Recently, the price of cobalt and nickel in the upstream has fallen at an inflection point, driving the prices of materials such as Sanyuan and lithium cobaltate to fall. However, considering that the current material price is still high, and the rising cost of battery manufacturing is still a fact, it is still difficult for battery manufacturers to transmit to the downstream. As far as the current situation is concerned, the acceptance of the price increase of the main engine manufacturers in the downstream of 3C is generally not high.

Electrolytic cobalt and cobalt intermediates

Spot prices of electrolytic cobalt fell this week. There are few transactions in the market, domestic electrolytic cobalt suppliers reduce the start-up or shutdown, overseas Glencore electrolytic cobalt production equipment problems, or affect part of the supply, electrolytic cobalt destocking, and the futures market gradually rises, which will drive the spot price to rise. Cobalt intermediate prices fell this week. The inquiry list of cobalt intermediates is light, and the mainstream orders such as cobalt salt and cobalt tetroxide have not been signed yet. The price has declined compared with the previous period, and the acceptance of the price of cobalt intermediates has declined. The expected transaction price has fallen slightly. The price of SMM electrolytic cobalt this week was 341-371000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 12500 yuan lower than last week. The price of SMM cobalt intermediate products is 21.6-22.4 dollars / pound, with an average price of 0.3 dollars / pound lower than last week.

Cobalt salt and nickel salt

Cobalt salt prices fell this week. In the first half of the week, the transaction price of a little cobalt sulfate fell below 80000 yuan / ton, and there was 70000-75000 yuan / ton of cobalt sulfate in the market. Under the downward trend, the downstream procurement volume was small; Electrolytic cobalt futures rose on Friday, and the confidence of mainstream manufacturers to support prices increased, with the expected transaction price of 80000-85000 yuan / ton. The price sensitivity of cobalt chloride is lower than that of cobalt sulfate, and the market expects a transaction of 92000-98000 yuan / ton. In terms of nickel, the downstream demand showed a downward trend in April. At the same time, with the expansion of the dissolution production line, the supply increased, and the price of battery grade nickel sulfate fell significantly. The price of SMM cobalt sulfate this week was 81000-86000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 7500 yuan / ton lower than last week. The current price of SMM cobalt chloride is 95000-101000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 8000 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM battery grade nickel sulfate is 3.3-3.35/ ton, with an average price of 0.1 yuan / ton lower than last week.

Cobalt tetroxide

The price of cobalt oxide fell on Thursday. Mainstream manufacturers offer 310000-330000 yuan / ton, and the downstream plans to negotiate orders to less than 300000 yuan / ton, which increases the difficulty. The downstream has not prepared goods for more than half a month, and just needed orders may gradually appear. The current price of SMM Co3O4 this week is 324000-34000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 11000 yuan / ton lower than that of last week.

Ternary precursor

The price of Yuan precursor fell on Wednesday. This week, the price of cobalt salt fell rapidly, the price of nickel salt fell slightly, the impact of market sentiment was great, and the bargaining power of precursors was weakened. In addition, some precursor enterprises offered low-cost inventory, which led to the continuous decline of the overall market price. This week, the price of SMM ternary precursor (type 523) was 109000-112000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 7500 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM ternary precursor (523 single crystal type) is 115000-117000 yuan / ton, and the average price is 8000 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM ternary precursor (type 622) is 118-12000 yuan / ton, and the average price is 7000 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM ternary precursor (type 811) is 126000-129000 yuan / ton, and the average price is 7000 yuan / ton lower than last week.

Lithium carbonate

Lithium carbonate prices rose slightly this week. This week, the external quotation of large smelting plants is about 90000-93000 yuan / ton, and the output of the supply side has increased, but it tends to industrial carbon increment, and the electric carbon market is still tight, so the price is up. The price of SMM battery grade lithium carbonate this week was 87000-90000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 4000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM industrial lithium carbonate is 82000-86000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 25000 yuan / ton compared with last week.

Lithium hydroxide

Lithium hydroxide prices rose this week. At present, 90% of the output of large-scale smelters is mainly export-oriented, superimposed by the lack of ore in some manufacturers, and the supply of electric hydrogen enterprises in the spot market is reduced. A number of enterprises offer coarse-grained battery grade lithium hydroxide up to 80000 yuan / ton, and the actual transaction price has increased. This week, the price of SMM battery grade lithium hydroxide (coarse particles) was 70000-72000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 4000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM industrial lithium hydroxide is 67000-69000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 3000 yuan / ton compared with last week.

Lithium cobaltate

Lithium cobaltate prices fell this week. The price of raw material cobalt tetroxide is down, the procurement speed of downstream cell plants is slowing down, the price of lithium cobaltate is planned to be lowered, and the mainstream quotation is still relatively strong. According to customer feedback, the cell plants still have a rigid demand for lithium cobaltate zero order procurement in April, the game is gradually coming to an end, and the trading volume will increase. This week, the price of smm4.4v lithium cobaltate was 332-35000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 35000 yuan / ton lower than last week.

