Key Facts
- LIT ETF closed higher the lithium-miners fund settled at US$77.03 on Monday, up 0.55% on the day.
- Albemarle bucked the trend New York-listed Albemarle shares fell 1.21% to US$141.51 in the same session.
- SQM rose modestly Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile finished at US$82.33, a gain of 0.45%.
- China’s lithium benchmark jumped lithium carbonate traded at 160,500 yuan per tonne, up 5.42% from the prior day.
- SQM sees record demand the Chilean producer expects global lithium demand to exceed 2.1 million metric tons this year.
- Chilean supply is expanding the SQM-Codelco partnership is targeting a lithium output increase of more than 70%.
Today’s Focus
Lithium-linked shares split on Monday, August 24, with the Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF rising 0.55% to US$77.03 while Albemarle slipped 1.21% to US$141.51.
The divergence tracks two forces: Chinese spot lithium carbonate jumped 5.42% to 160,500 yuan a tonne, but investors remain selective about which producers can convert higher prices into profit.
SQM gained 0.45% to US$82.33 after recent earnings showed record quarterly lithium sales volumes of 84,100 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent.
The Chilean company expects global lithium demand to exceed 2.1 million metric tons in 2026, driven by electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.
What matters today. SQM’s demand forecast is anchoring the bullish case, but Albemarle’s drop shows investors want proof that higher prices survive a wave of new supply.
01 The session in one read
Lithium equities moved in two directions on Monday, August 24, with the Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF settling 0.55% higher at US$77.03.
Albemarle, the largest publicly traded lithium producer, fell 1.21% to US$141.51, while Chile’s SQM rose 0.45% to US$82.33.
The backdrop is a sharp rebound in China, where lithium carbonate prices climbed 5.42% to 160,500 yuan per tonne.
The lithium complex is pricing a demand-led recovery rather than a supply squeeze. China’s benchmark lithium carbonate rose 5.42% to 160,500 yuan per tonne, and SQM’s record quarterly sales volumes of 84,100 metric tons support the idea that battery demand is real. Yet Albemarle fell 1.21% even as it advances a US$3.1 billion direct lithium extraction project in Chile, a sign traders are weighing expansion costs against the rebound. Watch SQM’s realized lithium price in Chile, which jumped 23% quarter-on-quarter and about 160% year-on-year to around US$21.80 per kilogram.
02 The board
The LIT ETF tracks a basket of lithium miners and battery-technology companies, so its 0.55% rise to US$77.03 is a broad proxy for the sector rather than the raw commodity.
Albemarle’s 1.21% decline to US$141.51 stands out because the company is advancing a US$3.1 billion direct lithium extraction project in Chile’s Salar de Atacama.
SQM’s 0.45% gain to US$82.33 reflects its leverage to record lithium sales volumes above 84,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent last quarter.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium (LIT ETF) | US$77.03 | +0.55% |
| Albemarle | US$141.51 | -1.21% |
| SQM | US$82.33 | +0.45% |
Source: RT close, 2026-08-24. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
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03 What moved it
China’s lithium carbonate price jumped 5.42% to 160,500 yuan per tonne on August 24, extending a rebound that has lifted the commodity this year.
SQM’s outlook is a key driver: the Santiago-based producer expects global lithium demand to exceed 2.1 million metric tons in 2026, powered by electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.
Albemarle’s slip suggests investors are weighing the cost of expansion, including environmental permitting for its Atacama project, against the demand recovery.
04 The Latin American read
Chile is the centre of the action, with SQM and state miner Codelco planning to lift output at their Novandino lithium partnership by more than 70%.
SQM’s Novandino joint venture in Chile reported average realized prices around US$21.80 per kilogram in the second quarter, up 23% from the prior quarter.
In Argentina, Rio Tinto’s Rincon starter plant is producing and ramping up, delivering 385 tonnes in the second quarter, while the full-scale plant is under construction with production targeted for late 2027 or early 2028.
Rio Tinto has already achieved first production at both Fenix 1B and Sal de Vida in Argentina, ahead of plan, with Sal de Vida still in commissioning.
05 The names to watch
SQM remains the bellwether for the Lithium Triangle after beating earnings estimates with US$2.47 billion in quarterly revenue and US$2.31 in earnings per share.
Albemarle has been in environmental review in Chile since March for a US$3.1 billion direct lithium extraction project, a signal that it expects long-term demand to justify the investment.
Rio Tinto’s Argentine assets add a second supply channel outside Chile, with Fenix 1B and Sal de Vida already in production and Rincon’s full-scale plant due to lift the group toward about 200,000 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate equivalent capacity by 2028.
06 The outlook
The market is betting on a demand-led recovery, with battery energy storage systems cited as a bullish factor for SQM’s outlook.
The key tension is whether higher Chinese lithium prices can survive a year of rising output in Chile and Argentina.
Investors should watch whether SQM’s realized lithium price holds above US$21 per kilogram as new Argentine and Chilean supply comes online.
07 What to watch
- SQM realized lithium price: Watch whether the Chilean producer can hold realized prices around US$21.80 per kilogram as new supply arrives.
- China lithium carbonate benchmark: A 5.42% daily jump to 160,500 yuan per tonne signals demand strength, but sustainability is the real test.
- Chilean permitting for Albemarle: Progress on the US$3.1 billion direct lithium extraction project will shape Albemarle’s long-term cost curve.
- Argentine project ramp-up: Rio Tinto’s Rincon, Fenix and Sal de Vida projects could add supply and pressure prices if they hit targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LIT ETF?
It is the Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF, a fund that tracks lithium miners and battery-technology companies rather than spot lithium prices.
Why did Albemarle fall while SQM rose?
Albemarle slipped 1.21% as investors weighed expansion costs and project risk, while SQM gained 0.45% on record lithium sales volumes and a strong demand forecast.
What is driving lithium demand?
SQM points to electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems as the main drivers, with global demand expected to exceed 2.1 million metric tons in 2026.
How is Latin America positioned?
Chile’s SQM-Codelco venture plans to lift output by more than 70%, while Rio Tinto is ramping up multiple projects in Argentina.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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