Surging spot spodumene prices following aggressive bids in the latest Pilbara Minerals' spodumene concentrate auction has elevated negotiated prices for fourth-quarter term contracts, market sources told Fastmarkets.
Bids for SC 5.5% units reached a high of $2,240 per dry metric tonne (dmt), fob Hedland, during the Australian miner's second spodumene auction on its Battery Metals Exchange on Tuesday September 14. The price was approximately equivalent to $2,500 per dmt on a cif China basis, market participants noted.Pilbara's latest auction took place amid negotiations of quarterly and monthly contractual prices for the lithium feedstock, the majority of which...