Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is the most widely traded lithium compound. Its largest use is in battery cathode materials for electric vehicles and energy storage systems; it is also used in glass and ceramics, lubricating greases and pharmaceuticals.
Grade
Purity
Main uses
Battery grade
≥ 99.5%
LFP and NCM cathode materials
Industrial grade
about 99.0–99.2%
Glass and ceramics, greases, chemicals
Why China sets the price
China refines roughly two-thirds of the world's lithium chemicals. Its feedstock comes from three directions:
Yichun, Jiangxi — lepidolite mines and refineries
Qinghai and Tibet — lithium extracted from salt-lake brines
Imports — spodumene concentrate from Australia and raw material from Chile and Argentina
China's domestic spot price therefore works as the de facto global benchmark. Since 2023 lithium carbonate futures have traded on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, and spot and futures prices move each other.
What moves the price
EV and energy-storage demand — above all domestic sales of LFP batteries in China
Feedstock cost — spodumene concentrate prices and brine production costs
Supply discipline — permits and environmental inspections at Yichun mines
Inventory — restocking and destocking by refiners and battery makers
Futures — sharp moves in Guangzhou futures feed straight into spot offers
About the price on this page
Prices are China domestic spot quotations collected daily and converted to US dollars. Today's price and change, the one-year chart, 52-week high/low and the daily price table are for members. Export prices (FOB/CIF) depend on grade, quantity and terms and are quoted per enquiry. Request a quote →
Price, change, chart and history are for members.
Prices, charts and daily briefs — members only
Product names and guides are public. Daily China spot prices (in USD), changes, one-year charts, 52-week high/low, daily price tables and the daily market brief are for members.