GLOBAL LITHIUM SNAPSHOT: Chinese battery-grade carbonate price widens up; bullish outlook for Jan

Key pricing data from the pricing sessions in Europe and Asia for the week ended December 24.

China
Most producers insisted on higher prices for battery grade lithium carbonate, citing a lack of material, and are targeting over 50,000 yuan ($7,658) per tonne for January 2021. China's industrial-grade lithium carbonate market reported offers of 43,000-46,000 yuan per tonne this week, but trading activities were thin due to low spot availability. China's battery-grade lithium hydroxide price was rangebound, but producers' intentions to raise prices strengthened with a plan to achieve higher deal prices in the coming weeks.
Asia
The seaborne lithium carbonate price was stable, while offers continue to inch higher followed rising China's domestic prices. Spot trading in the battery-grade lithium hydroxide market was scarce. Europe
Buying interest remains thin due to European and US markets winding down for the Christmas break. Technical and industrial lithium carbonate was steady but sources cited higher offer prices for material sourced from China and increasing shipping costs as factors supporting prices. Sources said that prices for lithium carbonate for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 could increase sharply due to tight availability and increased demand.

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