2025 Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) Export: Price Volatility
Key Takeaways
Lithium Carbonate, classified under HS Code 283691 (Lithium carbonates), exhibited pronounced volatility from January to September 2025.
- Market Pulse: Prices swung from $6.73/kg to $9.44/kg, with export volumes dropping -31% MoM in May before spiking +40% in July, reflecting tight global supply-demand cycles.
- Structural Shift: Chile Lithium Carbonate Export reliance on China (71.13% of value) creates acute exposure to Beijing’s demand shifts, with South Korea (21.46%) as the only secondary buffer.
- Product Logic: HS Code 283691 trade data shows 90%+ concentration in sub-code 28369130, confirming a bulk-commodity market where price (6.96–8.86 USD/kg) trumps product differentiation.
This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.
Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) Key Metrics Trend
Market Trend Summary
The Chile Lithium Carbonate export trend from January to September 2025 displayed pronounced volatility, opening at $2.07B in January before undergoing a sharp -48% value contraction in February. Momentum returned with an 82% surge in March, though prices continued sliding to a Q1 low of $6.73/kg. April and May saw prices recover strongly, peaking at $9.44/kg, but export volumes fell -31% month-on-month in May. July marked another volume spike (+40% MoM) despite lower prices, while August and September witnessed renewed softening in both value and volume.
Drivers & Industry Context
This volatility reflects tightening supply-demand dynamics in the global lithium market, where EV battery demand cycles create intermittent buying pressure. The Q2 price surge coincided with inventory restocking phases, while the July volume spike—where 57% of shipments went to China at $7.79/kg—highlighted persistent Asian demand concentration [YTrade]. The EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement effective February 2025 likely provided minor support to non-Asian diversification, though its impact remained secondary to dominant Chinese procurement patterns. The hs code 283691 value ultimately remained exposed to buyer concentration risks, with China accounting for 76.8% of May’s export value (YTrade).
Table: Chile Lithium Carbonate Export Trend (Source: yTrade)
| Date | Value | Weight | Unit Price | Value MoM | Weight MoM | Unit Price MoM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | 2.07B USD | 275.94M kg | $7.49/kg | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2025-02-01 | 1.08B USD | 149.91M kg | $7.19/kg | -47.82% | -45.67% | -3.95% |
| 2025-03-01 | 1.97B USD | 292.21M kg | $6.73/kg | +82.37% | +94.92% | -6.44% |
| 2025-04-01 | 2.22B USD | 261.46M kg | $8.47/kg | +12.68% | -10.52% | +25.94% |
| 2025-05-01 | 1.71B USD | 181.02M kg | $9.44/kg | -22.85% | -30.77% | +11.44% |
| 2025-06-01 | 1.60B USD | 172.61M kg | $9.29/kg | -6.21% | -4.64% | -1.64% |
| 2025-07-01 | 1.93B USD | 241.91M kg | $8.00/kg | +20.69% | +40.14% | -13.88% |
| 2025-08-01 | 1.66B USD | 183.75M kg | $9.03/kg | -14.27% | -24.04% | +12.86% |
| 2025-09-01 | 1.46B USD | 167.73M kg | $8.70/kg | -12.06% | -8.72% | -3.65% |
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Chile HS Code 283691 Export Breakdown
Market Composition & Top Categories
According to yTrade data, Chile's HS Code 283691 export of lithium carbonate throughout the first three quarters of 2025 was heavily concentrated in sub-code 28369130, which captured over 90% of the total export value. The remaining sub-codes, such as 28369190 and 28369140, contributed minor shares, collectively accounting for less than 10% of value, indicating a highly consolidated market for Chile HS Code 283691 Export.
Value Chain & Strategic Insights
Unit prices across the sub-codes range from 6.96 to 8.86 USD per kilogram, with minimal variation, signaling a commodity market where price sensitivity outweighs quality differentiation. This trade structure for HS Code 283691 breakdown suggests lithium carbonate exports from Chile operate on bulk scale with limited value-add, focusing on cost efficiency rather than specialized grades.
Check Detailed HS Code 283691 Breakdown
Chile Lithium Carbonate Destination Countries
Geographic Concentration & Market Risk
Chile's Lithium Carbonate export destinations show extreme concentration, with China Mainland accounting for 71.13% of total value from January to September 2025. This represents a critical dependency, as South Korea, the second-largest partner, holds just 21.46% of the market share. Such heavy reliance on a single buyer creates significant exposure to demand shifts or trade policy changes from Beijing.
Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation
China's nearly identical value and weight ratios (71.13% vs. 71.38%) reveal a pure commodity pricing structure for its Lithium Carbonate trade. The relatively low shipment frequency ratio (63.87%) against massive volume confirms this is driven by industrial-scale bulk procurement, not retail fragmentation. Chile's exports are firmly positioned for volume scale, not margin potential, serving price-sensitive battery manufacturing and stockpiling needs.
Table: Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)
| Country | Value | Quantity | Frequency | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHINA MAINLAND | 11.16B | 117.53M | 8.05K | 1.38B |
| SOUTH KOREA | 3.37B | 29.09M | 3.69K | 414.86M |
| UNITED STATES | 727.18M | 5.17M | 369.00 | 83.72M |
| JAPAN | 294.13M | 4.65M | 258.00 | 36.43M |
| BELGIUM | 106.99M | 2.43M | 164.00 | 12.24M |
| GERMANY | ****** | ****** | ****** | ****** |
Get Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) Complete Destination Countries Profile
Action Plan for Lithium Carbonate Market Operation and Expansion
- Diversify buyers: Target South Korean and EU importers to reduce China’s 71% share, leveraging the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement for tariff advantages.
- Lock in contracts: Hedge against price swings by securing mid-term agreements during troughs (e.g., sub-$7/kg periods like Q1).
- Optimize logistics: Negotiate bulk shipping rates to offset thin margins, given the commodity-scale trade structure.
- Monitor China’s stockpiling: Adjust shipment timing to align with Beijing’s inventory cycles, evidenced by July’s 57% volume spike.
- Audit sub-code usage: Confirm 28369130 dominance aligns with buyer specs—avoid misclassification penalties for minor variants (28369190/40).
Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Lithium Carbonate HS Code 283691 Export Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Lithium Carbonate Export in 2025?
The volatility in Chile's lithium carbonate exports is driven by global EV battery demand cycles, with intermittent buying pressure causing sharp price and volume fluctuations. Heavy reliance on China (71.13% of exports) amplifies exposure to demand shifts.
Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) in 2025?
China dominates with 71.13% of export value, followed by South Korea at 21.46%. This extreme concentration highlights Chile’s dependency on a few key markets.
Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Chile Lithium Carbonate Export in 2025?
Price differences are minimal (6.96–8.86 USD/kg) as exports focus on bulk-grade lithium carbonate (sub-code 28369130, 90% share), reflecting a commodity market with little quality differentiation.
Q4. What should exporters in Chile focus on in the current Lithium Carbonate export market?
Exporters must mitigate risk by diversifying beyond China, while maintaining cost efficiency to compete in a price-sensitive bulk commodity market.
Q5. What does this Chile Lithium Carbonate export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?
Buyers benefit from stable bulk supply but face competition for limited non-Chinese volumes, reinforcing reliance on Chile’s concentrated production.
Q6. How is Lithium Carbonate typically used in this trade flow?
It serves industrial-scale battery manufacturing and stockpiling needs, particularly for EV production, with minimal retail or specialized-grade demand.
Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 FEB
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 APR
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 MAY
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JUN
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 JUL
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 AUG
Chile HS Code 283691 Export Data Snapshot 2025 SEP
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