1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - Supply side: This week, China's lithium carbonate production increased by 335 tons week - on - week to 18,500 tons. Due to the reduction in lithium ore costs, subcontractors are gradually resuming work, and there is an expected increase in non - integrated supply in June. In May, the volume of lithium carbonate exported from Chile to China was 9,700 tons, a significant month - on - month decrease of 38%. This week, China's social inventory of lithium carbonate increased by 1,352 tons week - on - week to 134,900 tons. The inventories in smelters, downstream, and other sectors were 58,600 tons, 40,400 tons, and 35,900 tons respectively. There was a slight inventory build - up in smelters and other sectors, and the overall inventory remains at a high level. In the medium - to - long - term, the pressure of oversupply of lithium carbonate in the next two years is still significant [7]. - Demand side: According to research, downstream demand may increase slightly month - on - month in June, and the industry is gradually entering the off - season. The production schedule in the power sector has declined, and there is a certain behavior of rushing to export in energy - storage cells. The terminal market maintains a relatively fast growth rate. From June 1st to 15th, the retail sales of the national new - energy passenger vehicle market reached 402,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 38% [7]. - Cost side: This week, the price of spodumene concentrate remained basically flat week - on - week, while the price of lepidolite concentrate decreased by 1.2% week - on - week. Overseas mines have a strong sentiment to hold prices, but downstream lithium salt factories have low willingness to purchase due to their pessimistic expectations for future prices [7]. - Strategy: Demand is gradually entering the off - season, while supply remains relatively high. Near the end of the second quarter, both upstream and downstream have certain inventory management needs. High inventory exerts a certain downward pressure on lithium prices, but further price drops are likely to trigger supply disruptions. It is expected that lithium prices will fluctuate weakly. In the short term, it is not advisable to chase short positions. In the medium term, maintain the idea of shorting on rallies and pay attention to the trends at the mine end [7]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Supply Side - 5 - month lithium spodumene import volume decreased slightly month - on - month: From January to May, China's lithium spodumene import volume was 2.92 million tons. In May, China's lithium spodumene import volume was 605,000 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 2.9%. Among them, in May, 371,000 tons were imported from Australia, a month - on - month increase of 24.1%; 52,500 tons were imported from South Africa, a month - on - month increase of 29.9%; and 97,000 tons were imported from Zimbabwe, a month - on - month decrease of 8.2% [11]. - The decline of lithium concentrate has slowed down: This week, the price of spodumene concentrate remained basically flat week - on - week, and the price of lepidolite concentrate decreased by 1.2% week - on - week. Overseas mines on the spodumene side have a strong sentiment to hold prices, with the SC6 quotation remaining above $630 per ton. Downstream lithium salt factories have low willingness to purchase due to their pessimistic expectations for future prices [14]. - China's lithium carbonate production may increase slightly month - on - month in June: In May, SMM's total lithium carbonate production decreased by 2% month - on - month and increased by 15% year - on - year. By raw material, the production of lithium carbonate from spodumene and recycling decreased by 4% and 13% month - on - month respectively, while the production of lithium carbonate from lepidolite and salt lakes increased by 2% and 3% month - on - month respectively. According to research, the profitability of subcontractors has improved, and the production of the salt - lake side has increased with the warming of the weather. It is expected that China's lithium carbonate production will increase slightly month - on - month in June [18]. - Lithium carbonate import volume: From January to April, China's lithium carbonate import volume was 78,900 tons, a year - on - year increase of 26.8%. Among them, 53,200 tons were imported from Chile, a year - on - year increase of 9.8%, and 22,600 tons were imported from Argentina, a year - on - year increase of 80.7%. According to Chilean customs, the volume of lithium carbonate exported from Chile to China in May was 9,700 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 38%. It is expected that this part of lithium carbonate will arrive in China from late June to July [21]. - Spot price remained basically flat week - on - week: This week, the spot price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 60,400 yuan per ton, remaining basically flat week - on - week. Market transactions were relatively dull. Lithium salt factories were reluctant to sell at low prices, but downstream buyers mostly adopted a wait - and - see attitude and mainly made purchases based on rigid demand. This week, the price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 58,800 yuan per ton, remaining basically flat week - on - week [22]. Demand Side - The global new - energy vehicle market started well: The new - energy vehicle industry accounts for about 62% of the global lithium carbonate demand. In Q1 2025, global electric vehicle sales reached 4.1 million units, a year - on - year increase of 29%. Among them, European sales in Q1 were 900,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 22%, North American sales were 500,000 units, a year - on - year increase of 16%, and Chinese sales were 2.4 million units, a year - on - year increase of 36%. The Chinese and European markets had strong growth, while the growth rate in the US declined due to political factors [27]. - Power battery production maintained a high growth rate: In May, the total production of power and other batteries in China was 123.5 GWh, a month - on - month increase of 4.4% and a year - on - year increase of 47.9%. From January to May, the cumulative production of power and other batteries in China was 568.1 GWh, a cumulative year - on - year increase of 62.6%. In May, the sales of power and other batteries in China were 123.6 GWh, a month - on - month increase of 4.7% and a year - on - year increase of 58.1%. Among them, the sales of power batteries were 87.5 GWh, accounting for 70.8% of the total sales, a month - on - month increase of 1.0% and a year - on - year increase of 55% [37]. - China's mobile phone shipments increased slightly year - on - year: In the first quarter of 2025, China's smartphone market shipments were 71.6 million units, a year - on - year increase of 3.3%. From January to December 2024, the production of electronic computer complete machines in China's first quarter was 85.322 million units, a year - on - year increase of 9.6%, with two consecutive quarters of positive growth. Behind this data is the upgrading of the entire industrial chain driven by technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence [42]. - May energy - storage installation maintained a high growth rate: According to incomplete statistics from CNESA DataLink, the installed capacity of newly commissioned new - type energy - storage projects in China in May this year totaled 6.32 GW/15.85 GWh, a year - on - year increase of 193%/228%. The "531" rush to install contributed a certain increment. Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Promoting the Development of New - Type Energy Storage", clarifying that "new - energy projects shall not be required to be equipped with energy storage compulsorily". After the cancellation of compulsory energy - storage installation, the proportion of energy - storage installation will decrease, which may affect the demand for lithium iron phosphate by about 3% [47]. - June downstream production schedule increased slightly month - on - month: This week, the theoretical production profit of ternary material enterprises was 3,630 yuan per ton, an increase of 200 yuan per ton compared with last week. The profit of ternary material enterprises increased slightly month - on - month, but the overall profitability was not optimistic. According to research, downstream demand may increase slightly month - on - month in June. The production schedule in the power sector declined, and there was a certain behavior of rushing to export in energy - storage cells [53]. Other Indicators - Non - integrated lithium salt factories had cost inversion: Recently, as the price of lithium concentrate stabilized, the production cost of lithium salt factories increased slightly. The theoretical production cost of manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene was 70,169 yuan per ton, a month - on - month decrease of 74 yuan per ton. At the current lithium price, manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene have fallen into losses. The theoretical production profit of manufacturers processing with purchased spodumene was - 9,869 yuan per ton, a month - on - month decrease of 426 yuan per ton [50]. - This week, the basis widened: This week, the basis of lithium carbonate was 1,500, with the spot price higher than the futures price. The closing price of the main futures contract of lithium carbonate this week was 589,020 yuan per ton, and the basis of the contract widened. The price difference between battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate remained flat month - on - month, with a price difference of 1,600 yuan per ton [56]. - The price difference between contracts widened: This week, the term structure of lithium carbonate contracts was a horizontal structure, and the price difference between the first - nearby contract and the nearby contract was negative. The price difference between the first - nearby contract and the nearby contract was - 460, a decrease of 420 compared with last week, and the price differences between different contracts widened [59].

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content 2. Core Viewpoints - The report tracks the fundamentals of lithium carbonate, including data on futures contracts, spot prices, and raw materials. It also mentions macro and industry news, such as price changes of battery - grade lithium carbonate and corporate announcements [1][2]. - The trend strength of lithium carbonate is 0, indicating a neutral outlook [3]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Fundamental Tracking - **Futures Contracts**: For the 2507 contract, the closing price was 60,480, down 1,200 from T - 5; the trading volume was 35,622, down 200,575 from T - 5; and the open interest was 99,266, down 78,969 from T - 5. For the 2509 contract, the closing price was 59,880, down 1,860 from T - 5; the trading volume was 181,046, up 12,314 from T - 5; and the open interest was 306,885, up 90,331 from T - 5 [1]. - **Warehouse Receipts**: The warehouse receipt volume was 29,967, down 2,870 from T - 5 [1]. - **Basis**: The basis between spot and 2507 contract was - 30, up 1,150 from T - 5; between spot and 2509 contract was 570, up 1,810 from T - 5; between 2507 and 2509 contracts was 600, up 660 from T - 5 [1]. - **Raw Materials**: The price of lithium spodumene concentrate (6%, CIF China) was 622, down 8 from T - 5; lithium mica (2.0% - 2.5%) was 1,225, up 15 from T - 5 [1]. - **Lithium Salts**: Battery - grade lithium carbonate was 60,450, down 50 from T - 5; industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 58,850, down 50 from T - 5 [1]. - **Related Products in the Industry Chain**: Battery - grade lithium hydroxide (micronized powder) was 64,570, down 1,480 from T - 5; lithium hexafluorophosphate was 52,250, down 250 from T - 5 [1]. 3.2 Macro and Industry News - SMM's battery - grade lithium carbonate index price was 60,464 yuan/ton, up 72 yuan/ton from the previous working day. Battery - grade lithium carbonate was 5.99 - 6.10 million yuan/ton, with an average of 6.045 million yuan/ton, unchanged from the previous working day; industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 5.835 - 5.935 million yuan/ton, with an average of 5.885 million yuan/ton, unchanged from the previous working day [2]. - Yahua Group plans to rename its wholly - owned subsidiary Sichuan Yahua Lithium Industry Technology Co., Ltd. to "Yahua Lithium Industry Group" and transfer the equity of 5 subsidiaries involved in lithium business to it for free [2][3]. - On May 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a landmark mineral agreement with the United States. On June 16, the Ukrainian government approved opening its lithium mining to private investors, with the Dobra lithium mine in central Ukraine being the first project under this agreement [3].

