General Discussion, page-9032

Some quotes from the Australian article of 27th Dec.
" As the lithium market stabilises, major producers are likely to spend 2024 working out ways to bring down costs rather than add production tonnes, but Citi’s figures suggest some existing mines and new producers – such as Core and Liontown Resources – may struggle without a substantial shift in the market. "
" In a mid-December research note, Citi analyst Kate McCutcheon pointed to Core’s Finnis lithium operation as the most expensive producer, at around $US1600 a tonne for concentrate with a 6 per cent equivalent grade on an all-in sustaining cost basis."
" But Allkem’s Mt Cattlin mine in WA is also out of the money at current spot lithium prices on Citi’s figures, with average costs of about $US1500 a tonne, with Mineral Resources’ Mt Marion, currently looking to move underground, tipped at about $US1300 a tonne. "
" As the lithium market stabilises, major producers are likely to spend 2024 working out ways to bring down costs rather than add production tonnes, but Citi’s figures suggest some existing mines and new producers – such as Core and Liontown Resources – may struggle without a substantial shift in the market."
" Macquarie analysts also downgraded their lithium price expectations for 2024 in a pre-Christmas note, cutting more than 70 per cent from previous expectations of an average $US4850 a tonne price for 6 per cent concentrate, to expectations Australian producers could receive an average $US1416 a tonne in 2024."
" Macquarie suggested a restocking cycle in China’s battery cathode producers could lead to a short-term price lift in the first half of the year – but joined other commodity houses in suggesting the market is likely to be oversupplied in the near term, reducing realised prices for Australian producers.“The commodities strategy team believes that the price uptrend won’t be sustainable without a return of deficits,” Macquarie analysts said."
" Core’s decision to slow spending amid falling prices could be a prelude to similar decisions at other lithium producers, given many have significant capital outlay programs both in lithium and in other commodities."