In 2022, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate stood at 71,000 U.S. dollars per metric ton. This figure is by far the highest price for battery-grade lithium carbonate recorded in the period of consideration. For 2024, lithium carbonate price was estimated at 14,000 U.S. dollars per metric ton. Lithium is a highly reactive soft and silvery-white alkali metal. As the third element in the periodic table, it has 3 protons in its nucleus and three electrons around it. Because it is highly reactive, it cannot be found in its pure form in nature. Lithium is the least dense of solid elements and the lightest out of all metals. Lithium and batteries One of lithium’s most well-known end uses is in lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable and mostly used in portable electronics and electronic vehicles. In lithium-ion batteries, the lithium ions move from the negative electrode to positive electrode while in use, and the process is reversed while charging. These batteries are highly flammable but are also low-maintenance. They have a high energy density and a low self-discharge. Some drawbacks include the fact that they are expensive to manufacture, and that they require protection circuits to maintain the voltage safely. Lithium-ion batteries are also the single-largest end use of lithium, amounting to an 87 percent share of global lithium consumption in 2024. Lithium demand forecasts Looking to the future, lithium demand is forecast to stand at 1.4 million tons by 2025. This growth will be mainly driven by lithium-ion battery demand for electric vehicles. Demand is expected to remain the highest in China, which will consistently account for half of global lithium-ion battery demand.

During the last quarter of 2024, the lithium carbonate prices in the USA reached 10,842 USD/MT in December. As per the lithium carbonate price chart, due to excess and little demand, the market saw fluctuations. At first, prices stayed constant, but when supply exceeded demand, they began to decline. The market was soon dominated by lower-priced cargoes after a brief price spike brought on by expensive imports.

Explore IMARC’s newly published report, titled “Lithium Carbonate Prices, Trend, Chart, Demand, Market Analysis, News, Historical and Forecast Data Report 2025 Edition,” offers an in-depth analysis of lithium carbonate pricing, covering an analysis of global and regional market trends and the critical factors driving these price movements.

In 2025, the price of 99% lithium carbonate is projected to be around 7.60 U.S. dollars per kilogram.

Growing global lithium demand

There has been a steady increase in battery demand globally, which in turn becomes a strong driver of lithium usage in the future. However, producers have been unable to keep up with the demand. In 2025, global lithium demand is expected to reach 4,450 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent for non-rechargeable batteries. The 2018 annual average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was 17,000 U.S. dollars per metric ton, increased from the 15,000 U.S. dollars in the previous year.

Lithium demand by application Lithium has many end use applications aside from batteries. For example, demand for lithium in ceramics is anticipated to reach 51,788 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2025. Another example is that the demand for lithium in polymers is expected to grow to 12,624 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2025, from the 2018 demand which was 9,873 metric tons.

In Q2 2024, lithium hydroxide prices in the United States peaked at 14720 USD/MT in June. Several factors influenced these changes, including higher ocean freight demand, European restocking trends, and greater import activity within North America. These factors put pressure on the container market, reducing spot market liquidity and driving up shipping costs.

Explore the dynamic fluctuations in lithium metal prices driven by rising demand for electric vehicles, technological advancements, geopolitical influences, and global supply chain factors. Understand key trends affecting this vital market through a detailed analysis of lithium price charts.

Lithium's market value is forecast to increase to nearly 6.68 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, due to its increasingly significant importance for various applications such as lithium-ion batteries. In 2023, the global market value of lithium amounted to 4.2 billion U.S. dollars.

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Lithium Carbonate Market Size 2025-2029

The lithium carbonate market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.98 billion at a CAGR of 14.1% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in various applications, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This trend is driven by the global shift towards sustainable transportation and the depletion of fossil fuel resources. Additionally, recycling initiatives for EV batteries are gaining traction, further boosting the demand for lithium carbonate. However, challenges such as the shortage of EV charging stations and the high production cost of lithium carbonate may hinder market growth. The market analysis report provides an in-depth examination of these trends and challenges, offering valuable insights for stakeholders and investors in the lithium carbonate industry.

What will be the Size of the Lithium Carbonate Market During the Forecast Period?

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Lithium carbonate, a vital component in the pharmaceutical industry, plays a significant role in the treatment of various mood disorders. This inorganic compound is particularly effective in managing mood stabilizing medications for individuals suffering from mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, mania, hypomania, depression, schizophrenia, and mood swings. Lithium carbonate works by regulating the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in the brain. The use of lithium carbonate in the medical field has been extensive due to its efficacy in managing symptoms related to these disorders. However, its application is not without challenges. Patients undergoing treatment may experience side effects such as stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, vertigo, dizziness, muscle weakness, shaking hands, tiredness, thirst, urination, weight changes, metallic taste, saliva, acne, rash, headache, and lithium toxicity.
Moreover, despite these challenges, the demand for lithium carbonate remains high due to its proven therapeutic benefits. Blood tests are essential in monitoring lithium levels in patients to prevent toxicity and ensure effective treatment. The addiction potential of lithium carbonate is minimal compared to other psychiatric medications. Overall, the market for lithium carbonate continues to grow as research and development efforts focus on improving its efficacy and minimizing side effects.

