Lithium Carbonate (Asia) Prices

30-01-2026 - The current market landscape reveals mixed pressures on raw material prices. The forecast indicates an upward price pressure of $0.51/kg driven by global demand. However, this is partially offset by a $0.38/kg downward pressure due to exchange rate fluctuations in the flows category.

In the lithium market, recent analyses suggest a positive short-term outlook, with prices expected to rise to 21.83 over the next month. This aligns with a report from Energynews.pro, which highlights a significant rebound in energy storage demand in China during the latter half of 2025. This surge is anticipated to result in a lithium supply shortage by 2026, further driving prices upward in the short term. Notably, battery storage systems emerged as China's leading clean-tech export in 2025, amassing nearly $66 billion in the first ten months.

Forecasts from Morgan Stanley predict a deficit of 80,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in 2026, while UBS anticipates a smaller deficit of 22,000 tonnes. These projections contrast with an expected surplus of 61,000 tonnes in 2025. Meanwhile, other Chinese analysts foresee a slightly oversupplied but tighter market this year.

Overall, these insights support the forecasted upward trend in lithium prices over the coming month, driven by increasing demand and potential supply constraints.