Lithium Demand: Industry Suffers As Apple Grabs Lithium Polymer Batteries ilc.v tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc

  

  Now we can put all recently announced Lithium products price increases into the market perspective.

"Lithium polymer technology only accounts for 10 percent of battery production but Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology in Taiwan estimate it is 20-30 percent of their production already Intel estimates that by the end of next year this will swell to 40 percent" 

  This sector is growing very fast and it is even without Electric Cars being rolled out in any meaningful numbers now - which are projected to be the major driving factor for the lithium industry.

  All world is going mobile and all those iPhones, iPads and Androids needs lithium batteries.

"Lithium Market: FMC Lithium Announces Global Price Increases.  We have another one of Lithium Big Four announcing the global price increase for the lithium products. Now we can realize why all major industry insiders were searching and making deals in order to secure Lithium supply. Nobody would like be at the mercy of the Lithium OPEC when Electric Cars will go mainstream in the next five years time. Talking about OPEC - it took IEA to announce the release from Oil Strategic Reserves in order to bring Oil prices down. QE 3.0 has been started with this move - welcome into the Election Cycle. 

eWeek:

Industry Suffers As Apple Grabs Polymer Batteries

June 27, 2011 by Eric Doyle

Greedy Apple has charged out to buy up lithium-ion polymer batteries, leaving its rivals hungry for power

Lithium-ion polymer batteries are said to be in short supply andApple is rumoured to have a grip on the market.

The company’s dependence on these compact power cells for its MacBooks, iPad, iPod and iPhone ranges means that it has to guarantee its supply lines in the face of increasing competition from other manufacturers. Intel’s ultrathin PC architecture has drawn the attention of several large manufacturers and the demand for polymer batteries is rapidly increasing.

Growing market, Limited Production Capacity

According to sources in Japan, South Korea and China, Lithium polymer technology only accounts for 10 percent of battery production but Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology in Taiwan estimate it is 20-30 percent of their production already. Intel estimates that by the end of next year this will swell to 40 percent. The current shortage is likely to cause Apple’s competitors a few problems as prices rise for a diminishing stock of supplies.

Hewlett-Packard and Acer are known to be seeking new suppliers to increase their sources and the battery makers are ramping up production. Asus and Dell are also supporting the ultrathin market and prices have increased 20 percent this quarter, a rising trend that could continue for the next few quarters.

Despite claims to be greening their companies, the PC makers are sacrificing some of their reputation for the current fashion for thin form factors. Polymer batteries are even less environmentally-friendly and shorter-lived than standard lithium-ion cells. They cannot be recycled and they contain some truly dangerous chemicals that are produced by energy intensive processes.

It is assumed that by jumping in ahead of everyone else, Apple will have secured its stocks at a better price than currently-available polymer cells. It is also rumoured that the company is flexing its marketing muscle to persuade suppliers of its other computer parts to reduce their prices by 10 percent. If the company succeeds it should bring down prices and make Apple much more competitive on price.