China's lithium carbonate production stood at 64,100 tonnes in February, up 0.8% from the previous month, based on Mysteel's new sample library that comprises of 68 companies or 83 production bases.
The monthly increase was allowed by the production ramp-up of some new capacities and large refineries maintaining active production on optimal cost control. In addition, the refineries relying on outsourced lithium ore maintained the production via tolling orders. The hydrometallurgical plants resuming the production from Chinese New Year holiday also contributed some additional production.
However, the lithium carbonate production was down 4.2% MoM at 60,900 tonnes in February based on Mysteel's old sample library that covers 63 companies or 78 production bases amid fewer working days in February or extended maintenance of some refineries.
Source: Mysteel
Looking ahead, China's lithium carbonate production is likely to rise 22.5% month on month at 78,400 tonnes in March based on the new sample, or go up 20.9% at 73,600 tonnes according to the old survey sample, Mysteel's investigation showed.
Generally, few lithium refineries have turnaround plans in March, and the refineries affiliated to CALT will continue to raise the production. Apart from that, the spodumene-based refineries and hydrometallurgical plants are projected to keep the production at a moderate level.
Written by Aggie Hu, huchenying@mysteel.com
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