After a tough few months, lithium — a battery metal crucial in electric vehicles — is back in the spotlight as prices start to rebound. Lithium futures on the LME were down over 45% year-to-date early last week, according to CNBC analysis, and well off their record highs seen in late 2022. By the end of last week, however, lithium prices had started to bounce back.
"Lithium prices in China gained for the first time this year on signs demand growth may be finally gathering pace … [and] amid thinning inventories across the supply chain," the ANZ Research analysts added. Meanwhile, Corinne Blanchard, clean tech equity analyst at Deutsche Bank, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" last week that she expects there to be a shortage of lithium supply versus demand over the coming years.