Growing demand for lithium as a cathode material in rechargeable batteries, particularly for electric vehicles, prompted a global search for more resources in recent years. As a result, global lithium prices show year-on-year growth since 2010. Prices for this commodity in the overall market have begun to accelerate since October 2015. On paper, global lithium resources can meet demand. Even though several projects plan to come online in the next few years, only a handful of producers around the world represent the current lithium supply. How will the supply/demand balance be affected by these new projects? Will the lithium ‘oligopoly’ be disrupted by the newcomers? Will the lithium pricing bubble explode due to a possible oversupply? What will Nevada’s role be in the new lithium world scheme? This presentation will examine the past, current and future aspects of the global lithium market. We will assess current and future possible producers, technological breakthroughs that could affect production costs and provide a realistic view of the demand and supply future.
