Citi: Delayed Consumer Purchases Weaken Lithium Price Outlook

According to Jin10, Citi expects lithium prices to remain weak in the short term amid supply-chain destocking; prices have fallen by as much as 40% since early September, and Citi said the key question is whether the current correction has ended. Citi said its team's recent channel survey was not encouraging and that consumers may delay purchases while keeping inventories low, increasing downside risks until supply is cut or downstream inventories are exhausted. Citi cut its 0-to-3-month price targets for lithium carbonate from $20,000 to $12,000 per ton, lithium hydroxide from $17,000 to $12,000 per ton, and spodumene concentrate from $2,000 to $1,200 per ton.