With the new energy policy to support the introduction of vehicles, lithium batteries is expected to usher in rapid development period in the upstream industry chain enterprises lithium resources will enter a golden age. In anticipation of the official number of listed companies were “overweight” and increase lithium carbonate production capacity, and determined the threshold into the higher areas of battery grade lithium carbonate.
Demand-side “surging undercurrent”
From the July start, from Beijing to Tianjin, from Jiangsu Province to Shanghai, from Fujian Province to Shenzhen, from Guangxi and Sichuan, all have open Jianxin energy car charging stations, which Beijing has also issued a first electric vehicle charging station criteria; and Shanghai will end of this year extension 360 charger, 3 years is expected to reach 5,000. According to the plan, the State Grid Corporation will be 2015 1700 public charging stations, and three million share charge pile. Lithium battery charging station on the one hand the demand of these raw materials, on the other hand will drive the rapid expansion of new energy vehicles, Vostro 1320 battery Vostro 1400 battery thereby pulling the lithium battery market.
China International Capital Corporation Limited studies have reported that the new energy vehicles, driven by growth in demand for lithium batteries will be the main driver of lithium carbonate is expected to lithium Xu Qiuliang 2010 increased 10% to 75,598 tons, from 2010 to 2013 an average annual compound growth rate of 16%.
Quite surprising that the current prices remain calm water lithium carbonate. However, demand-side “surging undercurrent” of the building, many companies have been targeting the lithium batteries, if the potential demand breaks out, the relevant listed company profits will usher in a new era. Currently in the domestic capital market at least worth noting mining in Tibet, CITIC Guoan Group and Salt Lake and three companies.
Tibet to drop heavily in the construction of lithium mining project Vostro 1500 battery
The world’s third largest mining industry in Tibet, China’s largest salt lake containing lithium Zabuye Salt Lake, in May this year, Tibet Mining disclosure Placements, the firm and fund-raising 1.5 billion yuan, of which nearly 1 billion yuan invested three lithium project .
In 2009, Tibet’s mineral production of 1,000 tons of lithium carbonate only, far below the current annual production capacity of 5,000 tons, accounting for 7.54% in operating income, but losses of up to 65.34 million yuan, mainly because production has Zabuye Salt Lake is not this has led to high production costs of lithium ore, in addition, silver refining production line Zabuye arise due to lack of raw materials, work stoppage loss.
According to the program set by the company will use funds raised to the existing 5,000 tons of lithium carbonate can be refined mineral transformation to a capacity of 8,000 tons after; the same time, the company will conduct Phase II construction of 18,000 tons of lithium ore production, then will form a total capacity of 26,000 tons of lithium ore years. In addition, the company will carry out two silver Saline started construction works, the future will add capacity of 10,000 tons of lithium products, including 5,000 tons of battery grade lithium carbonate, 2,000 tons of industrial grade lithium carbonate and 3,000 tons of lithium hydroxide Vostro 1510 battery Vostro 1520 battery .
It is reported that the lithium carbonate production this year may be from 3000 to 4000 tons.
CITIC Guoan Lithium Carbonate Battery Grade involved in
CITIC Guoan is to have another listed company with lithium salt lake, Qinghai Guoan its subsidiary has the exclusive West Taijinar salt mining rights, the lithium salt reserves of 3.08 million tons. In 2009, the company produced 5,000 tons of lithium carbonate, although compared with the previous two years, marking a new stage production, but the overall capacity utilization is still low, only the current capacity of 20,000 tons of lithium carbonate / year 25%, it is understood company to enhance production is the main obstacle to refining and industrial production of technical issues not be completely resolved.
In this context, CITIC Guoan has and Toyota through Chamber of Commerce Association, Chengdu, open fly high-energy chemical industry signed a letter of intent. Trade cooperation with Japan’s Toyota, to advance to the post of lithium carbonate capacity expansion sales overseas market, while the two sides may also have further cooperation in the battery. Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and the cooperation of open interest, including both joint venture to build battery grade lithium carbonate plant, to set foot in battery grade lithium carbonate production Vostro 1700 battery Vostro 1710 battery .
2010, the company will once again sharply increase production, is expected to reach more than 10,000 tons, while the long-term plan is to build an annual output of 30,000 tons of lithium carbonate production line.
It is understood that in the lithium industry chain, industrial grade lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and lithium chloride is the upstream product, in its above can be derived from lithium metal, battery grade lithium carbonate, butyl lithium and other high-end products. However, instability in production processes, equipment, frequent maintenance, as well as China’s salt lake in Qinghai and Tibet Plateau, energy, water, transportation and hydrology climate change gave the production of lithium carbonate to bring some difficulties, so the output of lithium carbonate has been significantly lower than the design capacity.
Salt Lake Group, cited foreign aid development, “Li-like”
In addition to these two companies, the Salt Lake Group in the lithium carbonate in the field of “action” is not small. July 16, Salt Lake Group disclosed its LandTek Qinghai Lithium industry to introduce new shareholders according to the Buddha, in the lithium industry on both sides to seek common development. Salt Lake Salt Lake Group has rich resources of lithium salts, lithium industry LandTek existing high-quality produce 10,000 tons of high purity lithium carbonate project, the Qinghai Buddha according to the world’s most advanced assay technology and production of the Lithium experience Vostro 1720 battery Vostro 2510 battery .
Data, industrial grade lithium carbonate prices since 2008 after the financial crisis remain at 30000-35000 yuan / ton, slightly higher than the cost of extraction of lithium ore, while the battery grade lithium carbonate prices higher than the industrial grade lithium carbonate 8000 -10000 yuan per ton.
Sun Jin and Yuan Securities analyst who believes that prices of industrial-grade performance of lithium may be less than market expectations, mainly in the state of the market is still in oversupply, and the technical threshold of rapid expansion of low capacity, and battery grade lithium is difficult because the technology , the relative lack of future capacity, and industrial-grade spreads may widen further. In addition, the lithium carbonate there is a great decline in the cost of space, is expected to raise investment and mining projects in Tibet in 2013 put into operation, the cost of 1 ton of lithium carbonate can be controlled in 2 million.
China International Capital Co. analyst Cai Hongyu that appear higher than expected if the lithium carbonate demand the explosive growth in capacity expansion as Salt Lake constraints faced by many factors, the expansion of lithium carbonate production may take some time, supply-side vacuum will promote lithium carbonate prices Vostro A840 battery Vostro A860 battery .