High Voltage: Spodumene prices ‘nothing to complain about’, says Pilbara Minerals boss
Mining
Mining
Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.
2018 was tough for the lithium chemicals industry. Prices have stabilised since then, but Australian lithium miners are getting less cash for their spodumene as a result.
In a quarterly conference call, Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) boss Ken Brinsden acknowledges the weaker market but maintains that current prices – he references $US742 ($1050) tonne — was “actually very strong pricing”.
“Pricing [has] obviously come off a high — but it’s nonetheless still a very strong price,” he says.
“There is nothing to complain about with respect to $US742 a ton. That will translate to very healthy spodumene business in Australia.”
These guys are still making profits, in other words.
Like last week, when lithium chemical producer Orocobre (ASX:ORE) announced a 20 per cent drop in March quarter cash margins.
Despite this, Orocobre says it has maintained a profit margin of 56 per cent or $US5258/tonne.
In the meantime, Brinsden says, EV sales continue to grow very strongly around the world.
“And the net effect of that of course, is increasing demand, and another dynamic I would expect to come into play during 2019 is further exports from China of battery ready products,” he says.
Case in point; BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, reported a 632 per cent jump in profits in the March quarter compared to the March quarter last year.
The Chinese company said battery electric vehicle sales jumped 755 per cent, while oil-fuelled vehicle sales fell 46 per cent over the same period.
Following news that cobalt prices had rebounded for the first time in 5 months, BMW announced it would be bypassing the DRC — which controls more than two-thirds of supply — altogether.
The carmaker reckons the cobalt used in its next-generation electric vehicles will come from Australia and Morocco.
Carmakers are recognising they need to reduce long term price and supply risk for all critical battery minerals, says Caspar Rawles, cobalt analyst at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence.
It’s good news for non-DRC miners and advanced explorers; their supply will be in high demand from those automakers, like BMW, who are diversifying away from the DRC.
“Which of course will mean those producers should be able to achieve the higher end of prices (relative to the current market),” Rawles says.
Another reasonably quiet week for the small cap winners column — which reflects the current market more than anything — with most stocks on our list either treading water or losing ground.
Check it out:
The highlights came from manganese explorer Bryah Resources (ASX:BYH), graphite play Kibaran Resources (ASX:KNL), lithium explorer Dart Mining (ASX:DTM), and vanadium developers TNG (ASX:TNG) and Technology Metals (ASX:TMT).
READ:Think high vanadium prices are good news? You’re wrong.
Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>
(Is there a small cap battery metals stock missing from our list? Drop us a line!)
Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop.
Ticker | Name | 1 Week Price Change % | 1 Year Price Change % | Share Price [April 29] | Market Cap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LRS | LATIN RESOURCES | 33 | -83 | 0.0015 | $5,049,668.50 |
BYH | BRYAH RESOURCES | 28 | -17 | 0.08 | $5,077,535.00 |
SBR | SABRE RESOURCES | 20 | -73 | 0.006 | $2,441,841.75 |
FEL | FE | 20 | -40 | 0.015 | $7,040,303.50 |
KNL | KIBARAN RESOURCES | 18 | -4 | 0.13 | $33,651,412.00 |
DTM | DART MINING | 17 | -40 | 0.006 | $5,568,257.00 |
TNG | TNG | 14 | -24 | 0.12 | $120,433,432.00 |
RIE | RIEDEL RESOURCES | 13 | -88 | 0.009 | $4,180,697.00 |
GWR | GWR GROUP | 11 | -44 | 0.1 | $24,084,156.00 |
CHK | COHIBA MINERALS | 10 | 38 | 0.011 | $7,310,756.50 |
BSM | BASS METALS | 10 | -61 | 0.011 | $30,864,620.00 |
RDS | REDSTONE RESOURCES | 10 | -12 | 0.011 | $4,739,643.00 |
WML | WOOMERA MINING | 9 | -77 | 0.035 | $3,944,655.25 |
HNR | HANNANS | 9 | -29 | 0.014 | $23,855,454.00 |
EME | ENERGY METALS | 9 | 20 | 0.12 | $23,065,164.00 |
JRV | JERVOIS MINING | 9 | -39 | 0.24 | $53,583,120.00 |
BDC | BARDOC GOLD | 9 | -51 | 0.055 | $52,497,188.00 |
HWK | HAWKSTONE MINING | 8 | -68 | 0.013 | $7,414,134.00 |
AMD | ARROW MINERALS | 8 | -52 | 0.013 | $4,403,568.50 |
MEI | METEORIC RESOURCES | 8 | -63 | 0.013 | $8,897,469.00 |
SVD | SCANDIVANADIUM | 8 | -49 | 0.012 | $4,574,259.50 |
ESR | ESTRELLA RESOURCES | 8 | -46 | 0.014 | $6,894,983.00 |
TLG | TALGA RESOURCES | 7 | -8 | 0.695 | $137,781,920.00 |
CRL | COMET RESOURCES | 7 | -53 | 0.031 | $7,378,000.00 |
HMX | HAMMER METALS | 7 | -16 | 0.032 | $9,743,210.00 |
TMT | TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA | 6 | -53 | 0.185 | $17,073,062.00 |
N27 | NORTHERN COBALT | 5 | -80 | 0.059 | $3,659,311.50 |
VMS | VENTURE MINERALS | 5 | -55 | 0.02 | $10,412,240.00 |
JMS | JUPITER MINES | 5 | -1 | 0.34 | $656,262,016.00 |
A4N | ALPHA HPA | 4 | 8 | 0.12 | $65,216,504.00 |
AEE | AURA ENERGY | 4 | -48 | 0.0125 | $13,886,406.00 |
AXE | ARCHER EXPLORATION | 4 | -45 | 0.077 | $14,785,430.00 |
AUR | AURIS MINERALS | 4 | -57 | 0.026 | $10,625,715.00 |
BMT | BERKUT MINERALS | 4 | -4 | 0.135 | $12,957,750.00 |
LTR | LIONTOWN RESOURCES | 4 | 5 | 0.029 | $39,280,416.00 |
DGR | DGR GLOBAL | 4 | 56 | 0.14 | $79,713,648.00 |
GPX | GRAPHEX MINING | 4 | 9 | 0.3 | $24,449,634.00 |
VMC | VENUS METALS | 3 | 20 | 0.145 | $14,381,110.00 |
FGR | FIRST GRAPHENE | 3 | -3 | 0.175 | $74,402,808.00 |
FCC | FIRST COBALT | 3 | -78 | 0.17 | $57,739,324.00 |
ERX | EXORE RESOURCES | 3 | 60 | 0.08 | $36,312,304.00 |
LPD | LEPIDICO | 3 | 3 | 0.042 | $137,603,184.00 |
AVZ | AVZ MINERALS | 2 | -80 | 0.041 | $93,611,136.00 |
MQR | MARQUEE RESOURCES | 2 | -89 | 0.042 | $1,795,259.88 |
MZZ | MATADOR MINING | 2 | -18 | 0.23 | $15,769,479.00 |
ASN | ANSON RESOURCES | 2 | 11 | 0.06 | $28,905,016.00 |
