新能源及有色金属日报：库存继续降低，碳酸锂供需格局继续好转-20250905

Report Industry Investment Rating - Unilateral: Cautiously bullish [4] - Options: Buy call options [4] Core View of the Report - The inventory continues to decrease, and the supply - demand pattern of lithium carbonate continues to improve. In September, the market shows a situation of both supply and demand increasing, with demand growing faster, leading to a temporary supply shortage [1]. - The futures market rebounds due to news from the lithium ore approval end, and the spot supply - demand pattern remains good. Lithium carbonate is expected to be supported, but the market fluctuates greatly [3]. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Market Analysis - On September 4, 2025, the opening price of the lithium carbonate main contract 2511 was 71,200 yuan/ton, and the closing price was 73,420 yuan/ton, a 1.05% change from the previous settlement price. The trading volume was 712,151 lots, and the open interest was 353,674 lots, compared with 346,048 lots the previous day. The basis was 2,000 yuan/ton, and the number of lithium carbonate warehouse receipts was 34,948 lots, a change of 830 lots from the previous day [1]. - According to SMM data, the price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 73,400 - 76,600 yuan/ton, a - 900 yuan/ton change from the previous day; the price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 72,000 - 73,400 yuan/ton, also a - 900 yuan/ton change. The price of 6% lithium concentrate was 850 US dollars/ton, with no change from the previous day [1]. - From August 1 - 31, the retail sales of the national passenger car market were 1.952 million vehicles, a 3% year - on - year increase and a 7% month - on - month increase. The cumulative retail sales this year were 14.698 million vehicles, a 9% year - on - year increase. The wholesale volume of national passenger car manufacturers was 2.409 million vehicles, a 12% year - on - year increase and an 8% month - on - month increase. The cumulative wholesale volume this year was 17.934 million vehicles, a 12% year - on - year increase [2]. - The weekly production increased by 389 tons to 19,419 tons, with a slight increase in production from lithium spodumene, mica, and salt lakes. The weekly inventory decreased by 1,044 tons to 140,092 tons. Downstream inventory continued to increase, intermediate inventory increased slightly, and smelter inventory decreased significantly [2]. Strategy - The futures market rebounded mainly due to news from the lithium ore approval end. The spot supply - demand pattern is good, and inventory continues to decrease. Lithium carbonate is expected to be supported, but the market fluctuates greatly, and participants need to manage risks [3].