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Mergers and acquisitions are widespread within the lithium house, with the largest information within the business just lately being Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)<\/a> acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion in March<\/a> of this yr. The acquisition transforms Rio Tinto into a world chief in lithium manufacturing with one of many world\u2019s largest lithium useful resource bases.<\/p>\n As for Chile, the nation’s lithium panorama is altering following the December 2024 announcement that as part of its Nationwide Lithium Technique towards public-private partnerships, the authorities opened up<\/a> the method of assigning particular lithium operation contracts to a complete of 12 precedence areas. <\/p>\n All in all, lithium buyers have loads to regulate because the house continues to shift. Learn on for an summary of the present prime lithium-producing corporations by market cap. Knowledge was present as of April 4, 2025.<\/p>\n Largest lithium-mining shares<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n 1. Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)<\/a><\/h3>\n Rio Tinto, a world powerhouse within the useful resource sector for many years, is generally identified for its iron and copper manufacturing. Nevertheless, in recent times, the mining big has been increasing its place on the earth\u2019s lithium market.<\/p>\n In March 2025, the corporate cemented its place as one of many greatest lithium-producing firms on the earth with the US$6.7 billion all-cash acquisition<\/a> of Arcadium Lithium, the lithium big shaped after the US$10.6 billion merger of lithium majors Allkem and Livent. <\/p>\n Following the acquisition, Rio Tinto is consolidating Arcadium’s portfolio with its personal lithium initiatives below the title Rio Tinto Lithium. Arcadium’s portfolio contains the Salar del Hombre Muerto and Olaroz lithium brine operations in Argentina, in addition to the Mount Cattlin hard-rock mine in Western Australia, which is coming into care and upkeep within the second half of this yr. It additionally has lithium hydroxide manufacturing capability within the US, Japan and China.<\/p>\n On the time, Rio Tinto stated it’s going to enhance its lithium carbonate equal manufacturing capability to over 200,000 metric tons (MT) yearly by 2028.<\/p>\n Lithium acquisitions will not be new to Rio Tinto. In 2022, it acquired the Rincon undertaking in Argentina from Rincon Mining. Rincon has an anticipated annual capability<\/a> of 53,000 MT of battery-grade lithium carbonate over a 40 yr mine life, though Rio Tinto plans to increase manufacturing on the website to 60,000 MT per yr. A pilot battery-grade lithium carbonate plant is scheduled for completion in H1 2025.<\/p>\n As of March 2025, Rio Tinto can also be reportedly<\/a> in talks to develop the Roche Dure lithium deposit within the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of many world’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 2. SQM (NYSE:SQM)<\/a><\/h3>\n SQM<\/a> has 5 enterprise areas, starting from lithium to potassium to specialty plant vitamin. Its major lithium operations are in Chile, the place it’s a longtime producer, and it is usually working to deliver manufacturing on-line in Australia.<\/p>\n In Chile, SQM sources brine from the Salar de Atacama; it then processes lithium chloride from the brine into lithium carbonate and hydroxide at its Salar del Carmen lithium crops positioned close to Antofagasta.<\/p>\n Chile’s aforementioned Nationwide Lithium Technique has created some uncertainty for SQM, however the authorities has said that it’s going to respect its present contracts<\/a>, which run by 2030. In Could 2024, the state-owned mining firm Codelco and SQM shaped a three way partnership<\/a> by which Codelco will maintain a 50 p.c stake plus one share to offer it majority management. As of 2031, the state will start receiving 85 p.c of the working margin of the brand new manufacturing from SQM\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n Exterior of South America, SQM owns and operates the Mount Holland lithium mine and concentrator in Australia; the mine hosts one of many world\u2019s largest hard-rock deposits. Mount Holland is a three way partnership with Wesfarmers (ASX:WES,OTC Pink:WFAFF)<\/a>, which took over<\/a> Australian lithium-mining firm Kidman Sources in 2019.<\/p>\n Total, the corporate sees its complete gross sales volumes from all its lithium operations growing by 15 p.c<\/a> this yr.<\/p>\n SQM has a long-term provide deal<\/a> with Hyundai (KRX:005380)<\/a> and Kia (KRX:000270)<\/a> to offer lithium hydroxide for electrical car batteries from its future lithium hydroxide provide. SQM additionally has provide agreements with Ford Motor Firm (NYSE:F)<\/a> and LG Power (KRX:373220)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3. Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460,HKEX:1772)<\/a><\/h3>\n Based in 2000 and listed in 2010, Ganfeng Lithium has operations throughout all the electrical car battery provide chain. Regardless that it’s comparatively new in comparison with some firms on the listing, Ganfeng has change into one of many world\u2019s largest producers of each lithium metals and lithium hydroxide. This is because of its technique of investing closely in abroad initiatives to safe long-term lithium sources, with its first such funding in 2014.<\/p>\n Ganfeng has pursuits in lithium sources all over the world, from Australia to Argentina, China and Eire; its operations embody a 50\/50 three way partnership with Mineral Sources for the Mount Marion mine in Western Australia. In Argentina, the corporate has 51 p.c stake<\/a> in Lithium Americas\u2019 (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC)<\/a> Cauchar\u00ed-Olaroz lithium brine undertaking.