Lithium miners slide worldwide as CATL seen resuming China mine
Shares of global lithium producers fell on Wednesday after Chinese state media reported that battery major Contemporary Amperex Technology's (CATL) shuttered Yichun mine is likely to resume production sooner than previously indicated.
CATL held a "resumption work meeting" for the Jianxiawo mine earlier this week to advance its restart, local media reported, suggesting operations could come back online well ahead of the initially communicated suspension period.
The prospect of renewed supply from China's largest lithium operation rattled global markets.
Albemarle, the world's largest producer of lithium for rechargeable batteries, slipped 11.5% in New York, while US-listed shares of Sigma Lithium dropped 6.9%.
In Sydney, Pilbara Minerals lost as much as 16.7%, leading declines among Australia-listed lithium miners, while IGO and Liontown Resources fell as much as 14.20% and 15.8%, respectively.
China-listed Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium opened about 5% lower, while lithium carbonate futures in China fell more than 7% to a more than one-month low.
The Jianxiawo mine, a critical component in China's lithium supply chain, can produce more than 46 000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent annually, about 3% of the global supply forecast for 2025, per Australian government data.
CATL suspended operations at the mine on August 9 after its license expired. The move drove up lithium futures prices and lifted lithium miners' shares.
Its potential reopening adds fresh pressure to a sector that has been struggling with a supply glut aftera weaker-than-anticipated growth in demand for electric vehicles.
Lithium prices have tumbled from pandemic-era peaks, leaving many producers operating at break-even levels or in the red.
CATL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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