---
Deteriorating grades meant Galaxy had to mine 32 per cent more ore during the quarter and increase processing volumes by 3 per cent; yet production of spodumene concentrate was still 16 per cent lower than in the previous quarter.
---
That early-mover advantage has allowed Galaxy to sell into the peak of lithium prices, but that advantage has been eroded since other ASX listed miners such as Mineral Resources, Neometals and Tawana Resources bought mines into production in Western Australia.
Two more Australian spodumene miners are due to start exporting lithium products within months: Pilbara Minerals and Altura Mining.
Galaxy said prices for lithium carbonate in China declined by 10 per cent during the period, while prices for lithium hydroxide (which is increasingly preferred by battery manufacturers) declined by 3 per cent.
---