lithium iron phosphate increased significantly, while the growth of ternary materials was limited. In the battery end, the sales and exports of power and other batteries increased significantly. In the new energy vehicle sector, production and sales maintained a high growth rate, and it is expected that China's new energy vehicle sales will reach about 16.5 million in 2025. In the energy storage sector, the growth rate is expected to remain high [72][74][77]. Supply - Demand Balance Sheet - In 2025, the domestic lithium carbonate is expected to have an annual oversupply of 60,000 tons, and the global lithium resource is expected to have an annual oversupply of 220,000 tons of LCE [107]. Inventory - As of the end of June, the total lithium carbonate inventory reached 136,800 tons, with smelters contributing the main increase. It is expected that the inventory will continue to accumulate in the second half of the year [114].
过剩格局未变，锂价或震荡探底
Hua Tai Qi Huo·2025-07-06 10:36