Metals & Mining Theme, Non-Ferrous

December 01, 2023

Platts to move lithium spodumene assessment to daily frequency, launch 0.1% quality differential

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, is to increase the publishing frequency of its existing lithium spodumene assessment (BATSP03) to daily from weekly, and publish a daily quality differential reflecting the value of each 0.1% of lithium oxide for spodumene grade within a 5.5%-6% range, effective Jan. 2, 2024.

Platts first proposed the frequency change and new launch on Nov. 10 and the subscriber note can be found at: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/111023-platts-proposes-to-move-lithium-spodumene-assessment-to-daily-frequency-launch-01-quality-differential

Market feedback indicates that publication of a quality differential will bring greater transparency to the pricing of spot cargoes due to an increasing volume of spodumene trades for grades containing less than 6% lithium oxide.

Platts existing lithium spodumene assessment specifies a minimum lithium oxide content of 6%.

The existing assessment and new differential would reflect the following specifications:

Assessment Lithium Spodumene FOB Australia Lithium Spodumene 0.1% differential
Symbol BATSP03
Frequency Daily Daily
Quality Min 6% Li2O 5.5-6.0% Li2O
Quantity Min 1,000mt Min 1,000mt
Incoterms and Location FOB Australia FOB Australia
Timing Within 30 days Within 30 days
UOM $/mt $/mt
Payment Term Letter of Credit Letter of Credit
Assessment Time Stamp 4:30pm SGT 4:30pm SGT

The value per 0.1% of lithium oxide will be deemed linear in spodumene concentrate containing lithium oxide within the range 5.5%-6%.

Platts lithium spodumene assessments are published on Platts Nonferrous Metals Alert on page MTL/PMA8888, Platts Metals Daily, Platts Connect, Platts Market Center, and in the Platts price database.

Please send comments and questions to battery_metals@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.