According to the price monitoring of the business agency, the price of industrial grade and battery grade lithium carbonate showed an upward trend in August 2022, and the price was even more gratifying near the end of the month. On August 25, the average price of industrial grade lithium carbonate in East China was 470000 yuan / ton, which was 1.95% higher than the average price at the beginning of the month (the average price of industrial carbon in East China was 461000 yuan / ton on August 1). On August 25, the average price of battery grade lithium carbonate in East China was 492400 yuan / ton, which was 2.67% higher than the average price at the beginning of the month (the average price of carbon in East China was 479600 yuan / ton according to the report on August 1).

From the observation of market changes, in the first ten days of August, the price of lithium carbonate kept a steady rising trend, and the supply of lithium carbonate in the spot market was slightly tight. Due to the shortage of raw materials of some manufacturers, the production output of lithium carbonate was less than expected. Most of them were delivered by long orders, and the number of zero orders was relatively small. On the demand side, with the growth of the production and sales of new energy vehicles in the downstream, the demand of the material factory increases. After consuming its own inventory, the purchase intention of lithium carbonate raw materials is strengthened. Therefore, the price of lithium carbonate keeps an upward trend.

In late August, the price of lithium carbonate increased gradually, and the price rose again and again near the end of the month. The current shortage of raw materials cannot be fundamentally alleviated in the short term, and the operating rate of some manufacturers is still lower than expected. Sichuan is one of the main sources of lithium salt production capacity supply. The current summer power consumption peak is affected by the power restriction policy in Sichuan. The overall production of lithium salt enterprises is affected to a certain extent, resulting in a decrease in output. It is predicted that the duration of this round of power restriction may lead to a reduction of about 1250 tons of lithium carbonate in the industry in August.

However, recent domestic public health incidents have been frequent. Affected by the epidemic prevention and control, Qinghai Golmud and other areas are temporarily unable to ship, resulting in a more tight spot of lithium carbonate. Due to the increase in the purchase price of lithium carbonate and the cost of the company’s own operation, the export price of some trading companies also increased.

The price of the downstream lithium hydroxide Market is rising steadily, the price of the upstream lithium carbonate is rising continuously, the spodumene raw material is in short supply, the cost support is strong, the enterprise’s low-cost intention is weakened, the demand is recovering, and the domestic industrial lithium hydroxide Market negotiation focus is stable under the cost boost, and the quotation of enterprises is increased.

The price of downstream lithium iron phosphate increased slightly. Due to the increase of lithium salt price, the total cost of lithium iron phosphate increased slightly. Sichuan has entered the power rationing mode, and some local enterprises have limited production and sales, resulting in a decline in output and supply, resulting in a slight increase in the adjusted iron and lithium prices in August.

According to the lithium carbonate analysts of business club, the spot supply of lithium carbonate market is still tight at present. Under the dual influence of domestic power and production restrictions and epidemic prevention and control, the price of lithium carbonate keeps rising, and the price changes day by day. It is expected that the short-term lithium carbonate price is still in the upward space.