Why did battery-grade ethylene carbonate prices surge 42% in a single day?

Why did battery-grade ethylene carbonate prices surge 42% in a single day?
The sharp single-day spike in battery-grade ethylene carbonate reflects a tightening supply-demand balance in China's lithium battery solvent chain. Downstream electrolyte producers are running at high utilization, supported by explosive growth in global lithium battery shipments, which are projected to exceed 1,900 GWh in 2025. Upstream, raw material cost pressures are cascading through the value chain, with lithium carbonate up over 66% since June and additives like VC jumping 68% in a day. Ethylene carbonate capacity is highly concentrated among a few qualified suppliers, and with most major producers operating near full capacity, spot availability has become scarce. This has given sellers strong pricing power, and buyers are now competing for limited volumes, driving unprecedented price volatility in a market traditionally characterized by stable, contract-based pricing.