May 15 – Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced on social media that the Argentine government approved two new mining projects for participation in the country's Large Investment Incentive Scheme (RIGI) on Thursday. These include the San Jorge copper mine project in Mendoza Province (with an investment of $891 million) and the Cauchari Olaroz lithium mine expansion project in Jujuy Province (with an investment of $1.2 billion). Chempricehub commented on lithium carbonate, assigning a bearish score of -1. Argentina is a key global lithium resource country. The approval of the $1.2 billion Cauchari Olaroz lithium mine expansion project will enhance medium- to long-term lithium salt feedstock supply capacity, creating a generally bearish impact on lithium carbonate prices. On the spot market, it will curb domestic lithium mine import costs, driving expectations for a decline in lithium carbonate spot prices. In the futures market, the main lithium carbonate contract for May 14, 2026 (2609) closed at 191,760 yuan/ton, down 6,100 yuan/ton from the previous day, with open interest decreasing by 41,227 lots. The market has already priced in expectations of supply growth, and short-term downward pressure persists.