Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.

Scroll down for a table showing the recent performance of 200 ASX battery metal stocks >>

INDUSTRY FOCUS

Is lithium about to make a comeback?

The consensus from hard rock lithium producers Pilbara Minerals and Galaxy Resources is that that prices have stabilised.

Pilbara (ASX:PLS) shipped 46,682 tonnes of 6 per cent spodumene concentrate at an average selling price of US$742/ tonne ($1036) in the December quarter.

Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) reported an average cash margin of $US288 ($402) per tonne for its 5.76 per cent spodumene concentrate, down 30 per cent on the prior quarter.

But Galaxy told investors that Chinese domestic lithium chemical prices had plateaued following several months of retreat.

Many have interpreted this as “signalling the bottom of the pricing cycle within this region,” Galaxy says.

“Key indicators point to a more buoyant market environment throughout 2019 … and the combination of strong demand growth and supply challenges support a favourable market moving forward.”

China domestic pricing “appears to have stabilised”, says Pilbara Minerals. Source

China is spending big $$ to lock down cobalt supply 

The fact that cobalt is on the nose with investors right now doesn’t seem to be bothering Chinese companies.

China Molybdenum (CMOC) recently announced it was shelling out $1.6 billion to increase its stake in DRC-based copper cobalt miner Tenke Fungurume Mining.

Analysts at Roskill also say several other near-term projects are being developed by Chinese firms in the DRC – which has about half of the world’s cobalt reserves.

As China locks down these crucial supply chains, Japan automakers have announced a joint procurement body to secure (and stable) cobalt supplies, according to Reuters.

The joint body could either secure supplies through long-term contracts with existing global suppliers or by investing in new projects, with financial backing from the Japanese government.

2022 – the year EVs become affordable

Average battery prices will fall well below $150/kWh in 2019, driven by intense competition between manufacturers and falling cobalt and lithium prices, research service Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) says.

The magical $100 per kWh price tag for a battery pack is thought to be the tipping point where EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) costs reach parity.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence boss Simon Moores says 2019 could be the year lithium ion batteries go below $100/kWh.

By 2022 electric vehicles (EVs) will cost the same as a regular car, according to accounting firm Deloitte.

Deloitte says while the upfront cost of EVs still remains the biggest barrier for consumers, as technology improves this and other consumer concerns will gradually ease over time.

The firm predicts that the cost of “battery electric vehicles” (BEVs) will match petrol and diesel in the UK by 2021 and globally by 2022.

This is expected to see the number of EVs on the roads spike by a huge 950 per cent to 21 million by 2030, with BEVs accounting for 70 per cent of total EV sales.

However, with established carmakers rapidly ramping up supply and the emergence of new entrants, we could be facing a saturated market.

“As manufacturers increase their capacity, our projections suggest that supply will vastly outweigh consumer demand by approximately 14 million units over the next decade,” Deloitte says.

Deloitte EV sales projections.

SMALL CAP SPOTLIGHT

Not the strongest week for battery metals — of the companies on our list, about 96 lost ground, 35 were ahead and 56 were steady.

Here’s how that looks for the month of January:

Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop

Ticker Name Share Price [JAN 29 Intraday] 1 Week Price Change % 1 Year Price Change % Market Cap
LRS LATIN RESOURCES 0.003 50 -75 $8,499,345.00
WCN WHITE CLIFF MINERALS 0.023 43.75 -81.5026 $5,312,432.00
PNN PEPINNINI LITHIUM 0.005 25 -89.1304 $3,603,372.25
BKT BLACK ROCK MINING 0.06 17.6471 -6.25 $32,310,282.00
TNO TANDO RESOURCES 0.115 15 86.4211 $22,262,514.00
PUR PURSUIT MINERALS 0.06 13.0435 -52.7273 $7,426,737.00
MXR MAXIMUS RESOURCES 0.07 12.9032 -69.5652 $2,119,111.25
SVM SOVEREIGN METALS 0.079 12.8571 -39.2308 $21,874,790.00
TKL TRAKA RESOURCES 0.019 11.7647 -72.8571 $6,295,099.50
KOR KORAB RESOURCES 0.028 11.5385 3.5714 $8,956,823.00
IEC INTRA ENERGY 0.012 11.1111 -9.0909 $3,877,240.25
ENT ENTERPRISE METALS 0.011 10 -31.25 $4,268,690.50
CHK COHIBA MINERALS 0.016 7.1429 7.1429 $9,969,214.00
RIE RIEDEL RESOURCES 0.016 6.6667 -82.2222 $6,689,115.00
RTR RUMBLE RESOURCES 0.05 6.5217 -19.6721 $17,494,388.00
KSN KINGSTON RESOURCES 0.018 5.8823 -28 $22,017,570.00
PM1 PURE MINERALS 0.018 5.8823 -10 $5,658,823.00
BMT BERKUT MINERALS 0.077 5.4795 -58.3784 $4,182,383.25
ARM AURORA MINERALS 0.02 5.2632 -50 $2,342,665.75
HMX HAMMER METALS 0.02 5.2632 -63.6364 $5,565,941.50
LIT LITHIUM AUSTRALIA 0.0905 4.5455 -55.122 $42,680,592.00
LTR LIONTOWN RESOURCES 0.024 4.3478 -42.8571 $27,215,700.00
SEI SPECIALITY METALS INTERNATIONAL 0.024 4.3478 -20 $13,317,034.00
MLM METALLICA MINERALS 0.024 4.1667 -48.9796 $8,061,182.50
AVL AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM 0.027 4 -40.9091 $51,319,940.00
CZI CASSINI RESOURCES 0.084 3.7037 3.7037 $29,022,596.00
FGR FIRST GRAPHENE 0.1625 3.125 10 $68,257,032.00
SYR SYRAH RESOURCES 2.08 3.1088 -51.5815 $683,771,328.00
TLG TALGA RESOURCES 0.35 2.9412 -45.3125 $76,367,424.00
VXR VENTUREX RESOURCES 0.175 2.9412 -35.1852 $45,195,600.00
TRT TODD RIVER RESOURCES 0.07 2.8986 -50.0552 $10,752,826.00
AXE ARCHER EXPLORATION 0.079 2.6667 -33.0435 $14,739,581.00
MNS MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES 0.335 1.4925 -11.6883 $207,786,240.00
PAN PANORAMIC RESOURCES 0.455 1.087 4.1667 $229,955,504.00
LPI LITHIUM POWER INTERNATIONAL 0.25 1.0753 -45.3488 $61,690,768.00
AYR ALLOY RESOURCES 0.003 0 -57.1429 $4,731,233.00
ADN ANDROMEDA METALS 0.007 0 -22.2222 $7,590,956.00
ADV ARDIDEN 0.004 0 -82.6087 $6,707,521.00
ARE ARGONAUT RESOURCES 0.025 0 -10.7143 $38,859,516.00
AMD ARROW MINERALS 0.014 0 -54.5455 $4,718,109.00
AEE AURA ENERGY 0.018 0 -36.6667 $20,732,508.00
ANW AUS TIN MINING 0.016 0 -42.3077 $29,822,562.00
BSM BASS METALS 0.014 0 -25 $41,421,688.00
BDI BLINA MINERALS NL 0.001 0 -50 $4,363,882.50
