Lithium, cobalt prices under pressure as Chinese battery manufacturers cut orders for LCO cathode materials

Battery manufacturers in China have aggressively cut their orders for lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathode materials in the second quarter, with the move weighing on lithium and cobalt prices, market sources told Fastmarkets.

LCO batteries are widely used in consumer electronics, including smart phones, laptops, and tablets among others.
A leading electronics battery manufacturer in China will cut its monthly order for LCO cathode materials by 20-30% in June, a battery materials producer source told Fastmarkets.
Meanwhile, orders from smaller electronics battery manufacturers in China have already dropped in April and May compared with those made at the beginning of the year, a second battery materials producer source noted.

"Demand for LCO cathode materials is likely to be most sluggish during the year in May and June," a third battery materials...

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