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Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
CATL mine suspension lifts lithium prices, Korean battery stocks
The suspension of CATL's lithium mining operations in China, the world's third-largest lithium producer, is set to lift near-term profits for South Korean battery material suppliers as rising lithium prices lift inventory values. According to news reports on Monday, CATL has halted production at its Yichun mine — the biggest in China's lithium hub in Jiangxi province — as it failed to renew its mining license. CATL said the license for its Yichun mine expired on Aug. 9 and that it is seeking renewal 'as soon as possible,' adding production will resume once it receives approval, Reuters reported. However, industry insiders expect the Chinese government may delay renewing the license as part of efforts to curb oversupply in the domestic lithium sector. 'The Chinese government appears to have strategically delayed the renewal of CATL's lithium mining license to rein in cutthroat competition stemming from domestic oversupply, raising the possibility of similar measures against other mines in the country,' said Yang Min-ho, an energy engineering professor at Dankuk University. This could benefit Korean battery material companies, which have seen their profit margins squeezed by weak lithium prices arising from oversupply, including from China, Yang added. 'A rise in lithium prices, prompted by CATL's mine halt, could lead to higher prices for cathode materials, and in turn, higher margins in the next quarter,' said an industry source familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity. 'Despite the electric vehicle sector's slowdown, order volumes from customers (battery cell manufacturers) may recover as they seek to purchase products from current inventories at favorable prices.' CATL's mine suspension immediately drove a surge in global lithium prices and lifted the share prices of South Korean battery-related companies. On Monday, lithium futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange — a key global benchmark for lithium price, particularly for China and the Asia-Pacific region — soared 8 percent to hit the daily limit, reaching 81,000 yuan ($11,270) per ton, the highest level since last November. For Korean battery material companies, Posco Future M and EcoPro BM's stock prices rose sharply on the main Kospi and the tech-heavy Kosdaq, by 8.31 percent and 7.98 percent, respectively, in the same period. L&F Corp.'s share also jumped 10.32 percent. On Tuesday, Posco Future M and EcoPro BM climbed 0.37 percent and 5.97 percent, respectively, during intraday trading, while L&F Corp. gained 3.12 percent from the previous session. Most Korean battery material suppliers have experienced a downturn in the second quarter due to the decline in lithium prices and a slowdown in EV demand. Posco Future M's operating profit dipped 71.7 percent to 770 million won ($554,200) from April to June from the previous year. L&F's operating loss expanded by 43.9 percent to 121.2 billion won. Meanwhile, CATL has been aggressively expanding its mining investments to reduce EV battery production costs. Its Yichun mine, with an annual capacity of 46,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, accounts for roughly 3 percent of projected global output in 2025, according to Australian government data cited by Reuters.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EcoPro to halt construction on $1.2B Quebec battery materials plant, citing tariffs, EV woes
EcoPro BM said it will suspend construction on its $1.2 billion battery materials plant in Bécancour, Que., in 'early June,' as U.S. tariffs and slower-than-expected electric vehicle uptake stall investment in electrification projects across North America. The company would not provide a precise date for the pause but said in a statement it has been preparing to do so for several weeks. 'Uncertainties continue to loom over the electric vehicle and battery sectors, compounded by the challenges posed by tariffs imposed by the [United States]. These factors significantly impact the company's key decision-making processes.' The South Korea-based battery materials company described the construction halt as temporary, but because of 'the current circumstances, it is premature to predict the duration of the suspension.' Read more: Live updates on tariff news and impacts Interactive map: Auto manufacturing sites in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico It is not the first construction hiatus at the plant in Bécancour, midway between Montreal and Quebec City. Work was on hold for two lengthy periods last year. The project got under way in fall 2023, with production scheduled for early 2026, under the original timeline. Ford Motor Co. was initially a joint-venture partner in the plant, but the automaker pulled out of the project last year, citing shifts in EV technology and costs. Despite Ford's exit, EcoPro said at the time it remained confident in the viability of the plant and vowed to forge ahead with construction. The delay is one in a series of setbacks to hit Canada's battery supply chain since the beginning of the year as North American EV adoption creeps forward and the global trade war initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump injects uncertainty into the highly interwoven Canadian and U.S. economies. EcoPro said it remains 'actively engaged' with automakers and battery manufacturers 'to effectively navigate this complex situation.' Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
