Lithium carbonate prices moved higher last week, as the pricing of bearish forward supply expectations continued to fade. On the supply side, maintenance-related output reductions persisted at some lithium converters, though a few producers resumed operations after completing maintenance. Overall, producers continued to prioritize long-term contract deliveries, with limited spot selling interest at current price levels, leading to some inventory accumulation. Among the traders, spot transactions remained relatively subdued, with downstream buyers maintaining a hand-to-mouth approach and buying only on dips. Traders' inventories showed little change week-on-week.
