US Lithium Hydroxide Market Likely to Recover Amidst Rising EV Sales
- 22-Sep-2023 2:56 PM
- Journalist: Kim Chul Son
Texas, USA: The US Lithium Hydroxide market has observed bearish sentiments over the past few weeks as weak demand continues from the downstream industries. This pattern is the result of a difficult balance between inventory management and the desire to profit from price drops. To improve their refilling strategies, consumers have been taking a "wait-and-see" approach. This cautious approach is the outcome of the delicate interaction between market participants and consumer attitudes that have sculptured the present Lithium Hydroxide price environment.
The cost support from the upstream Lithium Carbonate market has also remained weak as the prices are on a continuous decline amid weak demand and imports of low-priced goods from South America. The prices have declined by 9.1% on average in the past three months of 2023, resulting in low production costs for the product.
According to important US-based corporations, the Lithium Hydroxide spot prices are anticipated to rise from their recent lows. This forecast is based on a more accurate estimate of demand for the balance of the year. Despite the present environment of poor orders and slow transactions in downstream procurement, large-scale operations have yet to begin, and demand for Lithium Hydroxide remains low.
Despite consumer reductions in items supplied, experts anticipate that re-entry into the spot market will coincide with the anticipated seasonal demand increase for Lithium Hydroxide in the fourth quarter of 2023. This re-entry is projected to support prices, although not to the levels seen during the same period last year. Still, a recovery in Lithium Hydroxide pricing to mid-June levels is feasible.
The rising preference for electric cars (EVs) over traditional combustion engine vehicles is a major movement in consumer behavior. Major industry participants reported increased EV sales, indicating a healthy demand for these environmentally friendly options.
According to the ChemAnalyst database, Lithium Hydroxide prices are expected to improve in the following months, notably in the fourth quarter of this year. This projection corresponds to the anticipated seasonal rise in demand for Lithium Hydroxide as well as the predicted improvement in overall market conditions.
The drop in Lithium Hydroxide pricing in the United States might be linked to cautious customer behavior, complex market dynamics, and inventory management. Increased demand, notably in the Electric Vehicle sector, is expected to boost the market's recovery. Furthermore, the addition of lithium carbonate futures trading to the market is anticipated to improve transparency and stability, assisting firms in managing pricing concerns.