April China lithium import/export data: lithium carbonate imports and lithium hydroxide exports rose year over year

Overview

This report focuses on China's lithium product import and export data for April 2026, covering trade volumes, net imports/net exports, and price changes for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. The key takeaways are that China's lithium carbonate imports continued to grow, lithium hydroxide exports increased year over year, but lithium hydroxide turned into net imports on a year-to-date basis in 2026. On the price side, lithium carbonate import prices rose sharply both month over month and year over year, while lithium hydroxide export prices rose modestly year over year.

Core views

The report's core view is that China's lithium trade data continue to show expanding demand for lithium carbonate imports, with year-to-date net imports materially above the same period last year; meanwhile, lithium hydroxide exports rose year over year in April, but the year-to-date net trade position indicates a more pronounced import bias. On the pricing front, the year-over-year increase in lithium carbonate import prices is significant, suggesting a clear improvement in the trade price environment for lithium raw materials versus the same period last year.

Analysis framework

The report uses customs import/export data tracking, comparing April 2026 with the same period last year and the prior month on a monthly basis, and combining that with historical annual net import and net export data from 2021 to 2025 to observe trends. The analysis focuses on trade volumes, net trade direction, year-over-year changes, month-over-month changes, and unit prices.

Methodology notes

• industry data trackingimport/export volume and price analysis

  Assess lithium trade trends through monthly import/export volumes, net imports/net exports, and average price changes.

  The report analyzes lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide separately, comparing the April single month, year-to-date 2026 data, and historical annual data to judge the strength of China's lithium product trade and price changes.

Asset mapping & comparison

Structured mapping from thesis to named assets (strengths, weaknesses, peers, risks).

• lithium carbonate

  One of the core tracked commodities; the report focuses on China's import volumes, net imports, and import prices.

  Strengths

  April imports rose year over year, year-to-date 2026 net imports increased 47.8% year over year, and import prices rose 74% year over year.

  Weaknesses

  Import growth may also indicate dependence on external supply or inventory adjustment pressure in the domestic market.

  Comparison

  Net lithium carbonate imports in 2025 were 237.7kt, up 2.8% from 2024; net imports in 2024 were 231kt, up 55% from 2023.

  Risks

  If downstream demand falls short of expectations or prices retreat, the improvement in import volumes and prices may not be sustained.

• lithium hydroxide

  One of the core tracked commodities; the report focuses on China's export volumes, net trade direction, and export prices.

  Strengths

  April export volume rose 31% year over year, and the export price rose 4% year over year.

  Weaknesses

  China was a net importer of 10.2kt of lithium hydroxide year to date through 2026, marking a shift from the historical net export pattern.

  Comparison

  Net lithium hydroxide exports in 2025 were 35.4kt, down 69% from 2024; net exports in 2024 were 113kt, down 11% from 2023.

  Risks

  Export prices were broadly flat month over month, and the net import status may reflect changes in supply-demand structure or trade flows.

Key data

• April lithium carbonate imports32.7ktUp 15% year over year, versus 28.3kt in the same period last year.
• Year-to-date 2026 net lithium carbonate imports114.0ktUp 47.8% from the same period last year.
• April lithium hydroxide exports5.5ktUp 31% year over year, versus 4.2kt in the same period last year.
• Year-to-date 2026 lithium hydroxide net tradenet imports of 10.2ktThe report notes that China was a net importer of lithium hydroxide year to date through 2026.
• April lithium carbonate import price$16,586/tUp 11% month over month and 74% year over year; March was $14,994/t, and April 2025 was $9,557/t.
• April lithium hydroxide export price$14,894/tBroadly flat month over month, with March at $14,869/t; up 4% year over year versus $14,297/t in April 2025.
• 2025 net lithium carbonate imports237.7ktUp 2.8% versus 2024.
• 2025 net lithium hydroxide exports35.4ktDown 69% versus 2024.

Impact & implications

For the lithium value chain, rising lithium carbonate imports and higher import prices may reflect changes in downstream demand in China, supply structure, or overseas procurement costs; the shift in lithium hydroxide to net imports year to date suggests a change in trade structure versus historical years. The report does not directly provide an investment rating, but these volume and price data can serve as important tracking indicators for lithium prices, supply chain inventories, the overseas mining segment, and the health of China's processing segment.

Risks

• The report is a data update and does not provide a full supply-demand model or price forecast, so it cannot be used as a standalone investment conclusion.
• Trade data may be affected by inventory cycles, customs reporting timing, seasonality, and monthly volatility.
• If the rise in lithium carbonate prices is driven by short-term disturbances, its sustainability still needs to be verified in subsequent months.
• The shift in lithium hydroxide from historical net exports to year-to-date net imports may reflect a structural change, or it may be influenced by temporary trade arrangements.

What to watch

• Whether lithium carbonate import volumes and import prices continue to rise year over year in the coming months.
• Whether lithium hydroxide remains in net import status or returns to net exports.
• Changes in the price spread between China's lithium salt prices and overseas import prices.
• Whether downstream battery and EV demand continues to support lithium salt trade volumes.
• How full-year 2026 net import/net export data compare with the direction seen in 2025.