US Lithium Hexafluorophosphate Market Experiences Price Decline Amidst Intensifying Competition

The market for Lithium Hexafluorophosphate in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years, as the demand for new electric cars has increased, as the need for battery production chemicals. However, since the beginning of 2023, prices of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate in the United States have been falling as the cost of imported products has declined regularly. Due to increased market rivalry from China, Lithium-rich Chile reduced its supplied quotes, sparking a pricing war among the industry giants.

The major economies are emphasizing more on self-reliance in terms of domestic supplies of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate rather than depending upon overseas sources in the electric vehicle segment.

More than 10 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2022, with sales anticipated to increase by 35% this year to 14 million. Based on the most recent predictions, electric cars' proportion of the entire auto market has increased from roughly 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 and is expected to expand to 18% this year. It proportionally impacts the consumption of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate.

Lithium Hexafluorophosphate market prices are majorly dependent on the prices of feedstock Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Hydroxide. The discussions for Lithium Carbonate Battery Grade DDP USGC dropped by 3.9% in April to USD 63645/MT from USD 66208/MT in March. Further, the prices plunged by 11.6% in the following month to USD 56271/MT in the USA markets, as a result of which, the prices of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate declined following a similar pricing trend.

The USA surpassed Germany to become the world’s second-largest electric vehicle market in Q1 2023. In the US, EV sales soared over 79% YoY during the quarter.

Ambitious government policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States, which primarily focuses on strengthening domestic supply chains for EVs, batteries, and minerals, are likely to boost electric vehicle market penetration in this decade and beyond. In addition, it also has a proportional impact on the consumption of Lithium Hexafluorophosphate. Looking at the future market, by 2023, the average percentage of electric cars in the overall sales of China, the European Union, and the USA is anticipated to rise to nearly 60%.

The current patterns have important consequences for global oil consumption. For almost a century, the internal combustion engine has been unparalleled, but electric cars are challenging the existing circumstances. They will avoid the requirement for at least 5 million barrels of oil per day by 2030.

As per the ChemAnalyst database, the Lithium Hexafluorophosphate market is presumed to exhibit significant growth in the USA backed by robust demand in downstream battery manufacturing and OEMs manufacturing industries. As sales of BEVs and PHEVs increase, so does the demand for Lithium Hexafluorophosphate, as the foreground is sustainable development and a greener economy.