CommoditiesMedium•12 October 2026•
1 min read
Lithium Futures Plunge 10% as EU Moves to Cap Chinese Hybrid Vehicle Imports
Key Facts
1Lithium futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange plunged 10% to 104,740 yuan per ton.
2The EU plans to cap Chinese hybrid vehicle imports at 350,000 per year starting December 1.
3The proposed cap represents a 45% decrease from the current annual import run rate of 650,000 vehicles.
Lithium futures on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange plunged 10% to 104,740 yuan per ton. Bloomberg reported that the European Union plans to cap Chinese hybrid vehicle imports at 350,000 per year starting December 1. The proposed cap represents a 45% decrease from the current annual import run rate of 650,000 vehicles, according to ZeroHedge.
The price drop follows forecasts from Goldman Sachs analysts that global lithium markets will shift from deficits to surpluses over the next two years due to slower EV growth. In related financial markets, GS closed at $895.32 on October 9, 2026, while peer financial instruments JPM and MS closed at $332.99 and $190.02 respectively on the same date.