Lithium market outlook

Released four times a year on a subscription basis, the Quarterly Lithium Market report will keep you abreast of rapidly evolving developments in the lithium market, providing you with a competitive edge with SFA's lithium prices forecast for battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

The content of each lithium market report will vary according to lithium market developments but will be tailored to incorporate an individual client’s specific strategic requirements. Typically, the lithium reports will include:

Lithium demand impacts and new market threats:

• Macroeconomic developments on lithium supply-demand fundamentals and technology (global, US, EU and China).

• The impact of powertrain technology trends, specifically EV forecast risks including global powertrain evolution & electrification, automaker announcements and implications for commodities, EU CO₂ emission targets and opportunities for EVs, hybrid technology developments, China’s policies and the new energy vehicle market, and US market risks.

• Lithium-ion battery technology shifts and EV powertrain developments and their impact on lithium demand.

• Future evolution of the lithium supply chain, battery raw materials and development of other industrial uses, both emerging and in decline.

• Lithium market drivers: lithium pricing developments, Li-ion battery-grade demand, Li-ion battery cathode chemistries, lithium carbonate vs. hydroxide, battery factory developments and industry players, and supply versus demand.

• Supporting demand data on:

  • Lithium demand by end-use.

  • Lithium electric vehicle demand by region.

  • Li-ion battery-grade lithium hydroxide demand by region.

Lithium supply and production economic impacts:

• Updates on the present and future stability and growth of primary lithium supply, supply response, lithium reserves and resources, factors influencing cost inflation and exchange rate and volume impacts.

• Producer economics of primary lithium (LCE), lithium hydroxide, and lithium supply risks from hard rock and brine operations.

• Comments on the political and socio-economic risks impacting primary lithium supply in politically sensitive producing regions.

• Supporting supply data on:

  • Lithium supply by region, producer and operation.

  • Li-ion battery-grade lithium hydroxide by operation.

  • Lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide supply from probable and possible projects.

Lithium prices forecast:

• Five-year price outlooks for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

• 'What-if' scenario analysis and lithium prices risk assessment.

Who should read this report?

• All industry stakeholders and new business entrants who need to keep abreast of the evolving influences on the lithium market and lithium prices, including end-users, mining companies and juniors. 

• Investors and financial institutions needing to understand and quantify the risks and opportunities in the industry, future costs of production and short- to medium-term lithium prices.

Live Q&A with the analysts

• Each quarterly report is supported by a video call, most often hosted through MS Teams, which is led by Beresford Clarke, along with our team of expert Battery Metals analysts, to run through our latest powertrain metals outlook for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, and address any further questions your team may have.

• Often additional Client project teams join SFA's special meetings to hear our latest thoughts on the lithium market.