25 Years of lithium production
Lithium is often dubbed as “white gold” for electric vehicles.
All types of cathodes are based on lightweight metals. lithium-ion batteries These are the batteries that power electric vehicles. The recent increase in EV adoption has driven lithium production to new heights.
Below is an infographic Visual Capitalist’s Govind Bhutada and Sam Parker chart more than 25 years of lithium production by country from 1995 to 2021, based on data from BP’s Statistical Review World Energy
The Most Largest Lithium Producing Countries Over Time
The U.S. was the largest lithium producer in the 1990s, a stark contrast to today.
The U.S. actually accounted for more than one-third Global lithium production in 1995. Chile was the dominant country in lithium production from then until 2010. biggest producer with a production boom in the Salar de Atacama, one of the world’s richest lithium brine deposits.
Overtaken global lithium production 100,000 tonnes The 2021 world will quadruple in size from 2010, for the first-time since 2010. What’s more, roughly 90% It came from only three countries.
Australia is the only country that produces this product 52% of the world’s lithium. Australian lithium is not extracted from brines like Chile. Instead, it comes from hardrock mines in Australia for the mineral podumene.
China, third-largest lithium producer, is well represented in the lithium supply chain. Chinese companies have also been developing their own mines. acquired Around $5.6 billion It has been home to lithium assets from countries like Australia, Canada and Chile for the past ten years. It also hosts 60% of the world’s lithium refining capacity for batteries.
The main driver behind the explosion in lithium production is batteries. How much lithium is used in batteries and how much goes to other uses?
What can you use lithium for?
While lithium is best known for its role in rechargeable batteries—and rightly so—it has many other important uses.
The world was before EVs and lithium-ion battery technology. demand for lithium, the metal’s end-uses looked completely different as compared to today.
The largest proportion of lithium consumed in 2010 was made by ceramics and glass 31%. Lithium carbonate is used in ceramics and glassware to increase strength and decrease thermal expansion. This is essential for modern glass-ceramic stovetops.
Along with many other less-known uses, lithium is used to make lubricant oils for the aviation, transport and steel industries.
Future of Lithium Producing
The demand for lithium will rise as the world produces more EVs and batteries. 1.5 Million tonnes By 2025, lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), and beyond 3 Million tonnes By 2030
The world produced 540,000 tonnes LCE by 2021 According to the demand projections above, production is required Triple Increase almost to 2025 six-fold By 2030
Even though supply has experienced an exponential growth rate, it can take six to 15 years before new lithium projects are online. The result is that the lithium market will be in deficit over the next few years.
By Visual Capitalist via Zerohedge.com
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