碳酸锂周报：情绪高涨，谨慎为上-20250726

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - Mineral end news disturbances have intensified the bullish sentiment, leading to consecutive sharp increases in lithium carbonate contracts on Thursday and Friday. Long - position funds are trading on the strong expectation of supply - demand recovery, but the actual fundamentals have not yet reversed. The downstream is skeptical about the sustainability of lithium prices, and the spot market is operating cautiously. Given the increased risk of continuous rallies in the commodity market and potential contagion of fear on Monday, it is recommended that speculative funds observe cautiously, and lithium carbonate holders can seize entry points according to their own operations. Attention should be paid to the upcoming earnings reports of overseas mining companies and changes in the overall atmosphere of the industrial chain and commodity market [12]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1 Week - on - Week Assessment and Strategy Recommendation - Spot and Futures Market: On July 25, the MMLC lithium carbonate spot index reported 76,832 yuan in the morning, a weekly increase of 17.6%. The average price of MMLC battery - grade lithium carbonate was 77,000 yuan. The closing price of LC2509 on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange was 80,520 yuan, a weekly increase of 15.1% [12]. - Supply: This week, the domestic lithium carbonate output was 18,630 tons, a 2.5% decrease from last week due to some manufacturers' maintenance. In July, supply is expected to remain strong, with a 6 - 7% month - on - month increase. In June 2025, China imported 17,698 tons of lithium carbonate, a 16.3% month - on - month and 9.6% year - on - year decrease. From January to June, the total import volume was about 118,000 tons, a 10.7% year - on - year increase. In July, the overseas supply pressure is relatively small [12]. - Demand: The Passenger Car Association expects the retail sales of new energy vehicles in July to reach about 1.01 million, with the penetration rate expected to rise to 54.6%. From January to June, the global new energy vehicle sales increased by 26.2% year - on - year [12]. - Inventory: On July 24, the domestic weekly lithium carbonate inventory was 143,170 tons, a 0.4% increase from last week. On July 25, the registered warehouse receipts of lithium carbonate on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange were 11,996 tons, a 17.2% weekly increase [12]. - Cost: On July 25, the price of imported Australian SC6 lithium concentrate was 840 - 880 US dollars per ton, a 17.8% weekly increase. The rebound of domestic lithium carbonate spot prices has driven the recovery of ore prices. The profits of salt plants that obtained low - cost ore sources have been significantly repaired, releasing their hedging demand. In June, the domestic import of lithium concentrate was 428,000 tons, an 18.1% year - on - year and 17.2% month - on - month decrease. From January to June, the cumulative import was 2.806 million tons, a 0.2% year - on - year decrease. In the first half of 2025, the import of lithium concentrate from Australia increased by 6.1% year - on - year, while that from Africa decreased by 13.0% year - on - year, and the supply pressure of high - cost hard - rock ore eased in July [12]. 3.2 Spot and Futures Market - On July 25, the MMLC lithium carbonate spot index reported 76,832 yuan in the morning, a weekly increase of 17.6%, and the average price of MMLC battery - grade lithium carbonate was 77,000 yuan. The closing price of LC2509 on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange was 80,520 yuan, a weekly increase of 15.1% [12][20]. - The average discount in the standard electric carbon trading market of the exchange is about - 350 yuan, and the net short position of lithium carbonate contracts has increased significantly [23]. - The price difference between battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate is 1,650 yuan, and the price difference between battery - grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide is 9,780 yuan [26]. 