BYH BRYAH RESOURCES 0.08 0 -38.4615 $4,868,009.50
CAD CAENEUS MINERALS 0.001 0 -66.6667 $14,063,075.00
CFE CAPE LAMBERT RESOURCES 0.016 0 -75 $16,214,425.00
CCZ CASTILLO COPPER 0.016 0 -75 $10,265,512.00
CHN CHALICE GOLD MINES 0.13 0 -7.4074 $33,321,016.00
CMC CHINA MAGNESIUM 0.018 0 -21.7391 $6,343,894.00
CGM COUGAR METALS 0.003 0 -70 $2,933,408.00
CGN CRATER GOLD MINING 0.013 0 -13.3333 $23,614,774.00
DHR DARK HORSE RESOURCES 0.004 0 -81.8182 $7,904,346.50
DTM DART MINING 0.006 0 -38.4615 $5,568,257.00
DGR DGR GLOBAL 0.12 0 25 $73,581,824.00
EME ENERGY METALS 0.115 0 4.5455 $24,113,580.00
EUR EUROPEAN LITHIUM 0.088 0 -56.0976 $49,492,940.00
FEL FE 0.018 0 -66.0377 $6,725,303.50
GBE GLOBE METALS AND MINING 0.015 0 -22.2222 $6,522,913.00
HAV HAVILAH RESOURCES 0.165 0 -36 $34,919,848.00
HWK HAWKSTONE MINING 0.018 0 -35.7143 $10,265,724.00
KLH KALIA 0.003 0 -78.5714 $7,543,042.00
KNL KIBARAN RESOURCES 0.13 0 -16.129 $35,838,524.00
KTA KRAKATOA RESOURCES 0.025 0 -51.9231 $2,937,500.00
LPD LEPIDICO 0.017 0 -74.1935 $53,698,804.00
LML LINCOLN MINERALS 0.006 0 -82.8571 $3,449,902.00
MZN MARINDI METALS 0.005 0 -53.8462 $11,908,553.00
MQR MARQUEE RESOURCES 0.06 0 -87.5 $2,564,657.00
MZZ MATADOR MINING 0.165 0 -54.1667 $8,890,750.00
MCT METALICITY 0.013 0 -68.8889 $8,434,492.00
MLS METALS AUSTRALIA 0.003 0 -42.8571 $9,367,191.00
MRR MINREX RESOURCES 0.024 0 -80 $2,301,065.50
MTH MITHRIL RESOURCES 0.005 0 -88.2395 $2,111,946.00
MTB MOUNT BURGESS MINING 0.004 0 -63.6364 $1,768,317.63
NWC NEW WORLD COBALT 0.018 0 -83.6364 $9,927,317.00
PSM PENINSULA MINES 0.0045 0 -67.8571 $3,882,924.50
PIO PIONEER RESOURCES 0.017 0 -41.3793 $25,569,906.00
PSC PROSPECT RESOURCES 0.022 0 -66.6667 $45,014,528.00
RMX RED MOUNTAIN MINING 0.006 0 -45.4545 $4,668,220.50
SVD SCANDIVANADIUM 0.015 0 -40.7895 $5,277,991.50
SCI SILVER CITY MINERALS 0.014 0 -70.2128 $4,111,943.50
SXX SOUTHERN CROSS EXPLORATION 0.006 0 -14.2857 $6,461,059.00
SUH SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING 0.031 0 -70.4762 $2,742,553.50
SGQ ST GEORGE MINING 0.13 0 -39.5349 $38,755,108.00
SRK STRIKE RESOURCES 0.046 0 -37.8378 $6,685,376.50
SRN SUREFIRE RESOURCES 0.006 0 -59.1667 $3,084,575.50
THX THUNDELARRA 0.013 0 -56.6667 $8,399,246.00
TNG TNG 0.11 0 -31.25 $105,981,416.00
TKM TREK METALS 0.009 0 -71.875 $2,810,732.50
WKT WALKABOUT RESOURCES 0.098 0 -20 $30,424,974.00
WML WOOMERA MINING 0.067 0 -93.3 $7,551,197.00
RIO RIO TINTO 82.8 -0.0497 9.8074 $120,469,987,328.00
OMH OM HOLDINGS 1.335 -0.3774 15.3401 $974,982,784.00
SO4 SALT LAKE POTASH 0.44 -1.1494 -14.4279 $88,696,352.00
KDR KIDMAN RESOURCES 1.1825 -1.2712 -37.7005 $471,588,960.00
