ASX lithium shares made another run between late March and early May into multi-year highs. But early May soon became the tipping point for many lithium shares, with heavyweights Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY) and Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) all falling roughly 20%.
However, ASX lithium shares are on the move again today, with the Pilbara share price up 6.60% to $1.21, the Galaxy Resources share price up by 6.44% to $3.80 and the Orocobre share price up 5.28% to $6.58 (at time of writing).
Elsewhere, US-based Piedmont Lithium Ltd (ASX: PLL) has edged 0.87% higher to 81 cents, soon-to-be producer Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) has dipped 2.08% to 24 cents and Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) shares are running hot again, up 4.90% to $7.50 after announcing another key project milestone.
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A winding road for ASX lithium shares
The run from multi-year lows to multi-year highs for ASX lithium shares has been filled with healthy pullbacks.
Take the Galaxy share price, for example. Its shares have run from lows of around 70 cents in May 2020 to highs above $4 in May 2021. During this time, its shares have experienced 4 pullbacks greater than 20%. These pullbacks occurred during June and September last year, and January/February and May this year. Since then, Galaxy shares have been trending strongly.
Commodity prices continue to edge higher
The resurgence and hype behind ASX lithium shares hasn't just come out of thin air. Both explorers and producers have been supported by a sharp increase in lithium spot prices.
Fastmarkets provides regular lithium price updates across major regions including China, Europe and the US. Its more recent update observes higher lithium hydroxide prices in China on "tight supply and robust buying appetite" and higher prices across Europe and US.
Lithium in demand on all fronts
The tailwinds for ASX lithium shares continue to come from both countries and companies alike.
In Vulcan's project milestone announcement this morning, its managing director Dr Francis Wedin noted:
With the International Energy Agency last week declaring the need for annual battery production of 6,600 GWh by 2030, implying an annual lithium chemicals requirement of 22 times current total global production, Vulcan is leading the charge to reduce large carbon emissions currently embodied in the traditional production of lithium.
Elsewhere, ASX lithium shares could benefit from US President Joe Biden's US$2.3 trillion infrastructure project with a focus on renewable energy. According to Mining.com.au, the program includes US$174 billion to promote electric vehicles, which could see Australia and other countries becoming the US' battery metal suppliers.
On Wednesday, the Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) share price jumped 8.55% after the company announced the acceleration of its electric vehicle efforts. The company expects approximately 40% of its sales to be electric vehicles by 2030 and plans to lift electric vehicle investment to more than US$30 billion by 2025.
