Commodity
Lithium
There is no single lithium price. Spodumene concentrate, lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide are separate products with separate benchmarks, and a company's economics depend on which one it actually sells.
Price
Annual reference price
2025, estimatedNot a live price. Annual average, in real terms, published once a year. Use it for scale and direction, not as today's price.
| Year | Price, USD/t | Against the highest year shown |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,700.00 | |
| 2022 | 63,700.00 | |
| 2023 | 39,000.00 | |
| 2024 | 11,800.00 | |
| 2025e | 9,000.00 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence assessments. Checked 13 September 2026.
What it is used for
- Lithium-ion battery cathodes and electrolytes
- Ceramics and glass
- Lubricating greases
- Air treatment
Supply
Supply comes from two quite different sources: hard rock spodumene, mostly Australian, and brine operations in South America and China. Their cost structures and lead times differ substantially.
Principal producing countries: Australia, Chile, China, Argentina, Zimbabwe.
Producer list from United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, checked 10 September 2026.