As lithium slump drags on, some Australian miners look to grow

Operators push through gloom to position for long-term demand forecasts

20240813 Australia Lithium mine

The Mount Holland lithium mine in Southern Cross, Western Australia: Some producers of the key ingredient in EV batteries are scaling back production as others push ahead. © Getty Images

SHAUN TURTON, Nikkei staff writer

SYDNEY -- While some lithium miners in Australia weigh scaling back operations in the face slumping prices, others are pushing ahead with expansions or bringing new capacity online in a bid to position themselves for an eventual upswing.

Australia has emerged as the world's largest supplier of the metal, a key ingredient in EV batteries, but its industry has been pummeled by a downturn in the market, with oversupply pushing prices for spodumene concentrate down more than 80% from their 2022 highs to below $1,000 a tonne.

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