In December 2025, China's lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) output reached 11,745 tonnes, marking a month-on-month decrease of 0.47% but a year-on-year increase of 14.59%. In 2025, demand for LCO remained robust, with cumulative growth reaching 21.89% compared to the same period last year. Although December typically falls within a seasonally weak demand period, the pull-forward of some demand originally expected in the following year helped prevent a significant decline in LCO production for the month.
Looking ahead to January 2026, China's LCO output is likely to reach 11,645 tonnes, representing a slight decrease of 0.85% MoM but a substantial increase of 36.04% YoY. As January remains within the seasonal demand off-peak period, LCO manufacturers are expected to prioritize steady order fulfillment, with supply gradually adjusting downward in response to weaker demand. Consequently, LCO production is projected to follow a modest downward trend during the month.
Edited by Cassie Li, lixiangying@mysteel.com
