Last week, the cobalt industry as a whole continued its weak downward trend, with market prices across all product categories generally moving lower. Trading in the cobalt salt market was subdued, and market prices for cobalt sulfate and cobalt chloride moved further lower. Smelters generally suspended public quotations, with actual transactions mostly conducted on a case-by-case basis. Some producers maintained production cuts or shutdowns. On the cost side, prices of cobalt intermediates continued to decline, continuously weakening cost support for cobalt salts. The electrolytic cobalt market continued its weak downward trend. Downstream producers maintained need-based procurement, showed insufficient willingness to actively stock up, and traders remained largely wait-and-see. The Co3O4 and lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) markets weakened in tandem. Downstream LCO producers showed limited purchasing willingness and mostly maintained need-based procurement.