The lithium carbonate price witnessed one of its strongest quarterly recoveries in Q1 2026 as demand from electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers, energy storage systems (ESS), and cathode producers accelerated worldwide. After an extended period of oversupply and price corrections throughout much of 2025, the global lithium market entered a new phase characterized by aggressive inventory rebuilding, tighter spot availability, and improved downstream purchasing activity.
According to ChemAnal