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints - The oversupply pattern in the lithium carbonate market in the second quarter is expected to continue, with no significant growth in demand - side production during the off - season. The supply - side production shows no obvious improvement, and both lithium ore and lithium salt inventories face great pressure, with a slow de - stocking process. The main market contradiction is that the pressure of lithium salt production capacity clearance is gradually spreading to the upstream ore end, and the loosening of ore prices will further drive down lithium salt prices. There is a risk of a spiral decline in ore and lithium salt prices. Also, be cautious of the contradiction between the high open interest of the 2507 contract and the approaching delivery month for new energy varieties [3]. - There are both positive and negative factors in the market. Positive factors include positive macro - policies that may stimulate power demand growth and an increasing probability of supply - side disturbances as lithium ore and lithium salt prices decline. Negative factors are the large future production capacity expectations of lithium ore, high inventories suppressing ore prices, high inventories of both lithium ore and lithium salt in a continuous accumulation trend, and the delay of production capacity clearance due to cost reduction of some high - cost technology routes [4]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Futures Price and Strategy - **Futures Price Prediction**: The price of the lithium carbonate main contract is expected to fluctuate between 59,000 - 62,000 yuan/ton, with a current 20 - day rolling volatility of 20.1% and a 3 - year historical percentile of 20.8% [2]. - **Enterprise Risk Management Strategy**: - **Inventory Management**: For enterprises with high product inventories and at risk of inventory impairment, it is recommended to short 70% of the lithium carbonate futures (LC2509) to lock in profits, sell 30% of call options (either over - the - counter or on - exchange options), and buy out - of - the - money put options (either on - exchange or over - the - counter options) [2]. - **Procurement Management**: For enterprises with future procurement plans and worried about raw material price increases, it is recommended to buy far - month lithium carbonate contracts according to the procurement plan to lock in procurement costs, sell put options (either on - exchange or over - the - counter options), and buy out - of - the money call options (either on - exchange or over - the - counter options) [2]. 3.2 Futures Market Data - **Futures Contract Changes**: The closing price of the lithium carbonate main contract was 59,880 yuan/ton, up 20 yuan or 0.03% from the previous day; the trading volume was 181,046 lots, down 560 lots or 0.31%; the open interest was 306,885 lots, down 450 lots or 0.15%. The closing price of the LC2511 contract was 59,840 yuan/ton, up 80 yuan or 0.13%; the trading volume was 17,850 lots, down 3,940 lots or 18.08%; the open interest was 67,483 lots, up 4,127 lots or 6.51% [8]. - **Lithium Carbonate Month - spread Changes**: The LC07 - 08 month - spread was 340 yuan/ton (previous value: 160 yuan/ton, last week: 440 yuan/ton); LC08 - 11 was 300 yuan/ton (previous value: 300 yuan/ton, last week: 360 yuan/ton); LC09 - 11 was 40 yuan/ton (previous value: 100 yuan/ton, last week: - 100 yuan/ton); LC11 - 12 was - 380 yuan/ton (previous value: - 300 yuan/ton, last week: - 240 yuan/ton) [15]. 3.3 Lithium Ore and Lithium Salt Spot Prices - **Lithium Ore Prices**: The average daily prices of various lithium ores remained unchanged on the day. For example, the average price of lithium mica with Li2O: 2 - 2.5% was 1,225 yuan/ton, and the average price of lithium辉石 with Li2O: 6% (Brazil CIF) was 615 US dollars/ton [19]. - **Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide Prices**: The average price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate was 58,850 yuan/ton, unchanged; the average price of battery - grade lithium carbonate was 60,450 yuan/ton, unchanged; the average price of industrial - grade lithium hydroxide was 53,420 yuan/ton, down 250 yuan or 0.47%; the average price of battery - grade lithium hydroxide (micropowder) was 64,570 yuan/ton, down 250 yuan or 0.39% [22]. - **Lithium Industry Chain Spot Spreads**: The battery - grade lithium carbonate - industrial - grade lithium carbonate spread was 1,600 yuan/ton, unchanged; the battery - grade lithium hydroxide - battery - grade lithium carbonate spread was 4,120 yuan/ton, down 250 yuan or 5.72%; the spread between battery - grade lithium hydroxide CIF in Japan and South Korea and domestic prices was - 934.79 yuan/ton, up 262.22 yuan or - 21.91% [26]. 3.4 Downstream Product Prices - **Downstream Product Quotes**: The prices of some downstream products remained stable, while others declined slightly. For example, the price of power - type lithium iron phosphate was 30,370 yuan/ton, unchanged; the price of 523 (consumer - type) ternary material was 105,220 yuan/ton, down 110 yuan; the price of 622 (consumer - type) ternary material was 111,120 yuan/ton, down 90 yuan or 0.08%; the price of 811 (power - type) ternary material was 143,120 yuan/ton, down 180 yuan or 0.13% [36][37]. 3.5 Lithium Carbonate Warehouse Receipts - **Warehouse Receipt Quantity Changes**: The total number of lithium carbonate warehouse receipts decreased from 31,713 to 29,967, a decrease of 1,746. Some warehouses such as Xiangyu Speed - Transfer Shanghai and Cosco Shipping Nanchang saw significant decreases in warehouse receipts [39].

