China's lithium ore imports rose 28% in February from the previous month

In February 2018, China's lithium ore raw ore imports were about 395,000 tons, up 28% from the previous month; lithium ore concentrates were 75,000 tons, down 26.5% from the previous month; lithium chloride imports were 418 tons, up 55% from the previous month.

In February 2018, China imported 395,000 tons of lithium ore raw ore, all imported from Australia, and the receiving place was Jiangsu Province, Jiangxi Province and Shandong Province. SMM expects the number of lithium ore imports to be stable in March 2018.

In February 2018, China's lithium ore concentrate was imported 75,000 tons, down 26.5% from the previous month. The main importing countries include Australia and Germany. Among them, TOP4 enterprises imported from lithium concentrate accounted for 99% of total imports, namely Jiangxi Jifeng, Chengdu Tianqi, Shandong Ruifu and Lockwood. SMM predicts that demand for cathode materials will continue to be light in the second quarter, and demand will be insufficient. However, the output of overseas lithium mines will be released, new mines will enter Hong Kong, and concentrate imports will rise and then fall.

In February 2018, China imported 419 tons of lithium chloride, up 55.1% from the previous month. The increase in import demand came from metal lithium producers. The main importing countries include Argentina, India, and the United States. At present, the domestic price of lithium carbonate is declining, and the production cost of domestic lithium chloride is further declining, which may attract importers to switch to domestic cobalt chloride. SMM expects lithium chloride imports to decline.

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