Lithium Surges as GFEX Futures Jump 4.12%
Lithium equities rallied Friday as China's GFEX contract gained 4.12% and spot benchmarks firmed. Albemarle led with a 6.75% jump; LIT ETF rose 2.72%. The post Lithium Surges as GFEX Futures Jump 4.12% appeared first on The Rio Times .
Lithium prices surged on Friday, August 21, 2026, with the GFEX lithium carbonate 2701 contract settling at 158,700 CNY per tonne, marking a 4.12% increase. Open interest in the contract expanded by 31,875 lots, indicating fresh long positioning rather than short covering. This rally extended to listed producers, with Albemarle shares surging 6.75% to US$143.25 and Chile's SQM rising 4.47% to US$81.96.
The Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF closed at US$76.61, up 2.72%. Physical lithium carbonate benchmarks strengthened, with battery-grade lithium carbonate averaging US$19,988.5 per tonne, a US$179.1 gain for the day. The key driver behind the market's strength was China's futures market, with Latin American producers in the Lithium Triangle benefiting directly from the rise.
For the rally to persist, sustained spot cargo tightness and procurement by salt producers in China are needed into early September.
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