Group 1 - The lithium carbonate market has experienced price fluctuations, with domestic spot prices falling to around 70,000 yuan per ton due to the resumption of production at the Jiangxiawo lithium mine and a decline in lithium carbonate futures prices [1] - In August, the Jiangxiawo lithium mine was temporarily shut down, leading to a significant decrease in lithium mica and its derived lithium carbonate production. However, the production of lithium carbonate from spodumene increased substantially, filling the supply gap [3] - Domestic lithium carbonate production reached 85,000 tons in August, a year-on-year increase of 39% and a month-on-month increase of 5%, driven by improved production enthusiasm from spodumene lithium extraction companies [3] Group 2 - Following the confirmation of the Jiangxiawo mine's shutdown on August 11, lithium carbonate futures contracts surged, leading to a significant increase in related stocks. Conversely, the announcement of the mine's resumption on September 10 caused a sharp decline in futures and stock prices, indicating a return to a "supply surplus" market condition [4] - Despite the short-term decline in lithium prices, the average price of lithium carbonate in the third quarter is significantly higher than in the second quarter, with an average price of 72,947.92 yuan per ton compared to 65,237.17 yuan per ton in the second quarter, reflecting an 11.82% increase [4] - Companies with stable production costs, such as salt lake enterprises, are expected to see a rebound in profitability in the third quarter due to rising lithium carbonate prices, although the impact on profitability may be limited due to their cost advantages [5] Group 3 - Spodumene lithium extraction companies, with production costs around 70,000 yuan per ton, are likely to achieve a turnaround in profitability for their lithium salt business in the third quarter, as the average price of lithium carbonate rises to 73,000 yuan per ton [6] - Some raw material self-sufficient spodumene lithium extraction companies still face significant operational pressure due to relatively low lithium prices, and the upcoming low-cost production capacity may further increase market supply pressure [6] - Salt Lake companies are planning to start trial production of a 40,000-ton-per-year lithium salt project by the end of September, which, combined with the potential resumption of the Jiangxiawo mine, raises questions about whether spot prices can maintain above 70,000 yuan per ton [6]

Report Industry Investment Rating - The rating for lithium carbonate is "Bullish" [6] Core Viewpoints of the Report - Last week, lithium salt prices rose again. The closing prices of LC2508 and LC2509 increased by 9.9% and 11.2% respectively. The spot average prices of battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate increased by 0.8%. The prices of lithium hydroxide continued to rise. The short - term price is expected to remain strong, and it is recommended to pay attention to the opportunity of buying on dips and the positive spread opportunity between months [2][13]. - The mining end of Ningde Times' Jianxiawo Mining Area is planned to stop production on August 9th with no short - term resumption plan. This will lead to a production loss of about 11% of domestic lithium carbonate, turn the Q3 balance sheet into de - stocking, and narrow the annual balance sheet's inventory accumulation amplitude [4][18]. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 1. Supply - side Disturbance Materializes, and the Futures Market Rises Again - From August 4th to 8th, lithium salt prices rose. LC2508 and LC2509 closing prices increased by 9.9% and 11.2% respectively. SMM battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate spot average prices increased by 0.8%. Lithium hydroxide prices continued to rise [2][13]. - In July, Chile exported 23,800 tons of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, a 40% month - on - month increase and a 9% year - on - year increase. Exports to China were 13,600 tons, a 33% month - on - month increase but a 13% year - on - year decrease. From January to July, the total exports were 149,000 tons, a 6% year - on - year decrease, and exports to China were 96,800 tons, a 17% year - on - year decrease. In July, Chile shipped 10,400 tons of lithium sulfate to China, a 35% month - on - month increase and a 171% year - on - year increase [3][14]. - The mining end of Ningde Times' Jianxiawo Mining Area will stop production on August 9th with no short - term resumption plan. The annual production capacity is 100,000 tons of LCE, and the monthly production of its three supporting lithium salt plants is about 9,000 tons. After the shutdown, the domestic lithium carbonate production loss is about 11% [4][18]. 2. Weekly Industry News Review - Australia is considering setting a price floor to support key mineral projects [20]. - South Korea's POSCO made a $62 million cash offer for the exploration assets of Lithium South Development in Argentina's Hombre Muerto Salar [20]. - A 20,000 - ton/year lithium carbonate project of China Salt Lake went into production and sales on July 31st. The total investment is 2.29 billion yuan, accounting for 17% of the existing lithium carbonate production capacity of China Salt Lake [20]. - In July, Chile's lithium exports to China increased slightly. It exported 13,633 tons of lithium carbonate to China, a 13% year - on - year decrease but a 33% month - on - month increase, expected to arrive at Chinese ports in August - September [21]. - Ningde Times' Jianxiawo Mining Area's mining end will stop production on August 10th with no short - term resumption plan [21]. 