Group 1: Lithium Carbonate Market Dynamics - The lithium carbonate futures price experienced fluctuations, initially rising to 62,100 yuan/ton on June 11 due to Zimbabwe's plan to ban lithium ore exports starting in 2027, but then fell again on June 12 as market fundamentals showed no production cuts, leading to continued oversupply pressure [1][7][8] - The production of lithium carbonate is expected to increase by 9.4% month-on-month in June, reaching 78,875 tons, driven by higher output from spodumene and recovery lithium, with an overall operating rate rising nearly 9 percentage points to 58% [2][8] - Despite the increase in production, the demand for lithium carbonate is expected to remain limited during the traditional off-season from June to August, with downstream purchasing primarily driven by immediate needs rather than stockpiling [2][10] Group 2: Electric Vehicle Sales and Impact - New energy vehicle sales in China have shown significant growth, with production and sales in the first five months of the year exceeding 10% year-on-year, indicating a stable upward trend in the automotive industry [3][5] - New energy vehicles accounted for 44% of total new car sales, with exports of new energy vehicles reaching 855,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 64.6% [3][5] Group 3: Supply Chain and Import Trends - Lithium ore imports have continued to grow, with April imports reaching 520,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 18%, primarily sourced from Australia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Nigeria [6][8] - Zimbabwe's government announced a ban on lithium ore exports starting in January 2027 to promote local refining industries, which is not expected to cause immediate shortages in the lithium carbonate market due to ample global lithium resources [6][7] Group 4: Price Trends and Market Outlook - The lithium price has been on a downward trend since March, with a potential equilibrium price around 58,000 yuan/ton based on supply and demand dynamics, indicating that prices may have reached a bottom [8][9] - Current market pressures stem from falling mineral prices and limited demand during the off-season, with expectations of continued inventory accumulation until August [9][10]

碳酸锂周报 供应有所修复，价格延续震荡 长江期货股份有限公司交易咨询业务资格：鄂证监期货字[2014]1号 【产业服务总部|有色中心】 资深研究员：李 旎 执业编号：F3085657 投资咨询号: Z0017083 2025/6/9 01 周度观点 ⚫ 供需状况： 供应端：据百川盈孚统计，5月产量环比增加1.9%至73020吨。本周碳酸锂产量环比增加615吨至16013吨，4月碳酸锂产量环比减少 9%至71652吨，锂盐厂复产放量较多。近期皮尔巴拉矿业将2025财年的锂精矿生产指导产量下调至70万-74万吨，Bald Hill选矿厂 计划于2024年12月初暂时停止运营。海外进口方面，2025年4月中国锂矿石进口数量为62.3万吨，环比增加16.5%。其中从澳大利亚 进口29.8万吨，环比减少3%，自津巴布韦进口10.6万吨，环比增加82%，自尼日利亚进口8.9万吨，环比增加4%。4月碳酸锂进口量 为2.8万吨，环比增加56%，自智利进口碳酸锂2万吨，占比71%。 成本：进口锂辉石精矿CIF价周度环比下跌，部分外购锂矿生产碳酸锂厂家出现成本倒挂。自有矿石及盐湖企业利润有一定支撑，氢 氧化锂厂商成本压力较大。 ...

