Report Industry Investment Rating - Unilateral: Cautiously bullish; Inter - term: None; Cross - variety: None; Spot - futures: None; Options: None [4] Core View - The lithium carbonate futures market is mainly affected by supply - side disturbances. With the current mine stoppages, it is expected that domestic lithium carbonate will start to significantly reduce inventory in September. If subsequent production cuts are substantial and last for a long time, the oversupply pattern of lithium carbonate may reverse, and the futures price may still have upward potential with certain consumption support [2] Market Analysis Summary - On August 18, 2025, the main lithium carbonate contract 2511 opened at 88,160 yuan/ton and closed at 89,240 yuan/ton, with a 4.67% change from the previous day's settlement price. The trading volume was 1,036,328 lots, and the open interest was 421,106 lots, up from 401,139 lots the previous day. The current basis was - 4,160 yuan/ton, and the number of lithium carbonate warehouse receipts was 23,555 lots, a change of 70 lots from the previous trading day [1] - According to SMM data, the price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 82,500 - 86,700 yuan/ton, up 1,900 yuan/ton from the previous day; the price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 81,600 - 83,000 yuan/ton, also up 1,900 yuan/ton. The price of 6% lithium concentrate was 1,035 US dollars/ton, up 45 US dollars/ton from the previous day. Downstream procurement enthusiasm continued to increase, and market activity enhanced. Due to the rigid demand of some downstream enterprises and the reluctance of upstream and traders to sell, the spot transaction price of lithium carbonate continued to rise significantly [1] - According to the latest weekly data, the weekly output increased by 424 tons to 19,980 tons, with the output from salt lakes and spodumene increasing and the output from mica decreasing. The weekly inventory decreased by 162 tons to 142,256 tons, with an increase in intermediate - link inventory and a decrease in smelter inventory [1] Strategy Summary - The lithium carbonate futures market is mainly affected by supply - side disturbances. The mining end in Jiangxi is greatly affected, with large factories having stopped production and the resumption progress unknown. Other mines are required to complete relevant report writing by September 30, and the subsequent impact on production is uncertain. In addition, a lithium salt production enterprise in Qinghai may face the possibility of shutdown due to mining license issues. Based on the current mine stoppages, it is expected that domestic lithium carbonate will start to significantly reduce inventory from September. If subsequent production cuts are large and last for a long time, the oversupply pattern of lithium carbonate may change, and the futures price may still have upward potential with certain consumption support [2]

Group 1: Market Overview - Domestic commodity futures experienced mixed performance from August 11 to August 15, with lithium carbonate and palm oil leading gains, while the European shipping index saw the largest decline [1] - In the energy and chemical sector, fuel oil fell by 2.71%, crude oil by 0.71%, and lithium carbonate rose by 12.92% [1] - The black metal sector saw slight fluctuations, with coking coal up by 0.24% and iron ore by 0.32%, while coking coal decreased by 0.26% [1] Group 2: Lithium Market Dynamics - The recent suspension of operations at the Jiangxiawo mine due to expired mining licenses has raised concerns about lithium carbonate supply, leading to a significant price increase [2] - Supply disruptions continue with the suspension of operations at the Qinghai Zhongxin Guoan salt lake, although the impact from the Yichun lithium mine is currently limited due to inventory levels [3] - In June, Chile exported approximately 10,200 tons of lithium carbonate to China, with exports increasing by 43% month-on-month in July [3] Group 3: Demand and Inventory Trends - In July, the demand for new energy vehicles and lithium batteries showed a slowdown in growth, but remains at high levels, with production and sales of new energy vehicles reaching 1.243 million and 1.262 million units, respectively [3] - Domestic lithium carbonate inventory decreased slightly to 142,256 tons, with a week-on-week reduction of 162 tons [4] - The overall supply-demand balance for lithium carbonate has not significantly improved, and prices are expected to remain volatile until supply disruptions are resolved [4] Group 4: Future Market Expectations - Analysts suggest that supply-side factors will be the market focus, with emotional fluctuations driven by news rather than fundamental changes [5] - The next critical date for the market will be September 30, when a reserve verification report is due, which may influence production changes at smelting plants [5] - Long-term projections indicate that overseas lithium mines are raising production targets for FY2026, which may exert pressure on lithium carbonate prices [5]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The fundamental aspect of lithium carbonate is neutral. The supply side shows an increasing trend, with the production in July 2025 at 81,530 physical tons and a predicted production of 84,200 physical tons in the next month, a month - on - month increase of 3.27%. The import volume in July 2025 was 18,000 physical tons, and the predicted import volume for the next