Lithium carbonate futures were at CNY 150,000 per tonne, trimming the surge that culminated at the over two-year high as markets reconsidered the magnitude of capped supply and added demand amid higher power storage investments in major economies. Chinese authorities lowered export rebates for battery producers from April, driving manufacturers to front-run lithium orders. In the meantime, higher datacenter infrastructure investment in China was combined with the announcement of higher power storage spending, supporting the outlook for lithium and other battery metals. This was combined with Beijing stating it would double EV charging capacity to 180 gigawatts by 2027, supporting lithium-rich energy storage systems. Meanwhile, authorities stated 27 mining permits were canceled in the lithium hub of Jiangxi in the ongoing anti-involution campaign. On the demand front, US buying prospects were lifted by a new bill creating a $2.5 billion stockpile of critical minerals, including lithium.
