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Global Lithium Market Trends
Demand for lithium is rising exponentially due to the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and grid-scale lithium-ion batteries for energy storage.
Mining Technology tracks the global lithium market by observing lithium price trends and analysing worldwide lithium reserves, production, exports, and imports data. We also closely monitor the performance of lithium mining companies and active lithium mines, as well as the progress of major lithium exploration and development projects around the world.
The global lithium metal production is forecast to surpass 100 thousand tonnes (kt) in 2023, according to GlobalData.
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GlobalData forecasts data for 15 commodities of 60 leading mining countries, with 70 reports per year covering supply & demand, key projects, activities of major mining companies and fiscal regimes.
Expert Comments and Analysis
Largest Lithium Producing Countries
Mining Technology ranks the biggest lithium producing countries by analysing lithium production by country based on a comprehensive database that covers major lithium mining locations around the world.
The world’s biggest lithium mining countries in 2021 included Australia, Chile and Argentina.
The top three lithium producing countries together accounted for 87% of the global lithium output in 2021.
Biggest Lithium Mines in the World
Mining Technology keeps a close watch on the production of major lithium mining projects to rank the world’s biggest lithium mines.
With an output of 0.075Mtpa, Mibra Mine in Brazil ranked as the world’s biggest lithium mine in 2021.
The world’s ten biggest lithium mining operations together accounted for 67% of the global lithium metal output in 2021.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Production 2021 (MTPA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mibra Mine | Brazil | Minas Gerais | Advanced Metallurgical Group NV(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.75 |
| Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Project | Australia | Western Australia | Alita Resources Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.28 |
| Mount Marion Lithium Project | Australia | Western Australia | Mineral Resources Ltd(50%), Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co Ltd(50%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.1 |
| Greenbushes Lithium Operations | Australia | Western Australia | Albemarle Corp(49%), Tianqi Lithium Corp(26.01%), IGO Ltd(24.99%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.07 |
| Pilgangoora Project | Australia | Western Australia | Pilbara Minerals Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.06 |
| Salar de Atacama Mine | Chile | Antofagasta | Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA(100%) | In-situ Leaching & In-situ Leaching | 0.05 |
| Bikita Mine | Zimbabwe | Masvingo | Bikita Minerals (PVT) Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.05 |
| Jiajika Project | China | Sichuan | Tianqi Lithium Corp(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.04 |
| Salar de Atacama Mine (Albemarle Corporation) | Chile | El Loa | Albemarle Corp(100%) | Surface & To be confirmed | 0.04 |
| Mount Cattlin Lithium Mine | Australia | Western Australia | Galaxy Resources Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.03 |
Source: GlobalData Top Global Projects
Major Upcoming Lithium Mines
Mining Technology lists the major upcoming lithium mines in the world by comparing annual production capacities of upcoming lithium mining projects.
James Bay Project in Canada is the biggest upcoming lithium mine in the world, with an annual production capacity of 1.58Mtpa.
Kathleen Valley Project (Liontown Resources) in Australia and Mina Do Barroso Project in Portugal are the next major upcoming lithium mines with a capacity of 0.76Mtpa and 0.32Mtpa, respectively.
| Mine Name | Country | State | Owner | Mine Type & Method | Annual Production Capacity (MTPA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Bay Project | Canada | Quebec | Galaxy Resources Ltd(100%), Allkem Ltd(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 1.58 |
| Kathleen Valley Project (Liontown Resources) | Australia | Western Australia | Liontown Resources Ltd(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit/Stoping | 0.76 |
| Mina Do Barroso Project | Portugal | Vila Real | Savannah Resources Plc(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.33 |
| Grota Do Cirilo Project | Brazil | Minas Gerais | Sigma Lithium Resources Inc(100%) | Surface & To be confirmed | 0.22 |
| Arcadia Lithium Project | Zimbabwe | Mashonaland East | Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co Ltd(87%), Farvic Consolidated Mines (Pvt) Ltd(13%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.17 |
| Sepeda Project | Portugal | Vila Real | Lusorecursos(100%) | Surface & Open Pit | 0.15 |
| Georgia Lake Project | Canada | Ontario | Rock Tech Lithium Inc(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit | 0.1 |
| Falchani Project | Peru | Puno | American Lithium Corp(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit | 0.09 |
| Separation Rapids Project | Canada | Ontario | Avalon Advanced Materials Inc(100%) | Surface and Underground & Open Pit | 0.08 |
| Jadar Project | Serbia | Sumadija and Western Serbia | Rio Tinto(100%) | Underground & To be confirmed | 0.06 |
Source: GlobalData Top Global Projects
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