Chile Lithium Carbonate HS283691 Export Data 2025 April Overview

Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export: Key Takeaways

Chile's Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) exports in April 2025 reveal a high-grade market split, with China dominating bulk purchases at lower prices (71.33% of volume) while the U.S. and South Korea pay premium rates for quality. Buyer concentration is extreme, with China alone accounting for 63.91% of export value, creating supply chain vulnerability. Geographic data shows Chile must balance reliance on China against premium market opportunities to maximize returns. This analysis, covering April 2025, is based on verified Customs data from the yTrade database.

Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export Background

Lithium Carbonate (HS Code 283691) is a critical raw material for batteries, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals, driving steady global demand as clean energy adoption grows. Chile’s Lithium Carbonate exports surged 27.5% month-over-month in early 2025 [Metal News], reflecting its role as a top producer amid tightening EU-Chile trade rules [EU Taxation]. For April 2025, Chile’s HS Code 283691 exports remain pivotal for global supply chains, leveraging its vast lithium reserves.

Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In April 2025, Chile's Lithium Carbonate exports under HS Code 283691 reached 2.22 billion USD in value and 261.46 million kg in volume, marking a solid recovery from the volatile first quarter and underscoring the product's critical role in global supply chains.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The April figures show a 12.7% month-over-month increase in value from March, despite a 10.5% decrease in volume, indicating higher per-unit prices likely driven by tightened lithium market conditions and seasonal stock replenishment cycles in the battery industry. This follows a sharp February dip, where exports plummeted due to temporary logistical or demand adjustments, common in commodity markets where production and shipping schedules fluctuate. The rebound aligns with typical industrial demand patterns, as battery manufacturers ramp up inventory ahead of mid-year production peaks.

External Context and Outlook

The volatility in early 2025 exports, including the January surge reported by [news.metal.com], reflects broader market dynamics such as evolving electric vehicle demand and trade policy shifts under agreements like the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement (news.metal.com). These factors, combined with Chile's dominant position in lithium supply, suggest sustained export strength through 2025, though price sensitivity to global economic conditions remains a watchpoint.

Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Chile's Lithium Carbonate export under HS Code 283691 in April 2025 is heavily concentrated in sub-code 28369130, which accounts for 76% of the export value and 79% of the weight, with a unit price of 8.16 USD per kilogram. This sub-code, described as Carbonates; lithium carbonate, dominates the market due to its high volume and consistent pricing, indicating a standardized bulk product. The other sub-codes show minor shares, with no extreme price anomalies affecting the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes can be grouped into two categories based on unit price disparities: 28369190 at 10.00 USD per kilogram suggests a higher-grade or purer form of lithium carbonate, while 28369140 at 5.88 USD per kilogram points to a lower-grade or less refined variant. This structure implies that Chile's Lithium Carbonate exports are not fully fungible commodities but have some differentiation in quality, likely tied to specific customer requirements or processing stages, rather than being purely index-linked bulk goods.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the dominance of 28369130 gives Chile strong pricing power in the standard grade, but the presence of higher and lower grades allows for niche strategies targeting premium or cost-sensitive segments. Exporters should focus on maintaining quality consistency for the bulk product while exploring opportunities in specialized grades to enhance margins. This analysis of Chile Lithium Carbonate HS Code 283691 Export 2025 April highlights a balanced approach between volume and value diversification.

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Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Chile's Lithium Carbonate HS Code 283691 exports in April 2025 show high concentration, with China Mainland as the dominant buyer, holding 71.33% of weight and 63.91% of value. The slightly lower value ratio compared to weight ratio suggests China purchases bulk, lower-grade commodity at around 8.05 USD/kg, while the United States pays about 10.00 USD/kg for higher-grade material.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two main clusters emerge: China alone due to its massive battery manufacturing demand, and the United States and South Korea together, with higher value per weight, likely for premium tech applications. Smaller buyers like Belgium and Japan form a third cluster, possibly for specialized industrial uses, reflecting diverse but limited niche markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Chile, maintaining supply to China is key but diversifying to premium markets like the US could increase returns. Buyers should secure long-term contracts to ensure stable access, as seen in the early 2025 export surge [Chile's Lithium Carbonate Exports Surge in January 2025], indicating sustained demand.

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Chile Lithium Carbonate (HS 283691) 2025 April Export: Action Plan for Lithium Carbonate Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Lithium Carbonate Export 2025 April under HS Code 283691 shows a commodity market driven by two key factors. Product grade defines price. Bulk standard-grade material trades near 8.16 USD/kg. Higher purity commands premiums near 10.00 USD/kg. China's massive demand for battery production sets the baseline price. Geopolitical factors and contract volumes with major buyers influence stability.

This creates critical supply chain implications for Chile. The market relies heavily on supply security for China. Chile acts as a key processing hub for global battery supply chains. Over-dependence on one buyer and one product grade introduces risk. Diversification into premium markets offers a path to higher returns.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Lithium Carbonate Market Execution

• Use HS Code sub-level data to track premium and standard grade pricing weekly. This allows for real-time contract renegotiation and maximizes margin capture on high-purity exports.
• Analyze shipment frequency data for top buyers to forecast demand cycles. This prevents inventory overstock or shortages and secures stable revenue from core clients.
• Monitor China's import patterns for early signs of demand shift. This provides a critical warning system for market volatility, allowing for swift strategic pivots.
• Target sales outreach to U.S. and South Korean industrial buyers with premium-grade data. This diversifies the customer base and increases average sale price through higher-value contracts.
• Build a profile of low-frequency buyers for spot market opportunities. This creates a secondary revenue stream that can absorb surplus production without disrupting bulk contracts.

Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Lithium Carbonate Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Lithium Carbonate Export 2025 April?

The April 2025 rebound shows a 12.7% value increase despite a 10.5% volume drop, reflecting tighter lithium market conditions and seasonal demand from battery manufacturers. This follows early 2025 volatility, including a January surge and February dip, typical of commodity cycles.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Chile Lithium Carbonate Export 2025 April?

China dominates with 71.33% of volume and 63.91% of value, while the US and South Korea form a premium cluster paying higher unit prices. Smaller buyers like Belgium and Japan serve niche markets.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Chile Lithium Carbonate Export 2025 April partner countries?

Price gaps stem from grade specialization: China buys bulk-standard lithium carbonate (8.05 USD/kg), while the US pays ~10.00 USD/kg for higher-grade material, per sub-codes 28369130 and 28369190.

Q4. What should exporters in Chile focus on in the current Lithium Carbonate export market?

Prioritize stable contracts with high-value, high-frequency buyers (69.57% of value) while exploring premium markets like the US to diversify reliance on China’s bulk demand.

Q5. What does this Chile Lithium Carbonate export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

China’s dominance ensures steady bulk supply, but premium buyers (US/South Korea) must secure long-term contracts to guarantee access to higher-grade material amid limited niche supply.

Q6. How is Lithium Carbonate typically used in this trade flow?

It primarily serves battery manufacturing, especially for electric vehicles, with bulk grades for mass production and premium grades for specialized tech applications.