Eye on Lithium: Big guns PLS, MinRes and Albemarle still bullish; OZM, GRE and ZNC lead gains

Estimated read time 12 min read

Some of the globe’s biggest lithium producers are playing down market headwinds
GreenTech, Wildcat and First Lithium are in the thick of ASX spod-hunting action
OzAurum and Zenith also among the bourse’s bigger lithium gainers today

Lithium news roundup, Monday November 6.

 

The lithium price gloom

Let’s start with the lithium spot price… if we can actually call it that.

One of the closest data points we have for lithium pricing that’s accepted globally is Fastmarkets’ North Asian lithium prices – the agglomeration of spot sales across China, Japan and Korea – which, as Stockhead resources expert Josh Chiat noted the other day, continue their malaise.

Per Friday Ground Breakers:

Lithium has most recently been trading around US$22,000/t according to Fastmarkets.

“That’s being dragged down by China, where lithium hydroxide and carbonate prices are trading slightly down at around US$20,800/t and US$22,000/t respectively”.

2023-11-03#Lithium Carbonate 99.5% Min China Spot

Price: $22,494.29
1 day: $-208.93 (-0.92%)
YTD: -69.48%#Spodumene Concentrate (6%, CIF China)

Price: $2,070.00
1 day: $-15 (-0.72%)
YTD: -64.46%

Sponsored by @SiennaResources $SIE $SNNAFhttps://t.co/EqbBegRFiF

— Lithium Price Bot (@LithiumPriceBot) November 3, 2023

 

As Fastmarkets reported last week, “Chinese lithium carbonate prices are down amid bearish sentiment and thin demand, with hydroxide prices flat”. Meanwhile, East Asian lithium prices are down on weak demand and consumer caution, and European and US lithium prices are also following the Asian downtrend, Fastmarkets continued.

 

But… never mind that, big producers remain bullish

As we noted last week in the High Voltage column, big gun Aussie lithium producer Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) played down concerns in a recent investor call Q&A when asked if PLS had trouble selling spodumene on the spot market (just one part of the company’s overall strategy) in the most recent quarter:

“The demand is absolutely there for product,” he said. “It hasn’t been a case of, ‘We can’t move product’, and certainly none of our customers are not wanting product.

“It’s just been more a case of moderating pricing and contending with the question of, ‘What is the right price for the market?’. That’s where the shift has been.”

And, according to Reuters other major global lithium producers have similar thoughts and remain bullish on the long-term EV narrative despite the various headwinds out of China and apparent slowing pace of EV adoption along with “sluggish quarterly reports” from Albemarle, Pilbara Minerals, Livent and others.

“We see what’s happening now as road bumps, but certainly not a determinant for the long-term growth we have,” Eric Norris, head of Albemarle’s Energy Storage division, told investors on Thursday.

And Paul Graves, CEO of Livent (a supplier to BMW and Tesla), said: “We see (lithium) supply continuing to be the constraint on demand.”

Meanwhile Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) reportedly described current market conditions for lithium as a “rebalancing” of supply chains and IGO (ASX:IGO) believes the industry’s slump is onlya  “near term” issue.

EV battery prices are predicted to fall faster than forecast, as prices for lithium and other metals for batteries decline, according to Goldman Sachs Research. The price drop is expected to increase consumer demand for EVs. https://t.co/ngSBqZfqEe pic.twitter.com/iiC1hKWYKA

— Goldman Sachs (@GoldmanSachs) November 3, 2023

The era of mixed #lithium messages is upon us: @AlbemarleCorp says their 2023 price is: “only up ~15%” vs their prior estimate. Yet the author says lithium prices are down 60% in 2023. Which is it?
Ans: There isn’t “a lithium price”. https://t.co/KOelIApN79

— Joe Lowry (@globallithium) November 2, 2023

In today’s important pre-mkt update for Subscribers: Powell’s pivot on int rates; why the Fed’s most aggressive int rate hiking campaign in 4 decades is now likely over; long duration growth stocks such as $TSLA poised for takeoff; $F and $GM ‘s decisions to pause EV expansion…

— Gary Black (@garyblack00) November 2, 2023

 

What’s hot, what’s not today?

