[ferro-alloys.com] February imports of lithium carbonate and hydroxide, used for batteries, rose in Japan and South Korea from a year ago, but those to China slumped, according to customs data of respective countries.

Japan's imports of lithium hydroxide in rose 79% year on year to 2,687 mt in February, while lithium carbonate imports were up 53% to 2,707 mt.

South Korea imported 950 mt of lithium hydroxide and 3,353 mt of lithium carbonate in February, up 45% and 28%, respectively.

China, on the other hand, imported only 45 kg of lithium hydroxide and 720 mt of lithium carbonate in February, a year-on-year decline of 100% and 58%, respectively.

China's lithium hydroxide imports in February 2018 stood at 656 mt, which was almost on par with South Korea's 657 mt import, but below Japanese imports of 1,500 mt.

China imported 2,517 mt of lithium carbonate in February 2018, which was more than Japan's 1,774 mt imports, but below South Korea's lithium carbonate imports of 2,627 mt.

Chile is the leading supply origin of the two lithium raw materials to Asia.

(S&P Global Platts)

• [Editor:王可]