Ternary material

The price of Yuan materials fell on Wednesday. This week, the price of precursor continued to fall, and the price of lithium salt rose slightly. However, due to the lack of procurement peak recently, the market demand was weak, and the market sentiment was affected by the price of cobalt and nickel, the decline in the price of ternary materials was basically the same as that of the precursor, with a decrease of nearly 10000 yuan / ton compared with last week. This week, the price of SMM ternary material (type 523) was 146000-154000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 7500 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM ternary material (type 622) is 161000-167000 yuan / ton, with an average price of 7000 yuan / ton lower than last week. The price of SMM ternary material (type 811) is 185000-192000 yuan / ton, and the average price is 7000 yuan / ton lower than last week.

Lithium iron phosphate

The price of iron lithium rose slightly this week. Recently, the price of iron lithium rose with the price of upstream raw materials. At the same time, there is a serious lack of capacity in the iron lithium industry. The characteristics of the seller's market are obvious, and the orders are much higher than the actual capacity of the iron lithium plant. Therefore, due to the consideration of production capacity and future material prices, the iron lithium plant is more cautious in signing new orders at present, signing less long orders, and generally ensuring the volume of old customers. The prices of some manufacturers have risen to 50000 yuan / ton. This week, the price of SMM lithium iron phosphate (power type) was 46000-50000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 0500 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM lithium iron phosphate (energy storage type) is 40000-44000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 0500 yuan / ton compared with last week.

Lithium manganate

Lithium manganate prices rose this week. The price of industrial carbon rose slightly this week, and lithium manganate enterprises are currently stocking up to the end of April. As it is difficult for downstream battery enterprises to transmit the price increase to the downstream, it continues to be under pressure on material factories. Some small and medium-sized consumer battery enterprises have weak bargaining power, and have recently chosen to stop production or reduce production, or affect the output of lithium manganate this month. This week, the price of SMM lithium manganate (capacity type) is 33000-38000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM lithium manganate (power type) is 42000-45000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week.

Negative electrode material

Negative electrode material prices rose this week. This week, the prices of needle coke and petroleum coke still increased, the graphitization cost increased significantly, and negative electrode material enterprises continued to increase prices. However, considering the large profit margin of cathode material enterprises and the strong bargaining power of downstream battery enterprises, the price of graphite only increased slightly. This week, the price of SMM artificial graphite (high-end) was 68000-73000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM artificial graphite (middle end) is 60000-65000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM natural graphite (high-end) is 51000-63000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week. The price of SMM natural graphite (middle end) is 33000-43000 yuan / ton, with an average price increase of 2000 yuan / ton compared with last week.

the diaphragm

Diaphragm prices were flat this week. 3C consumption gradually entered the off-season of procurement, and the purchase orders of diaphragm were slightly reduced. With the substantial increase in orders from cell manufacturers in the second half of 2020, the demand for separators increased significantly year-on-year. In 2020, the shipment of lithium-ion battery separators in China was about 3.9 billion square meters, an increase of 30% year-on-year. Diaphragm enterprises have weak bargaining power with the battery factory, and the price is basically stable. SMM wet base film this week (5 μ m) The price is 2.5-3.3 yuan / square meter, SMM wet base membrane (7 μ m) The price is 1.8-2.2 yuan / square meter, SMM wet base membrane (9 μ m) The price is 1.2-1.5 yuan / square meter, and the average price is the same as last week. SMM dry base film (16 μ m) The price is 0.9-1 yuan / square meter, and the average price is flat compared with last week. SMM wet coating base film (5 μ m 2 μ m) The price is 3-3.8 yuan / square meter, SMM wet coating base film (7 μ m 2 μ m) The price is 2.2-2.6 yuan / square meter, SMM wet coating base film (9 μ m 3 μ m) The price is 1.8-2.5 yuan / square meter, and the average price is the same as last week.

electrolyte

Electrolyte prices were flat this week. The overall supply shortage of electrolyte is still continuing, and the supply of raw materials in the upstream continues to be tight. Some small and medium-sized battery plants are forced to reduce their operations due to upstream supply problems, while raising purchase prices. This week, the price of SMM electrolyte (for ternary power) was 47000-57000 yuan / ton, and the average price was flat compared with last week. The price of SMM electrolyte (for lithium iron phosphate) is 40000-46000 yuan / ton, and the average price is the same as last week. The price of SMM electrolyte (for lithium cobalt oxide) is 58000-68000 yuan / ton, and the average price is the same as last week. The price of SMM electrolyte (for lithium manganate) is 24000-34000 yuan / ton, and the average price is the same as last week.

Aftermarket forecast

In terms of cobalt, the market turnover was light this week. The supply of electrolytic cobalt decreased, and under the trend of de stocking, the price stabilized and gradually increased; The confidence of mainstream smelters to support prices increased. By Friday, cobalt salt and other quotations were slightly increased, and the market supply of low-cost goods was gradually reduced. As the game comes to an end, orders will be gradually negotiated and transactions will increase.

In terms of lithium, due to the shortage of spodumene concentrate, some manufacturers in Sichuan have reduced production, and the supply of electricity and carbon has been relatively reduced. It is still difficult to purchase downstream, and the price has risen slightly. The industrial carbon has been sold out slightly, and the price difference between electricity and industrial carbon has begun to expand. Article source:Battery net