Latest News

China is oversupplying lithium to get rid of competitors, US official says

Chinese lithium producers are flooding the global market with the critical metal and causing a. predatory cost drop as they look for to remove completing. projects, a senior U.S. official said on a see to Portugal. that has sufficient lithium reserves.

Jose Fernandez, under secretary for economic development, energy. and the environment at the U.S. Department of State, told a. rundown late on Monday that China was producing far more. lithium than the world requires today, without a doubt.

That is a deliberate action by the People's Republic of. China to what we are attempting to do with the Inflation Decrease. Act - the largest environment and energy investment plan in U.S. history valued at over $400 billion, Fernandez said, adding:

They participate in predatory pricing ... (they) lower the cost. up until competition disappears. That is what is taking place.

China represent about two-thirds of the world's lithium. chemical output, which is mainly used in battery technologies. including for electrical cars and trucks. Prices of lithium have fallen more. than 80% in the previous year mainly due to overproduction from. China and a drop in demand for electric automobiles.

However, the rate collapse is likewise impacting China as it. has actually forced Chinese companies like battery huge CATL. to suspend production at specific mines.

JOB CUTS

Europe aims to lower its dependence on imports from China. and other nations of lithium and other materials vital to. the green transition.

Fernandez stated the low rate constrains our capability to. diversify our supply chains on a broad, international scale and likewise. injures countries such as Portugal that require investment to develop. these industries.

Falling prices have forced numerous international lithium manufacturers to. downsize production and cut jobs.

Portugal, with some 60,000 tons of recognized reserves, is. already Europe's greatest producer of lithium, typically. mined for ceramics.

Along with neighbouring Spain, the country wants to take. benefit of local lithium deposits, intending to cover the whole. value chain from mining and refining to cell and battery. making to battery recycling.

A number of mining business in Portugal have been trying to find. financing, consumers and suppliers to crank up projects.

We want to help them, and we think we can ... lithium mining. business, everywhere, have to endure this challenging phase that. was produced by predatory rates, Fernandez said.

China's Premier Li Qiang in June utilized his address at a World. Economic Online forum meeting in Dalian to hit back at accusations from. the United States and EU that Chinese companies benefit from unjust. aids and are poised to flood their markets with cheap green. technologies.

Trade tensions heightened last Friday when the European. Union stated it would press ahead with substantial tariffs on China-made. electric automobiles to counter what it sees as unjust Chinese. aids, after a year-long anti-subsidy examination. China. on Tuesday enforced temporary anti-dumping procedures on imports of. brandy from the EU.

(source: Reuters)