Banter and general comments, page-3372

Lithium prices set to stay high in H2 as China's new energy vehicle sales soar in July

China's new energy vehicle sales continued their record growth in July, even as concerns around tightening supply of a key raw material are expected to keep lithium prices elevated in the second half of 2021, sources said.

China's NEV sales reached 271,000 units in July, up 164.4% on the year and 5.8% higher from the previous month, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, or CAAM, said Aug. 11.

In the first seven months of 2021, China's total NEV output and sales amounted to 1.5 million and 1.64 million units, up 195.6% and 197.1%, respectively, compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, lithium chemicals output could fall in the near term due to supply tightness of spodumene and power shortages, according to sources.

An uptick in demand amid tightening supply has continued to drive prices higher across the lithium chain.

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/energy-transition/081121-lithium-prices-set-to-stay-high-in-h2-as-chinas-new-energy-vehicle-sales-soar-in-july