LI3 LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED 0.071 -1.3889 -49.2857 $6,448,370.50
CXO CORE LITHIUM 0.06 -1.6667 -19.1781 $40,938,132.00
GWR GWR GROUP 0.098 -2 50.7692 $24,844,708.00
JMS JUPITER MINES 0.24 -2.0833 234.0815 $460,362,880.00
DEV DEVEX RESOURCES 0.046 -2.1277 -60.3448 $4,229,247.00
NMT NEOMETALS 0.22 -2.2222 -46.6667 $119,674,336.00
GME GME RESOURCES 0.09 -2.2727 -42.3254 $41,464,060.00
POS POSEIDON NICKEL 0.041 -2.439 -18.3673 $105,708,072.00
GPX GRAPHEX MINING 0.18 -2.7027 -40.9836 $15,594,610.00
COB COBALT BLUE 0.17 -2.8571 -77.027 $21,180,900.00
S32 SOUTH32 3.355 -2.9499 -9.5569 $16,619,333,632.00
AJM ALTURA MINING 0.16 -3.0303 -58.9744 $291,258,624.00
FCC FIRST COBALT 0.18 -3.0303 -86.2069 $54,291,492.00
BOA BOADICEA RESOURCES 0.155 -3.125 -24.3902 $8,191,001.50
BPL BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING 0.03 -3.2258 -63.8554 $4,436,502.00
GLN GALAN LITHIUM 0.31 -3.2258 200 $33,514,942.00
HXG HEXAGON RESOURCES 0.14 -3.4483 -36.3636 $40,849,676.00
MIN MINERAL RESOURCES 15.4 -3.5581 -17.3694 $2,904,110,592.00
IDA INDIANA RESOURCES 0.054 -3.5714 -10.405 $5,167,087.50
N27 NORTHERN COBALT 0.072 -4 -86.2857 $3,694,565.25
VRC VOLT RESOURCES 0.018 -4 -35.1351 $34,931,476.00
DEG DE GREY MINING 0.11 -4.1667 -14.8148 $48,662,916.00
ORN ORION MINERALS 0.023 -4.1667 -28.125 $43,095,872.00
TON TRITON MINERALS 0.048 -4.1667 -53.5354 $42,648,344.00
ARU ARAFURA RESOURCES 0.046 -4.2553 -61.1378 $32,463,140.00
BAT BATTERY MINERALS 0.022 -4.3478 -76.087 $24,500,774.00
KAI KAIROS MINERALS 0.023 -4.3478 -46.3415 $18,750,002.00
NZC NZURI COPPER 0.22 -4.3478 -45 $65,099,208.00
THR THOR MINING 0.022 -4.3478 -62.069 $15,771,812.00
ORE OROCOBRE 3.29 -4.386 -52.5399 $855,212,928.00
ARL ARDEA RESOURCES 0.515 -4.5045 -65.8065 $55,644,920.00
BUX BUXTON RESOURCES 0.105 -4.5455 -19.2308 $14,285,820.00
NVA NOVA MINERALS 0.02 -4.5455 -48.7805 $16,298,817.00
VMS VENTURE MINERALS 0.021 -4.5455 -53.3333 $10,932,852.00
CUL CULLEN RESOURCES 0.02 -4.7619 -51.8716 $3,389,296.50
HIG HIGHLANDS PACIFIC 0.1 -4.7619 6.383 $109,273,384.00
INF INFINITY LITHIUM 0.056 -4.7619 -60 $11,410,266.00
BAR BARRA RESOURCES 0.038 -5 -32.1429 $20,477,848.00
E25 ELEMENT 25 0.175 -5.4054 -16.6667 $14,693,761.00
ASN ANSON RESOURCES 0.071 -5.4795 -72.4 $34,180,000.00
CNJ CONICO 0.016 -5.5555 -62.2222 $5,979,890.50
LCD LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED 0.017 -5.5555 -41.3793 $4,678,043.00
AML AEON METALS 0.25 -5.6604 -10.7143 $146,867,424.00
PLS PILBARA MINERALS 0.66 -5.6738 -34.1584 $1,160,101,376.00
BGS BIRIMIAN 0.165 -5.7143 -76.7606 $43,347,168.00
RDS REDSTONE RESOURCES 0.016 -5.8824 27.8721 $7,535,429.00
