New York, January 23, 2026, 07:21 (EST) — Premarket
- Battery-grade lithium carbonate in China rose 3.95% to 171,000 yuan/mt ($24,502.78/mt) on the day
- Volatility in China’s lithium futures is keeping the spotlight on exchange risk controls
- Albemarle climbed 4.6% in premarket trading, while Lithium Americas surged 7.9% and SQM gained 2.5%
Lithium carbonate prices in China jumped almost 4% on Friday, building on a strong recovery in January that has pushed lithium-related stocks up before the U.S. market opens. Battery-grade lithium carbonate was last valued at 171,000 yuan per metric ton, equivalent to $24,502.78 a ton including value-added tax. 1
Battery-grade lithium carbonate matters because it’s a crucial feedstock for cathode materials—the part of the battery that stores and releases energy in electric vehicles and grid storage. China dominates the battery supply chain, so price shifts there often send ripples through contracts and stock valuations.
The rally is putting to the test whether recent demand reflects genuine buying or just quick money chasing futures. For automakers and battery producers, the issue boils down to costs. Miners, on the other hand, are focused on cash flow—provided prices hold steady.
Shanghai Metals Market’s daily report put the battery-grade lithium carbonate index at 168,960 yuan/mt, with physical offers ranging from 168,000 to 174,000 yuan/mt. Upstream sellers showed more interest, though some lithium chemical plants opted to stockpile and limit sales. Downstream buyers were busy building inventories ahead of February. The most-active lithium carbonate futures contract fluctuated between 172,300 and 182,000 yuan/mt. 2
The day before, SMM set the battery-grade index at 164,857 yuan/mt, noting that several chemical plants planned maintenance, which might limit supply. It called downstream buying largely “as needed,” with February stockpiling still ongoing. 3
China’s futures market remains unpredictable. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange increased the daily trading limit for lithium carbonate from 9% to 11% this week, following repeated hits to the existing cap. Mining.com reported, citing an exchange spokesperson, that “more uncertain factors” are fueling the volatility. 4
Albemarle jumped 4.6% in U.S. premarket action, hitting $188.32 after closing the previous session at $180.06. Lithium Americas surged 7.9% to $7.51, while Chile’s SQM added 2.5% to reach $70.00.
Analysts are rushing to catch the rally. Truist’s Peter Osterland raised Albemarle to a buy this week, boosting his price target to $205. He sees the company poised for “significant” earnings and free-cash-flow gains in 2026 and 2027, driven by improving lithium prices. 5
Oppenheimer boosted its price target for Albemarle to $207 from $109 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The firm cited Albemarle as the best positioned player in the lithium market. 6
The rally is already weighing on demand. SMM observed that some buyers grew wary as prices climbed, while China’s exchange has signaled readiness to crack down if trading overheats.
Price discovery is facing scrutiny. Fastmarkets announced it’s seeking input on its China-Japan-Korea lithium pricing method, pointing to ongoing discrepancies caused by factors like China’s VAT, tariffs, and freight charges. The company has set a January 31 deadline for market feedback. 7
Investors will turn their focus to Albemarle’s upcoming quarterly report, a key milestone. The company is set to announce its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings after the NYSE closes on February 11, with a conference call scheduled for 8 a.m. EST the following day, February 12. 8