SVM | SOVEREIGN METALS | 1 | -25 | 0.083 | $29,460,442.00 |
KDR | KIDMAN RESOURCES | 0 | -31 | 1.365 | $542,428,544.00 |
AUZ | AUSTRALIAN MINES | 0 | -71 | 0.023 | $68,916,000.00 |
ANW | AUS TIN MINING | 0 | -42 | 0.01 | $22,460,114.00 |
SEI | SPECIALITY METALS | 0 | 32 | 0.029 | $17,201,168.00 |
PUR | PURSUIT MINERALS | 0 | -78 | 0.023 | $4,106,128.50 |
PSM | PENINSULA MINES | 0 | -60 | 0.004 | $3,451,488.25 |
CDT | CASTLE MINERALS | 0 | -68 | 0.007 | $1,566,571.88 |
BPL | BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING | 0 | -83 | 0.019 | $2,809,784.50 |
MLS | METALS AUSTRALIA | 0 | -60 | 0.001 | $5,383,595.50 |
NMT | NEOMETALS | 0 | -31 | 0.22 | $122,394,208.00 |
SO4 | SALT LAKE POTASH | 0 | -2 | 0.565 | $116,542,880.00 |
CMC | CHINA MAGNESIUM | 0 | 90 | 0.04 | $18,497,542.00 |
OAU | ORA GOLD | 0 | -65 | 0.008 | $5,168,767.00 |
ARE | ARGONAUT RESOURCES | 0 | -43 | 0.013 | $20,206,948.00 |
MTB | MOUNT BURGESS MINING | 0 | -67 | 0.003 | $1,355,638.13 |
OAR | OAKDALE RESOURCES | 0 | -15 | 0.017 | $3,542,041.25 |
GPP | GREENPOWER ENERGY | 0 | -77 | 0.002 | $3,913,426.00 |
4CE | FORCE COMMODITIES | 0 | -88 | 0.009 | $4,245,158.50 |
BOA | BOADICEA RESOURCES | 0 | -5 | 0.2 | $10,569,034.00 |
AYR | ALLOY RESOURCES | 0 | -67 | 0.003 | $3,154,155.25 |
TKM | TREK METALS | 0 | -71 | 0.006 | $1,561,518.13 |
SUH | SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | $4,423,473.50 |
RNU | RENASCOR RESOURCES | 0 | -42 | 0.021 | $24,221,912.00 |
ADN | ANDROMEDA METALS | 0 | -21 | 0.0055 | $6,777,496.00 |
WCN | WHITE CLIFF MINERALS | 0 | -93 | 0.007 | $2,822,081.25 |
CLQ | CLEAN TEQ | 0 | -64 | 0.335 | $261,214,112.00 |
HXG | HEXAGON RESOURCES | 0 | -29 | 0.135 | $39,390,760.00 |
CZR | COZIRON RESOURCES | 0 | -52 | 0.013 | $23,212,166.00 |
TAR | TARUGA MINERALS | 0 | -80 | 0.049 | $6,917,194.50 |
POW | PROTEAN ENERGY | 0 | -59 | 0.013 | $4,048,684.25 |
CAZ | CAZALY RESOURCES | 0 | -60 | 0.023 | $6,021,838.50 |
MCT | METALICITY | 0 | -69 | 0.009 | $5,422,173.50 |
VRC | VOLT RESOURCES | 0 | -40 | 0.02 | $30,565,042.00 |
MZN | MARINDI METALS | 0 | -56 | 0.004 | $8,389,484.00 |
RLC | REEDY LAGOON | 0 | -75 | 0.005 | $2,011,358.50 |
BDI | BLINA MINERALS | 0 | -33 | 0.001 | $4,543,882.50 |
NZC | NZURI COPPER | 0 | -2 | 0.315 | $93,210,232.00 |
CGM | COUGAR METALS | 0 | -83 | 0.001 | $1,121,027.75 |
CGN | CRATER GOLD MINING | 0 | -32 | 0.013 | $15,957,446.00 |
LML | LINCOLN MINERALS | 0 | -77 | 0.007 | $3,449,902.00 |
LCD | LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED | 0 | -62 | 0.016 | $4,678,043.00 |
IDA | INDIANA RESOURCES | 0 | -21 | 0.042 | $4,239,795.00 |
SRN | SUREFIRE RESOURCES | 0 | -69 | 0.004 | $1,762,614.50 |
DEV | DEVEX RESOURCES | 0 | -51 | 0.04 | $4,225,606.00 |
LPI | LITHIUM POWER INTERNATIONAL | 0 | -20 | 0.235 | $65,628,476.00 |
CNJ | CONICO | 0 | -62 | 0.015 | $5,276,374.00 |
CZN | CORAZON MINING | 0 | -70 | 0.003 | $4,142,066.00 |
KTA | KRAKATOA RESOURCES | 0 | -18 | 0.028 | $3,290,000.00 |
