General Discussion Topics, page-48174

SOME LATE NEWS - MAKE OF IT WHAT YOU WILL.

Bloomberg says that lithium prices are showing signs of losing momentum , in China at least. Chinese lithium carbonate prices have gained almost 500% in the past year but slipped slightly on Monday as the nation’s worsening coronavirus outbreak began impacting the electric-vehicle supply chain. “Downstream demand is weakening as the pandemic hinders carmakers’ production in China and inventory levels remain high at battery manufacturers,” Shanghai Metals Market analyst Maria Ma says. “Companies are also pressured by the elevated lithium prices and there’s strong price resistance.” A bunch of global automakers including Tesla and Volkswagen have been forced to suspend production at their factories in Shanghai after a citywide lockdown, while Chinese EV player Nio halted production and delayed deliveries. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. – the world’s largest battery manufacturer – is isolating workers in a so-called “closed loop” at its main factory in Ningde. S&P Global Commodity Insights senior metals analyst Alice Yu said that a prolonged lockdown in Shanghai could damp overall EV sales this year and ease a forecast deficit for the lithium market. Still, prices in China could find support in the short-term as logistical delays might prevent feedstock imports from reaching refineries and downstream users, she added.
End of article.

Some questions for discussion.
Is this a positive for Sayona Mining Limited being advanced in the development stage and being a near term producer?
Will vehicle manufactures look to Sayona Mining Limited as a reliable source of product and walk away from Chinese contracts?.
Is China trying to manipulate the lithium price through negative chatter?
PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST AND YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.