How is this Lithium Carbonate Industry segmented and which is the largest segment?

The Lithium Carbonate industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Application

  Batteries
  Ceramics and glass
  Cement and aluminum
  Others


Distribution Channel

  Direct sale
  Indirect sale


Geography

  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  North America

    Canada
    US


  Europe

    Germany
    UK
    France


  Middle East and Africa



  South America

    Brazil

By Application Insights

The batteries segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Lithium carbonate is a crucial component in the production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, specifically for electric vehicles (EVs), energy grid storage, and consumer electronics. The higher the lithium content, the better the quality, with 99.9% lithium content being considered EV-grade and 99.5% as standard battery-grade. Lithium carbonate's excellent electrochemical inertness makes it ideal for manufacturing protective cathode layers in lithium-ion batteries. Lithium carbonate-based batteries, such as lithium cobalt oxide, offer stable capacities and high specific energy, making them suitable for use in smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras. These batteries' desirable characteristics contribute to their widespread use in various industries.

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The batteries segment was valued at USD 2.09 billion in 2019 and showed a gradual increase during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

APAC is estimated to contribute 73% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period.

Technavio's analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

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Lithium carbonate is a critical raw material for producing lithium-ion batteries, which have gained significant popularity due to their application in electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage systems. The increasing adoption of EVs, particularly in countries like China and India, is driving the

The price of lithium iron phosphate in China reached 8239 USD/MT in December 2023.

Explore IMARC’s newly published report, titled “Lithium Iron Phosphate Pricing Report 2024: Price Trend, Chart, Market Analysis, News, Demand, Historical and Forecast Data,” offers an in-depth analysis of lithium iron phosphate pricing, covering an analysis of global and regional market trends and the critical factors driving these price movements.

The global lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery market is expected to surpass 150 billion U.S. dollars by 2032, compared to a market size of approximately 50 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Popularity of lithium-ion batteries

In 2022, Li-ion batteries made up the vast majority of the electrochemical energy storage projects worldwide. Their popularity is due to their lightness and the fact that Li-ion batteries can hold a charge better than other battery types, have no memory effect (no need to completely discharge batteries before recharging) and are able to handle hundreds of charge and discharge cycles.

Market forecast

The popularity of Li-ion batteries will most likely persist in the coming years. Their price is not forecast to increase and, according to recent projections, the global Li-ion demand will experience an almost seven-fold increase between 2022 and 2030.

The Global Lithium Market Report is Segmented by Type (Metal, Compound, and Alloy), Application (Battery, Grease, Air Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Glass/Ceramic (Including Frits), Polymer, and Other Applications), End-user Industry (Industrial, Consumer Electronics, Energy Storage, Medical, Automotive, and Other End-user Industries), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The report offers market size and forecasts for lithium in volume in lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) kilotons for all the above segments.

Lithium-ion battery pack price dropped to 115 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in 2024, down from over 144 dollars per kilowatt-hour a year earlier. Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most efficient energy storage devices worldwide. Over recent years, high-scale production and capital investment into the battery production process made lithium-ion battery packs cheaper and more efficient. This demonstrates a staggering demand for energy storage worldwide and could be attributed to the fact that the world is moving towards a renewable energy-based economy where electric vehicles play an increasingly large role. Electric vehicle sales Individuals, organizations, and governments aim to reduce their environmental footprint, as the awareness about the consequences of climate change becomes more widespread. To contribute to a greener society, they promote the growth of the electric vehicle market to make transportation more sustainable and less polluting. When it comes to the sales volume of electric vehicles, the trend is staggeringly positive. For instance, global plug-in electric light vehicle (PEV) sales have progressively increased since 2015, surpassing 13.7 million units sold in 2023. Environmental impact Incorrect disposal of Li-ion batteries can have a devastating environmental impact on the environment, sparking the need for recycling. The global market for lithium-ion battery recycling is expected to reach 13.5 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. This figure compares to around 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.

Lithium ETF stock price, live market quote, shares value, historical data, intraday chart, earnings per share and news.

During Q2 2024, the lithium hexafluorophosphate prices in China reached 7778 USD/MT in June. The prices experienced a significant decline due to increased production, oversupply, global economic challenges, and decrease in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), particularly impacting China.

Lithium Mining Market size was valued at USD 3.94 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.71 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.23% from 2024 to 2031.

