供需偏紧，锂价高位运行

Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content Core Viewpoints of the Report - Short - term: In November, downstream production scheduling increases slightly month - on - month, lithium carbonate production decreases slightly, and imports rebound slightly. Supply growth is lower than demand, and inventory depletion is expected to accelerate. The inventory - to - sales ratio in November is expected to further decline. The price will remain high next week. Some funds flow in to layout long - term long positions, and the 2605 contract is more popular [6]. - Medium - term: In December, demand enters the off - season and is difficult to grow significantly. Overseas mine shipments increase, which may ease the tight supply - demand situation. After the production scheduling in mid - to - late November is more certain, the market may start to trade the marginal loosening of supply - demand. The resumption of production at Jianxiaowo does not support the price to reach new highs [6]. - Futures strategy: If funds speculate on the improvement of supply - demand driven by energy storage next year and push the price close to the previous high, short - hedging can be considered. Pay attention to the spot trading situation next week. For unilateral trading, there is still short - term rebound momentum, and consider laying out short positions when entering the previous high pressure range; for arbitrage, wait and see; for options, sell out - of - the - money call options to cooperate with the profit - taking of futures long positions [6]. Summary According to Relevant Catalogs Demand Analysis New Energy Vehicles - China: In September, new energy vehicle sales were 1.604 million, a year - on - year increase of 24.6%, and the penetration rate reached 49.7%. From January to September, sales were 11.228 million, a year - on - year increase of 34.9%. In October, the retail sales of new energy vehicles in the passenger car market were 1.4 million, a year - on - year increase of 17% and a month - on - month increase of 8%. The cumulative retail sales this year were 10.27 million, a year - on - year increase of 23%. The power battery cell production from January to October increased by 44.5% year - on - year to 985.5 GWh, and increased by 0.2% month - on - month in November [12]. - Global: From January to September 2025, global new energy vehicle sales increased by 23.5% year - on - year to 14.479 million. European sales increased by 28.5% year - on - year to 2.746 million, while US sales increased by 11.4% year - on - year to 1.232 million. China's new energy vehicle exports from January to September 2025 were 1.727 million, an 86% year - on - year increase [17]. Energy Storage Market - Domestic energy storage orders are strong due to "export rush" demand and中标 projects in the Middle East, South America, and Australia. From January to October, China's energy storage battery cell production was 409.4 GWh, a 55% year - on - year increase. The inventory of energy storage battery cells is at a three - year low, and the delivery cycle is extended. Production in November and December is expected to maintain positive month - on - month growth, supporting lithium carbonate consumption [21]. November Battery and Cathode Production Scheduling - In October, battery production increased by 8% month - on - month, with ternary batteries increasing by 2.3% and lithium iron phosphate batteries increasing by 10%. In November, battery production is expected to increase by 1.1% month - on - month, with ternary batteries increasing by 0.6% and lithium iron phosphate batteries increasing by 1.1%. The production scheduling in December is expected to be flat, showing the characteristic of an off - season not being off - peak [26]. Supply Analysis Weekly Lithium Carbonate Production Resumes Growth - From January to October, domestic lithium carbonate production was 776,000 tons, a 43% year - on - year increase. The production scheduling in November is 92,000 tons. Compared with May, the operating rate of integrated production capacity increased by 10%, and the operating rate of contract - manufacturing capacity increased by 30% (mainly lithium pyroxene production). The resumption of production at Jianxiaowo is in progress [31]. Monthly Lithium Carbonate Production by Raw Material in China - Data shows the production trends of lithium carbonate from different raw materials such as salt lakes, lithium pyroxene, lithium mica, and recycling [33]. Limited Supply Increment of Lithium Carbonate in November - From January to September 2025, China's lithium carbonate imports were 173,000 tons, a 5% year - on - year increase. In October, Chile's lithium carbonate exports to China were 16,200 tons. Lithium salt imports in November are expected to have limited month - on - month growth. Australian shipments from September to October are higher than the average from January to October, and African Mali will have arrivals in November and December [41]. Supply - Demand Balance and Inventory Lithium Carbonate Supply - Demand Balance Estimation - Not elaborated in detail in the provided content, only a graph of China's lithium carbonate supply - demand balance is shown [43]. Continuous Inventory Depletion of Lithium Carbonate, Reaching the Peak in November - This week, the social inventory decreased by 3,405 tons, with smelter inventory decreasing by 1,336 tons, downstream inventory decreasing by 1,280 tons, and other inventory decreasing by 790 tons. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange warehouse receipts decreased by 289 tons this week, and the decline significantly narrowed. The spot basis returned to par, but the spread between 2601 - 2605 widened, reflecting the market's optimistic expectation for the far - month [49].