A more upbeat report. Link thanks to @Learning_2B1 @LPD forum.

Source: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4256684-lithium-miners-news-month-april-2019

Lithium Miners News For The Month Of April 2019

Apr. 25, 2019 11:35 AM ET

|

Includes: AISSF, ALB, ALTAF, AMVMF, ARYMF, AZZVF, BCRMF, CRECF, DJIFF, DMNXF, EEYMF, ERMAY, ERPNF, FMC, FRRSF, GALXF, ILHMF, LAC, LAXXF, LIACF, LIT, LMMFF, LSSCF, LTHHF, LTHM, MGXMF, MLNLF, NMKEF, NTTHF, OROCF, PILBF, PNXLF, RDRUY, RRSSF, SQM, STLHF, WMLLF

Matt Bohlsen

Investment advisor, portfolio strategy, growth at reasonable price

MARKETPLACE

Trend Investing

(13,957 followers)

Summary

Lithium prices were generally flat in April.

Lithium market news - Top lithium producers are all saying that demand for lithium is getting stronger. SQM expects some price weakness in 2019.

Lithium company news - Volkswagen secures a 10-year lithium supply deal from China's Ganfeng. Ganfeng Lithium invests US$160 million into LAC's Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project for a 50% share.

Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of Trend Investing get exclusive access to our model portfolio. Get started today »

Welcome to the April 2019 edition of the lithium miner news. This past month saw lithium prices stabilize, and talk from SQM of weaker 2019 lithium prices but strong lithium demand growth ahead. The big news for the month was Volkswagen securing a 10-year lithium supply deal from China's Ganfeng, and CATL forecasting a 140%-170% year-on-year growth for Q1 net profit. Meanwhile the US government plan to meet in May to "discuss" the EV metals supply chain, and China's Ganfeng Lithium "invests" US$160 million into Lithium Americas' Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project.

Who Really Controls the Lithium-ion Batteries Supply Chain?

Source: Infinity Lithium company presentation and IHS Markit

My recent Trend Investing article "EV Metals Demand - The Calm Before The Storm" discusses some of the implications if EV demand surprises to the upside. For example, recently CNBC reported that JPMorgan forecasts "electric cars would take 35 percent of the global market by 2025 and 48 percent by 2030." Auto Trader UK reported recently a recent British survey where 71% of British car buyers said they are considering an electric car as their next vehicle.

Lithium spot and contract price news

During April, 99% lithium carbonate China spot prices were up 0.18%. Spodumene (5% min) prices were down 0.63%.

Fastmarkets (formerly) Metal Bulletin reports 99.5% lithium carbonate battery grade spot prices cif China, Japan, and Korea of US$11.50-13.50/kg (11,500-13,500/t), and min 56.5% lithium hydroxide battery grade spot prices cif China, Japan, and Korea of US$15-16.00/kg (15-16,000/t). China lithium spodumene prices are USD 600-750/tonne.