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core View of the Report The supply of lithium carbonate is expected to remain stable with an increase in imports, while the demand growth rate is slower than supply. The price of lithium carbonate is under pressure and is expected to continue to fluctuate weakly. It is recommended to adopt a short - selling strategy when the price rebounds to a high level and to keep an eye on upstream enterprise production cuts and cathode material production schedules [4][5]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Supply - side - **Production**: In May, the domestic lithium carbonate production increased by 1.9% month - on - month to 73020 tons. This week, the output increased by 350 tons to 15398 tons. The production of lithium salt plants has been stable, and some overseas mines have adjusted their production plans. For example, Pilbara Minerals lowered its lithium concentrate production guidance for the 2025 fiscal year to 700,000 - 740,000 tons, and the Bald Hill concentrator planned to stop operating in early December 2024 [4]. - **Import**: In April 2025, China's lithium ore import volume was 623,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 16.5%. The lithium carbonate import volume was 28,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 56%. It is expected that the import volume of South American lithium salt will remain high [4]. - **Cost**: The CIF price of imported lithium spodumene concentrate decreased week - on - week. Some manufacturers using purchased lithium ore to produce lithium carbonate faced cost inversion. Self - owned ore and salt lake enterprises had some profit support, while lithium hydroxide manufacturers faced greater cost pressure [4]. 3.2 Demand - side - **Production and Sales of Batteries**: In April, the total production of power and other batteries in China was 118.2GWh, a month - on - month decrease of 0.03% and a year - on - year increase of 49.0%. The total export was 22.3GWh, a month - on - month decrease of 2.9% and a year - on - year increase of 64.2%. The sales volume was 118.1GWh, a month - on - month increase of 2.3% and a year - on - year increase of 73.5%. The overall production in June is expected to be flat month - on - month [5]. - **New Energy Vehicle Market**: The introduction of the trade - in policy and the extension of the new energy vehicle purchase tax are expected to support the sales growth of the Chinese new energy vehicle market [5]. 3.3 Inventory This week, the lithium carbonate inventory showed a build - up. The factory inventory decreased by 1142 tons to 33401 tons, the market inventory increased by 3409 tons, and the Guangzhou Futures Exchange inventory decreased by 427 tons [5]. 3.4 Strategy Suggestion Given the situation of strong supply and weak demand that has not improved, it is recommended to short - sell when the price of lithium carbonate rebounds to a high level. It is also necessary to continuously monitor the production cuts of upstream enterprises and the production schedules of cathode materials [5]. 3.5 Key Data Tracking - **Lithium Carbonate Production and Inventory**: There are data on monthly and weekly production, as well as weekly inventory changes over multiple years [7][8][9][10][11]. - **Lithium Concentrate Price**: The average price of imported lithium concentrate (Li2O: 6% - 6.5%) is presented over a long - term time series [14][15]. - **Battery Production and Related Data**: Data on the production, export, and sales of power and other batteries, as well as the production and sales differences of domestic power batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries are provided [5][20][23]. - **Production of Lithium Carbonate from Different Raw Materials**: In April 2024, the production of lithium carbonate from lithium salt lakes accounted for 20.06%, from lithium mica 23.35%, and from lithium spodumene 44.61% [21][22]. - **Production of Cathode Materials**: There are data on the monthly production of lithium iron phosphate and ternary materials over multiple years [26][27][31]. - **Prices of Related Products**: The average prices of lithium carbonate (99.2% industrial grade), lithium iron phosphate (power - type), and ternary materials (8 - series NCA type) are presented over different time periods [18][35][39]. - **Import Volume**: Data on the import volume of lithium carbonate and lithium spodumene over multiple years are provided [37][41].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" and it is maintained [6]. Core Views - The company reported a revenue of 3.772 billion yuan in Q1 2025, representing a year-on-year decrease of 25.43% and a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 24.28%. The net profit attributable to the parent company was -356 million yuan, showing a year-on-year increase of 18.93% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 75.18%. The net profit excluding non-recurring items was -242 million yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 4.72% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 54.28% [2][4]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company achieved a gross profit of 489 million yuan, which is a decrease of 115 million yuan quarter-on-quarter. The average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was 75,800 yuan per ton (including tax), down 0.5% quarter-on-quarter, while the average price of lithium concentrate was 834.4 USD per ton, up 5.8% quarter-on-quarter [10]. Resource Development - The company is entering a phase of accelerated resource release, with expectations for self-sufficiency to continue improving and production costs to decrease. The C-O salt lake is expected to produce 30,000-35,000 tons of LCE in 2025, with cost reductions anticipated through operational optimization. The Mali Goulamina lithium concentrate project is expected to contribute significantly starting from Q2 2025 [10]. Market Outlook - The company is expected to benefit from the recovery of its own resources, with a focus on solid-state batteries and energy storage as new performance support points. As lithium prices stabilize, the long-term value of the company is expected to become more apparent [10].

Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the given content Core Viewpoints - From May 19th to May 23rd, there were minor supply disruptions, and lithium carbonate prices rose slightly before falling back. As of May 23rd, the closing price of the main contract was 60,960 yuan/ton, and the spot price was 63,050 yuan/ton. Besides the lower cost, there were no more pessimistic changes in the fundamentals. The further decline in the price of spodumene ore has lowered the cost support for lithium prices. The spot price has hit a new low since the futures were listed, and market sentiment remains pessimistic, but it is expected to stop falling as the raw material prices stabilize. Domestic social inventory has decreased slightly, and weekly production has declined. The continuous decline in prices increases the possibility of upstream enterprises reducing or suspending production, which needs continuous attention in the near future [2][10]. - The previous reciprocal tariffs have further restricted the future demand for lithium carbonate products. When facing the weakening peak - season effect of new - energy vehicles, the slowdown in the growth rate of lithium iron phosphate orders, and the decline in the production of ternary materials in China, the impact of reciprocal tariffs on lithium carbonate products is not obvious. The demand for lithium carbonate from the product end is more reflected in the growth of energy - storage demand and the demand brought about by breakthroughs in all - solid - state technology. Short - term factors affecting lithium carbonate prices still focus on the supply - and - demand changes in its own fundamentals. The possibility of further decline at the current price level is narrowing, and it should be treated with an oscillatory mindset [2][10]. Summary by Directory I. Market Review - Supply had sporadic disruptions, and lithium carbonate prices rose slightly before falling back. From May 19th to May 23rd, the upstream had minor disturbances with a small volume involved. As of May 23rd, the main contract closed at 60,960 yuan/ton, and the spot price was 63,050 yuan/ton. Domestic social inventory decreased slightly, and weekly production declined [2][8][10]. II. Hot - Spot Interpretation - **April Import and Export Data (Spodumene, Lithium Iron Phosphate)**: In April, domestic spodumene imports totaled 623,000 physical tons, a 16.5% increase from the previous month, equivalent to 54,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Australia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe were the main import sources. The import volume from Australia was 298,000 tons, a 3% decrease from the previous month; from Zimbabwe was 106,000 tons, an 82% increase; from Nigeria was 89,000 tons, a 4% increase; and from South Africa was 40,400 tons, a significant 22% decrease. In April, the amount of spodumene concentrate was 520,000 tons, accounting for 83% of the total ore, mostly from Australia, Zimbabwe, etc. In April 2025, China's lithium iron phosphate export volume was 1,151.7 tons, a 16% decrease from March and a 1724% increase compared to the previous year. In terms of price, the average export price of lithium iron phosphate in March 2025 was 6,206.9 US dollars/ton, a 5.4% increase from the average price in March. The top - exporting province of lithium iron phosphate in April 2025 was Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region with 968.5 tons, all exported to Vietnam; Hubei Province ranked second with 59.454 tons, and Anhui Province ranked third with 30 tons. The top - importing country of Chinese lithium iron phosphate in April 2025 was Vietnam, accounting for 84% of the export volume; South Korea ranked second with 7%, and Chinese Taipei ranked third with 5.5%. In April, China's lithium iron phosphate import volume was 8.6 tons, a 58% decrease from the previous month, mainly imported from Indonesia at an average import price of 5,345.6 US dollars/ton [17][18]. - **SMM May 22nd News**: This week, the price of ternary materials continued to decline. In terms of raw material costs, the prices of nickel sulfate and manganese sulfate fluctuated little, the price of cobalt sulfate decreased slightly, and the price of lithium salt continued to decline significantly. In terms of demand, the large - power market has recovered to some extent, with some vehicle models having good sales performance, and some models stocking up in advance due to upcoming launches, which provided some support for the demand for ternary materials, but the overall quantity was limited. The consumer and small - power markets have received more orders recently, especially the overseas market, but the overall increase was not obvious due to the small market volume. On the supply side, the current market supply mainly depends on previously signed long - term contracts. Some enterprises have raised relevant discount coefficients and adopted a settlement method of negotiating discounts for raw materials such as nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and lithium carbonate separately. Recently, the market trading sentiment has been weak, mainly for just - in - time inventory. However, the end - of - month inventory peak is coming next week, and it is expected that market activity will increase recently. In terms of price trends, it is expected that the price of nickel sulfate will remain firm, but there is still room for the price of lithium salt to decline. Affected by raw - material price fluctuations, the price of ternary materials may decline further [20]. - **SMM May 22nd News**: This week, the price of lithium ore continued to decline compared to last week. On the supply side, although overseas mines have a certain willingness to support prices, due to their shipping pressure, the quotes have been lowered. On the demand side, since the current lithium - salt price is at a low level, the buyers' psychological price is constantly decreasing, and they are not willing to accept lithium - ore prices above 650 US dollars CIF. When the current lithium carbonate futures and spot prices are falling, the demand continues to push down the price for negotiation, and the trading willingness is average. According to the latest lithium - ore import customs