New York, Jan 26, 2026, 07:03 EST — Premarket
- China’s lithium benchmark climbed once more, pushing further into its strong January rally.
- U.S.-listed lithium miners and a sector ETF ticked up in early trading.
- Traders keep an eye on Chinese restocking cues alongside the Fed’s decision due this week.
Lithium prices in China climbed to 181,500 yuan per metric ton on Monday, marking a 6.14% jump from the previous session. The surge boosted U.S.-listed lithium stocks during premarket trading. 1
This matters because lithium carbonate — essential for battery cathodes — influences contract negotiations and mining investments. It’s also been one of the most volatile sectors within the energy transition. When prices firm up, producer shares often react sharply, while battery manufacturers face margin pressure if they can’t shift the higher costs onto buyers.
Spot and futures prices diverged today. SMM reported battery-grade lithium carbonate quoted between 178,000 and 185,000 yuan per ton, averaging 181,500 yuan. Meanwhile, the most active lithium carbonate futures contract fell 6.56%, sliding after an early rally as selling pressure took hold. Downstream material plants continued to purchase as needed and started building inventory ahead of February production, with both inquiries and transactions picking up from the previous period. 2
In U.S. premarket action, Albemarle ticked up 0.6% to $189.51, and Chilean miner SQM climbed 2.0% to $85.43. Sigma Lithium surged 17.5%, hitting $14.74, while Lithium Americas rose 5.1% to $6.44. The Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF gained 1.9%, trading at $74.75.
China is stepping up efforts to broaden market access. The China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that futures and options contracts for nickel and lithium carbonate will soon welcome overseas investors. Tiger Shi, a broker at BANDS Financial, described this as “a significant move” and expects the list of metals to expand gradually. 3
Fundamentals seem to be tightening slightly, at least on the physical side. Mysteel noted the swift price jump has led some refineries to withhold material. It also pointed to potential refinery overhauls that might cut near-term supply. Meanwhile, a few cathode plants have begun making inquiries related to Chinese New Year and February production plans. 4
Beyond China, the listed derivatives curve is creeping upward. CME’s lithium hydroxide CIF CJK futures have January priced at 18.39 and February at 21.10, measured in U.S. dollars per kilogram and based on Fastmarkets data. The contracts for spring months are sitting above $21, indicating buyers are ready to pay a premium for short-term supply. 5
Still, the tape remains volatile. Monday’s sharp drop in the busiest Chinese futures contract highlighted just how quickly speculators can move prices. Producers, meanwhile, have only just begun reacting to the price surge by discussing capacity expansions and restart plans.
Macro risk remains front and center. U.S. index futures dipped early Monday as investors prepared for key earnings reports and the Federal Reserve’s rate decision this week—an event capable of swiftly shifting sentiment around commodity-linked stocks. 6
For lithium stocks, the upcoming key event is earnings and guidance. Albemarle plans to release its fourth-quarter 2025 results after the NYSE closes on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Investors will be watching closely for details on realised pricing, contract coverage, and any signals about production discipline. 7