month is 18,500 physical tons, a month - on - month increase of 2.78%. The demand side is expected to strengthen next month, and inventory may be reduced. The cost side shows that the CIF price of 6% concentrate has a daily increase, lower than the historical average level. The supply - demand pattern is turning to demand - led, and the lithium carbonate 2511 contract is expected to fluctuate in the range of 83,220 - 86,980 [8]. - The main logic is that the supply - demand mismatch leads to a situation of strong supply and weak demand, and the downward trend is difficult to change [12]. - There are both positive and negative factors. Positive factors include manufacturers' plans to stop or reduce production, a month - on - month decrease in the amount of lithium carbonate imported from Chile, and a decline in the import volume of spodumene. Negative factors include the continuous high supply from ore/salt lake ends with limited decline, and the insufficient willingness of the power battery end to take delivery [10][11]. 3. Summary According to the Catalog 3.1 Daily Views - **Supply Side**: Last week, the lithium carbonate production was 19,556 tons, a week - on - week increase of 13.24%, higher than the historical average level. In July 2025, the production was 81,530 physical tons, and the predicted production for the next month is 84,200 physical tons, a month - on - month increase of 3.27% [8]. - **Demand Side**: Last week, the inventory of lithium iron phosphate sample enterprises was 94,598 tons, a week - on - week increase of 0.99%, and the inventory of ternary material sample enterprises was 16,559 tons, a week - on - week increase of 0.36%. It is expected that the demand will strengthen next month, and inventory may be reduced [8]. - **Cost Side**: The cost of purchased spodumene concentrate is 79,038 yuan/ton, a daily increase of 1.24%, with a production profit of 825 yuan/ton; the cost of purchased lepidolite is 82,676 yuan/ton, a daily increase of 2.28%, with a production loss of 4,848 yuan/ton. The production cost of the recycling end is close to that of the ore end, with average production enthusiasm. The quarterly cash production cost of the salt lake end is 31,745 yuan/ton, significantly lower than the ore end, with sufficient profit margins and strong production motivation [8]. - **Basis**: On August 13, the spot price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 81,000 yuan/ton, and the basis of the 11 - contract was - 4,100 yuan/ton, with the spot at a discount to the futures, showing a bearish signal [8]. - **Inventory**: The smelter inventory was 50,999 tons, a week - on - week decrease of 1.84%, lower than the historical average level; the downstream inventory was 48,159 tons, a week - on - week increase of 4.95%, higher than the historical average level; other inventories were 43,260 tons, a week - on - week decrease of 1.41%, higher than the historical average level; the total inventory was 142,418 tons, a week - on - week increase of 0.49%, higher than the historical average level, showing a neutral signal [8]. - **Disk**: The MA20 is upward, and the futures price of the 11 - contract closed above the MA20, showing a bullish signal [8]. - **Main Position**: The main position is net short, and the short position is decreasing, showing a bearish signal [8]. 3.2 Market Overview - **Price Changes**: The prices of lithium ore, lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and other products have shown different degrees of increase or decrease. For example, the price of lithium ore (01) increased from 81,320 to 84,480, an increase of 3,160, or 3.89%. The price of lithium carbonate (04) increased from 78,880 to 82,540, an increase of 3,660, or 4.64% [14]. - **Basis Changes**: The basis of various products has also changed. For example, the basis of ternary materials (01) decreased from - 3,320 to - 3,480, a decrease of 160, or 4.82% [14]. 3.3 Supply - Related - **Lithium Ore Supply**: The price of lithium ore has fluctuated over time. The production of Chinese sample spodumene mines and domestic lepidolite has shown different trends in different years. The monthly import volume of lithium concentrate has also changed, with the import volume from Australia and other regions showing different trends. The self - sufficiency rate of lithium ore has also fluctuated [23]. - **Lithium Carbonate Supply**: The weekly and monthly production, import volume, and capacity of lithium carbonate from different sources (lithium辉石, lithium云母, salt lake, recycling) have changed over time. The weekly and monthly production of lithium carbonate has shown different trends, and the import volume from different countries (Chile, Argentina, etc.) has also changed [28]. - **Lithium Hydroxide Supply**: The weekly capacity utilization rate, monthly production, and export volume of lithium hydroxide have changed over time. The production from different sources (smelting, causticizing) and the total production have also shown different trends [37]. 3.4 Cost - Profit Related - The cost and profit of various lithium compounds (purchased spodumene concentrate, purchased lepidolite, recycled lithium carbonate from different sources, etc.) have changed over time. For example, the cost and profit of purchased spodumene concentrate (Li₂O:6%) have fluctuated, and the cost and profit of recycled lithium carbonate from different types of black powder have also shown different trends [43][46]. 