Charged up

OzAurum Resources (ASX:OZM) +31% (Up on no news)

GreenTech Metals (ASX:GRE) +17% (Up on… see below)

Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) +15% (Up on no news)

 

Low on juice

First Lithium (ASX:FL1) -10%

Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) -10%

Victory Mines (ASX:VIC) -10%

 

ASX lithium form guide:

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop. (Note: figures accurate per ASX at 3pm.) 

Stocks missing from this list?

Email [email protected] and/or [email protected]

CODE COMPANY PRICE DAILY RTN % 1 WEEK % 1 MTH % YTD % MARKET CAP ADV Ardiden Ltd 0.005 -9% 0% 0% 0% $14,785,844 AGY Argosy Minerals Ltd 0.17 0% 0% -6% -40% $238,749,275 1MC Morella Corporation 0.0055 0% 0% -21% -1% $33,899,760 AML Aeon Metals Ltd. 0.011 0% -8% -31% -2% $12,060,407 ASN Anson Resources Ltd 0.1825 -1% 14% 26% 0% $237,861,746 AVZ AVZ Minerals Ltd 0.78 0% 0% 0% 0% $2,752,409,203 CXO Core Lithium 0.3775 -2% 6% -10% -65% $822,720,184 EMH European Metals Hldg 0.665 2% 6% -5% 3% $83,219,093 ESS Essential Metals Ltd 0.5 0% 0% 3% 18% $135,278,382 EUR European Lithium Ltd 0.08 7% 16% 10% 1% $104,567,938 GLN Galan Lithium Ltd 0.66 2% 1% 0% -41% $229,594,482 INF Infinity Lithium 0.087 2% 2% 2% -3% $39,320,328 INR Ioneer Ltd 0.17 -3% 17% -23% -21% $369,429,607 JRL Jindalee Resources 1.1975 -3% -12% -31% -69% $74,790,745 LIT Lithium Australia 0.033 6% 6% -3% -1% $37,887,942 LKE Lake Resources 0.165 0% -3% -6% -64% $234,703,377 LPD Lepidico Ltd 0.009 0% 13% -18% -1% $68,744,772 LPI Lithium Pwr Int Ltd 0.5275 0% 0% 49% 9% $330,349,719 LTR Liontown Resources 1.6575 0% -2% -44% 34% $3,980,330,217 MIN Mineral Resources. 60.535 -1% 0% -6% -1667% $11,920,035,158 MLS Metals Australia 0.0385 1% 17% 17% -1% $23,713,375 AKE Allkem Limited 9.655 1% -5% -13% -159% $6,099,125,135 PLL Piedmont Lithium Inc 0.4475 -2% -1% -25% -20% $167,274,744 PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 3.795 1% -3% -7% 5% $11,285,484,975 QPM Queensland Pacific 0.057 -5% -3% -15% -5% $120,750,169 PSC Prospect Res Ltd 0.09 -1% 1% 13% -3% $42,065,611 RLC Reedy Lagoon Corp. 0.005 0% 25% -29% 0% $3,083,418 SYA Sayona Mining Ltd 0.084 -1% 2% -12% -11% $874,930,161 TKL Traka Resources 0.005 0% 0% 0% 0% $4,376,646 TON Triton Min Ltd 0.028 -3% 8% 27% -1% $45,279,429 VUL Vulcan Energy 2.53 8% 14% -12% -380% $395,587,957 GL1 Globallith 1.3 -1% 5% -5% -55% $340,519,041 BMM Balkanminingandmin 0.12 0% -11% -41% -21% $8,256,861 LEL Lithenergy 0.65 -8% -3% 15% -12% $72,622,050 ARN Aldoro Resources 0.086 -9% -13% -3% -7% $12,654,632 NMT Neometals Ltd 0.24 -2% -24% -23% -56% $135,560,445 IGO IGO Limited 9.705 0% -9% -22% -376% $7,337,925,108 AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd 