Australia to lead tripling of global lithium production

Global lithium production is set to triple over the next four years, according to information from data and analytics company Global Data.

Between 2018 and 2022, lithium supply is expected to triple to 154,000 tonnes (t), an increase in metal capacity of 86,000t, largely to meet the global demand for the metal as a battery material for electric vehicles, smartphones and other electronics.

Australia is expected to lead in lithium production for the next four years. In particular, Western Australian hard rock mines are expected to be a primary source of the in-demand metal (South American lithium production tends towards brine extraction).

Major mine openings at Wodgina (Mineral Resources), Mt Holland (Kidman/SQM), Bald Hill (Tawana/Alliance Mineral Assets) and Pilgangoora (Pilbara Minerals) are expected to increase Australian capacity by 37 per cent.