Global Lithium Industry Market and Future

In recent years the lithium market has grown by 2% to 5% per year, with world demand between 13,000t and 14,000t in 2001. The outlook for consumption of lithium is relatively optimistic, as the diverse nature of its applications tends to insulate it against fluctuations in end-use sectors. According to Roskill’s The Economics of Lithium (9th Edition), forecast demand for lithium metals and chemicals in 2006 is 11,250t Li, or 60,000t of lithium carbonate equivalent, reflecting a forecast aggregate rate of growth of 2 to 4% per year.

Features of this forecast are the continued high growth in demand for lithium chemicals for secondary batteries and for a continued decline in demand for lithium carbonate by the aluminum smelting industry.

World production of lithium minerals increased steadily from 6,300t in 1994 to 11,900t in 2000. The main growth in output has come from Chile, where production of lithium carbonate increased from just over 10,000t in 1993 to 35,000t in 2001, an average growth rate of 16.5% per year. Output in Chile was boosted by the start-up of operations of SQM in 1996. Production capacity of lithium minerals was over 50% higher than sales levels in 2001, while the Chilean lithium carbonate producers had a 20% surplus in capacity in the same year. Given the relatively modest growth in demand for lithium, it appears that there is sufficient capacity in the industry for the foreseeable future.

Key trends, issues, and developments in the market are now analyzed in this major new report. It provides a clear insight into all areas of the industry and an authoritative analysis of future prospects for the demand for and availability of lithium on the world market.

This 108-page report is available for $2,800. Contact Roskill Information Services Ltd., 27a Leopold Road, London, SW19 7BB, England, phone: +44 20 8944 0066, fax: +44 20 8947 9568, or email: info@roskill.co.uk.