World Lithium

Growth will be driven by rapid expansion in the lithium-ion battery industry as world demand for hybrid and electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and high-drain portable electronics continues to grow.

World demand to rise 8.9% annually through 2019

Global demand for lithium metal is projected to rise 8.9 percent per year through 2019 to 49,350 metric tons. In lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) terms, the value of the global lithium market is projected to reach $1.7 billion. Torrid advances in the rechargeable battery market will fuel increases, driven by rapid expansion in the lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery industry as world demand for hybrid and electric vehicles (H/EVs), energy storage systems, and high-drain portable electronics continues to grow. Rising production of primary lithium batteries will also support market gains, especially as improving incomes in emerging economies spur shifts to better performing primary batteries. Other major markets for lithium -- including glass and ceramics, lubricating grease, and metallurgy -- are forecast to post relatively moderate gains. The lubricating grease segment will boast the best performance of these markets, spurred by the use of lithium-based greases in industrial and transportation equipment. Demand for lithium will also be strong in the smaller aluminum alloy market, where lithium is used to reduce weight and improve alloy strength.

Asia/Pacific region to see the fastest gains in demand

The Asia/Pacific region will see the fastest gains in lithium demand through 2019. China dominates the world lithium market due to the country’s massive output of goods manufactured with lithium -- including batteries, glass, grease, air conditioning equipment, and synthetic rubber. China is expected to register the world’s strongest yearly increases in lithium demand, boosted by a nearly threefold expansion in the country’s rechargeable battery segment. Other major suppliers of Li-Ion batteries in the Asia/Pacific region, including South Korea and Japan, are also projected to see robust increases in lithium demand. Strong market gains in India will be driven by ongoing expansion in the country’s manufacturing sector. Among other regions, North America is projected to post the fastest gains in lithium demand, buoyed by strong growth in the production of Li-Ion batteries in the US. Li-Ion battery output is also forecast to expand in Western Europe, particularly in Germany.

Lithium hydroxide to outpace lithium carbonate

Lithium is most widely consumed in the form of lithium carbonate due to the compound’s application in a wide range of end uses (including glass, ceramics, and batteries). However, lithium carbonate is losing market share to lithium hydroxide, which is increasingly favored for its superior performance in Li-Ion cathode applications. Large volumes of lithium metal are also consumed in the form of mineral concentrates, which find applications in the production of glass, ceramics, and metal castings.

Study coverage

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the 32,200 metric ton world lithium industry. It presents historical demand data (2004, 2009 and 2014) and forecasts (2019 and 2024) by product (e.g., lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, mineral concentrates) and market (e.g., primary batteries, rechargeable batteries, glass and ceramics, lubricating grease, metallurgy) for six world regions and 19 major countries. The study also considers market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company market share, and profiles 32 industry players, including Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, Rockwood Lithium, and Talison Lithium.

