Benchmark: Battery-grade carbonate, China spot (GFEX-linked). The same tonne prices differently by origin — freight, quality, sanctions and policy set the differential.
| Origin | Basis | Price | vs benchmark | Market note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🇨🇳 China domestic China · price setter | EXW China | 15,250.00 | Benchmark | Reference spot for battery-grade carbonate |
🇨🇱 Atacama Chile · brine, lowest cost | CIF Asia | 14,400.00 | -850.00 (-5.6%)widening | Contract carbonate lands under China spot |
🇦🇺 Spodumene converted Australia · hard rock | SC6 conv. equivalent | 14,050.00 | -1,200.00 (-7.9%)stable | Converter margin squeeze keeps equivalent below spot |
Differentials are indicative desk assessments over the live benchmark — 90-day spread trend shown per origin.
Track physical flows on the live vessel map →Indicative term structure · Backwardation
Converted from 15,250.00 USD/t · indicative FX
Lithium Carbonate is traded in the battery metals segment, with price discovery referenced against GFEX. The chart above shows the trailing 6-month indicative price path. Physical parcels of Lithium Carbonate can be sourced or placed through the Off Market desk, listed openly on the Marketplace, or intermediated by a specialist broker.
Battery-grade carbonate remains under pressure amid ample spodumene supply and cautious restocking, though some producers signal output curtailments.
Proposed licensing measures in a key producing region could lengthen lead times for several battery and rare-earth inputs, traders warn.