SQM — Salar de Atacama

Chile · Integrated · Operating · NYSE:SQM

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CL · ChileLatin AmericaOperatingIntegratedNYSE:SQM

SQM — Salar de Atacama

World's lowest-cost lithium brine producer. JV with Codelco for state participation under negotiation.

ESG score
72
0–100
Annual capacity
210k t/y
nameplate
Established
1968
58 years
FEOC status
Compliant
OFAC + EU + UK

Materials produced

Li₂CO₃High
Lithium Carbonate (battery-grade)
USD / tonne15,420

Compliance signals

  • IRA §30D (US Treasury)Eligible
  • EU CRMA strategic projectEligible
  • OFAC consolidatedClear
  • UK HMT sanctionsClear
  • Beneficial ownershipVerified
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Certifications & standards

IRMA
Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance — independently audited mine-site standard.
ISO-14001
Environmental management systems standard.

Risk flags

  • Water-rights litigation pending
Country risk context

Chile — World's lowest-cost lithium, but new constitution and state-participation model under negotiation. Water-rights regulatory tightening.

Recent intelligence relevant to this supplier

2 items
  • 2026-05-18·ESG·Chile
    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.

  • 2026-05-10·Regulation·United States
    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.

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