TrendForce reports that May proved to be a turning point in the lithium salt market, highlighting a notable surge in prices. The price of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide in China skyrocketed from less than CNY 200,000/ton (~USD 28,000) to over CNY 300,000/ton (~USD 43,000).
Additionally, prices of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6)—a key raw material used in electrolytes— have recently started to rise again, prices of anode materials, iron phosphate, and lithium battery copper foil have almost bottomed out, and China’s EV battery industry chain is gradually stabilizing.
The lowest quoted price has already dipped to CNY 180/kg (US$26.10), with average market transaction prices hovering around CNY 190/kg. TrendForce predicts that silicon prices will continue to fall in April and May, driven by an expansion in silicon capacity in 2Q23.
According to TrendForce’s research, polysilicon prices began to plummet in December last year, so the major polysilicon suppliers started to limit market supply.
According to TrendForce’s research, the average prices of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide in China registered MoM drops of 9% and 8% respectively for February.