• Spot price level – China, June 2026 – Battery‑grade lithium carbonate spot in China was around CNY 180,000/tonne on 1 June 2026, down from a two‑year high of ~CNY 200,500/t reached mid‑May as higher prices triggered supply restarts. – By 5 June 2026, the price had eased further to about CNY 163,000/t, still ~171% above year‑earlier levels, indicating a very elevated but softening market. • Regional May 2026 price benchmarks (battery grade, indicative) – Northeast Asia: ~USD 21.3/kg in May 2026, up 17% month‑on‑month, supported by strong EV battery production and energy‑storage demand; the hi
• Spot price level – China, June 2026 – Battery‑grade lithium carbonate spot in China was around CNY 180,000/tonne on 1 June 2026, down from a two‑year high of ~CNY 200,500/t reached mid‑May as higher prices triggered supply restarts. – By 5 June 2026, the price had eased further to about CNY 163,000/t, still ~171% above year‑earlier levels, indicating a very elevated but softening market.
• Regional May 2026 price benchmarks (battery grade, indicative) – Northeast Asia: ~USD 21.3/kg in May 2026, up 17% month‑on‑month, supported by strong EV battery production and energy‑storage demand; the highest regional pricing globally. – North America: ~USD 10.64/kg in May 2026, up 12.1%, driven by expanding EV assembly and BESS projects amid constrained domestic supply and reliance on imports.
– Europe: ~USD 12.86/kg in May 2026, up 11.1%; tight raw material availability and strong downstream battery demand. – South America: ~USD 8.59/kg in May 2026, up 13.6%, reflecting firm export demand and tighter export availability under more restrictive policies. • Recent trend into mid‑2026 – Prices rebounded sharply from 2023–H1 2025 lows: Chinese spot had already risen ~57% from June 2025 troughs by early 2026 in anticipation of tighter supply.
– 2025 saw a deep dip from oversupply and weak procurement followed by a strong H2 rebound on EV‑led restocking and tightening supply, setting up a bullish entry into 2026. – Q4 2025: China and global markets tightened; China 99.5% minimum grade prices
Procurement teams should maintain flexible sourcing strategies for Lithium Carbonate given the evolving market dynamics. Monitor supply-side developments, inventory trends, and demand signals from end-use sectors. Consider layered hedging against price volatility and diversify supplier exposure to manage risk.