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  1. World Lithium

    $6,300.00

    1. 1 INTRODUCTION

      $285.00

    2. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

      $182.00

      1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND

    3. 3 MARKET ENVIRONMENT

      $1,361.00

      1. 3.1 General

        $82.00

      2. 3.2 World Economic Overview

        $270.00

        1. 3.2.1 Recent Historical Trends

          $87.00

        2. 3.2.2 World Economic Outlook

          $182.00

          1. Table | WORLD GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY REGION

      3. 3.3 World Demographic Outlook

        $129.00

        1. Table | WORLD POPULATION BY REGION

      4. 3.4 World Manufacturing Outlook

        $165.00

        1. Table | WORLD MANUFACTURING VALUE ADDED BY REGION

      5. 3.5 World Batteries Outlook

        $268.00

        1. Table | WORLD BATTERY SHIPMENTS BY TYPE & REGION

        2. 3.5.1 Primary Batteries

          $86.00

          1. Table | WORLD PRIMARY BATTERY SHIPMENTS BY REGION

        3. 3.5.2 Rechargeable Batteries

          $106.00

          1. Table | WORLD RECHARGEABLE BATTERY SHIPMENTS BY REGION

      6. 3.6 World Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Outlook

        $110.00

        1. Table | WORLD HYBRID & ELECTRIC VEHICLE PRODUCTION BY TYPE & REGION

      7. 3.7 World Flat Glass Outlook

        $100.00

        1. Table | WORLD FLAT GLASS PRODUCTION BY REGION

      8. 3.8 International Trade

        $82.00

      9. 3.9 Pricing Trends

        $84.00

        1. CHART II-1 WORLD LITHIUM PRICING, 2004-2014

      10. 3.10 Environmental & Regulatory Considerations

        $109.00

    4. 4 MINE PRODUCTION & PROCESSING

      $667.00

      1. 4.1 General

        $88.00

      2. 4.2 Lithium Production by Resource

        $276.00

        1. Table | LITHIUM PRODUCTION BY RESOURCE

        2. 4.2.1 Brine

          $82.00

        3. 4.2.2 Mineral Ore

          $86.00

        4. 4.2.3 Other Resources

          $82.00

      3. 4.3 Identified Resources by Country

        $87.00

        1. Table | WORLD IDENTIFIED LITHIUM RESOURCES BY COUNTRY

      4. 4.4 Production by Country

        $101.00

        1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY

        2. CHART III-1 LITHIUM PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY, 2014

      5. 4.5 Lithium Projects & Future Supply

        $115.00

        1. Table | SELECTED LITHIUM PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT, 2014

    5. 5 DEMAND OVERVIEW

      $1,589.00

      1. 5.1 General

        $128.00

      2. 5.2 Demand by Region

        $138.00

        1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY REGION

        2. CHART IV-1 WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY REGION*, 2014

      3. 5.3 Demand by Product

        $418.00

        1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        2. CHART IV-2 WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT*, 2014

        3. 5.3.1 Lithium Carbonate

          $82.00

          1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM CARBONATE DEMAND BY REGION

        4. 5.3.2 Lithium Hydroxide

          $82.00

          1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM HYDROXIDE DEMAND BY REGION

        5. 5.3.3 Mineral Concentrates

          $85.00

          1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM MINERAL CONCENTRATES DEMAND BY REGION

        6. 5.3.4 Other Lithium Products

          $109.00

          1. Table | WORLD DEMAND FOR OTHER LITHIUM PRODUCTS BY TYPE & REGION

      4. 5.4 Demand by Market

        $82.00

        1. Table | WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        2. CHART IV-3 WORLD LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET, 2014

      5. 5.5 Batteries

        $313.00

        1. Table | WORLD BATTERY MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY APPLICATION & REGION

        2. 5.5.1 Primary Batteries

          $104.00

          1. Table | WORLD PRIMARY BATTERY MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY REGION

        3. 5.5.2 Rechargeable Batteries

          $128.00

          1. Table | WORLD RECHARGEABLE BATTERY MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY APPLICATION & REGION

      6. 5.6 Glass & Ceramics

        $163.00

        1. Table | WORLD GLASS & CERAMICS MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY APPLICATION & REGION

      7. 5.7 Lubricating Grease

        $107.00

        1. Table | WORLD LUBRICATING GREASE MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY REGION

      8. 5.8 Metallurgy

        $151.00

        1. Table | WORLD METALLURGY MARKET FOR LITHIUM BY APPLICATION & REGION

      9. 5.9 Other Markets

        $117.00

        1. Table | OTHER WORLD MARKETS FOR LITHIUM BY APPLICATION & REGION

    6. 6 NORTH AMERICA

      $1,281.00

      1. 6.1 North America: Economic Overview

        $91.00

      2. 6.2 North America: Lithium Supply & Demand

        $105.00

        1. Table | NORTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        2. CHART V-1 NORTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY COUNTRY, 2014

      3. 6.3 North America: Lithium Markets

        $83.00

        1. Table | NORTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      4. 6.4 United States

        $414.00

        1. 6.4.1 United States: Economic Overview

          $88.00

        2. 6.4.2 United States: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $176.00

          1. Table | UNITED STATES: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 6.4.3 United States: Lithium Markets

          $150.00

          1. Table | UNITED STATES: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      5. 6.5 Canada

        $299.00

        1. 6.5.1 Canada: Economic Overview

          $88.00

        2. 6.5.2 Canada: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $130.00

          1. Table | CANADA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 6.5.3 Canada: Lithium Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | CANADA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      6. 6.6 Mexico

        $289.00

        1. 6.6.1 Mexico: Economic Overview

          $94.00

        2. 6.6.2 Mexico: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $102.00

          1. Table | MEXICO: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 6.6.3 Mexico: Lithium Markets

          $92.00

          1. Table | MEXICO: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

    7. 7 WESTERN EUROPE

      $2,131.00

      1. 7.1 Western Europe: Economic Overview

        $112.00

      2. 7.2 Western Europe: Lithium Supply & Demand

        $99.00

        1. Table | WESTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        2. CHART VI-1 WESTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY COUNTRY, 2014

