Fastmarkets assessed battery-grade lithium carbonate at $19.25 per kg for delivery to Asia on Wednesday, down about 23% from a mid-May peak of $25.15 per kg. Elevra is expanding the operation towards roughly 338,000 tonnes annually by 2028, although NAL’s concentrate would first have to be converted into the battery-grade lithium carbonate sought by the Pentagon. The Defense Logistics Agency’s proposed contract covers up to 16,167 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate over five years, with deliveries scheduled to several US stockpile depots. GeopoliticsThe tender follows an earlier agency request for information seeking suppliers of lithium carbonate for the National Defense Stockpile. Last year it postponed and ultimately reworked a tender to acquire cobalt for the National Defense Stockpile after suppliers balked at pricing and contract terms.