That's what I'm curious about — everybody went up significantly in 2022, but if China was paying double for imports, then why wasn't everybody else having to pay double as well?
China procures most of their lithium through trade, so they're tapping the same global markets as everybody else.
For example if there was not enough shipping routes to China from where it's made then that could be an issue. Or if their demand was up, and there wasn't enough unloading capacity for lithium (not sure how this is being shipped over there) then there can be price spikes.
Australia is a large supplier of lithium, the world's largest actually. Due to trade restrictions and irregularities arising from disputes, trade between China and Australia wasn't operating normally in 2022. Trade has now mostly resumed and the first bulkers left Australian ports for Chinese ports early this year carrying lithium ore. I suspect the absence of the Australian market meant that Chile could set their prices, and it looks like they set their prices pretty high. Plus, Chile is a longer and thus more expensive trip for any ship, including a bulker.
The high lithium prices in China were the Chinese side of the trade restrictions causing economic pain.
China procures most of their lithium through trade, so they're tapping the same global markets as everybody else.