Lithium prices have “gone ballistic” as surging electric vehicles sales worldwide create massive demand for the critical component of lithium-ion batteries.
According to figures from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), the price of the lithium-rich raw material spodumene rose 478.3% between January 2021 and January 2022.
In January alone the price of spodumene jumped 45.5% to US$2,400 a tonne, up from $1,650 in December. Similar price rises were recorded for lithium carbonate and hydroxide – refined lithium at different stages of purity – over the past year.
BMI is forecasting the price will continue to increase for at least the next six month off the back of massive demand for battery cells. In January the consulting firm McKinsey predicted the market for lithium batteries would grow to at least $360bn by 2030, with growth averaging 20% a year until the end of the decade.
For the rest of this article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/feb/09/gone-ballistic-lithium-price-rockets-nearly-500-in-a-year-amid-electric-vehicle-rush