New York, January 15, 2026, 07:58 EST — Premarket
- Albemarle, SQM and Lithium Americas climbed in premarket trading after U.S. lawmakers proposed a $2.5 billion fund for a critical-minerals reserve
- China spot lithium carbonate prices edged down Thursday following a sharp rally in futures earlier this month
- Traders are focused on policy moves in Washington and China, along with Albemarle’s earnings report on Feb. 11
U.S.-listed lithium stocks climbed before Thursday’s open after lawmakers unveiled a bill proposing a $2.5 billion stockpile for critical minerals, lithium included. Albemarle (ALB.N) edged up 0.4%, while Chile’s SQM (SQM.N) jumped 2.7%. Lithium Americas (LAC.N) led gains at 3.6%. 1
Lithium prices have been swinging again after a prolonged slump that pushed miners to pause projects and cut expenses. Although a U.S.-backed buyer for niche minerals won’t solve the market’s challenges, it might reshape investor views on the downside risk.
The politics are shifting quickly, at least in statements. Senator Todd Young described the proposal as “a much-needed, aggressive step” to safeguard U.S. economic and national security. Senator Jeanne Shaheen labeled it “a historic investment,” the Associated Press reported. 2
The White House is zeroing in on supply-chain issues. President Donald Trump has directed his trade and commerce officials to engage with major trading partners about critical minerals, but for now, he’s holding back on imposing tariffs in this area, according to a Reuters report. 3
Policy news hit as the market remains jittery. In China, the SMM battery-grade lithium carbonate index dropped to 160,260 yuan per metric ton on Thursday. Battery-grade prices averaged 159,000 yuan, slipping 4,000 yuan that day; “battery-grade” refers to the higher-purity lithium used in lithium-ion batteries.
Futures tell a different tale. Chinese lithium carbonate contracts climbed more than 20% in the first half of January 2026. The May futures, the most active, peaked at 173,400 yuan a ton on Wednesday, Caixin reported. Battery makers scrambled to export before the value-added tax rebate cuts kicked in—those rebates effectively cut export costs.
Trading in derivatives is gaining ground in the West. CME’s lithium hydroxide futures hit a record weekly volume of 8,296 tonnes in the opening full week of the year. Fastmarkets’ Przemek Koralewski noted that “volumes are following the price trend” amid rising volatility. 4
The combination of policy chatter, volatile spot prices, and increased hedging is making waves in lithium-linked stocks once more. Larger players are pricing in cash flow forecasts and project schedules, rather than reacting solely to the latest lithium carbonate figures.
But there’s a catch. The U.S. plan must still pass Congress, and even if it does, building a stockpile won’t happen overnight. On the market front, Thursday’s spot drop in China showed how quickly gains can unravel once buyers retreat.
Miners face their next big hurdle: earnings season. Albemarle plans to report fourth-quarter results on Feb. 11, followed by a conference call the next morning, Feb. 12. 5