3.5 Inventory - Related - The inventory of lithium carbonate (smelter, downstream, other, total) and lithium hydroxide (downstream, smelter, total) has changed over time. The weekly and monthly inventory of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide has shown different trends [51]. 3.6 Demand - Related - **Lithium Battery Demand**: The price, production, loading volume, and export volume of lithium batteries have changed over time. The monthly production of battery cells, the loading volume of power batteries (lithium iron phosphate, ternary materials), and the export volume of lithium batteries have shown different trends [54]. - **Ternary Precursor Demand**: The price, cost, profit, production, and export volume of ternary precursors have changed over time. The price of different types of ternary precursors (5 - series, 6 - series, 8 - series) has fluctuated, and the cost, profit, and production have also shown different trends [60]. - **Ternary Material Demand**: The price, cost, profit, production, and export volume of ternary materials have changed over time. The price of different types of ternary materials (5 - series, 6 - series, 8 - series) has fluctuated, and the cost, profit, and production have also shown different trends [66]. - **Phosphoric Acid Iron/Phosphoric Acid Iron Lithium Demand**: The price, production, cost, profit, and inventory of phosphoric acid iron and phosphoric acid iron lithium have changed over time. The price of different types of phosphoric acid iron lithium (power - type, low - end energy - storage type) has fluctuated, and the production, cost, profit, and inventory have also shown different trends [70]. - **New Energy Vehicle Demand**: The production, sales, export volume, sales penetration rate, and inventory of new energy vehicles have changed over time. The production, sales, and export volume of new energy vehicles (plug - in hybrid, pure - electric) have shown different trends, and the sales penetration rate and inventory have also changed [78].

Group 1: Report Overview - Report Title: Supply-side disruptions continue to ferment, and the market rises rapidly by the daily limit - Weekly report on lithium carbonate by Zhongtai Futures' Non-ferrous Metals & New Materials Team (July 27, 2025) [1] - Research Team: An Ran, Wang Haicong [2] Group 2: Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the document Group 3: Core Views - In July, the overall incremental production from restarts exceeded the reduction from maintenance, but the suspension of Zangge Lithium Industry in the salt lake segment led to a decline in overall production. The downstream demand was mainly based on on-demand procurement, showing differentiation and overall performing better than expected. The price of lithium carbonate rose rapidly, but the high price suppressed downstream demand, and there was also speculative demand. If the production suspension is implemented, it will affect the supply-demand pattern, and the surplus volume will be significantly reduced. If the production suspension expectation is not fulfilled, the fundamental surplus pattern remains unchanged, and the price of lithium carbonate will face a significant decline. In the short term, the price is boosted by news and shows emotional upward movement, and it will mainly fluctuate strongly until the expectation is verified. It is necessary to beware of the price decline risk caused by the failure of the production suspension expectation, and the short-term volatility will continue to increase. It is recommended to wait and see [12][13] Group 4: Section Summaries Part 01: Lithium Carbonate Overview - Supply: The overall incremental production from restarts in July exceeded the reduction from maintenance, but the suspension of Zangge Lithium Industry in the salt lake segment led to a 13.25% decline in salt lake production. The production at the mica end increased by 0.29%, and the production at the recycling end decreased by 0.35%. The import volume remained unchanged [12] - Demand: The weekly apparent demand decreased by 3.64%, and the available days of downstream inventory increased by 0.10%. The overall demand performance was better than expected [12] - Inventory: The lithium ore inventory at ports and warehouses decreased, while the overall inventory increased slightly. The inventory shifted from lithium salt plants to traders, and the surplus pattern continued to accumulate inventory. After the price rose rapidly, the warehouse receipts increased, but the growth rate still needed to be observed [12] - Cost and Profit: The cost of externally purchased spodumene and mica increased, and the profit of externally purchased spodumene decreased by 10.12%, while the profit of externally purchased mica increased by 1.93% [12] Part 02: Lithium Carbonate Industry Chain Prices - Lithium Carbonate Market: The report presents data on the futures and spot prices, basis, trading volume, and open interest of lithium carbonate [16] - Lithium Ore Prices: It shows the prices of spodumene concentrate and lithium mica [16] - Lithium Carbonate Prices: The prices of battery-grade and industrial-grade lithium carbonate, as well as the price difference between them, are provided. The production cost and profit of lithium carbonate are also analyzed [16] - Lithium Hydroxide Prices: The prices of battery-grade and industrial-grade lithium hydroxide and their price differences are presented [16] - Cathode Material Prices: The prices of ternary materials