Lithium Mining Market Drivers

Lithium mining extracts lithium from the earth’s crust. Lithium is one of the chemical elements with several industrial applications, which is used in the production of sophisticated products for the automotive, electronics, and healthcare industries. Because it can be utilized in numerous lithium-ion batteries, medications, and grease lubricants, among other things. It can be applied to treat a variety of mental illnesses and eating disorders, including bulimia, anorexia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In addition, it is utilized in a wide range of microelectronic components and smart devices, including tablets, smartphones, computers, and many more.

The worldwide market for lithium is mostly driven by the rise in the usage of lithium in air treatment technologies. Applications for lithium include air regeneration, dehumidification, and chilling. A common source of air cooling in shopping centers, hospitals, and other institutional buildings is absorption chillers. One application for lithium chloride is dehumidification. Lithium chloride is used in large areas that need to run without humidity in order to absorb moisture. Lithium is becoming more and more in demand for applications involving air regeneration. Safety devices, spacecraft, submarines, miners, and so forth are equipped with systems that extract carbon dioxide from human exhaust. Carbon dioxide is effectively removed through the non-reversible reaction of anhydrous lithium hydroxide with carbon dioxide.

Almost majority of the traction batteries used in EVs and consumer gadgets today are made from lithium. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries find extensive usage in numerous additional applications, ranging from air transportation to energy storage. There are a lot of unknowns regarding how the battery business will impact future lithium demand because battery content changes depending on its active materials mix and because new battery technologies are entering the market. For instance, compared to the currently popular mixes including a graphite anode, a lithium metal anode, which increases energy density in batteries, has roughly double the lithium needs per kilowatt-hour.

In 2025, the global demand for lithium is expected to surpass 1.4 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, a growth of 53 percent in comparison to 2023. Increases in battery demand for electric vehicles will be a strong driver of lithium consumption in the next decade.

Lithium-ion batteries could become a 480 billion U.S. dollar market by 2030. Cell components hold a market value potential of about 121 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, mining and refining of battery minerals is expected to generate 114 billion U.S. dollars of revenue in 2030.

The global lithium compounds market was approximately USD 3.00 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to reach around USD 11.00 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 20% during the forecast period.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global lithium ores market size will be USD XX million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.00% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD XX million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2024 to 2031.
The saline lake lithium is the fastest growing segment of the Lithium ores industry

Market Dynamics of Lithium Ores Market

Key Drivers for Lithium Ores Market

Rising Demand for Electric Vehicles to Drive Market Growth

The rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is a major driver of growth in the lithium ores market. As governments worldwide implement stringent emission regulations and offer incentives for zero-emission vehicles, consumer adoption of EVs is accelerating. Lithium-ion batteries, which are integral to EVs, require substantial amounts of lithium, thus boosting demand for lithium ores. The shift towards electric mobility not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also promotes technological advancements in battery performance and energy density. This increased demand for lithium to power EV batteries is leading to expanded exploration, investment, and development in lithium ore extraction and processing. Consequently, the lithium ores market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the global push for cleaner, more sustainable transportation solutions.

Growth in Renewable Energy Storage Solutions to Boost Market Growth

The growth in renewable energy storage solutions is significantly boosting the lithium ores market. As the world transitions towards cleaner energy sources like solar and wind, effective storage solutions become crucial to manage intermittent energy supply. Lithium-ion batteries are preferred for these applications due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and efficiency. The increasing deployment of energy storage systems, such as grid-scale batteries and residential storage units, is driving demand for lithium, which is essential for these batteries. This surge in demand leads to greater exploration and investment in lithium ores, enhancing market growth. Additionally, advancements in battery technology and increased focus on sustainable energy solutions further accelerate the need for lithium, contributing to the expansion of the lithium ores market.

Restraint Factor for the Lithium Ores Market

Limited Availability of High-Quality Lithium Ores Limit Market Growth

The limited availability of high-quality lithium ores is constraining market growth. High-grade lithium deposits are becoming increasingly scarce, making it challenging to meet the rising demand for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. The extraction of high-quality lithium ores often involves complex and costly processes, which can limit production capacity and drive up prices. Additionally, the concentration of high-quality deposits in a few geographic locations adds to the market's vulnerability to geopolitical and supply chain risks. This scarcity not only affects the stability of lithium supply but also impacts the overall cost structure of lithium products. As a result, the constrained availability of premium lithium ores poses a significant barrier to the expansion and development of the lithium market.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Lithium Ores Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on the lithium ores market. The global disruption in supply chains led to delays in mining operations and processing, resulting in a temporary shortage of lithium ores. Lockdowns and restrictions also hampered the ...

Explore the price trends of lithium hydroxide, driven by global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Discover how supply-demand dynamics, technological advances, and geopolitical factors influence market fluctuations, alongside impacts of recycling initiatives and regional policy changes from 2020 to 2023.

The lithium market size is projected to grow from USD 22.48 billion in 2024 to USD 155.7 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 19.23%, during the forecast period till 2035