IRC | INTERMIN RESOURCES | 0 | -39 | 0.125 | $28,246,616.00 |
RMX | RED MOUNTAIN MINING | 0 | -44 | 0.005 | $3,890,184.00 |
CUL | CULLEN RESOURCES | 0 | -66 | 0.014 | $2,372,507.50 |
JRL | JINDALEE RESOURCES | 0 | 20 | 0.24 | $8,398,746.00 |
SXX | SOUTHERN CROSS EXPLORATION | 0 | -38 | 0.005 | $5,384,216.00 |
GBE | GLOBE METALS AND MINING | 0 | 7 | 0.015 | $6,988,835.50 |
BSX | BLACKSTONE MINERALS | 0 | -84 | 0.066 | $7,405,514.50 |
MTC | METALSTECH | 0 | -90 | 0.018 | $2,222,123.75 |
TNO | TANDO RESOURCES | 0 | -49 | 0.1 | $19,472,510.00 |
RIO | RIO TINTO | 0 | 38 | 97.47 | $142,561,034,240.00 |
PLS | PILBARA MINERALS | -1 | -26 | 0.645 | $1,201,472,512.00 |
INF | INFINITY LITHIUM | -1 | -26 | 0.089 | $16,544,886.00 |
BKT | BLACK ROCK MINING | -1 | 53 | 0.079 | $45,087,416.00 |
TRT | TODD RIVER RESOURCES | -1 | -24 | 0.071 | $11,964,412.00 |
PGM | PLATINA RESOURCES | -2 | -34 | 0.064 | $16,639,953.00 |
BEM | BLACKEARTH MINERALS | -2 | -56 | 0.062 | $5,436,564.50 |
AOU | AUROCH MINERALS | -2 | -43 | 0.057 | $5,728,702.00 |
GME | GME RESOURCES | -2 | -64 | 0.056 | $25,553,432.00 |
MNS | MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES | -2 | -34 | 0.255 | $155,839,680.00 |
LKE | LAKE RESOURCES | -2 | -57 | 0.049 | $20,192,994.00 |
ORE | OROCOBRE | -2 | -39 | 3.31 | $876,621,568.00 |
MIN | MINERAL RESOURCES | -2 | -7 | 15.73 | $3,052,839,680.00 |
ARL | ARDEA RESOURCES | -2 | -53 | 0.44 | $46,173,260.00 |
S32 | SOUTH32 | -2 | -4 | 3.345 | $17,129,325,568.00 |
HIG | HIGHLANDS PACIFIC | -2 | 27 | 0.105 | $114,737,056.00 |
TON | TRITON MINERALS | -2 | -47 | 0.041 | $38,012,656.00 |
EMH | EUROPEAN METALS | -3 | -4 | 0.39 | $58,656,892.00 |
DEG | DE GREY MINING | -3 | -44 | 0.095 | $40,622,956.00 |
BGS | BIRIMIAN | -3 | -72 | 0.15 | $39,676,516.00 |
NXE | NEW ENERGY MINERALS | -3 | -87 | 0.03 | $4,526,863.50 |
SYR | SYRAH RESOURCES | -3 | -62 | 1.13 | $413,159,072.00 |
BAR | BARRA RESOURCES | -3 | -43 | 0.029 | $16,166,722.00 |
COB | COBALT BLUE | -3 | -89 | 0.145 | $18,689,030.00 |
SGQ | ST GEORGE MINING | -3 | 8 | 0.14 | $41,736,268.00 |
LIT | LITHIUM AUSTRALIA | -4 | -40 | 0.078 | $36,838,168.00 |
CHN | CHALICE GOLD MINES | -4 | 8 | 0.125 | $31,988,176.00 |
PAN | PANORAMIC RESOURCES | -4 | -29 | 0.38 | $205,027,632.00 |
BAT | BATTERY MINERALS | -4 | -65 | 0.025 | $30,568,118.00 |
BUX | BUXTON RESOURCES | -4 | -4 | 0.115 | $17,006,928.00 |
VXR | VENTUREX RESOURCES | -4 | 13 | 0.22 | $61,547,784.00 |
IEC | INTRA ENERGY | -5 | 110 | 0.021 | $8,142,204.50 |
CZI | CASSINI RESOURCES | -5 | 52 | 0.1 | $45,705,780.00 |
EUR | EUROPEAN LITHIUM | -5 | -53 | 0.105 | $59,531,412.00 |
INR | IONEER | -5 | -54 | 0.195 | $302,371,616.00 |
PSC | PROSPECT RESOURCES | -5 | -56 | 0.019 | $40,922,300.00 |
AVL | AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM | -5 | -56 | 0.02 | $41,450,720.00 |
POS | POSEIDON NICKEL | -5 | 0 | 0.037 | $97,779,968.00 |
GXY | GALAXY RESOURCES | -5 | -46 | 1.555 | $631,662,208.00 |
