Lithium Stocks
A comprehensive list of Lithium stocks listed on U.S. exchanges and OTC markets
Lithium Stocks by Market Cap
Lithium Market Key Terms
Lithium Carbonate
-
Lithium carbonate is a compound that is a key component in portable electronic devices and EV batteries.
-
Lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) is the primary metric used in the lithium industry when discussing supply, demand or production volumes.
-
Lithium carbonate is a critical component in lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries popular in China.
Lithium Hydroxide
- Lithium hydroxide is a compound used in the production of lithium-ion batteries.
- It is an essential ingredient in the cathode material for high-nickel lithium-ion batteries, which have higher energy density and better performance.
- Unlike lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide has a shelf-life of around 12 months, making it more complex from a supply chain management perspective.
Spodumene
-
- Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral with high concentrations of lithium, commonly found in pegmatite deposits.
-
Spodumene is the primary source of "Hard Rock" lithium and is the source of lithium for Australia's lithium industry.
Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)
-
A process that directly extracts lithium from brine resources without the need for traditional evaporation ponds.
-
DLE methods involve selective extraction technologies that target lithium ions, allowing for faster and more efficient lithium recovery from mineral or brine sources.
-
While true DLE is not yet in use at commercial scale, DLE-focused companies have received increasing attention and investment in recent years.
Direct Shipping Ore (DSO)
-
Refers to mineral deposits that are mined and shipped directly to customers without the need for further processing.
-
DSO is often exported in the early stages of mine production, allowing the company to engage customers, test shipping routes, and earn revenue to fund further development.
-
After this phase, most mines will further concentrate the ore and sell the concentrated product instead.
Lepidolite
- A mineral belonging to the mica group and known for its lithium content.
-
Lepidolite lithium concentrations, around 2%-4% by weight, are typically lower than Spodumene (4% to 7.5%).
-
China's lepidolite production accounts for around 12% of global lithium production on an LCE basis, according to Fast Markets.
Selected Lithium Stocks 5Y Performance
Lithium Investing FAQ
What are the main differences between Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide?
Lithium Hydroxide
-
- Used in higher-end longer range EV batteries with nickel cathodes, such as nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) batteries.
- Has around a 1 year shelf life from the time its produced.
- More difficult than carbonate to store and package – for example you cannot let oxygen in the packaging.
Lithium Carbonate
-
-
- Used in Lithium Iron Phoshpate (LFP) batteries, which have shorter driving ranges but also lower cost.
- Has no shelf life
-
Which country is the largest producer of lithium?
- Australia is the leading producer of mined lithium, with an estimated 47% of global mine production in 2022.
- Following Australia are Chile (30%), China (14.7%) and Argentina (4.8%).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey 2023 Mineral Commodity Summaries.
What is the largest lithium mine in the world?
- The Greenbushes mine in Western Australia is the world’s largest Lithium mine.
- The mine is 51% owned by a Tianqi Lithium and IGO Ltd joint venture, and 49% owned by Albemarle.
- The mine has an annual production capacity of 1.34mtpa of lithium concentrates.
What could replace lithium in EV batteries?
- Sodium-ion batteries are being explored as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.
- Sodium is an abundant and cost-effective element that could potentially replace lithium in battery chemistries.
- However, sodium-ion batteries are still in the R&D stage, with limitations such as lower energy density and shorter cycle life compared to lithium-ion batteries.
- Lithium will be an essential material in EV batteries for the foreseeable future.
More Lists