0.032 0% -6% -11% -2% $6,300,528 PAM Pan Asia Metals 0.15 0% 0% -25% -26% $25,053,215 AX8 Accelerate Resources 0.041 11% 0% 78% 2% $17,464,081 AM7 Arcadia Minerals 0.085 0% -6% -19% -12% $9,269,259 AS2 Askarimetalslimited 0.175 0% 3% 0% -26% $13,440,037 BYH Bryah Resources Ltd 0.012 -8% -14% -8% -1% $4,661,869 EMS Eastern Metals 0.03 0% -3% -9% -4% $2,472,787 FG1 Flynngold 0.067 0% 3% 16% -3% $9,137,633 FRS Forrestaniaresources 0.031 -9% 3% -31% -11% $3,478,255 GSM Golden State Mining 0.02 0% 0% -46% -2% $3,821,766 IMI Infinitymining 0.11 -4% -8% -21% -17% $8,953,868 LRV Larvottoresources 0.15 0% 50% 20% -1% $10,088,208 MMC Mitremining 0.21 -7% -9% -21% -7% $10,203,773 RAG Ragnar Metals Ltd 0.023 0% 0% -4% 1% $10,901,562 CTN Catalina Resources 0.004 0% 0% 0% -1% $4,953,948 TMB Tambourahmetals 0.135 0% 13% -23% 3% $11,196,948 TEM Tempest Minerals 0.008 0% 33% 0% -2% $4,091,068 EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.097 2% -3% -12% 2% $12,661,895 WCN White Cliff Min Ltd 0.01 0% -17% -23% 0% $12,570,186 WML Woomera Mining Ltd 0.013 8% 44% 30% -1% $11,474,335 AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd 0.02 11% 33% 25% -4% $59,738,148 CRR Critical Resources 0.0255 -2% -9% -35% -2% $46,224,107 KGD Kula Gold Limited 0.012 -4% -11% -8% -1% $4,665,149 LRS Latin Resources Ltd 0.265 -2% 4% -2% 17% $748,576,674 PNN Power Minerals Ltd 0.27 0% 13% 10% -26% $23,210,868 WR1 Winsome Resources 1.4 -1% 0% -2% 17% $252,184,962 KZR Kalamazoo Resources 0.11 12% 17% 10% -10% $16,794,208 MTM MTM Critical Metals 0.025 4% 14% -31% -5% $2,384,090 QXR Qx Resources Limited 0.024 4% 4% -4% -2% $25,431,741 SCN Scorpion Minerals 0.051 0% -12% -26% -2% $17,682,016 AZI Altamin Limited 0.065 5% 10% 8% -2% $24,286,439 ENT Enterprise Metals 0.003 0% -25% -25% -1% $2,398,413 KAI Kairos Minerals Ltd 0.018 6% -10% -10% 0% $44,555,507 STM Sunstone Metals Ltd 0.017 0% 6% 13% -2% $52,393,743 PGD Peregrine Gold 0.28 -7% 4% 0% -11% $16,883,283 AVW Avira Resources Ltd 0.002 0% 33% 0% 0% $4,267,580 NVA Nova Minerals Ltd 0.255 -2% 0% 6% -43% $54,831,390 GT1 Greentechnology 0.415 -1% 4% 2% -41% $89,450,560 BNR Bulletin Res Ltd 0.17 3% 0% 115% 8% $48,442,532 CAI Calidus Resources 0.19 -3% -3% 31% -8% $118,996,216 MRR Minrex Resources Ltd 0.014 8% 0% 0% -2% $14,103,278 A8G Australasian Metals 0.17 0% 3% -15% -2% $8,860,484 EFE Eastern Resources 0.008 0% 0% -11% -2% $9,935,572 MQR Marquee Resource Ltd 0.027 8% 4% -7% -1% $10,334,610 SRZ Stellar Resources 0.008 0% 0% -27% -1% $8,785,492 LSR Lodestar Minerals 0.0045 -10% -10% -25% 0% $10,116,987 NWM Norwest Minerals 0.0305 0% -15% 2% -2% $8,770,870 AOA Ausmon Resorces 0.0035 0% 0% 17% 0% $3,524,498 VKA Viking