Why Lithium Carbonate Prices Surged in China 2025
Newsroom | Published by Alex on August 15, 2025
China lithium carbonate prices up 20%
On August 11, 2025, lithium carbonate prices in mainland China surged. As of August 15, 2025, the benchmark price for battery-grade lithium carbonate reached approximately $10,549/ton, up 20.28% month-on-month; the benchmark price for industrial-grade lithium carbonate was approximately $10,328/ton, up 19.95% month-on-month.
CATL’s lithium mine shutdown in China triggers lithium carbonate futures limit-up
On August 9, 2025, CATL's lithium mine in Jiangxi Province, China, suspended operations due to the expiration of its mining permit. The shutdown could last more than three months. Following this news, the market reacted sharply, and on August 11, 2025, lithium carbonate prices surged to approximately $11,283/ton, an increase of 8%. Currently, aside from CATL’s mine whose permit has expired, the mining permits for the other seven lithium mines will not expire until after 2027, making a complete shutdown of all lithium mines unlikely during this period.
