Roskill provided analysis on the future of the lithium market. The company determined that rechargeable batteries accounted for 27 percent of global lithium consumption in 2012. The end use of batteries was responsible for 44 percent of the net increase in lithium consumption over the lat ten years and 70 percent over the last five.
Increased use of electric vehicles and electronic devices such as iPhones is driving lithium-ion battery demand and may push lithium consumption to double or triple in the next eight years.
With global supply and demand dynamics tightening, lithium producers that are able to expand capacity should realize increased profits, which can be reinvested into additional value-added segments of their businesses.
Li3 Energy, Inc. entered an exclusive agreement to apply a patented technology to enhance recovery and efficient production of lithium.
With international trade related indicators, such as export orders and container shipping rates, pointing towards weaker global trade growth, the lithium market outlook may face some challenges. However, a case can also be made that in the absence of last year's unpredictable natural events a more positive business and overall investment climate may return for lithium producers and juniors.
By showing a commitment to clean energy initiatives, governments around the world are opening the doors for lithium producers to take advantage new demand in commercialized electric vehicle and lithium battery technologies.
Despite a challenging year, some new lithium battery technological developments may be paving a new brighter future for electric vehicles and growth of the broader lithium industry.
Last week, Rockwood Holdings' lithium business, Chemetall Lithium, announced a new lithium production facility, specifically producing butyllithium in Gujarat, India.
Overall outlook for the lithium industry is dependent upon demand from a number of contributing areas including future adoption and accelerated market penetration within the electric vehicle industry as well as continued global demand for consumer electronics and mobile devices according to some analysts.
The Mainichi Daily News reported that South Korea increased its market share of shipments of lithium batteries.
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