According to Mysteel, China's lithium carbonate production reached 89,300 tonnes, up 6.9% month-on-month. In Jiangxi, large-scale producers recorded a slight production increase due to outsourcing a small amount of feedstock for production, while those with captive mines maintained stable production. In Sichuan, lithium refineries continued operating at high utilization rates. In Qinghai, seasonal high production and the ramp-up of new production lines contributed to steady supply growth. In the recycling sector, leading producers also maintained stable production, buoyed by the rising lithium prices.
Mysteel's survey showed that China's lithium carbonate production is estimated at 93,100 tonnes in November, up 4.3% MoM.
It is expected that in Jiangxi, aside from a few mines continuing production cuts, large-scale refineries will gradually return to stable operation, and lepidolite-based producers will remain active in accepting tolling orders. Operating rates in Sichuan and Qinghai are also projected to remain high, with overall supply growth primarily coming from new salt lake capacity and a slight production increase from spodumene-based processors using externally sourced feedstock. While the lithium carbonate market faces uncertainty from potential safety rectification policies affecting Jiangxi mines, supported by downstream demand, the actual production in November is still expected to remain at a high level.
Source: Mysteel
Written by Cora Ji, jiruyan@mysteel.com