<\/p>\n Ganfeng has a controlling curiosity<\/a> in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium and its Sonora lithium undertaking; it additionally has a 50 p.c stake<\/a> in a lithium mine in Mali, in addition to a 49 p.c stake<\/a> in a salt lake undertaking in China owned by China Minmetals. It owns the non-public firm LitheA<\/a>, which holds the rights to 2 lithium salt lakes in Argentina’s Salta province.<\/p>\n Ganfeng bought<\/a>\u00a0Leo Lithium\u2019s (ASX:LLL,OTC Pink:LLLAF)<\/a> Goulamina undertaking in Mali in Could 2024 and introduced it into manufacturing in December. Goulamina has a mine capability of 506,000 MT of spodumene per yr. The corporate\u2019s aim is to double that capability to 1 million MT per yr.<\/p>\n In February 2025, Ganfeng introduced its US$790 million Mariana undertaking<\/a> in Argentina into manufacturing. The Mariana mine is located on the Llullaillaco salt flat, and has the capability to provide 20,000 MT of lithium chloride per yr.<\/p>\n Ganfeng has provide offers with firms equivalent to Tesla<\/a>\u00a0(NASDAQ:TSLA)<\/a>, BMW<\/a>\u00a0(OTC Pink:BMWYY,ETR:BMW)<\/a>, Korean battery maker LG Chem<\/a>\u00a0(KRX:051910)<\/a>, Volkswagen<\/a>\u00a0(OTC Pink:VLKAF,FWB:VOW)<\/a> and Hyundai<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 4. <\/strong>Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)<\/a><\/h3>\n North Carolina-based Albemarle<\/a> is dividing into two major enterprise models, one in all which \u2014 the Albemarle Power Storage unit \u2014 is targeted wholly on the lithium-ion battery and power transition markets. It contains the agency’s lithium carbonate, hydroxide and metallic manufacturing.<\/p>\n Albemarle has a broad portfolio of lithium mines and services, with extraction in Chile, Australia, China and the US. Trying first at Chile, Albemarle produces lithium carbonate at its La Negra lithium conversion crops, which course of brine from the Salar de Atacama, the nation\u2019s largest salt flat. Albemarle is aiming<\/a> to implement direct lithium extraction<\/a> know-how on the salt flat to cut back water utilization.<\/p>\n Albemarle\u2019s Australian property contains the MARBL three way partnership with Mineral Sources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF)<\/a>. The 50\/50 JV owns and operates the Wodgina hard-rock lithium mine in Western Australia. Albemarle wholly owns the on-site Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility. The corporate\u2019s different Australian three way partnership is the aforementioned Greenbushes mine, by which it holds a 49 p.c curiosity alongside Tianqi and IGO.<\/p>\n As for the US, Albemarle owns the Silver Peak lithium brine operations in Nevada’s Clayton Valley, which is presently the nation\u2019s solely supply of lithium manufacturing. In its dwelling state of North Carolina, Albemarle is planning to deliver its past-producing Kings Mountain lithium mine again on-line, topic to allowing approval and a last funding determination. The mine is predicted to provide round 420,000 MT of lithium-bearing spodumene focus yearly.<\/p>\n Albemarle has obtained US$150 million<\/a> in funding from the US authorities to help the constructing of a commercial-scale lithium concentrator facility on website. The US Division of Protection has given the corporate a US$90 million essential supplies award<\/a> to spice up its home lithium manufacturing and help the nation’s burgeoning EV battery provide chain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 5. Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696)<\/a><\/h3>\n Tianqi Lithium, a subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Business Group, is the world\u2019s largest hard-rock lithium producer. The corporate has property in Australia, Chile and China. It holds a big stake in SQM.<\/p>\n In Australia, Tianqi, as talked about, has a big place within the Greenbushes mine and Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant by the Tianqi Lithium Power Australia JV with IGO. The hydroxide plant, which is without doubt one of the world’s largest totally automated battery-grade lithium hydroxide services, processes feedstock from Greenbushes with a capability of 24,000 MT per yr.<\/p>\n Building work for the Part 2 growth at Kwinana, which might have doubled its capability, was terminated<\/a> in January 2025 because of the present low-price atmosphere for lithium making it economically unviable.<\/p>\n Tianqi Lithium Power Australia up to date the complete mineral sources<\/a> at Greenbushes in February 2025 to 440 million MT at a median grade of 1.5 p.c lithium oxide, and its complete ore reserve estimate to 172 million MT grading 1.9 p.c lithium oxide.<\/p>\n In March 2025, Tianqi Lithium introduced<\/a> collaborations with a variety of tutorial analysis establishments together with the Institute for Superior Supplies and Expertise of the College of Science and Expertise Beijing on the analysis and growth of next-generation solid-state battery supplies and know-how.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 6. PLS (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF)<\/a><\/h3>\n PLS, previously named Pilbara Minerals, operates its 100% owned Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum asset in Western Australia. The operation entered business manufacturing in 2019 and consists of two processing crops: the Pilgan plant, positioned on the northern aspect of the Pilgangoora space, which produces a spodumene focus and a tantalite focus; and the Ngungaju plant, positioned to the south, which produces a spodumene focus.