Lithium

[qldfrog]

the other metric is the shrinking purchasing power of the lower middle-class consumer ( they will tend to keep the current banger longer ) , and maybe look at EVs when the only alternative is bus/train/jogging to work ( home delivery and online shopping will take the drive out of ' granny's shopping carts ' another low end market shrinking

Excepts EV are still far more expensive for the commoners than a small ICE, but nothing a few rounds of taxes levies and regulations can not fix i agree...

 

[qldfrog]

We recently upgraded to a Tesla Model Y and will never go back to an ICE.

It's surprising how many people are curious about it. Neighbors we've barely spoken to have asked about how it works, and at school pick-up, we get questions all the time.

Many are interested but hesitant, which is understandable with the amount of BS you hear from saying they are a "pain in the backside". Once people talk to actual owners, they realise that while there are some minor very rare inconveniences for some people, EVs are a way better option for most.

Slowly then all at once.

Time to go buy some more PLS

Only tell that to your others fellows of the "$80k for a car is ok", look at the cars around you..not in Noosa or Northshore...
In numbers, most people here are driving shitty old 10y old ice costing less than 5 figures....
So only becoming mainstream as the commoners are pushed off the market and off the middle class and overall sales collapse imho
But that is for westerners a diminishing influence
For lithium, i believe the key is China and India plus Indonesia/SEAsia
How are EV sales in these countries going?
I believe this is the key.

 

[TimeISmoney]

There's barely a market for them here.

 

[DrBourse]

The Lebanon Pager explosions were 'apparently' detonated by manipulation of the Lithium Batteries.... No idea how that could happen....

Its prob 'Fake News', BUT, B careful, Lithium Stocks could take a hit now...

 

[Dona Ferentes]

CME launches spodumene futures

By Paul Sanger | FNN

CME Group has launched contracts tracking the price of spodumene, a key raw material for lithium batteries, heightening its competition with the London Metal Exchange (LME) in the global battery metals market.

On Monday, the U.S. exchange announced its plans to introduce futures contracts for spodumene, the lithium-rich rock mined for chemicals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This development opens a new chapter in the battle among major commodities exchanges to establish themselves as the preferred platform for producers and miners trading battery metals, driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and related technologies.

Previously, available lithium futures—offered in London, Chicago, Guangzhou, and Singapore—focused on processed forms such as lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, vital components in EV batteries. Spodumene, primarily sourced from Australia, represents an upstream segment of the supply chain. Most lithium processing occurs in China, where prices for downstream chemicals like lithium hydroxide often correlate with spodumene prices.

"We are certain that battery metals will be essential minerals for the future, and demand will keep rising," said Jin Hennig, global head of metals at CME Group. The introduction of spodumene futures underscores how exchanges are attracting more clients by providing hedging tools for various stages of the lithium supply chain.

Lithium chemical prices have seen significant fluctuations over the past two years, spiking with rising EV demand and then declining due to an oversupply and slower growth in EV sales. Both CME and LME launched lithium hydroxide futures in 2021, followed by the Singapore Exchange’s futures in 2022. However, CME has outperformed LME in trading volumes for lithium hydroxide and cobalt contracts.

The new spodumene futures contract, set to launch on October 28 pending regulatory approval, will be cash-settled based on Fastmarkets’ assessment of spodumene delivered to China. This contract is expected to benefit Australian producers, who are the largest miners of spodumene ore.

Przemek Koralewski, head of market development at Fastmarkets, noted that CME is gaining market share in battery metals contracts. Trading volumes for CME’s lithium hydroxide contracts surged by over 700% in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.

“The opportunity is immense, which is why multiple exchanges are competing for a share of this market,” Koralewski said, adding that as the lithium market expands, its structure could evolve to resemble that of oil, where derivatives trading significantly exceeds physical sales.

Industry experts draw parallels to the iron ore market, which shifted from annual fixed-price contracts to futures trading in 2010 as demand from China surged. While lithium hydroxide remains predominantly a physical market, with derivatives accounting for just 13%, Koralewski suggests a similar transformation could happen in the lithium sector.