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China and the United States are the leading exporters of lithium chloride, accounting for the largest shares of global shipments in recent years, while South Korea, Japan, and Germany represent the top importing markets. Imports by South Korea and Japan have increased steadily since 2022, coinciding with rising demand from battery electrolyte manufacturing, while lithium chloride prices have remained relatively stable amid steady supply from major producers.
Recent Market Intelligence Report on Anhydrous Lithium Chloride
I. Price Dynamics
1. Industrial-Grade Anhydrous Lithium Chloride
- Quotations as of July 7, 2026:
Shandong Yihe Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.: RMB 140,000/ton (Premium Grade, 25 kg/bag)
Shandong Hongyang Chemical Co., Ltd.: RMB 105,000/ton
Liaocheng Jinxinda New Materials Co., Ltd.: RMB 77,000/ton
- Quotation as of July 6, 2026:
Hubei Qibajiu Chemical Co., Ltd.: RMB 98,000/ton
- Quotation as of July 4, 2026:
Shandong Yihe Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.: RMB 140,000/ton (repeated quotation, indicating price stability)
2. Small-Batch and Reagent-Grade Anhydrous Lithium Chloride
- 50 g/bag sample: RMB 37.91–49.90 (Shanghai Oujin Industrial Co., Ltd.)
- 500 g/bottle, analytical reagent grade: RMB 157.10–698.00 (Xilong Scientific Co., Ltd.; Shaoguan Keyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., etc.)
- 25 kg industrial-grade packaging: RMB 195–798.50 (Shanghai Binlian Industrial Co., Ltd.; Wuhan Huaxiang Kejie Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., etc.)
II. Market Drivers
1. Surging Demand from Battery Applications
- In 2025, China’s battery-grade anhydrous lithium chloride market reached RMB 4.23 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 24.4%, primarily driven by mass production of lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode materials, procurement for pilot solid-state battery production lines, and solid electrolyte development projects undertaken by leading battery manufacturers—including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and BYD.
- Each GWh of solid-state batteries consumes approximately 112 tons of battery-grade anhydrous lithium chloride, priced at ~RMB 375,000/ton; this segment alone contributed ~RMB 3.43 billion to demand in 2025.
2. Export Growth
- From January to November 2025, export volume totaled 4,860 tons, up 31.7% year-on-year. Major destinations include Toyota (Japan), QuantumScape (USA), and Volkswagen (Germany). Exports are projected to contribute ~RMB 790 million to the market size in 2026.
3. Policy Support
- Listed in the “Catalogue of Priority New Materials for First-Batch Application Demonstration (2024 Edition)”, qualifying for an 80% VAT refund-upon-collection and an increased R&D expense super-deduction ratio of up to 150%.
III. Competitive Landscape
1. Production Capacity Concentration
- Ganfeng Lithium, Tianqi Lithium, and Shengxin Lithium Energy have achieved stable large-scale production meeting full specifications (metal impurities ≤10 ppm; moisture ≤300 ppm; crystallinity ≥99.95%), collectively accounting for 68.5% of China’s effective capacity.
- Ganfeng Lithium’s annual capacity will expand to 12,000 tons in 2026; Tianqi Lithium’s 3,000-ton/year dedicated production line in Suining is under construction.
2. Customer Lock-in
- CATL has signed a long-term supply agreement with Ganfeng Lithium covering 2025–2027, securing the entire output from Ganfeng’s Xinyu (Jiangxi) base.
IV. Price Analysis & Outlook
1. Short-Term Price Volatility
- Significant price dispersion exists across industrial-grade products (RMB 77,000–140,000/ton), reflecting divergent supply-demand fundamentals:
High-purity battery-grade products remain price-resilient due to robust solid-state battery demand (e.g., Ganfeng and Tianqi offerings).
Conventional industrial-grade products face pricing pressure amid overcapacity or regional competition (e.g., Liaocheng Jinxinda’s RMB 77,000/ton quote).
2. Long-Term Price Support
- The commercialization window for solid-state batteries is clearly defined (small-batch vehicle integration expected in 2026–2027); domestic substitution rate is projected to rise from 53.6% in 2025 to 67.2% in 2026. Supply rigidity in the near term supports a stable price floor in the RMB 360,000–380,000/ton range—significantly more stable than traditional lithium salts such as lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.
V. Forward Outlook
1. Market Size Growth
- Benefiting from upgrades across the new-energy materials supply chain and solid-state battery commercialization, demand for battery-grade anhydrous lithium chloride is expected to sustain double-digit growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 20% during 2026–2027.
2. Capacity Expansion & Competition
- Capacity ramp-ups by industry leaders are closely aligned with downstream validation timelines. However, new entrants must overcome significant technical barriers—including stringent impurity control and high crystallinity requirements—making it unlikely they will disrupt the current market structure in the short term.
3. Price Trend
- Prices for battery-grade products will remain supported by tight supply-demand balance and stay elevated; industrial-grade prices may experience slight downward pressure due to intensified regional competition, though overall volatility will remain limited.
4. Export Potential
- Further breakthroughs in overseas certifications (e.g., Japan and Germany) will unlock additional growth opportunities, and the export share is expected to rise to over 20%.
Lithium chloride is a white, crystalline, hygroscopic solid at room temperature with no discernible odor. It is an inorganic ionic compound, highly soluble in water and polar solvents, and exhibits a high melting point of approximately 605 °C. Lithium chloride serves primarily as a precursor and catalyst in the synthesis of other lithium compounds, including lithium metal via molten-salt electrolysis, and as a drying agent for gases and solvents. It is used in air conditioning and humidity control systems, in the production of brazing and soldering fluxes, and as an additive in aluminum and magnesium metallurgy to lower melt viscosity and improve fluidity.
Lithium chloride is used as an antidepressant, especially in the treatmentof manic depression and bipolar disorders.
Lithium chloride is a White cubic crystals; granules or powder; hygroscopic; sharp salt-like taste; melts at 605°C; vaporizes around 1360°C, It has an unusually high water solubility when compared to the other alkali metal chlorides; readily dissolves in water (64g/100mL at 0°C); also highly soluble in alcohol and pyridine; moderately soluble in acetone (4.1 g/100mL at 25°C).The following hydrates are known: LiCl·H2O, LiCl-3H20 and LiCl- 5H2O. The higher hydrates are stable at progressively lower temperatures. Lithium chloride is deliquescent under normal atmospheric conditions.Lithium chloride is soluble to a significant extent in many polar organic liquids. It is generally most soluble in alcohols in which the solubility decreases as the size of the organic radical increases.
This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals. See more about what is Lithium chloride and Lithium chloride SDS information.
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