3. Key High - frequency Data Monitoring of the Industry Chain 3.1 Resource End: Lithium Concentrate Spot Quotes Rebound - Lithium concentrate spot quotes rebounded [22] 3.2 Lithium Salt: The Futures Market Rebounds Strongly Again - The lithium salt futures market rebounded strongly again [24] 3.3 Downstream Intermediates: Quotes Rise Slightly - The quotes of downstream intermediates rose slightly [37] 3.4 Terminal: China's New Energy Vehicle Inventory Continued to Decline in June - China's new energy vehicle inventory continued to decline in June [43]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - The investment rating for lithium carbonate is "sideways" [1] 2. Core View of the Report - The core trading logic of the continuous increase in positions and decline in the futures market, hitting new lows, is to continuously test the cost support of the resource end against the backdrop of no unexpected performance on the demand side and even the need to revise down the terminal growth rate expectations. The accelerated decline in ore prices and the sequential decline in the current operating costs of multiple mines have made this logic smoother. The main logic of long - term oversupply of the variety and the downward shift of cost support remains unchanged, but short - term rhythms need to be noted in the trading dimension. From a fundamental perspective, attention should be paid to whether the reduction in salt production continues to expand, and potential disturbances at the resource end should be continuously vigilant in a low - price environment. After a rapid increase in positions and decline in the futures market, short - covering caused by the expectation gap may drive a rapid rebound in the futures market. Strategically, it is not recommended to continue to short at the current level, nor is it recommended to bottom - fish on the left side based solely on static valuations. Instead, patiently wait for opportunities to short on rebounds [2][20] 3. Summary According to Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Resource End Has No Effective Resistance, and the Increase in Positions in the Futures Market Hits New Lows - Last week (05/06 - 05/09), lithium salt prices accelerated their decline. The closing price of LC2505 decreased by 4% sequentially to 63,000 yuan/ton, and the closing price of LC2507 decreased by 4.5% sequentially to 63,000 yuan/ton. The average spot prices of SMM battery - grade (99.5%) and industrial - grade (99.2%) lithium carbonate decreased by 4.0% and 3.9% sequentially to 65,300 yuan/ton and 63,600 yuan/ton respectively. The closing price of the near - month contract of lithium carbonate on Liyang Zhonglian Jin decreased by 3.5% sequentially to 64,000 yuan/ton. During the week, the price of lithium hydroxide also showed a weak trend. The average prices of SMM coarse - grained and micron - sized battery - grade lithium hydroxide decreased by 1.9% and 1.8% sequentially to 66,300 yuan/ton and 71,500 yuan/ton respectively. The price difference between battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate slightly narrowed to 1,700 yuan/ton. The price of battery - grade lithium hydroxide changed from a discount to a premium of 1,000 yuan/ton compared to battery - grade lithium carbonate [1][10] - According to Chilean customs, in April, Chile exported a total of 24,400 tons of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, a 6% increase sequentially and a 15% decrease year - on - year. Among them, the export to China was 15,500 tons, a 6.3% decrease sequentially and a 32% decrease year - on - year. From January to April, Chile exported a total of 91,600 tons of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, a 3% increase year - on - year. Among them, the export to China was 63,300 tons, unchanged year - on - year. In terms of lithium sulfate, in April, Chile shipped 9,100 tons (4,500 tons LCE) of lithium sulfate to China, a 56% increase sequentially and a 14% increase year - on - year. From January to April, a total of 27,300 tons (13,600 tons LCE) of lithium sulfate were shipped to China, a 138% increase year - on - year [2][12] 3.2 Weekly Industry News Review - In April 2025, BYD's total installed capacity of power batteries and energy - storage batteries was approximately 26.478GWh, a record high, with a year - on - year increase of 110.83%. In April, BYD's new - energy vehicle production was 385,064 units, and sales were 380,089 units, a year - on - year increase of 21.34%. From January to April 2025, the cumulative production was 1,442,143 units, and the cumulative sales were 1,380,893 units. In April, the overseas sales of new - energy vehicles totaled 79,086 units, and the cumulative overseas sales from January to April were 285,134 units. The cumulative installed capacity from January to April was approximately 79.031GWh [22] - Chile's lithium export volume in April was 24,404 tons, of which the export volume of lithium carbonate was 21,770 tons. The export volume of lithium carbonate to China in that month was 15,546 tons [22] - Liontown Resources received 15 million Australian dollars in financial support from the Western Australian state government. The state took action to support its key minerals industry in the context of持续疲软 prices. Liontown signed a 15 million Australian - dollar interest - free loan agreement with the state and was confirmed to be eligible for temporary exemption from port fees and certain mining property fee rebates. These support measures are aimed at alleviating the financial pressure during the capacity expansion of the Kathleen Valley lithium project and will remain effective until the spodumene price recovers to over $1,100 per ton for two consecutive quarters or until June 30, 2026, whichever comes first [23] - The Chinese Embassy in Chile stated that BYD and Tsingshan have never said they stopped investing in Chile and are willing to continue dialogue with the Chilean authorities [23] 3.3 Key High - Frequency Data Monitoring of the Industrial Chain 3.3.1 Resource End: The Spot Quotation of Lithium Concentrate Continues to Decline - The spot quotation of lithium concentrate continues to decline [24] 3.3.2 Lithium Salt: The Main Contract Hits a New Low Again - The main contract of lithium carbonate hits a new low again [26] 