Lithium carbonate prices in China slipped to CNY 147,000 per tonne in September, their lowest level in nearly a month, as expectations of rising output in Australia outweighed supply uncertainties at home. Market participants reaffirmed projections of abundant supply from major producers, signaling that the current surplus is likely to persist well into the next decade.
The renewed supply momentum has been driven largely by Australian miners. Mineral Resources has restarted operations at its Bald Hill lithium mine after an 18‑month shutdown, while Core Lithium has resumed production at its Finniss project.
A steeper price decline was contained, however, by mounting disruptions at CATL’s Jianxiawo mine—China’s largest lithium operation by capacity and a source of roughly 4% of global supply. Chinese regulators revoked the mine’s environmental approvals, prolonging permit-related obstacles for more than a year. The move aligns with Beijing’s broader campaign against “involution” and its efforts to curb excess capacity among producers.