ZNC | ZENITH MINERALS | -5 | -69 | 0.054 | $11,489,155.00 |
KAI | KAIROS MINERALS | -5 | -53 | 0.019 | $15,340,911.00 |
KSN | KINGSTON RESOURCES | -5 | -10 | 0.018 | $24,463,968.00 |
OMH | OM HOLDINGS | -5 | -14 | 1.08 | $734,930,240.00 |
KOR | KORAB RESOURCES | -6 | -28 | 0.035 | $10,809,959.00 |
ORN | ORION MINERALS | -6 | -21 | 0.033 | $67,786,008.00 |
VML | VITAL METALS | -6 | -11 | 0.008 | $13,940,890.00 |
CLA | CELSIUS RESOURCES | -6 | -93 | 0.016 | $12,115,489.00 |
HAV | HAVILAH RESOURCES | -6 | -33 | 0.16 | $33,828,604.00 |
SYA | SAYONA MINING | -6 | -71 | 0.014 | $25,838,616.00 |
LI3 | LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED | -6 | -6 | 0.089 | $8,173,991.00 |
NVA | NOVA MINERALS | -7 | -55 | 0.014 | $10,837,878.00 |
THR | THOR MINING | -7 | -65 | 0.014 | $13,071,350.00 |
AML | AEON METALS | -7 | -34 | 0.21 | $144,709,984.00 |
PM1 | PURE MINERALS | -7 | -28 | 0.013 | $4,086,927.75 |
PMY | PACIFICO MINERALS | -7 | -50 | 0.007 | $12,338,628.00 |
TKL | TRAKA RESOURCES | -7 | -68 | 0.013 | $4,638,494.50 |
WKT | WALKABOUT RESOURCES | -7 | 200 | 0.26 | $73,019,936.00 |
E25 | ELEMENT 25 | -8 | -28 | 0.18 | $15,113,583.00 |
CXO | CORE LITHIUM | -8 | -10 | 0.047 | $33,334,400.00 |
AJM | ALTURA MINING | -8 | -69 | 0.115 | $255,055,504.00 |
RTR | RUMBLE RESOURCES | -8 | 14 | 0.056 | $22,375,880.00 |
BAU | BAUXITE RESOURCES | -9 | -12 | 0.053 | $12,436,495.00 |
GLN | GALAN LITHIUM | -9 | 130 | 0.28 | $34,920,256.00 |
ARU | ARAFURA RESOURCES | -9 | -49 | 0.052 | $37,512,960.00 |
AGY | ARGOSY MINERALS | -10 | -75 | 0.081 | $86,232,680.00 |
EUC | EUROPEAN COBALT | -11 | -66 | 0.027 | $19,042,434.00 |
SCI | SILVER CITY MINERALS | -11 | -79 | 0.008 | $2,349,682.00 |
NWC | NEW WORLD COBALT | -12 | -83 | 0.015 | $8,272,764.50 |
AZI | ALTA ZINC | -13 | -65 | 0.0035 | $6,375,720.00 |
HGM | HIGH GRADE METALS | -13 | -86 | 0.007 | $3,170,565.00 |
ARM | AURORA MINERALS | -13 | -54 | 0.013 | $1,522,732.75 |
PIO | PIONEER RESOURCES | -13 | -46 | 0.013 | $21,103,952.00 |
PLL | PIEDMONT LITHIUM | -14 | -3 | 0.15 | $103,908,952.00 |
OKR | OKAPI RESOURCES | -14 | -61 | 0.155 | $5,494,858.50 |
ADV | ARDIDEN | -14 | -80 | 0.003 | $5,044,140.50 |
MTH | MITHRIL RESOURCES | -14 | -74 | 0.006 | $2,534,335.25 |
GED | GOLDEN DEEPS | -15 | -54 | 0.028 | $5,141,423.50 |
AUT | AUTECO MINERALS | -17 | 0 | 0.005 | $5,012,323.50 |
ENT | ENTERPRISE METALS | -17 | -29 | 0.01 | $3,612,714.75 |
DHR | DARK HORSE RESOURCES | -17 | -75 | 0.005 | $11,856,520.00 |
SI6 | SIX SIGMA METALS | -17 | -71 | 0.005 | $2,516,267.25 |
MXR | MAXIMUS RESOURCES | -18 | -45 | 0.061 | $1,846,654.00 |
MLM | METALLICA MINERALS | -22 | -62 | 0.018 | $6,156,901.00 |
SRK | STRIKE RESOURCES | -24 | 16 | 0.064 | $9,446,727.00 |
MRR | MINREX RESOURCES | -25 | -73 | 0.015 | $1,438,165.88 |
PNN | PEPINNINI LITHIUM | -25 | -88 | 0.003 | $2,898,695.50 |
KLH | KALIA | -33 | -78 | 0.002 | $7,543,042.00 |
CADDA | CAENEUS MINERALS | -50 | -90 | 0.001 | $3,723,928.75 |
CFE | CAPE LAMBERT RESOURCES |