Lithium Hydroxide Prices Soaring!
From Asia Metals yesterday:
[img]China lithium hydroxide prices increase on tight supply
2015-12-18 08:49:01
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 18 Dec 15 - Lithium hydroxide monohydrate prices increase to around RMB100,000/t (USD15,432/t) and RMB110,000/t (USD16,975/t) for industrial and battery grades respectively this week in China because of the tight supply. Insiders believe that the prices will move up further by RMB10,000/t (USD1,543/t) next week as some smelters have stopped production in terms of spodumene shortage.
A Chinese consumer told Asian Metal that they purchased around 5t of industrial lithium hydroxide at RMB100,000/t (USD15,432/t) early this week, while they last purchased the material at RMB80,000/t (USD12,346/t) with the same amount one month ago. “Some producers of lithium hydroxide said they are out of stocks and some are reluctant to sell at the moment,” said the source, thinking the price will rise by RMB20,000/t (USD3,086/t) within this month.
According to the source, they consume 3-4tpm of lithium hydroxide and usually stock around 5t at hand. “One of our regular suppliers said they have stopped production due to the shortage of spodumene,” said the source. Currently, they have less than 4t of lithium hydroxide at hand.
A source from a Chinese smelter with a capacity of 5,000tpy told Asian Metal they sold a batch of lithium hydroxide at RMB110,000/t (USD16,975/t) for battery grade this week, up by RMB10,000/t (USD1,543/t) compared with that last week. “After lithium carbonate 99.5%min price rose to RMB120,000/t (USD18,519/t) from RMB100,000/t (USD15,432/t) early this week, our clients have felt that the prices of lithium hydroxide would go up,” said the source.
With an output of around 400t of battery lithium hydroxide last month, the smelter stocks around 300t at hand currently. They believe the price will rise to RMB130,000/t (USD20,062/t) at the end of this month.[/img]
