9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium

9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium - According to data of International Organizing Committee for the World Mining Congresses and Federal Ministry Republic of Austria, there 9 world's largest lithium producers in 2023. Commonly, the rank of these largest country producers of lithium is obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey entitled with “Lithium Statistics and Information” and some of the country producers of lithium are still dominated by Australia, China, Argentina, and Chile.

Functionally, Lithium is one of the most prospective raw mining materials. In the future, the demand for lithium is going to increase because many automotive and electric industries need these materials in a large amount.  This mining material, Lithium, can be used as a source for making batteries in electric cars, photovoltaic, Smartphone, and other electronic devices.  Along with the development of green economics and the urgency of developing eco-friendly technology, namely, electric cars and motorcycles, and some electric devices, the demand for lithium is still high in the future. The demand of electric cars can be doubled from time to time because of the awareness of people in using eco-friendly technology with less pollution. Tesla, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Hyundai, and the other automotive companies need lithium to make the electric batteries from their electric cars.

As a one of the prospective raw materials in the future, some countries are starting to explore their availability of lithium reserves. It is the manner to supply their industries raw materials. Statistically, there are 9 World’s Largest Lithium Producers in 2023. This data was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey entitled “Lithium Statistics and Information”.

 

The Rank of 9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium

 

Rank	Countries	Productions of Lithium in 2023	The Reserves of Lithium
		(metric Tons)	(metric Tons)
1	Australia	86,000	6,200,000
2	Chile	44,000	9,300,000
3	China	33,000	3,000,000
4	Argentina	9,600	3,600,000
5	Brazil	4,900	390,000
6	Canada	3,400	930,000
7	Zimbabwe	3,400	310,000
8	United States of America	614	1,100,000
9	Portugal	380	60,000
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, 2024

 

 

Brief Description of 9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium

 

1. Australia

Australia become the largest country producer of lithium in 2023. Based on the report of the U.S. Geological Survey, the production of lithium from Australia reached 86,000 metric tons. Geographically, there are some areas that have largest deposits of lithium. Some of the main area deposits are in Western Australia. Specifically, the sites are in Greenbushes Mine, Mount Cattlin, Early Grey, Mount Marion and Bald Hill. These areas are potential with largest deposits of lithium. Based on the company, there are some companies which manage and explore the lithium in Australia, namely Chinese-based Tianqi Lithium, the Australian companies Talison Lithium, Pilbara Minerals, Albemarle, Mineral Resources and IGO Limited.

2. Chile

Chile is the second largest country producer of lithium in 2023. Statistically, the production of Lithium from this South American Country reaches 44,000 metric tons. Geographically, in Chile, The Salar de Atacama became the largest area of mining exploration of lithium. In terms of the company, Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) partnered with China's Tianqi, and Albemarle are two mining companies who explore lithium in Chile.

3. China

China is the third largest lithium producer in 2023. Statistically, the production of lithium from this panda country reaches 33,000 metric tons. In China, the mining exploration of lithium takes place in Lake Zabuye, Tibet and started between 2004 or 2005. In China, the lithium is mined by some companies including Ganfeng Lithium, Tianqi Lithium, and EVE Energy.

4. Argentina     

Argentina becomes the 4^th world’s largest country producer of lithium in 2023. The production of Argentina’s lithium reaches 13,670 metric tons. Geographically, in Argentina, there are some areas of lithium mining. These are Salar del Hombre Muerto, province of Catamarca and Salar de Olaroz, in Jujuy province and some companies which explore the lithium in Argentina including Arcadium Lithium, Rio Tinto, Ganfeng-Lithium Americas, Lithium Argentina Corp, Eramet, Zijin Mining, Posco, Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp.  Furthermore, the mining production from these areas are sold to some automotive companies, namely Toyota, BMW, and the others.

5. Brazil             

Brazil is the 5^th world’s largest country producer of lithium in 2023. Statistically, the production of samba country reached 4,000 metric tons in 2023. The Jequitinhonha valley, District of Araçuai-Itinga (northern Minas Gerais State), and Borborema region are some of the mining areas of lithium in Brazil. Furthermore, Sigma Lithium is one of the largest companies who explore lithium in Brazil.

6. Canada

Canada is the 6^th world’s largest country producer of lithium in 2023. Statistically, the production of lithium from Canada reached 3,400 metric tons. Geographically, Whabouchi Lithium Project, James Bay, Quebec is one of the largest lithium mining areas in Canada. In addition, Sayona Quebec, Foremost Lithium, Trinex Minerals are some of the mining companies that mine lithium in Canada.

7. Zimbabwe    

Zimbabwe become the 7^th world’s largest country producer of lithium in 2023. Basically, it makes Zimbabwe as the largest lithium producer from the African region.  Statistically, the production of Zimbabwe’s lithium reaches 3,400 metric tons. In this country, there are some areas with huge lithium deposits. These areas are Bikita, Goromonzi, and Kamativi. Economically, in Zimbabwe, many Chinese mining companies explore lithium, and some of the companies are Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group, Canmax Technologies, and The Tsingshan Group.

8. United States of America

The United States of America becomes the next largest producer. In 2023, the production from the stars and stripes country reached 614 metric tons. Their industries of automotive (General Motors, Ford Motors, Tesla, and the others) and some technology companies (google, apple, Microsoft, dell computers, HP, and the others), and some industries need a large amount of lithium to support the battery making. Geographically, Humboldt County, Nevada is one of the largest lithium mining areas. Based on the company, Albemarle is one of the largest companies which manage and explore lithium in the United States of America (USA).

9. Portugal        

Portugal become the 9^th world’s largest country producer of lithium. In 2023, the production of lithium from this country reaches 380 metric tons. In this country, there are several places of lithium mining. these areas are the northern districts of Vila Real and Gerês, and the central district of Beira. Economically, Savannah Resources (A London-based mining company) and Lusorecursos (Portuguese company) are some companies which explore and mine lithium in Portugal.

 

The Summary of 9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium

 

 

Bibliography of 9 World’s Largest Country Producers of Lithium

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Champion, D., 2019. Australian Resource Reviews: Lithium 2018. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/9781925848281.

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS). 2021. Lithium Mining in Salar de Atacama, Chile. Accessed via https://www.usgs.gov/media/before-after/lithium-mining-salar-de-atacama-chile on January 14th, 2022.

LithiumMine. 2018. Lithium Mining in China. Accessed via http://www.lithiummine.com/lithium-mining-in-china  on January 14th, 2022.

Steven, L.M. 2019. Zimbabwe's Lithium mine is attracting global attention. Accessed via https://africanminingmarket.com/zimbabwes-lithium-mine-is-attracting-global-attention/4906/ on January 14th, 2022.

MiningTechnology. 2019. Top ten largest lithium mines in the world. Accessed via https://www.mining-technology.com/features/top-ten-largest-lithium-mines/  on January 14th, 2022.

Balch, O. 2019. Communities fail to buy into Portugal’s lithium dreams. Accessed via https://www.reutersevents.com/sustainability/communities-fail-buy-portugals-lithium-dreams#:~:text=While%20no%20permits%20for%20large,the%20central%20district%20of%20Beira  on January 14th, 2022.

Lithium Mine. 2018. Lithium Mining in Bolivia. Accessed via http://www.lithiummine.com/lithium-mining-in-bolivia  on January 14th, 2022.

International Organizing Committee for the World Mining Congresses. 2021. World Mining Data 2021. Accessed via https://www.world-mining-data.info/?World_Mining_Data___PDF-Files  on January 14th, 2022.