...Lithium carbonate has dropped much less than SC6 on YTD...

...Lithium carbonate has dropped much less than SC6 on YTD basis.

...EV makers buy the Lithium Carbonate, Lithium processing plants buy the SC6 to process.

...so EV makers have demand for the processed lithium more than lithium processing plants have demand for SC6, to explain the disconnect the price declines. We can be inclined to believe that the SC6 price is suppressed, but I think it could be because the Chinese hoarded SC6 earlier on on concerns over high prices (they tend to stockpile in advance) and there could also be new sources of SC6 prepared to sell at marginally above cost.

2024-06-20
#Lithium Carbonate 99.5% Min
China Spot Price: $13,051.36
1 day: $-75.68 (-0.58%)
YTD: -4.60%

#Spodumene Concentrate (6%, CIF China)
Price: $1,096.00 1 day: $-2.0 (-0.18%)
YTD: -16.65%

https://x.com/LithiumPriceBot/status/1803654095363842328