We are more dependant on lithium than ever before. With the creation of new battery technology and with our dependence on lithium for creating the electronics of the future, we need solid mining enterprises that can meet our demands for lithium across the world. Here are some of the largest lithium mines across the world and where they are located:
1. SQM
$6.44 billion in market capitalization -> Revenue: $1.86 billion -> 5500+ employees
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile is a Chilean chemical company that produces Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide from the Salar de Atacama salt flats in Northern Chile. In 2017, SQM claimed a capacity of 70,000 tons of Lithium Carbonate. As one of the largest producers of lithium, SQM currently supplies about a substantial portion of the worlds lithium supply.
2. Mineral Resources Ltd.
$6.98billion in market capitalization -> Revenue: $1.16 billion -> 3100+ employees
Mineral Resources Ltd, based in Applecross West Australia, mines both iron ore and lithium. They also process Lithium Hydroxide. The Mt. Marion Lithium project is a collaboration between Neometals Ltd, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd, and Mineral Resources Ltd, with an expected production capacity of 450,000 tons per year.
3. Tianqi Lithium
$11.7 billion in market capitalization -> Revenue: $748 Million -> 1850+ employees
The Chinese firm Tianqi Lithium controls almost half of the world’s supply of Lithium, having a 51% ownership stake in Western Australia’s Greenbushes mine, which is the largest operational lithium mine in the world. The Greenbushes mine is presently expanding, and it is expected to produce over 160,000 metric tons each year after the mine is finished.
4. Albemarle
$18.38 billion in market capitalization -> Revenue: $3.5 billion -> 6000+ employees
Albemarle, a multinational chemical corporation based in the United States, is the world’s largest supplier of Lithium for electric vehicle batteries. Enami Mining Limited owns three mines in Australia, Nevada, and Chile.
5. Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd
$24.5 billion in market capitalization -> Revenue: $767.5 Million -> 4800+ employees
Ganfeng Lithium (based in China), which is the world’s major Lithium Miner, produces Lithium in its metal form and compounds such as fluorides and chlorides from mineral resources in Australia, Argentina, Mexico, and China.
As far as worldwide lithium supply goes, these are the major players. With an ever-growing demand for lithium, it’s important to know where this crucial metal comes from. These companies are at the top of the list when it comes to supplying the world with lithium.
This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at Becker/SMC. For nearly a half a century, Becker Mining has been at the forefront of safety, producing the best Electrical Supply House in the industry. Becker/SMC is the industry’s leader in increasingly more sophisticated electrical control systems. Most of the major innovations, design features and specialized electrical components have been developed by Becker/SMC.
