Price Assessment

Platts China Lithium Assessment

  • What are Platts China Lithium price assessments?
  • How do we assess Platts China Lithium prices?
  • Platts China Lithium Commentary
  • Platts China Lithium Heards

What are Platts China Lithium price assessments?

Platts Lithium Hydroxide DDP China assessment by S&P Global Commodity Insights reflects physical spot market prices for min 56.5% purity battery grade lithium hydroxide. Other qualities are considered and may be normalized back to Platts base standard specifications, subject to prevailing market differentials.

The assessment reflects physical spot market prices for min 99.5% purity battery grade lithium carbonate. Other qualities are considered and may be normalized back to Platts base standard specifications, subject to prevailing market differentials.

S&P Global Commodity Insights launched the weekly Lithium Carbonate DDP China & Lithium Hydroxide DDP China assessments on September 7, 2018. The assessments are timestamped to 4:30 pm Singapore time and are published on Fridays.

Visit here for our full Lithium methodology

How do we assess Platts China Lithium prices?

Platts DDP China Lithium Assessments by S&P Global Commodity Insights are based on market information, including, but not limited to, firm bids and offers, and trades reported to the editor each week. Our assessments reflect responsibly sourced material, which sellers should be able to demonstrate in line with standard industry practice, upon buyers' request.

S&P Global Commodity Insightscollects data from market participants across the full supply chain, allowing us to produce a balanced assessment of price by engaging with suppliers, traders and consumers of all size and scale.

S&P Global Commodity Insights coverage of the lithium hydroxide and carbonate market is led by a global team across three offices: Singapore, Sao Paulo and London. These regions cover the key supply and consumption hubs for lithium carbonate.

Platts China Lithium Commentary

Chinese lithium prices' bearish momentum persisted in the week to Sept. 29 amid lower trading activity.

Platts assessed battery-grade lithium carbonate at Yuan 158,000/mt Sept. 29 on a DDP China basis, flat on the day but down Yuan 5,000/mt on the week.

Tradable levels for battery grade lithium carbonate were pegged around Yuan 160,000/mt while the industrial grade spread was at Yuan 10,000/mt.

Market sources said there was no sign of strong restocking activity which usually takes place ahead of the week-long holidays in October, causing lithium salt prices to continue its decline.

"People are very cautious about purchasing as lithium salt prices are still moving down," said a Chinese consumer. Some participants maintained a bearish outlook of the lithium market after the holidays.

Several consumers also pointed out that lithium salt prices could go lower if traders don't hold their offers to support prices.

On the other hand, a Chinese producer stated that they [producers] were keeping stocks to see whether the prices would go up after the holidays.

Most of the participants were adopting a wait-and-see approach to see how the market moves after the holidays.

Platts assessed battery-grade lithium hydroxide at Yuan 150,000/mt Sept. 29 on a DDP China basis, down Yuan 3,000/mt on the week.

Mainstream offers for lithium hydroxide were heard slightly above Yuan 150,000/mt. Trading activities for lithium hydroxide were still lower than lithium carbonate in China.

Platts assessed spodumene concentrate with 6% lithium oxide content at $2,550/mt FOB Australia Sept. 29, down $100/mt on the week.

Offers for spodumene was heard lower on the week at $2,600-$2,800/mt, with buyers' indications still largely below $2,500/mt.

Buying interest for Australian spodumene was low, with a Chinese trader saying there was "no news about [Australian] spodumene."

Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

Platts China Lithium Heards

04 Oct 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Oct 4 tradable at Yuan 158,000-159,000/mt, October loading (

04 Oct 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Oct 4 tradable at Yuan 150,000/mt, October loading (technica

29 Sep 2023 — Lithium Carbonate CIF North Asia heard on Sep 29 tradable at above $23,000/mt (battery grade): No

29 Sep 2023 — Lithium Carbonate CIF North Asia heard on Sep 29 tradable at $21,000/mt (technical grade): North

29 Sep 2023 — Ni-Co black mass lithium payables DDP China heard on Sep 29 tradable at 68-69% payables of lithiu

28 Sep 2023 — LFP black mass DDP China heard on Sep 28 tradable at around Yuan 6000 per percent lithium, Octobe

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Sep 28 offered at Yuan 150,000/mt, October loading (battery

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Sep 28 offered at Yuan 150,000/mt (battery grade): Chinese c

28 Sep 2023 — Ni-Co black mass lithium payables DDP China heard on Sep 28 tradable at above 72% payables of lit

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Sep 28 offered at Yuan 165,000/mt (battery grade): Chinese c

28 Sep 2023 — Spodumene Concentrate (6% lithium oxide) CIF China heard on Sep 28 indicatively bid at $1,500/mt

28 Sep 2023 — Spodumene Concentrate (6% lithium oxide) CIF China heard on Sep 28 indicatively bid at $1,800/mt,

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Sep 28 tradable at Yuan below 150000/mt, October loading (ba

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Sep 28 offered at Yuan 160,000/mt (battery grade): Chinese c

28 Sep 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Sep 28 tradable at Yuan 160,000/mt, October loading (battery