On September 9, the market price of electrolytic cobalt declined Yuan 3,000/tonne to Yuan 294,591-297,091/tonne. Meanwhile, the market price of cobalt chloride declined Yuan 1,000/tonne to Yuan 82,000-84,000/tonne, while that of cobalt sulfate remained stable at 65,000/t-67,000/tonne.The core feature of yesterday's cobalt salt market was that the anticipated peak-season demand associated with Golden September failed to materialize. Downstream battery manufacturers, seeking to restore their own profitability, continued to exert pressure on upstream suppliers, while cathode material producers, facing sluggish sales themselves, only maintained need-based restocking and showed little willingness to make concentrated purchases. Although smelters have some inclination to hold prices firm due to cost inversion and low operating rates, cost-side support is weakening amid weak demand and competition from low-cost feedstock.