(the operating rate of domestic battery factories is expected to pick up in May or rebound after touching 100000 yuan / ton). The price of lithium carbonate, a key material for lithium batteries, has plummeted, which has triggered concerns in the industry about the development of the industry. The reporter learned from some battery manufacturers and people in the industry that the current destocking work of major domestic battery manufacturers may continue until May, after which the operating rate of production capacity is expected to pick up, which may boost the procurement demand for raw materials. It is understood that since the beginning of this year, due to the slowdown in the growth of market demand for new energy vehicles and the backlog of inventory caused by the substantial expansion of production by power battery manufacturers last year, the operating rate of existing capacity of domestic battery manufacturers is generally only 40%. "the root cause of the continued decline in prices is weak demand," said one industry insider. "the promotion disturbance of new energy vehicles and fuel vehicles in March greatly suppressed demand in the whole market, and the market has a strong wait-and-see mood. Therefore, car companies and battery factories are digesting inventory and orders on hand, and now they all hope to keep the price of raw materials low, and then absorb enough chips to accumulate bullets for later price cuts. " However, the above-mentioned industry insiders said that after the price of lithium carbonate reaches 100000 yuan / ton, it should rebound later, "because weak demand in the new energy vehicle market is a short-term problem, and demand will still grow rapidly in the long run." (thepaper.cn)