      3. 7.3 Western Europe: Lithium Markets

        $84.00

        1. Table | WESTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      4. 7.4 Germany

        $288.00

        1. 7.4.1 Germany: Economic Overview

          $92.00

        2. 7.4.2 Germany: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $98.00

          1. Table | GERMANY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.4.3 Germany: Lithium Markets

          $98.00

          1. Table | GERMANY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      5. 7.5 France

        $336.00

        1. 7.5.1 France: Economic Overview

          $122.00

        2. 7.5.2 France: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $95.00

          1. Table | FRANCE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.5.3 France: Lithium Markets

          $118.00

          1. Table | FRANCE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      6. 7.6 Italy

        $307.00

        1. 7.6.1 Italy: Economic Overview

          $125.00

        2. 7.6.2 Italy: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $86.00

          1. Table | ITALY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.6.3 Italy: Lithium Markets

          $96.00

          1. Table | ITALY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      7. 7.7 United Kingdom

        $286.00

        1. 7.7.1 United Kingdom: Economic Overview

          $95.00

        2. 7.7.2 United Kingdom: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $102.00

          1. Table | UNITED KINGDOM: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.7.3 United Kingdom: Lithium Markets

          $89.00

          1. Table | UNITED KINGDOM: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      8. 7.8 Spain

        $276.00

        1. 7.8.1 Spain: Economic Overview

          $102.00

        2. 7.8.2 Spain: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $103.00

          1. Table | SPAIN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.8.3 Spain: Lithium Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | SPAIN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      9. 7.9 Other Western Europe

        $340.00

        1. 7.9.1 Other Western Europe: Economic Overview

          $117.00

        2. 7.9.2 Other Western Europe: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $111.00

          1. Table | OTHER WESTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 7.9.3 Other Western Europe: Lithium Markets

          $112.00

          1. Table | OTHER WESTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

    8. 8 ASIA/PACIFIC

      $2,804.00

      1. 8.1 Asia/Pacific: Economic Overview

        $94.00

      2. 8.2 Asia/Pacific: Lithium Supply & Demand

        $127.00

        1. Table | ASIA/PACIFIC: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        2. CHART VII-1 ASIA/PACIFIC: LITHIUM DEMAND BY COUNTRY, 2014

      3. 8.3 Asia/Pacific: Lithium Markets

        $93.00

        1. Table | ASIA/PACIFIC: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      4. 8.4 China

        $412.00

        1. 8.4.1 China: Economic Overview

          $122.00

        2. 8.4.2 China: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $157.00

          1. Table | CHINA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.4.3 China: Lithium Markets

          $133.00

          1. Table | CHINA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      5. 8.5 Japan

        $354.00

        1. 8.5.1 Japan: Economic Overview

          $105.00

        2. 8.5.2 Japan: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $115.00

          1. Table | JAPAN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.5.3 Japan: Lithium Markets

          $133.00

          1. Table | JAPAN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      6. 8.6 South Korea

        $299.00

        1. 8.6.1 South Korea: Economic Overview

          $101.00

        2. 8.6.2 South Korea: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $96.00

          1. Table | SOUTH KOREA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.6.3 South Korea: Lithium Markets

          $102.00

          1. Table | SOUTH KOREA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      7. 8.7 India

        $301.00

        1. 8.7.1 India: Economic Overview

          $115.00

        2. 8.7.2 India: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $90.00

          1. Table | INDIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.7.3 India: Lithium Markets

          $95.00

          1. Table | INDIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      8. 8.8 Taiwan

        $283.00

        1. 8.8.1 Taiwan: Economic Overview

          $104.00

        2. 8.8.2 Taiwan: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $85.00

          1. Table | TAIWAN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.8.3 Taiwan: Lithium Markets

          $93.00

          1. Table | TAIWAN: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      9. 8.9 Indonesia

        $273.00

        1. 8.9.1 Indonesia: Economic Overview

          $101.00

        2. 8.9.2 Indonesia: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $82.00

          1. Table | INDONESIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.9.3 Indonesia: Lithium Markets

          $91.00

          1. Table | INDONESIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      10. 8.10 Australia

        $279.00

        1. 8.10.1 Australia: Economic Overview

          $82.00

        2. 8.10.2 Australia: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $119.00

          1. Table | AUSTRALIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.10.3 Australia: Lithium Markets

          $84.00

          1. Table | AUSTRALIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      11. 8.11 Other Asia/Pacific

        $289.00

        1. 8.11.1 Other Asia/Pacific: Economic Overview

          $88.00

        2. 8.11.2 Other Asia/Pacific: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $104.00

          1. Table | OTHER ASIA/PACIFIC: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 8.11.3 Other Asia/Pacific: Lithium Markets

          $97.00

          1. Table | OTHER ASIA/PACIFIC: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

    9. 9 OTHER REGIONS

      $2,721.00

      1. 9.1 Central & South America

        $889.00

        1. 9.1.1 Central & South America: Economic Overview

          $95.00

        2. 9.1.2 Central & South America: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $103.00

