Last Updated on July 19, 2024 by Showroomex Desk
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Home »Lithium Prices Rebound After Chile Earthquake
Summary
China’s lithium prices went up on Friday after a strong earthquake hit Chile, a key lithium-producing region. The earthquake caused concerns about the lithium supply, which is essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. However, worries about future demand for EVs also affected lithium prices.
Lithium Price Surge
On Friday, the most-traded lithium carbonate futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange increased by 2.9%, reaching 89,800 yuan ($12,356.89) per metric ton. This rise came after prices had dropped to a seven-month low of 86,450 yuan in the previous session.
Earthquake Impact
A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile, which holds the largest lithium reserves in the world. About 90% of these reserves are in the Atacama desert, close to the earthquake’s epicenter. This event caused supply fears because Chile is a major supplier of lithium chemicals to China.
Market Reactions
Investors responded to the news by raising concerns about the future of EVs, especially with the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Some believe that if Donald Trump wins, his policies might not favor EVs as much as the current administration. This has added to the already existing concerns about lower-than-expected EV sales in the U.S. and Europe.
EV Sales Trends
In Europe, sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles dropped by 7% in June. Meanwhile, in the U.S. and Canada, sales grew by 6%. Analysts at Macquarie expect that EV sales growth in China will slow down from 30.2% last year to 24.6% this year.
Surplus and Production
China’s lithium carbonate production surged by 57.4% in the first half of this year, reaching 303,200 tons. This increase in supply has pushed prices down. However, producers might reduce output in August due to recent price drops affecting their profit margins.
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Future Outlook
According to a forecast by CRU, there will be a global surplus of 90,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent this year. Chinese producers Ganfeng Lithium and Tianqi Lithium have already warned of potential losses for the first half of this year due to falling lithium product prices.
Conclusion
The recent earthquake in Chile has caused a temporary spike in lithium prices due to supply concerns. However, ongoing issues with EV demand and increasing lithium production continue to impact the market. The future of lithium prices will depend on various factors, including production levels and global EV sales trends.
Sources
Mansoor Ali, a Feature Writer, embarked on his journey five years ago with showroomex.com, fueled by his enthusiasm for cars. Starting as an eager journalist, he quickly became a seasoned professional, expanding his expertise to cover both bikes and cars. (Full Bio)