data, in April, domestic spodumene imports exceeded 600,000 tons, a significant increase from the previous month, equivalent to more than 50,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. Coupled with the high port inventory in recent months, traders and mines face certain shipping pressure, and the buyers' bargaining power has increased. When the lithium carbonate price remains low, the lithium - ore price is expected to weaken [22]. - **SMM May 22nd News**: This week, the power - cell market continued to operate in a stable and adjusted manner. In terms of price, the quoted price range of mainstream lithium - iron - phosphate power cells fluctuated narrowly, and market transactions were mostly concentrated in the long - term contracts of leading cell manufacturers. The price competition among terminal vehicle enterprises continued in mid - May, especially for pure - electric platforms of Class A and below, with a deep exploration around the vehicle selling price, which put forward higher requirements for the upstream BOM cost. In this context, power - cell manufacturers are gradually optimizing their product strategies. While maintaining the stable supply of basic large - capacity lithium - iron products, they are accelerating the launch of differentiated solutions for niche markets, such as low - cost and high - integration modules and a new generation of lithium - iron cells compatible with the CTP structure. Some ternary - cell manufacturers are also improving product cost - effectiveness through high - voltage iron doping and fast - charging system technology and promoting the matching of customized cells represented by the 9 - series in the core - customer testing stage [25]. - **SMM May 22nd News**: This week, the downward trend of lithium iron phosphate prices has slowed down, with an overall decrease of about 365 yuan/ton, mainly because the lithium carbonate price has continued to decline this week, with a total decrease of about 1,450 yuan/ton. In the market, material manufacturers have been more active in production this week, and the production of leading material manufacturers has begun to recover, but the production of some second - tier material manufacturers has declined, mainly due to the adjustment of the downstream cell supply - chain structure and a slight decline in downstream power orders. On the demand side, energy - storage demand continues to improve. On the one hand, the US has lowered tariffs on China, and downstream cell manufacturers are eager to rush for exports, resulting in a slight increase in orders. In terms of price settlement, the average price of lithium iron phosphate showed a slight upward trend in April as a whole. Some lithium - iron - phosphate manufacturers hoped to increase the processing fee in the second quarter, but there was no substantial result after negotiations with downstream cell manufacturers. However, at present, the price of lithium - iron raw materials has started to decline, so the price of lithium iron in May is also expected to decline to some extent. In addition, some cell manufacturers will restart bidding in June, and the probability of a price increase before then is low. Considering these two points, SMM expects that the second - quarter processing fee will be difficult to increase [27]. III. In - depth Analysis of Industrial - Chain Data - **Lithium - Ore Price**: The report provides the price trends of spodumene concentrate (CIF China) and lithium - mica concentrate (Li₂O: 1.5% - 2%) through charts, including data such as price changes, increases and decreases, and average prices [32]. - **Lithium - Carbonate Price**: The report shows the price trends of battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate through charts, including data such as price changes, increases and decreases, and average prices [35]. - **Processing Cost and Cash Production Cost**: The report presents the processing costs of lithium carbonate from lithium - mica concentrate and spodumene concentrate and the cash production costs of lithium carbonate from purchased spodumene concentrate (Li₂O: 6%) and purchased lithium - mica concentrate (Li₂O: 2.5%) through charts [38]. - **Lithium - Carbonate Profit**: The report shows the production profit of lithium carbonate from purchased spodumene concentrate (Li₂O: 6%) and purchased lithium - mica concentrate (Li₂O: 2.5%), as well as the theoretical arbitrage profit of lithium carbonate, including theoretical delivery profit, import profit, export profit of lithium hydroxide, and theoretical delivery profit of lithium - carbonate production from lithium - mica ore and spodumene ore through charts [41]. - **Lithium - Carbonate Weekly Operation and Production**: The report provides the weekly operation rates of lithium - carbonate production from spodumene, lithium - mica, and salt lakes, as well as the weekly production of lithium carbonate from different smelting methods and the total weekly production of lithium carbonate in China through charts [44]. - **Cell Shipment and Battery Inventory**: The report shows the monthly shipment volume of power cells (including lithium - iron - phosphate, ternary, and total) and the inventory of lithium batteries (including energy - storage batteries and power batteries) through charts [47]. - **Automobile Production and Sales**: The report presents the production volume of new - energy vehicles (including pure - electric vehicles, plug - in hybrid vehicles, and total) and the sales volume and proportion of new - energy vehicles through charts [50]. - **Lithium - Carbonate Inventory**: The report shows the monthly and weekly inventory of lithium carbonate (including total, downstream, smelter, and other inventories) through charts [53].

供应压力较大，锂价弱势寻底 碳酸锂周报20250512 研究员：王艳红 投资咨询号：Z0010675 Email：wangyh@zxqh.net Tel：027-68851554 研究员：张重洋 从业资格号：Z0020996 Email：zhangcy@zxqh.net Tel：027-68851554 2 核心观点 产业基本面-供给端 1 4 其他重要影响因素 3 产业基本面-需求端 目 录 核心观点 供给端-3月锂辉石进口量环比小幅减少 锂精矿月度进口量 锂矿石进口结构 -50.0% 0.0% 50.0% 100.0% 150.0% 200.0% 0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000 2021-04-01 2021-06-01 2021-08-01 2021-10-01 2021-12-01 2022-02-01 2022-04-01 2022-06-01 2022-08-01 2022-10-01 2022-12-01 2023-02-01 2023-04-01 2023-06-01 2023-08-01 2023-10-01 2023-1 ...

