Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA

Overnight US Lithium Stocks Lead Gains; Lithium Sector Operating Logic Sees Transition of Old and New as Geopolitical Conflict May Raise Sector Pivot Again?

TradingKey - Overnight, U.S. lithium mining stocks were among the top gainers. Sigma Lithium (SGML) led the sector, closing up 17.1%; Lithium Americas (LAC) rose 7.62%; Albemarle (ALB) climbed 6.79%; and SQM closed 6.71% higher. Looking back at the past year, the lithium battery sector has maintained a sustained rally. Albemarle (ALB) surged from its post-U.S.-China trade war low of $48.57 to a high of $205 this year. The key driver behind this move was better-than-expected energy storage demand triggered by the rise in AI computing power requirements. During this period, lithium carbonate futures rebounded from a mid-year low of 59,000 RMB/ton to the 150,000 RMB/ton level. However, judging by recent performance, the sector appears to have shifted from its previous unilateral upward trend toward a period of range-bound volatility.