and lithium iron phosphate are shown [16] - Power Battery Cell Prices: The prices of square lithium iron phosphate, cobalt acid lithium, and 523 square ternary cells are provided [16] Part 03: Lithium Carbonate Upstream Supply Environment - Lithium Concentrate: The import volume of lithium concentrate, especially from Australia, is analyzed, including cumulative and monthly data and their changes [62] - Lithium Carbonate: The production capacity, monthly and weekly operating rates, production volume, production volume by raw material, import and export volume, and total supply of lithium carbonate are presented [62] Part 04: Lithium Carbonate Downstream Consumption Environment - Apparent Demand: The apparent consumption of lithium carbonate is analyzed [100] - Real Demand: The production volume, monthly operating rate, and production volume by grade of ternary materials, lithium iron phosphate, cobalt acid lithium, manganese acid lithium, and lithium hexafluorophosphate are presented [100] - Terminal Demand: The production volume, shipment volume, inventory-to-sales ratio, and installation volume of lithium batteries, power batteries, energy storage batteries, and consumer batteries are analyzed. The production and sales of new energy vehicles and their penetration rate, as well as the winning bid scale and capacity of energy storage projects, are also provided [100] Part 05: Lithium Carbonate Inventory Structure - Weekly Inventory: The warehouse receipts by region, smelter inventory, downstream cathode material factory inventory, other inventory, and total inventory of lithium carbonate are presented [194] - Monthly Inventory: The smelter inventory, downstream cathode material factory inventory, and total inventory of lithium carbonate on a monthly basis are analyzed [194] - Upstream and Downstream Inventory: The inventory of lithium ore, finished product inventory of lithium iron phosphate, and finished product inventory of ternary materials are provided [194]

Group 1: Report Industry Investment Rating - No information provided Group 2: Core View of the Report - The price of lithium carbonate is mainly supported by downstream purchases, but the production increase of cathode and battery factories in July is small, and the purchasing power mainly comes from traders with limited space. Due to the price rebound, the supply increase in July is large, deepening the oversupply situation and dragging down the price increase. There are no signs of production cuts in the ore segment. It is expected that the downward pressure on the futures price of lithium carbonate will intensify as the purchasing pace slows down [3] Group 3: Summary of Related Catalogs Lithium Compounds - The average price of SMM battery - grade lithium carbonate is 63,300 yuan, with a daily increase of 400 yuan; the average price of SMM industrial - grade lithium carbonate is 61,700 yuan, with a daily increase of 400 yuan [1] - The closing prices and price changes of lithium carbonate futures contracts: Li2507 is 64,700 yuan, up 0.59%; Li2508 is 64,680 yuan, up 0.12%; Li2509 is 64,400 yuan, up 0.16%; Li2510 is 64,160 yuan, down 0.03%; Li2511 is 64,080 yuan, up 0.22% [1] Lithium Ore - The average price of lithium spodumene concentrate (CIF China) is 666 yuan, with a daily increase of 8 yuan; the average price of lithium mica (Li2O: 1.5% - 2.0%) is 820 yuan, with a daily increase of 20 yuan; the average price of lithium mica (Li2O: 2.0% - 2.5%) is 1385 yuan, with a daily increase of 30 yuan; the average price of lithiophilite (Li2O: 6% - 7%) is 4500 yuan, with a daily increase of 75 yuan; the average price of lithiophilite (Li2O: 7% - 8%) is 5340 yuan, with a daily increase of 80 yuan [1][2] Cathode Materials - The average price of lithium iron phosphate (power type) is 30,950 yuan, with a daily increase of 100 yuan; the average price of ternary material 811 (polycrystalline/power type) is 142,780 yuan, with a daily increase of 20 yuan; the average price of ternary material 523 (single - crystal/power type) is 114,955 yuan, with a daily increase of 50 yuan; the average price of ternary material 613 (single - crystal/power type) is 120,255 yuan, with no change [2] Price Spreads - The price spread between battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate is 1600 yuan; the price spread between battery - grade lithium carbonate and the main contract is - 1100 yuan, with a change of - 120 yuan; the price spread between the near - month and the first - continuous contract is 280 yuan, with a change of - 80 yuan; the price spread between the near - month and the second - continuous contract is 520 yuan, with a change of 20 yuan [2] Inventory - The total inventory (weekly, tons) is 138,347 tons, with an increase of 1510 tons; the inventory of smelters (weekly, tons) is 58,890 tons, with a decrease of 142 tons; the inventory of downstream enterprises (weekly, tons) is 40,497 tons, with a decrease of 138 tons; the inventory of other sources (weekly, tons) is 38,960 tons, with an increase of 1790 tons; the registered warehouse receipts (daily, tons) is 13,281 tons, with an increase of 626 tons [2] Profit Estimation - The cash cost of purchasing lithium spodumene concentrate is 62,506 yuan, and the profit is - 76 yuan; the cash cost of purchasing lithium mica concentrate is not clearly stated, and the profit is - 6886 yuan [3] Industry News - Zimbabwe will ban the export of lithium concentrate from 2027 to further promote local processing [3]