Group 1: Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content provided Group 2: Core Views of the Report - The fundamental outlook for lithium carbonate remains bearish, with the potential for new lows in lithium prices. Although some smelters have cut or halted production due to the rapid decline in lithium prices, the marginal change in domestic supply is uncertain. Imported resources are expected to increase, and upstream production is expected to increase while costs decrease. There is no expected increase in demand, as the weak trend in terminal consumption is emerging, and the new replacement policy's ability to drive potential consumption is waning, which may suppress downstream purchasing power. The short - term decline in prices may be limited, and it is advisable to stay on the sidelines [3][13] Group 3: Summary by Relevant Catalogs Market Data - From May 6 to May 9, 2025, the prices of imported lithium raw ore, imported and domestic lithium concentrates, battery - grade and industrial - grade lithium carbonate, and battery - grade lithium hydroxide all decreased. The exchange rate of the US dollar against the RMB increased by 0.40%. The total lithium carbonate inventory decreased by 2,807 tons (-2.97%). The price of lithium iron phosphate decreased by 2.75%, while the prices of cobalt - lithium oxide and ternary materials remained unchanged [5] Market Analysis and Outlook Last Week's Market Analysis - As of May 12, 2025, the total warehouse receipt scale on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange was 36,351 tons, and the latest matching transaction price was 63,820 yuan/ton. The open interest of the main contract 2507 was 289,400 lots. As of May 9, the weekly production of lithium carbonate was 16,048 tons, a decrease of 128 tons from the previous period. Some hard - rock lithium extraction plants have cut or halted production, and the increase in production from the resumption of maintenance in May may be limited. Attention should be paid to the progress of salt - lake production [7] - In March, the import volume of lithium carbonate was about 18,100 tons, a month - on - month increase of 47% and a year - on - year decrease of 4.8%. The import volume from Chile was 12,700 tons, a month - on - month increase of 67.9% and a year - on - year decrease of 22%. The import volume from Argentina was 4,646 tons, a month - on - month increase of 5.9% and a year - on - year increase of 86.3%. The increase in lithium salt shipped from Chile in March may push up the domestic supply scale in May. In March, the import volume of lithium ore was about 534,500 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 5.8% [8][9] - In terms of downstream cathode materials, as of May 9, the production of lithium iron phosphate was about 63,442 tons, with an operating rate of 58.6% (a decrease of 1.14 percentage points from the previous period), and the inventory was 37,620 tons (a decrease of 535 tons from the previous period). The production of ternary materials was about 14,555 tons, with an operating rate of 40.0% (a decrease of 5.84 percentage points from the previous period), and the inventory was 13,930 tons (an increase of 205 tons from the previous period). The prices of ternary materials declined slightly, while the prices of lithium iron phosphate decreased slightly. Although the cathode material production schedule in May continued to expand, the terminal consumption was weak, and the cathode materials still faced over - capacity pressure [9][10] - In the new energy vehicle market, from April 1 - 30, the retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles in the country were 922,000, a year - on - year increase of 37% and a month - on - month decrease of 7%. The retail penetration rate of the new energy market was 52.3%. The new energy consumption growth rate showed a pulsed pattern, and the potential consumption driven by policies was waning. The growth rate may decline significantly in the future [11] - As of May 9, the total lithium carbonate inventory was 91,762 tons, a decrease of about 2,807 tons from the previous period. The factory inventory increased by 21 tons, and the market inventory decreased by 2,828 tons. The social inventory decreased, but downstream purchasing did not pick up, and there was still strong wait - and - see sentiment. If prices stabilize, downstream may have a strong restocking expectation [12] This Week's Outlook - The fundamental outlook remains bearish, and the bearish sentiment persists. Although the short - term decline may be limited due to the strong resistance around 63,000 yuan, it is advisable to stay on the sidelines [13] Industry News - During the "May Day" holiday in 2025, the national consumer market was prosperous. The subsidy application volume for automobile trade - ins exceeded 3 million. The sales of home appliances, automobiles, and communication equipment monitored by the Ministry of Commerce increased year - on - year. The service consumption continued to heat up [14] - On May 7, the General Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government issued a notice to encourage Guangzhou and Shenzhen to further relax vehicle purchase restrictions [14] Relevant Charts - The report provides multiple charts showing the price trends of lithium carbonate futures, battery - grade lithium hydroxide, imported lithium concentrates, and the production and supply structure of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium iron phosphate, ternary materials, and related battery products [16][18][21][24][27]