3.3 Supply Side - This week, the domestic lithium carbonate output was 18,630 tons, a 2.5% decrease from last week. In June 2025, the domestic lithium carbonate output was 78,090 tons, an 8.3% month - on - month and 17.9% year - on - year increase, with a 43.9% cumulative year - on - year increase in the first half of the year. In July, supply is expected to remain strong, with a 6 - 7% month - on - month increase [31]. - In June, the output of lithium carbonate from spodumene was 39,450 tons, an 11.3% month - on - month and 32.5% year - on - year increase, with a 73.8% cumulative year - on - year increase from January to June. The output of lithium carbonate from lepidolite was 19,480 tons, an 8.6% month - on - month increase, with a 22.1% cumulative year - on - year increase from January to June [34]. - In June, the output of lithium carbonate from salt lakes increased by 7.1% to 13,350 tons, with a 20.9% cumulative year - on - year increase from January to June. The output of lithium carbonate from the recycling end was 5,810 tons, a 6.7% month - on - month decrease, with an 18.5% cumulative year - on - year increase from January to June [37]. - In June 2025, China imported 17,698 tons of lithium carbonate, a 16.3% month - on - month and 9.6% year - on - year decrease. From January to June, the total import volume was about 118,000 tons, a 10.7% year - on - year increase. In June, Chile exported about 10,200 tons of lithium carbonate to China, and the overseas supply pressure in July is relatively small. In the first half of the year, the total export volume of lithium carbonate + lithium sulfate from Chile to China was basically the same (calculated by LCE) [40]. 3.4 Demand Side - The battery field dominates lithium demand, accounting for 87% of global consumption in 2024. The growth of the lithium - salt consumption mainly depends on the development of the lithium - battery industry, while the traditional application fields have limited growth [44]. - In June, the production of new energy passenger vehicles in China reached 1.2 million, a 28.3% year - on - year and 2.0% month - on - month increase. From January to June, the cumulative production was 6.457 million, a 38.7% increase. The wholesale sales in June were 1.241 million, a 27.0% year - on - year and 1.6% month - on - month increase. From January to June, the cumulative wholesale sales were 6.447 million, a 37.4% increase. From January to June, the global new energy vehicle sales increased by 26.2% year - on - year [47]. - From January to May, the total sales of new energy vehicles in Europe were 952,000, a 27.7% year - on - year increase, and in the United States were 648,000, an 8.9% year - on - year increase [50]. - In June, the total output of power and other batteries in China was 129.2 GWh, a 4.6% month - on - month and 51.4% year - on - year increase. From January to June, the cumulative output was 697.3 GWh, a 60.4% increase. The installed capacity of power batteries in June was 58.2 GWh, a 1.9% month - on - month and 35.9% year - on - year increase. From January to June, the cumulative installed capacity was 299.6 GWh, a 47.3% increase [53]. - In June, the output of lithium iron phosphate decreased slightly by 0.2% month - on - month, with a 47.8% year - on - year increase in the first half of the year. In July, the output of cathode materials is expected to increase slightly month - on - month [56]. 3.5 Inventory - On July 24, the domestic weekly lithium carbonate inventory was 143,170 tons, a 0.4% increase from last week. The inventory is still increasing due to the high domestic lithium carbonate output. On July 25, the registered warehouse receipts of lithium carbonate on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange were 11,996 tons, a 17.2% weekly increase [63]. - The inventory cycle of cathode materials is about one week. The sales - to - inventory ratio of power batteries is at a recent median, and the inventory of energy - storage batteries is at a low level in recent years due to export rush [66]. 3.6 Cost Side - On July 25, the price of imported Australian SC6 lithium concentrate was 840 - 880 US dollars per ton, a 17.8% weekly increase. The rebound of domestic lithium carbonate spot prices has driven the recovery of ore prices. The profits of salt plants that obtained low - cost ore sources have been significantly repaired, releasing their hedging demand [74]. - In June, the domestic import of lithium concentrate was 428,000 tons, an 18.1% year - on - year and 17.2% month - on - month decrease. From January to June, the cumulative import was 2.806 million tons, a 0.2% year - on - year decrease. In the first half of 2025, the import of lithium concentrate from Australia increased by 6.1% year - on - year, while that from Africa decreased by 13.0% year - on - year, and the supply pressure of high - cost hard - rock ore eased in July [77].