Lithium Carbonate (battery-grade)

Li₂CO₃ · category: battery · USD / tonne

All materials
High supply riskCN 65%

Lithium Carbonate (battery-grade)

Battery-grade demand outstripping refined capacity; Chile and Argentina ramping non-Chinese conversion.

15,420
USD / tonne
8.4% · 30d

Profile

Category
battery
Primary uses
EV batteries, Grid storage, Ceramics
Top producers
Australia, Chile, China, Argentina
China dependency
65%
Supply risk
High

Compliance signals

  • IRA §30D · qualified suppliers identified
  • EU CRMA strategic project · 3 active
  • MOFCOM export license required

Qualified suppliers

7 in atlas
  • CL · Integrated
    SQM — Salar de Atacama
    210k t/y · ESG 72 · Operating
    IRMAISO-14001
  • AU · Mine
    Albemarle / IGO / Tianqi — Greenbushes
    162k t/y · ESG 78 · Operating
    IRMAISO-14001
  • AU · Mine
    Pilbara Minerals — Pilgangoora
    100k t/y · ESG 76 · Operating
    IRMA
  • US · Recycler
    Li-Cycle — Rochester Hub
    35k t/y · ESG 82 · Ramping
    RMI-RMAPB-Corp
  • DE · Integrated
    Vulcan Energy — Zero Carbon Lithium
    24k t/y · ESG 92 · Ramping
    IRMAISO-14001
  • SE · Recycler
    Northvolt Revolt — Skellefteå
    125k t/y · ESG 89 · Ramping
    IRMARMI-RMAP
  • GB · Recycler
    Altilium Metals — Teesside
    30k t/y · ESG 87 · Permitting
    IRMAB-Corp

Recent intelligence

2 items
  • 2026-05-18DGA Chile 2026-189
    SQM Atacama water-rights audit: regulator finds compliance gap

    Dirección General de Aguas issued findings on brine extraction reporting. SQM committed to 18-month remediation. Buyers with ESG-indexed contracts likely to see clauses triggered Q3-2026.

  • 2026-05-10IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-12
    Treasury finalizes 30D FEOC rules — Chinese refining disqualified from 2026-01-01

    Final IRS guidance under IRC §30D(d)(7) confirms lithium converted in China is FEOC-tainted regardless of mining origin. Triggered automatic price spread between IRA-qualified and global indices, currently $1,800/t.