Spodumene concentrate exports from Port Hedland in West Australia rose to a record high of 127,060 dry metric tonnes (dmt) in November, a 47pc increase from October.
Spodumene exports in January-November reached 714,973dmt, more than twice that of 303,188dmt in the year-earlier period. There were four shipments to China in November totaling 122,505dmt.
Downstream demand for lithium salts in China has weakened for the past week, partly because of a subdued power battery market in China. This has weighed on lithium concentrate (spodumene) prices with buyers reluctant to accept higher offer prices.
Argus assessed prices for 99.5pc grade lithium carbonate fell further to 548,000-563,000 yuan/t ($78,631-80,773/t) ex-works on 15 December from Yn550,000-565,000/t ex-works on 14 December and Yn552,000-565,000/t ex-works on 13 December. Market participants are expecting the decline in spodumene prices to continue in the short term.
Australian lithium producer Pilbara Minerals on 15 December accepted lower bids for lithium concentrate (spodumene) auctions on its Battery Material Exchange platform, the first time in the past few years. Argus last assessed prices for 6pc grade lithium concentrate (spodumene) at $5,800-5,950/t cif China on 13 December, stable from a week earlier. But Pilbara's lower auction price is expected to weigh on sentiment in the entire lithium market, including concentrate feedstock, according to market participants.
Copper concentrate exports from Port Hedland plunged by 63pc to 11,170dmt in November from a month earlier, with only a single shipment to Finland. January-November exports totalled 219,806t, down from 274,027t in the year-earlier period.
US copper producer Freeport McMoRan last month set their treatment and refining charges for 2023 copper concentrates at $88/t and 8.8¢/Ib with Chinese copper smelters.
Manganese concentrate exports fell by 13pc from October to 100,000t in November, with a single shipment to China. This brings the port's 2022 year-to-date manganese ore exports to 971,474t, down slightly from 988,298t a year ago.