3.3.3 Downstream Intermediates: Quotes Decline - The quotes of downstream intermediates decline [36] 3.3.4 Terminal: In March, China's New - Energy Vehicle Production and Sales Increased Significantly Year - on - Year - In March, China's new - energy vehicle production and sales increased significantly year - on - year [41]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The current production of lithium carbonate remains at a high level, and although the futures price of lithium carbonate is relatively strong compared to the entire capital market, the slight decline in the futures price still strengthens the price difference of lithium carbonate, suppressing the enthusiasm for delivering new lithium carbonate goods for warehousing. The growth rate of new warehouse receipts registration is poor. Although downstream demand is strong, there is a lack of marginal increase. Overall, the supply - demand fundamentals are still dominated by excess supply pressure, and the situation of the futures price under pressure remains unchanged. However, attention can be paid to the repair path of the basis [4]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Weekly Report Summary - **Fundamentals**: - Lithium ore: The demand for domestic high - priced ore is affected by a wait - and - see attitude. Tariff factors have hit the demand expectation of lithium carbonate, and the demand for high - priced mica ore has been greatly affected [3]. - Lithium salt: The growth rate of warehouse receipts has slowed down, and the pressure of circulating inventory has increased. After the centralized cancellation of lithium carbonate futures warehouse receipts at the beginning of the month, the growth rate of new warehouse receipts is significantly slower than in previous periods. The high basis still significantly inhibits the enthusiasm for warehousing. The production in March reached a record high, and it is expected to remain at a high level in April, and the supply pressure in the spot market is expected to remain [3]. - Cathode materials and lithium batteries: Exports hit ternary lithium more than lithium iron phosphate. The production schedule of domestic lithium iron phosphate is stable, and the expected impact of tariffs on the demand for ternary lithium materials is stronger than that for lithium iron phosphate [3]. - **Market summary**: The supply - demand fundamentals are still dominated by excess supply pressure, and the futures price is under pressure, but attention can be paid to the repair path of the basis [4]. 3.2 Supply - Demand Balance Sheet - **Lithium carbonate balance sheet**: It shows the supply, demand, import, export, inventory change, cumulative balance, sample inventory, and sample change of lithium carbonate from March 2023 to March 2025, indicating that the supply - demand relationship is in a delicate balance [6][8]. - **Lithium hydroxide balance sheet**: It presents the supply, demand, import, export, inventory change, and cumulative balance of lithium hydroxide from March 2023 to March 2025 [9][11]. 3.3 Upstream Ore Supply and Demand and Price - **Lithium spodumene import**: It provides data on the import volume and average import price of lithium concentrate from different countries (Australia, Brazil) from February 2022 to February 2025 [13][17]. - **Chinese lithium ore**: The wait - and - see attitude has hit high - priced domestic ore. It includes data on domestic lithium ore production, weekly inventory, and market prices of lithium concentrate [18][22]. 3.4 Lithium Salt Supply and Demand and Price - **Lithium salt spot and futures prices**: The price of lithium salt fluctuates narrowly around 75,000 yuan. It provides the market prices of battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and their price differences from February 2025 to April 2025, as well as data on the futures closing price and basis of lithium carbonate [24][29]. - **Production cost and profit**: The profit of high - grade lithium mica has been significantly repaired. It shows the production costs and profits of lithium carbonate produced from lithium spodumene, low - grade mica, and high - grade mica from September 2024 to April 2025 [35][39]. - **Lithium carbonate production**: It provides data on the weekly and monthly production of lithium carbonate from 2022 to 2025, including production by grade and raw material [40][49]. - **Operating rate**: It shows an upward trend seasonally. It provides data on the operating rates of lithium salt, lithium carbonate (overall and by raw material), and lithium hydroxide from 2022 to 2025 [50][54]. - **Monthly import volume of lithium carbonate**: It provides data on the total import volume of lithium carbonate and the import volumes from Argentina and Chile from March 2022 to February 2025 [55][59]. - **Lithium carbonate inventory**: Attention should be paid to the growth rate of new warehouse receipts registration. It includes data on downstream and smelter inventories, weekly inventories, and the number of futures registered warehouse receipts of lithium carbonate [60][64]. 3.5 Lithium Salt Downstream Production and Demand - **Lithium iron phosphate**: The operating rate remains at a high level. It provides data on the production and operating rate of lithium iron phosphate from 2019 to March 2025 [66][70]. - **Ternary materials**: It provides data on the total production, operating rate, import and export volume of ternary materials from 2019 to March 2025 [71][81]. - **New energy vehicle production and sales**: It includes data on the weekly production of batteries (lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium), the production of new energy vehicles (pure electric and plug - in hybrid), and the inventory warning index of automobile dealers from 2021 to March 2025 [82][86]. - **Lithium battery import and export volume**: It provides data on the import, export, net export, and net export growth rate of lithium - ion batteries from October 2022 to February 2025 [88][91].