New York, Jan 30, 2026, 07:06 EST — Premarket
- China’s battery-grade lithium carbonate slipped 4.46%, hitting 160,500 yuan per tonne.
- Guangzhou lithium carbonate futures fell to roughly 148,200 yuan per tonne
- Shares of Albemarle, SQM, and Lithium Americas slip before the U.S. market opens
Battery-grade lithium carbonate prices in China dropped 4.46% on Friday, settling at 160,500 yuan a tonne, erasing some of the gains seen earlier this year. U.S.-listed lithium miners slipped before the Wall Street open: Albemarle fell $3.70, or about 2%, to $180.70; SQM lost $1.92, or 2.3%, to $81.64; and Lithium Americas slid 58 cents, down 9.7%, to $5.43. 1
Lithium carbonate serves as a vital input for lithium-ion batteries. Sudden spikes in spot prices often ripple through to battery costs, impacting the earnings forecasts for miners and chemical processors alike.
The pullback follows a futures-driven surge earlier this month that sent Chinese spot prices above 180,000 yuan a tonne, according to an SMM monthly review. Prices started January close to 120,000 yuan, then spiked to about 181,500 yuan on Jan. 26 before easing off toward the end of the month. 2
At the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX), nearby lithium carbonate futures slipped to roughly 148,200 yuan a tonne after kicking off close to 161,000, per SMM data. SMM’s battery-grade lithium carbonate index dropped $941.23, landing at $20,236.76 a tonne. The CIF benchmark — meaning “cost, insurance and freight” — slid to $20.9 a kg. 3
Beyond China, the London Metal Exchange reported its day-delayed lithium hydroxide month-two closing price at $19,900 a tonne, slipping 1% from the previous session. Lithium hydroxide, a refined lithium compound, plays a key role in certain battery chemistries alongside lithium carbonate. 4
Supply chain investment is back on the agenda. Dutch miner and lithium supplier AMG Critical Materials aims to create a “lithium highway” connecting Brazil, Portugal, and Germany to sidestep China, said Michael Connor, the company’s development head. He told Reuters the Bitterfeld plant in Germany is now expected to hit its full 20,000-tonne lithium hydroxide capacity by the end of 2026, a delay attributed to softer demand and ongoing customer qualification checks. 5
The whipsaw isn’t over yet. Prices could bounce back if buyers jump in before the Lunar New Year shutdown or if supply hiccups squeeze the spot market. After the holiday, any dip in demand will reveal just how much supply remains on hold.
Traders are eyeing China’s official Lunar New Year break from Feb. 15–23, a period that often drains liquidity in Asian battery materials markets. Albemarle will report its fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 11. SQM is set to announce full-year results on Feb. 27. 6
