May 1, 2024
Three Countries Account for Almost 90% of the Lithium Used in EVs.
What we’re showing?
Estimated lithium production by country in 2023.
Key takeaways
- Three countries—Australia, Chile, and China—accounted for 88% of lithium mine production in 2023.
- Australia, the world’s leading producer, extracts lithium directly from hard rock mines, specifically the mineral spodumene.
- Chile, along with Argentina, China, and other top producers, extracts lithium from brine.
- The oversupply of the metal used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries has caused prices to collapse by more than 80% from a late-2022 record high.