Albemarle sees H2 lithium demand drop on auto shutdowns

摘要

The stability of Albemarle battery-grade lithium shipment trends in the second quarter of 2020 is expected to drop off in the second half of the year as automotive shutdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic begin to restrict the supply chain, the company said Thursday, though demand may recover by the end of 2020 as vehicle production restarts. “Battery-grade customers continue to forecast a stable order pattern in the second quarter as cathode and battery manufacturers catch up on backlog orders placed prior to COVID-19,” Albemarle Chief Financial Officer Scott Tozier said during a call with investors. “We expect to see the impact of recent automotive [original equipment manufacturer] shutdowns flow through the supply chain in the second half. By year-end, OEM automotive restarts are expected to be supportive of battery and lithium demand.”