Lithium Market Growth & Trends

The global lithium market size is anticipated to reach USD 4.93 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 1.9% from 2020 to 2027. Growing battery production across the globe on account of increasing demand from the end-use industries is anticipated to augment market growth.

Lithium is found in the form of compounds and not as a single element on account of its high reactivity. Of all its compounds, Li2CO3 is the most stable and is further used for preparation of other compounds. Demand for Li2CO3 persists owing to its high availability and low cost in comparison to others.

Increasing demand for lithium from end-use industries is propelling manufacturers to expand their production. For instance, in April 2019, General Lithium Corp announced about its plan to construct a plant for producing lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) from spodumene mineral in China. The plant’s capacity is expected to be 60 kilotons of LCE per annum. The company aims at finishing the plant construction by end of 2020.

Growing demand for lithium, supported by its increasing production can be obstructed in 2020 owing to the coronavirus outbreak in the world. Battery is the major application of lithium and the temporary shutdown of major manufacturing facilities of consumer goods, electric vehicles, and batteries is anticipated to impact the market growth. However, certain Chinese manufacturers are expected to resume operations as of April 2020, which can be considered a positive sign.

There are various countries in the world that have been majorly hit due to the coronavirus outbreak. For example, Miners in Peru have halted their operations to prevent further spread of the virus. As of March 17, 2020, Chile, which is amongst the top 5 producers of lithium, reported over 200 coronavirus cases, which led to shutting down of schools, borders, and prohibition of gatherings. This resulted in disruption of the lithium supply chain, as SQM, one of the largest manufacturers in the market, reported the cut down of shipments to China by 2 kilotons.

Automotive accounted for the largest market share in 2019 on account of growing penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) in the industry, which is propelling the demand for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Growing demand from the battery sector, especially in China, has boosted lithium production. For example, in January 2020, Youngy announced its plan to build a plant in Kangding, Sichuan province worth USD 201 million for processing 1.05 million tons of lithium ore per annum.

The global market has been characterized by high competition owing to presence of major manufacturers in the industry. Albemarle, FMC Corporation, SQM, Tianqi Lithium, and few more players dominate the market. Mergers and acquisitions is a key strategic initiative in the market in order to gain a greater market share. For instance, a joint venture was announced in February 2019 between China’s Xinjiang TBEA Group Co Ltd and Bolivia’s Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos for lithium production.

Lithium Market Report Highlights

  • Asia Pacific anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR across the forecast period in terms of volume owing to increasing government initiatives pertaining to adoption of electric vehicles, which is leading to growing production of li-ion batteries in the region
  • By application, grid storage is expected to emerge as the fastest growing segment with a revenue-based CAGR of 2.1% from 2020 to 2027 on account of growing emphasis towards clean energy, leading to increasing energy storage capacities in several nations
  • Li2CO3 accounted for the largest volume share of 60.0% in 2019 owing to its abundant availability and stability in nature
  • Consumer goods is expected to emerge as the second fastest growing segment with a volume-based CAGR of 4.0% from 2020 to 2027, considering increasing production of smartphones across the globe
  • Oversupply of lithium and advancements in the technology are leading towards decline in its prices. As a result, companies are postponing their capacity expansion plans. For instance, SQM postponed its planned expansion in Chile until late 2021 owing to weak lithium prices and quick evolution in battery requirements.