Battery Materials Market Weekly

Week 5 Analysis (Jan 29, 2026)

Executive Summary

LCE Eases Back

Battery-grade LCE softens to ¥164,000/t ($23,485), down 0.6% WoW as the rally pauses.

Cathode Prices Hold

LFP Power Grade stable at ¥55,700/t ($7,976). Cost pass-through balanced.

LiPF₆ Decline Continues

Electrolyte salt slides to ¥138,000/t ($19,762), down 7.4% WoW on overcapacity.

Anode Margin Capture

Mid-tier artificial anode holds at ¥27,500/t ($3,938). Producers capture margin from feedstock shifts.

Market at a Glance

Weekly Price Direction Heatmap (USD/t, Ex-VAT)

Anode Materials

High-End Artificial

→ STABLE

$7,661 USD/t

NCM Cathodes

5-Series (Single Crystal)

→ STABLE

$26,407 USD/t

LFP Cathode

Power Grade

→ STABLE

$7,976 USD/t

Lithium Carbonate

Battery Grade

↓ DOWN

$23,485 USD/t

LiOH

Battery Granular

↑ FIRM

$22,554 USD/t

LiPF₆

Average Market

↓ PLUNGE

$19,762 USD/t

LCO

4.35V Grade

↑ UP

$57,138 USD/t

LMO

Dynamical MnO₂

↑ UP

$8,521 USD/t

Anode Market Analysis

Graphite Pricing (USD/t Avg)

Artificial Graphite remains the dominant power baseline.

Market Commentary

Feedstock Dynamics

GPC and needle coke markets remain largely stable. Anode producers continue operating with measured inventory management.

Supply Discipline

Anode enterprises producing on strict "sales-based" model to avoid inventory bloat. Supply discipline keeping prices stable.

Technology Shift: LWG vs Acheson

Transition to LWG furnaces (2,500-3,000 kWh/MT) from Acheson (4,000-4,800 kWh/MT) enables massive margin capture for advanced producers.

Cathode Market: Pricing Snapshots

LFP (Power Grade)$7,976/t →
NCM 613 (Single Crystal)$26,407/t →
NCM 5-Series (Single/Power)$26,407/t →
LCO (4.35V)$57,138/t ↑
LMO (Dynamical MnO₂)$8,521/t ↑

Cathode Dynamics:Cathode prices stable. LFP holds at $7,976/t while NCM 613 at $26,407 consolidates.

Cathode Comparison (USD/t)

Direct lithium cost pass-through across chemistries.

Lithium Carbonate Market

Battery Grade (99.5%)Easing
$23,485/t ↓
Industrial Grade (99.2%)Following Trend
$23,056/t ↓

Market Analysis: LCE eases to ¥164,000/t ($23,485), down 0.6% WoW. Orderly pullback.

LCE Price Movement (USD/t Avg)

Consolidating around the $23.5k level.

Electrolyte & LiOH Markets

Lithium Hydroxide (USD/t Avg)

LiOH trading at $931/t discount to LCE.

LiPF₆ Status (USD/t Avg)

Declining on overcapacity.

What Moved the Market This Week?

Lithium Finds Support

LCE stabilizes after recent moves. Participants reassessing inventory positions.

Electrolyte Overcapacity Weighs

LiPF₆ continues descent (-7.4% WoW) as new capacity outpaces demand growth.

LiOH Discount Persists

LiOH trades at $931/t discount to LCE, signaling oversupply in high-nickel chemistry.

Anode Supply Discipline

Graphite anode enterprises continue "sales-based" production model. Despite feedstock cost movements, prices stable as manufacturers prioritize margin.

Strategic Outlook

Risk Warning: Market consolidation creates opportunities for strategic positioning. The balance between lithium, electrolyte, and cathode costs is shifting.

D3CT Recommendation: Use the current stability to reassess supply chain efficiency. Focus on technology-driven cost reduction rather than relying on market pricing.

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