Lithium mines produced an estimated global total of 100,000 metric tons of lithium in 2021, a peak in lithium production volume. This is a significant increase from 2010, when production was just 28,100 metric tons.
Lithium
The chemical element lithium has many uses but is most notably used in batteries, mental health treatment, and in pyrotechnics. This silvery-white alkali metal was first isolated in 1855 by Augustus Mattiessen and Robert Bunsen. Lithium is widely present worldwide, but due to its high reactivity it does not naturally occur in its elemental form. Chile and Australia have the first and second largest lithium reserves, respectively, in the world.
Lithium Producers
There are several key players involved in the lucrative global lithium mining business. Based on supply, Albemarle is the leading lithium company in the world. Based on market capitalization, however, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium was the leading lithium producing company in 2020. Looking to the future, lithium producers have a strong outlook, as the total worldwide lithium demand is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
Lithium mine production worldwide from 2010 to 2021
(in metric tons of lithium content)
* Estimated.
Data is rounded and excludes U.S. production figures, which has been withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.
This statistic was assembled using several editions of the report.
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US Geological Survey. (January 31, 2022). Lithium mine production worldwide from 2010 to 2021 (in metric tons of lithium content) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 26, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/606684/world-production-of-lithium/
US Geological Survey. "Lithium mine production worldwide from 2010 to 2021 (in metric tons of lithium content)." Chart. January 31, 2022. Statista. Accessed May 26, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/606684/world-production-of-lithium/
US Geological Survey. (2022). Lithium mine production worldwide from 2010 to 2021 (in metric tons of lithium content). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 26, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/606684/world-production-of-lithium/
US Geological Survey. "Lithium Mine Production Worldwide from 2010 to 2021 (in Metric Tons of Lithium Content)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Jan 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/606684/world-production-of-lithium/
US Geological Survey, Lithium mine production worldwide from 2010 to 2021 (in metric tons of lithium content) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/606684/world-production-of-lithium/ (last visited May 26, 2022)
