China Unveils New Lithium Trading Rules to Bolster Pricing Power

Beijing has unveiled new measures to keep its tight grip on lithium prices, in a move that may give it an edge over the US in the key material vital for electric vehicle and energy storage.

Following mining endeavours worldwide to secure supplies, Chinese authorities announced they would allow offshore industrial players to trade lithium carbonate onshore to cement its pricing power.

Effective July 3, the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, one of China’s major commodity bourses, began allowing miners, battery makers and traders outside China to trade lithium carbonate futures and options.

Foreign investors were permitted to use US dollars as margin, but the trading and settlement should be denominated in Chinese yuan, according to its notice.

“As a major importer, [China] logically wants to have some say in benchmark pricing,” said Lucas Zhang Liutong, director of Hong Kong-based consultancy WaterRock Energy Economics.

“[The move] is mostly to help increase the trading liquidity and help to boost its pricing role for lithium carbonate.”

Previously, futures trading was only open to qualified foreign institutional investors starting in March 2025.