Mines Ltd 0.009 -10% 0% 0% 0% $10,252,584 IPT Impact Minerals 0.012 9% 33% -4% 1% $31,511,743 SRI Sipa Resources Ltd 0.021 5% -13% 0% -1% $4,563,163 VMC Venus Metals Cor Ltd 0.11 0% 10% -12% 3% $20,870,155 RGL Riversgold 0.009 0% -25% -31% -2% $8,561,353 ZNC Zenith Minerals Ltd 0.115 15% 29% -4% -15% $35,238,088 RAS Ragusa Minerals Ltd 0.043 2% 8% 13% -7% $5,989,149 G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0.022 5% 10% -24% 0% $6,917,180 EPM Eclipse Metals 0.0095 -5% -5% -27% -1% $20,438,042 EVR Ev Resources Ltd 0.011 0% 0% -21% 0% $10,392,578 WC8 Wildcat Resources 0.935 12% 21% 99% 91% $869,109,337 MNS Magnis Energy Tech 0.081 3% 9% 9% -29% $94,760,354 RIO Rio Tinto Limited 121.2 -1% 3% 7% 479% $45,511,107,836 THR Thor Energy PLC 0.027 0% 0% -25% -3% $4,785,292 YAR Yari Minerals Ltd 0.017 0% 0% 0% 0% $8,200,083 MXR Maximus Resources 0.04 0% 0% 38% 0% $12,824,231 DRE Dreadnought Resources Ltd 0.033 -3% 6% -33% -7% $117,536,140 MM1 Midasmineralsltd 0.155 0% 3% -3% -5% $13,414,823 M2R Miramar 0.019 0% -27% -49% -6% $2,828,521 LLI Loyal Lithium Ltd 0.47 -1% -3% -24% 18% $38,675,031 LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.069 0% 6% -1% -10% $2,562,116 WMC Wiluna Mining Corp 0.205 0% 0% 0% 0% $74,238,031 AUN Aurumin 0.025 0% -17% 0% -4% $7,961,077 ZEO Zeotech Limited 0.055 6% 28% 8% 1% $89,877,999 ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 0.011 -8% 0% 0% -1% $14,136,915 LIS Lisenergylimited 0.215 -2% -2% 2% -11% $140,844,051 GW1 Greenwing Resources 0.13 13% -7% 0% -15% $20,038,920 KTA Krakatoa Resources 0.027 0% 23% 17% -2% $11,742,244 TYX Tyranna Res Ltd 0.02 5% 25% 18% 0% $62,442,081 DAF Discovery Alaska Ltd 0.015 0% -17% -21% -2% $3,513,520 FTL Firetail Resources 0.105 0% 0% 6% -6% $15,635,083 IR1 Irismetals 1.55 -3% -10% -22% 39% $193,688,796 LNR Lanthanein Resources 0.0065 8% 8% -19% -1% $6,729,453 DAL Dalaroometalsltd 0.03 0% 0% -42% -7% $2,448,000 TKM Trek Metals Ltd 0.05 -2% 0% -6% -3% $25,379,644 CY5 Cygnus Metals Ltd 0.175 6% 9% -3% -21% $47,857,035 TUL Tulla Resources 0 0% -100% -100% -33% $118,262,971 WES Wesfarmers Limited 52.6 1% 5% 0% 669% $59,330,483,885 LLL Leolithiumlimited 0.505 0% 0% 0% 2% $498,553,663 OCN Oceanalithiumlimited 0.11 -4% -19% -48% -24% $6,103,798 A11 Atlantic Lithium 0.4 -7% -1% -13% -22% $263,263,914 CMD Cassius Mining Ltd 0.034 -3% 0% 10% 1% $17,385,487 VSR Voltaic Strategic 0.021 0% -13% -34% 0% $10,145,182 SGQ St George Min Ltd 0.045 0% 10% 13% -2% $38,095,874 LLO Lion One Metals Ltd 0.99 1% 1% 2% -18% $13,994,439 PAT Patriot Lithium 0.21 0% 14% 17% -6% $13,416,375 PL3 Patagonia Lithium 0.125 4% -11% 4% 0% $5,880,420 BUR Burleyminerals 0.22 -2% 2% 42% 0% $22,791,770 CHR Charger Metals 0.3 