The lithium carbonate futures price closed the day with mild increases yesterday, with market players in intensive tug-of-war. On the one hand, the market remained in tight balance recently, with stocks showing steady but slow reductions across the industry chain, based on Mysteel's weekly tracking of the inventory. And the cathode production scheduling was persistently high.
However, the rebound was insufficient with pressure from high warrants and downstream players remaining on the sidelines during the lithium price hike. The downstream players maintained a cautious procurement strategy and purchased primarily on the dip. Looking ahead, a clear directional trend will require stronger signals. Attention should focus on the ore shipments, the pace of warrants drawdowns, and the actual strength of peak-season demand.