TMT TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA 0.33 -5.8824 8.4746 $22,413,866.00
VML VITAL METALS 0.008 -5.8824 -27.2727 $13,940,890.00
OKR OKAPI RESOURCES 0.23 -6.1224 -63.4921 $7,898,859.50
AGY ARGOSY MINERALS 0.145 -6.6667 -64.557 $129,289,520.00
AOU AUROCH MINERALS 0.075 -6.6667 -33.3333 $7,035,248.00
AUZ AUSTRALIAN MINES 0.042 -6.6667 -61.8182 $118,605,224.00
4CE FORCE COMMODITIES 0.014 -6.6667 -87.2727 $5,934,822.00
CLQ CLEAN TEQ 0.435 -7.4468 -70.5085 $324,651,808.00
PLL PIEDMONT LITHIUM 0.095 -7.619 -48.9474 $64,681,664.00
IRC INTERMIN RESOURCES 0.12 -7.6923 -36.8421 $28,246,616.00
MEI METEORIC RESOURCES 0.012 -8.3333 -81.0345 $6,319,013.50
TAR TARUGA MINERALS 0.06 -8.3333 -47.619 $7,764,198.00
GXY GALAXY RESOURCES 2.055 -8.37 -40.2299 $847,649,984.00
CLA CELSIUS RESOURCES 0.052 -8.4746 -58.4615 $40,889,776.00
GED GOLDEN DEEPS 0.043 -8.5106 -38.5714 $7,369,374.00
AUR AURIS MINERALS 0.032 -8.5714 -36 $13,077,803.00
HGM HIGH GRADE METALS 0.01 -9.0909 -84.8485 $4,529,378.50
BEM BLACKEARTH MINERALS NL 0.071 -9.3333 -70.4348 $4,133,414.00
CAZ CAZALY RESOURCES 0.018 -10 -60 $4,190,743.00
MTC METALSTECH 0.036 -10 -86.1538 $4,210,340.00
POW PROTEAN ENERGY 0.019 -10 -45.4545 $5,528,322.00
SYA SAYONA MINING 0.019 -10 -78.0488 $30,888,440.00
VMC VENUS METALS CORP 0.135 -10 8 $12,219,483.00
ZNC ZENITH MINERALS 0.068 -10.1266 -62.6316 $15,106,111.00
LKE LAKE RESOURCES 0.063 -10.1449 -68.2051 $22,700,790.00
CRL COMET RESOURCES 0.026 -10.3448 -75.2381 $5,991,700.00
BSX BLACKSTONE MINERALS 0.085 -11.1111 -80.8696 $9,522,019.00
CDT CASTLE MINERALS 0.008 -11.1111 -63.6364 $1,790,367.75
CZN CORAZON MINING 0.005 -11.1111 -78.9474 $5,061,133.50
EUC EUROPEAN COBALT 0.025 -11.1111 -77.1429 $18,280,736.00
INR IONEER 0.1625 -11.1111 -53.6232 $235,197,360.00
ESR ESTRELLA RESOURCES 0.015 -11.7647 -31.8182 $7,378,249.50
PGM PLATINA RESOURCES 0.074 -13.924 -53.1034 $17,960,584.00
EMH EUROPEAN METALS 0.35 -14.1026 -44.1667 $49,125,148.00
GPP GREENPOWER ENERGY 0.003 -14.2857 -81.25 $4,696,111.00
JRV JERVOIS MINING 0.255 -14.5455 -60.8333 $52,466,804.00
RNU RENASCOR RESOURCES 0.017 -15 -63.8298 $19,608,214.00
AZI ALTA ZINC 0.005 -16.6667 -54.5455 $6,844,828.50
HNR HANNANS 0.009 -18.1818 -66.6667 $17,891,590.00
AVZ AVZ MINERALS 0.055 -19.403 -81.0526 $101,976,920.00
PMY PACIFICO MINERALS 0.005 -20 -50 $6,585,751.50
SI6 SIX SIGMA METALS 0.004 -20 -75 $1,830,012.63
SBR SABRE RESOURCES 0.007 -22.2222 -73.0769 $2,848,815.25
CZR COZIRON RESOURCES 0.008 -23.0769 -52.381 $17,855,512.00
RLC REEDY LAGOON CORP 0.006 -25 -87.234 $2,413,630.25
BAU BAUXITE RESOURCES 0.037 -26 -40.4895 $7,933,626.50
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