11% 67% 122% -15% $16,770,879 RMX Red Mount Min Ltd 0.004 0% 0% 0% 0% $10,694,304 DLI Delta Lithium 0.57 -2% -8% -20% 10% $309,583,481 LM1 Leeuwin Metals Ltd 0.27 0% -8% -14% 0% $12,091,950 ENT Enterprise Metals 0.003 0% -25% -25% -1% $2,398,413 FIN FIN Resources Ltd 0.029 -6% 12% 142% 1% $19,252,096 DTM Dart Mining NL 0.018 0% 0% -9% -4% $3,489,220 NIS Nickelsearch 0.067 8% 26% 6% -9% $9,938,434 EG1 Evergreenlithium 0.2 0% -13% -29% 0% $11,246,000 MAN Mandrake Res Ltd 0.034 0% -3% -15% -1% $20,357,837 FBM Future Battery 0.089 -1% -11% -23% 4% $45,891,539 XTC Xantippe Res Ltd 0.001 0% 0% 0% 0% $17,528,005 LPM Lithium Plus 0.475 -1% -3% -15% 11% $31,674,336 KOB Kobaresourceslimited 0.067 0% -1% -16% -7% $7,062,917 EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.097 2% -3% -12% 2% $12,661,895 LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.069 0% 6% -1% -10% $2,562,116 IEC Intra Energy Corp 0.004 0% 0% -20% 0% $6,643,126 REC Rechargemetals 0.13 0% -7% -24% -1% $14,475,757 SLM Solismineralsltd 0.25 -2% 11% 2% 18% $19,817,123 AZS Azure Minerals 3.88 1% 11% 42% 366% $1,749,097,735 DYM Dynamicmetalslimited 0.205 0% 24% 3% 0% $7,175,000 TOR Torque Met 0.19 0% -14% -37% 1% $22,928,252 SBR Sabre Resources 0.039 0% -19% 8% 0% $11,367,961 ICL Iceni Gold 0.059 4% 2% -21% -2% $13,671,857 TMX Terrain Minerals 0.005 0% 25% 0% 0% $6,767,139 MHC Manhattan Corp Ltd 0.005 0% -17% -29% 0% $14,684,899 MHK Metalhawk. 0.12 0% 20% 22% -5% $9,452,521 NKL Nickelxltd 0.056 0% -3% 6% -2% $4,917,649 TMB Tambourahmetals 0.135 0% 13% -23% 3% $11,196,948 ANX Anax Metals Ltd 0.03 -3% -14% -6% -2% $13,327,021 PMT Patriotbatterymetals 1.175 2% -9% -1% 43% $453,910,727 BM8 Battery Age Minerals 0.21 -2% -13% -16% -29% $19,164,431 L1M Lightning Minerals 0.125 0% -4% 0% -4% $5,090,633 ADG Adelong Gold Limited 0.006 -8% -14% -14% 0% $3,876,095 TOR Torque Met 0.19 0% -14% -37% 1% $22,928,252 AL8 Alderan Resource Ltd 0.011 -8% -8% -21% 0% $7,400,336 OZM Ozaurum Resources 0.13 31% 51% 30% 6% $15,716,250 FL1 First Lithium Ltd 0.345 -10% 15% 47% 17% $26,969,892 PLN Pioneer Lithium 0.315 0% 5% -16% 0% $8,953,875 WYX Western Yilgarn NL 0.12 -4% 74% 22% -1% $6,207,188 RDN Raiden Resources Ltd 0.037 -5% -5% 23% 3% $91,098,742 PFE Panteraminerals 0.06 0% -6% 2% -5% $6,424,353 GRE Greentechmetals 0.64 17% 60% 64% 50% $30,971,744 OLY Olympio Metals Ltd 0.14 -7% -7% -15% -1% $9,539,925 SUM Summitminerals 0.094 0% 4% -22% -5% $4,479,770 JBY James Bay Minerals 0.295 -5% 0% -24% 0% $10,057,950 SCN Scorpion Minerals 0.051 0% -12% -26% -2% $17,682,016 JNO Juno 0.08 0% -2% 4% -2% $10,852,640 CC9 Chariot Corporation 0.34 6% 33% 0% 0% $23,466,102 OBM Ora Banda Mining Ltd 0.155 -3% 15% 48% 7% $272,871,179

