Platts North Asia Lithium Assessment

Platts CIF North Asia 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 Insights collects 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 carbonate and hydroxide 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.

Lithium Hydroxide Cargoes delivered to North Asia countries other than Japan and South Korea are reflected in the assessment, after normalizing to the stated basis. Freight, quality differentials for lithium hydroxide cargoes, as well as the spreads and dynamics between different regions may be considered in the normalization process.

The Lithium Carbonate CIF North Asia assessment is basis Shanghai port, China. Cargoes delivered into any North Asian ports, such as in Japan and South Korea, are reflected in the assessment, after normalizing to the stated basis port. Freight and quality differentials for lithium carbonate cargoes delivered to different north Asian ports, as well as the spreads and dynamics between different regions may be considered in the normalization process.

• Lithium carbonate offers rise to as high as $50,000/mt
• Seaborne lithium prices surpass Chinese domestic prices

Seaborne lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices rose June 6 amid improved buying interest and a stronger Chinese lithium market.

Platts assessed battery-grade lithium carbonate at $45,500/mt on June 6, up $5,500/mt from June 5 and $7,500/mt from May 30. The assessment for lithium hydroxide was marginally higher at $47,500/mt, up $500/mt on the day and $2,000/mt on the week.

The prices reflect the spot value of battery-grade material on a CIF North Asia basis, referring to deliveries to the main ports of China, Japan and South Korea. Lithium carbonate, however, is normalized to deliveries at Shanghai port.

“We’re seeing stronger and more stable lithium prices in both the Chinese and the international market,” a producer said.

“There have been more inquiries for lithium carbonate and hydroxide,” a North Asian trader said.

Market participants shared that buying interest in the international market had improved since May. A Chinese producer added that European demand is expected to further strengthen in the next quarter due to cyclical demand while US demand was improving due to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Market participants shared that offers for battery-grade lithium carbonate materials were heard to be as high as $50,000/mt with tradable values around $45,000-$50,000/mt. Offers for battery-graded lithium hydroxide materials were also heard to be around $50,000/mt with tradable values around $47,000-$50,000/mt.

“Prices are now higher than DDP China prices, in part because of appreciation of the US dollar,” said a Chinese trader, but also added that that spot demand in the international market was better than the Chinese domestic market. The US dollar was assessed at Yuan 7.1075 at 4:30 pm Singapore time (0830 GMT).

The Platts $45,500/mt assessment for battery-grade lithium carbonate CIF North Asia was equivalent to Yuan 365,682/mt on a DDP China basis, including 13% value-added tax, port and logistics costs, based on S&P Global Commodity Insights’ import-parity calculation.

The DDP China lithium carbonate price was assessed at Yuan 318,000/mt June 6, meaning seaborne lithium carbonate prices were well above Chinese domestic prices.

Platts is a part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

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09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Jun 9 offered at Yuan 310,000-320,000/mt, June loading (batt

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 305,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 320,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Hydroxide DDP China heard on Jun 9 offered at Yuan 350,000/mt, June loading (battery grad

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 300,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 320,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 offered at Yuan 350,000/mt, June loading (battery grad

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 320,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 325,000/mt, June loading (battery gra

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 offered at Yuan 320,000-330,000/mt, June loading (batt

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 310,000-320,000/mt, June loading (bat

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 tradable at Yuan 310,000-320,000/mt, June loading (bat

09 Jun 2023 — Lithium Carbonate DDP China heard on Jun 9 offered at Yuan 330,000/mt, June loading (battery grad