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The World Is Facing A Lithium Supply Crunch As Demand Soars
Oilprice ^ | May 13, 2021 | Tsvetana Paraskova

Posted on 05/13/2021 7:01:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway

In just one year, the world’s largest lithium producers turned from cautiously optimistic about prices and very careful about expansion projects to decisively bullish on near, medium, and long-term demand for the key battery metal.

The pandemic prompted many governments to commit to greener recovery and to raising significantly the share of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), stoking demand for critical minerals this year. Lithium, alongside copper, has seen prices rising since automakers started pledging all-EV lineups and exponential growth in their electric car offerings.

Rising immediate demand for lithium and expectations of surging demand in the longer term have increased sales of the top lithium producers, which are now much more bullish on lithium prices and demand, both for the short term and the long run.

Amid the most bullish expectations about the lithium market in years, analysts warn that even the increased project pipeline may not be sufficient to meet the booming demand for lithium—a critical battery metal—in the energy transition. Experts and forecasters also warn that rising raw material prices in the current commodity bull run could actually slow down the energy transition because it could slow the decline in battery costs. Lower battery costs would be critical to EVs reaching price parity with conventional vehicles and allowing for more energy storage deployment to support the rising share of renewables in the electricity generation mix.

Top Lithium Producers Expect Boom In Demand

“Companies across the lithium-ion supply chain are in the best position they’ve been in for the last 5 years,” Pedro Palandrani of the Global X Lithium & Battery Technology ETF, told Reuters.

Case in point: the biggest lithium producer in the world, Albemarle Corporation, said last week that its first-quarter lithium sales rose as some customers accelerated orders under long-term agreements

(Excerpt) Read more at oilprice.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 202105; afghanistan; albemarlecorp; albermarle; argentina; australia; batteries; chile; global; globalx; lithium; minerals; mining; rareearth; rareearthmetals; rem
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1 posted on 05/13/2021 7:01:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Of course. Lithium, rare earth metals. Can we purge the government yet? Where are the Maccabees?


2 posted on 05/13/2021 7:04:41 PM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: nickcarraway
The World Is Facing A Lithium Supply Crunch As Demand Soars

Hey Jennifer Granholm. If you drive an ICE car, then lithium shortages "would not be affecting you, clearly."

*ugly smirk*

3 posted on 05/13/2021 7:08:00 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: nickcarraway

Nobody, and I mean NO BODY saw that one coming!


4 posted on 05/13/2021 7:10:38 PM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged )
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To: Karliner

Chile and Australia have the largest reserves but can they supply the whole world, especially if EV’s were to replace gasoline cars ?


5 posted on 05/13/2021 7:11:11 PM PDT by libh8er
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To: nickcarraway

A very cunning plan. Deplete the world lithium supply with “green vehicles” depriving schizos of their meds, causing them to vote Democrat to produce even more “green vehicles.”


6 posted on 05/13/2021 7:13:08 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: nickcarraway

That’s nothing compared to the environment and cash costs of mining bitcoins. 😲 WTH?


7 posted on 05/13/2021 7:18:56 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this?)
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To: Karliner

Lithium is far from being rare earth. It’s very abundant. It wasn’t used for much until now, but there are vast reserves in many countries including here.


8 posted on 05/13/2021 7:21:13 PM PDT by Renfrew
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To: nickcarraway

There will be plenty of Lithium, when the world’s population is half a billion and the economy is primitive agriculture.


9 posted on 05/13/2021 7:21:15 PM PDT by lurk ( )
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To: rktman

I can testify that the mining of a bitcoin is a total waste of energy. Big time.

Used to do it when it provided much more income that the electric bill was. Now, I would earn about $1 for every $10 I spend in electric. Not $10 into $11. It’s spend $10 and get back $1.


10 posted on 05/13/2021 7:27:59 PM PDT by George from New England
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To: Renfrew
Lithium is far from being rare earth. It’s very abundant. It wasn’t used for much until now, but there are vast reserves in many countries including here.

Lithium is also 80% recyclable.

11 posted on 05/13/2021 7:32:17 PM PDT by Kenny Bania (Ovaltine? Why not call it Roundtine?)
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To: Renfrew

Thanks, I never knew, always thought it was considered rare earth. Again thanks.


12 posted on 05/13/2021 7:43:12 PM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: libh8er

I hear the country of Nirvana has plenty of it.


13 posted on 05/13/2021 7:47:00 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: Karliner

What publicly traded companies are lithium producers. If you know their symbols please list them


14 posted on 05/13/2021 7:47:49 PM PDT by ncfool (Joe Biden USSA.. United Socialist state of aMeriKa...... 11.3.2020 - President in waiting Kama-la-la)
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To: Kenny Bania

“Lithium is also 80% recyclable”

Yeah, if you can divert it from the waste sream, and keep it from going to landfills one deed battery at a time.


15 posted on 05/13/2021 7:49:07 PM PDT by HKMk23 (INADEQUACY: If this keeps up, we may not be able to let you help us anymore.)
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To: nickcarraway

But but my utopia of renewable energy!


16 posted on 05/13/2021 7:55:34 PM PDT by MNDude
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To: VTenigma

There’s a lot of identified mines that can come online fairly quickly if they get the right price signal. Chile comes to mind.


17 posted on 05/13/2021 8:11:51 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: Dr.Deth

So, some states will ban new ICE vehicles in 2030, and there will be only very expensive electric cars for sale then.

Sounds like a plan.

Because it is, in fact, a plan.


18 posted on 05/13/2021 8:18:29 PM PDT by The Antiyuppie (When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day.)
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To: George from New England

“Used to do it when it provided much more income that the electric bill was. Now, I would earn about $1 for every $10 I spend in electric. Not $10 into $11. It’s spend $10 and get back $1.”

Not sure if it’s feasible even if you own a hydroelectric plant.


19 posted on 05/13/2021 8:20:29 PM PDT by The Antiyuppie (When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day.)
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To: ncfool
a few lithium stocks mentioned in this article.
20 posted on 05/13/2021 8:22:18 PM PDT by bankwalker (groupthink kills ...)
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