Often referred to as “white gold,” lithium is a crucial component in rechargeable batteries. Despite its buoyancy in water, lithium’s market price has plummeted over the past year.

The decline is attributed to a drop in global electric vehicle sales and an oversupply of lithium ore, causing the price of lithium compounds to fall by over 75% since June 2023.

This downturn has significantly impacted Australia, the world’s largest producer of lithium ore, which accounted for 52% of global production last year. Australia also holds the second-largest lithium reserves, primarily in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The sharp price drop has led to several mine closures. In January, Core Lithium, based in Adelaide, suspended operations at its Finniss site near Darwin, resulting in 150 job losses. In August, US-based Albemarle announced a reduction in production at its Kemerton lithium processing plant, 170km south of Perth, leading to over 300 redundancies. Recently, Arcadium Lithium decided to mothball its Mt Cattlin mine in Western Australia due to low prices.

Despite these setbacks, some companies remain optimistic. Pilbara Minerals, a Perth-based miner, plans to increase its lithium ore production by 50% over the next year. Managing Director Dale Henderson expressed confidence in the market’s long-term prospects, noting that lithium prices can change rapidly.

Kingsley Jones, founder and chief investment officer at Jevons Global, echoes this optimism. He highlights lithium’s strategic importance in the energy transition, particularly for storage batteries needed to store power generated by solar and wind energy.

As the market navigates these turbulent times, the future of lithium remains a critical component of the global shift towards renewable energy.