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Turning battery metal heads on the ASX today

GreenTech Metals (ASX:GRE)

GreenTech is moving quickly with its exploration programs at the Osborne JV in WA’s Pilbara region with a 1,500m diamond drilling program as it continues to reveal the true potential of its ground.

GreenTech’s Osborne JV is held with Artemis Resources Artemis Resources (ASX:ARV), with GreenTech commanding 51% and Artemis the rest.

The asset sits to the east of the Ruth Well nickel-copper project in WA’s Pilbara region, next door to Azure Minerals’ (ASX:AZS) monster Andover lithium discovery.

Our special report has more.

 

Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8)

The hits just keep on coming for WC8. It’s up on the news its Pilbara-based Tabba Tabba lithium project near Port Hedland has delivered more exceptional results.

New assay results from the Leia pegmatite in the project’s Central Cluster have revealed Wildcat has hit 180m at 1.1% Li2O from 206m, adding further gravitas and proof that the company has a Tier-1 deposit under its boots.

The Leia pegmatite is now over 1.65km long, up to 180m wide, has been intersected to more than 350m vertical depth, and remains open laterally and at depth.

We’ve hit 𝟭𝟴𝟬𝗺 @ 𝟭.𝟭% 𝗟𝗶𝟮𝗢 at Leia Pegmatite in latest results from our Tabba Tabba #Lithium Project, WA, confirming it as a Tier-1 lithium deposit. Aggressive drilling continues, focusing on Leia, Chewy, and Boba. Further results pending.
https://t.co/bsnYzDGM0M #WC8 pic.twitter.com/Pu0exADM0k

— Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8) (@WildcatRes_WC8) November 5, 2023

The company notes that results are now pending for 34 holes from Leia with Wildcat completing roughly eight of those holes per week.

After the recent Liontown Albemarle/Rinehart tussle, and after SQM’s major move for Azure Minerals, the ASX lithium M&A scene is still frothy, still front and centre. And Aussie mining titan Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) last week also came in hot for WC8.

The Chris Ellison-led mining giant has confirmed it’s now bought up almost a fifth of WC8, increasing its stake in the company to 19.85%.

 

First Lithium (ASX:FL1)

First Lithium’s third hole at the Blakala prospect has hit three pegmatite intersections, providing confidence that the drill program is exploring the correct locations within the strike zone.

Our special report has more.

 

Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN)

Pioneer Lithium has added another string to its bow with the acquisition of a greenfields property in northwest Ontario, nestled between Patriot Lithium’s (ASX:PAT) Dryden project and Canadian-listed Beyond Lithium’s Victory and Victory West projects.

Our special report has more.

 

QX Resources (ASX:QXR)

QX Resources has returned some of the highest-grade samples of lithium ever recorded in the Pilbara, with grades of up to 3.8% lithium dioxide returned from rock chip samples at Turner River.

Our special report has more.

 

Arizona Lithium (ASX:AZL)

Pad construction has started at the site of Arizona Lithium’s first proposed direct lithium extraction facility at its Prairie project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Our special report has more.

 

While GRE, AZL, QXR, PLN and FL1 are Stockhead advertisers, none of them sponsored this article.

The post Eye on Lithium: Big guns PLS, MinRes and Albemarle still bullish; OZM, GRE and ZNC lead gains appeared first on Stockhead.

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