<\/p>\n PLS has just lately accomplished a couple of essential growth initiatives at Pilgangoora. Its P680 growth<\/a>, for a major rejection facility and a crushing and ore-sorting facility, was accomplished in August 2024. The P1000 growth<\/a>, focusing on a spodumene manufacturing enhance on the website to 1 million MT per yr, was accomplished in January 2025 forward of schedule and inside finances. The corporate says the ramp-up to full capability is predicted to be accomplished within the third quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n PLS and its three way partnership accomplice Calix are growing a midstream demonstration plant at Pilgangoora utilizing Calix’s electrical kiln know-how to cut back the carbon footprint of spodumene processing, reducing transport volumes and bettering value-add processing on the mine. After garnering a AU$15 million grant from the Western Australian Authorities, development of the undertaking is predicted to be accomplished<\/a> within the fourth quarter of 2025.<\/p>\n The corporate made a transfer to increase its footprint in Brazil in August 2024 with the acquisition<\/a> of Latin Sources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF)<\/a> and its Salinas lithium undertaking. The undertaking’s useful resource estimate, which covers the Colina and Fog’s Block deposits, stands at 77.7 million MT at 1.24 p.c lithium oxide. The AU$560 million deal was authorized<\/a> by the Western Australia Authorities in January 2025.<\/p>\n PLS and three way partnership accomplice POSCO (NYSE:PKX)<\/a>\u00a0launched<\/a> South Korea’s first lithium hydroxide processing plant in late 2024, which shall be provided with spodumene from Pilgangoora. PLS additionally has offtake agreements<\/a> with firms equivalent to Ganfeng<\/a>, Chengxin Lithium Group<\/a>, and Yibin Tianyi Lithium Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 7. Mineral Sources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF)<\/a><\/h3>\n Australia-based Mineral Sources (MinRes) is a commodities firm that mines lithium and iron ore within the nation. As talked about, each of MinRes\u2019 lithium mines are joint ventures with different firms on this listing. Along with the Wodgina mine in Western Australia, which is operated below the MARBL three way partnership with Albemarle, MinRes holds a 50 p.c stake in Albemarle’s Qinzhou and Meishan crops in China.<\/p>\n MinRes owns 50 p.c of the Mount Marion lithium operation, which is a three way partnership with Ganfeng Lithium. Manufacturing of lithium focus started at Mount Marion in 2017, and all mining is managed by MinRes, which additionally has a 51 p.c share of the output from the spodumene concentrator on the website. MinRes accomplished the growth of Mount Marion’s spodumene processing plant in 2023. At present, the plant has an annual manufacturing capability of 600,000 MT spodumene focus equal.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, in late August 2024, in mild of lithium’s low demand atmosphere, MinRes determined to r<\/a>educe its operations<\/a> at Mount Marion to between 150,000 and 170,000 MT of spodumene manufacturing in its monetary yr 2025 in comparison with the 218,000 metric tons of output achieved in its monetary yr 2024.<\/p>\n MinRes acquired<\/a> the Bald Hill lithium mine, which can also be positioned in Western Australia, in 2023. The corporate launched an up to date mineral useful resource estimate<\/a> in November 2024 of 58.1 MT at 0.94 p.c lithium oxide, up 168 p.c from the prior June 2018 estimate. In the identical information launch, MinRes introduced that it must place the mine on care and upkeep till international lithium costs enhance. The ultimate cargo of Bald Hill spodumene focus was made in December 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Is lithium a metallic?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Lithium is a mushy, silver-white metallic utilized in prescribed drugs, ceramics, grease, lubricants and heat-resistant glass. It\u2019s additionally utilized in lithium-ion batteries, which energy all the things from cell telephones to laptops to electrical autos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n How a lot lithium is there on Earth?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Lithium is the thirty third most plentiful factor in nature. In keeping with the US Geological Survey<\/a>, as a result of persevering with exploration, recognized lithium sources have elevated to about 115 million metric tons worldwide. International lithium reserves<\/a> stand at 30 million MT, with manufacturing reaching 240,000 MT in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n How is lithium produced?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Lithium is present in hard-rock deposits, evaporated brines and clay deposits. The biggest hard-rock mine is Greenbushes in Australia, and most lithium brine output comes from salars in Chile and Argentina.<\/p>\n There are numerous sorts of lithium merchandise, and many alternative functions for the mineral. After lithium is extracted from a deposit, it’s usually processed into lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide or lithium metallic. Battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide can be utilized to make cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n What nation produces probably the most lithium?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n The most recent information from the US Geological Survey reveals that the world\u2019s prime lithium-producing international locations are Australia, Chile and China, with manufacturing reaching 88,000 metric tons, 49,000 metric tons and 41,000 metric tons, respectively.