          1. Table | CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 9.1.3 Central & South America: Lithium Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        4. 9.1.4 Brazil

          $302.00

          1. Table | BRAZIL: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | BRAZIL: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        5. 9.1.5 Other Central & South America

          $316.00

          1. Table | OTHER CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | OTHER CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      2. 9.2 Eastern Europe

        $1,013.00

        1. 9.2.1 Eastern Europe: Economic Overview

          $97.00

        2. 9.2.2 Eastern Europe: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $85.00

          1. Table | EASTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 9.2.3 Eastern Europe: Lithium Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | EASTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        4. 9.2.4 Russia

          $258.00

          1. Table | RUSSIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | RUSSIA: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        5. 9.2.5 Poland

          $233.00

          1. Table | POLAND: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | POLAND: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        6. 9.2.6 Other Eastern Europe

          $276.00

          1. Table | OTHER EASTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | OTHER EASTERN EUROPE: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

      3. 9.3 Africa/Mideast

        $818.00

        1. 9.3.1 Africa/Mideast: Economic Overview

          $107.00

        2. 9.3.2 Africa/Mideast: Lithium Supply & Demand

          $82.00

          1. Table | AFRICA/MIDEAST: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

        3. 9.3.3 Africa/Mideast: Lithium Markets

          $82.00

          1. Table | AFRICA/MIDEAST: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        4. 9.3.4 Turkey

          $263.00

          1. Table | TURKEY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | TURKEY: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

        5. 9.3.5 Other Africa/Mideast

          $316.00

          1. Table | OTHER AFRICA/MIDEAST: LITHIUM DEMAND BY PRODUCT

          2. Table | OTHER AFRICA/MIDEAST: LITHIUM DEMAND BY MARKET

    10. 10 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE

      $4,638.00

      1. 10.1 General

        $106.00

      2. 10.2 Market Composition

        $168.00

        1. Table | PRIMARY LITHIUM PRODUCTION BY COMPANY, 2014*

      3. 10.3 Market Share

        $296.00

        1. CHART IX-1 WORLD PRIMARY LITHIUM MARKET SHARE BY VOLUME, 2014

      4. 10.4 Marketing & Distribution

        $82.00

      5. 10.5 Acquisitions & Divestitures

        $135.00

        1. Table | SELECTED ACQUISITIONS & DIVESTITURES

      6. 10.6 Cooperative Agreements

        $166.00

        1. Table | SELECTED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

      7. 10.7 Company Profiles

        $3,637.00

        1. 10.7.1 Albemarle Corporation

          $362.00

        2. 10.7.2 Axiom Chemicals Private Limited

          $82.00

        3. 10.7.3 Bacanora Minerals Limited

          $94.00

        4. 10.7.4 BASF SE

          $159.00

        5. 10.7.5 Chengdu Tianqi Group Company Limited

          $285.00

        6. 10.7.6 CITIC Group Corporation

          $101.00

        7. 10.7.7 Critical Elements Corporation

          $82.00

        8. 10.7.8 FMC Corporation

          $255.00

        9. 10.7.9 Galaxy Resources Limited

          $96.00

        10. 10.7.10 International Lithium Corporation

          $82.00

        11. 10.7.11 Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Company Limited

          $224.00

        12. 10.7.12 Johnson Matthey plc

          $128.00

        13. 10.7.13 JSC TVEL Fuel Company

          $82.00

        14. 10.7.14 Leverton Clarke Limited

          $82.00

        15. 10.7.15 Lithium Australia NL

          $171.00

        16. 10.7.16 Mahidhara Chemicals Private Limited

          $82.00

        17. 10.7.17 Nemaska Lithium Incorporated

          $91.00

        18. 10.7.18 Neogen Chemicals Limited

          $82.00

        19. 10.7.19 Neometals Limited

          $82.00

        20. 10.7.20 Nippon Denko Company Limited

          $82.00

        21. 10.7.21 Nordic Mining ASA

          $82.00

        22. 10.7.22 Orocobre Limited

          $82.00

        23. 10.7.23 Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Company Limited

          $82.00

        24. 10.7.24 RB Energy Incorporated

          $82.00

        25. 10.7.25 Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Company Limited

          $102.00

        26. 10.7.26 Simbol Incorporated

          $82.00

        27. 10.7.27 Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA

          $161.00

        28. 10.7.28 Stella Chemifa Corporation

          $82.00

        29. 10.7.29 Tibet Mineral Development Company Limited

          $111.00

        30. 10.7.30 Toda Kogyo Corporation

          $82.00

        31. 10.7.31 Umicore SA/NV

          $82.00

        32. 10.7.32 Western Lithium USA Corporation

          $145.00

      8. 10.8 Other Companies Mentioned in Study

        $82.00

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