<\/p>\n International lithium manufacturing reached 240,000 metric tons of lithium in 2024, up from 204,000 MT in 2023, based on the US Geological Survey. About 87 p.c of the lithium produced presently goes towards battery manufacturing, however different industries additionally devour the metallic. For instance, 5 p.c is utilized in ceramics and glass, whereas 2 p.c goes to lubricating greases.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Who’s the biggest miner of lithium?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n The world’s largest lithium-producing mine is Talison Lithium and Albemarle’s Greenbushes hard-rock mine in Australia, which put out 1.38 million MT of spodumene focus within the fiscal yr 2024<\/a>. The highest-producing lithium brine operation was SQM’s Salar de Atacama operations in Chile, with 2023 manufacturing of 166,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Who’re the highest lithium shoppers?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n The prime lithium-importing nation<\/a> is China by an extended shot, and second place South Korea is one other vital importer. China can also be the highest nation for lithium processing, and each are dwelling to many firms producing lithium-ion batteries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Why is lithium so arduous to mine?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n The several types of lithium deposits include their very own challenges.<\/p>\n For instance, mining pegmatite lithium<\/a> from hard-rock ore is understood for being costly, whereas extracting lithium from brines requires huge quantities of water and processing occasions that may generally be so long as 12 months. Lithium mining additionally comes with the difficulties related to mining different minerals, equivalent to lengthy exploration and allowing intervals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n What are the detrimental results of lithium?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Each main types of lithium mining can have detrimental results on the atmosphere<\/a>. Relating to hard-rock lithium mining, there have been incidents of chemical compounds leaking into the water provide and damaging the native ecosystems; as well as, these operations are likely to have a big environmental footprint. <\/p>\n As talked about, lithium brine extraction requires a number of water for the evaporation course of, however it’s arduous to grasp the scope with out numbers. It is estimated that roughly 2.2 million liters of water<\/a> are required to provide 1 metric ton of lithium, and that may generally imply diverting water from communities which might be experiencing drought circumstances<\/a>. This type of lithium extraction additionally impacts the situation of the soil and air.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Will lithium run out?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Though future demand for lithium is predicted to maintain rising as a result of its position in inexperienced power, the metallic should not run out<\/a> any time quickly, as firms are persevering with to find new lithium reserves and are growing extra superior extraction applied sciences. Moreover, there are firms engaged on know-how to recycle battery metals, which is able to finally enable lithium from lithium-ion batteries to re-enter the availability chain. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n What know-how will exchange lithium?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Researchers have been engaged on growing and testing a number of lithium alternate options<\/a> for batteries. A few of these choices embody hydrogen batteries, liquid batteries that might be pumped into autos, batteries that exchange lithium with sodium or magnesium and even batteries powered by sea water. Whereas nothing seems prepared to interchange lithium-ion batteries proper now, there may be potential for extra environment friendly or extra environmentally pleasant choices to develop in recognition sooner or later. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Easy methods to purchase a lithium inventory?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n Buyers are beginning to concentrate to the inexperienced power transition and the uncooked supplies that can allow it.<\/p>\n Relating to selecting a inventory to spend money on, understanding lithium provide and demand dynamics is vital, as there are distinctive components to observe for in lithium shares. The primary demand driver for lithium is what occurs within the electrical car business, which is predicted to continue to grow, and likewise the power space for storing. Analysts stay optimistic about the way forward for lithium, with many predicting the market shall be tight for a while. <\/p>\n Buyers thinking about lithium shares might take into account firms listed on US<\/a>, Canadian<\/a> and Australian<\/a> inventory exchanges. They will additionally take a look at our information on what to search for in lithium shares<\/a> immediately. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n That is an up to date model of an article first printed by the Investing Information Community in 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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Share worth:<\/strong> AU$112.70<\/p>\n\n
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Share worth:<\/strong> AU$18.95<\/p>\nFAQs for investing in lithium<\/strong><\/u><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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