Lithium ETF Slips 1.05% as Albemarle Falls 0.87% | Lithium, Oct 13
Key Facts
- The LIT lithium ETF fell 1.05% to US$67.65 on Tuesday 13 October, its second fall in a row and 2.98% below Friday’s US$69.73.
- Albemarle fell 0.87% to US$97.65, after a 2.73% drop on Monday.
- SQM’s New York shares rose 0.58% to US$62.83, while its Santiago shares fell 1.31%.
- The US dollar index fell 0.36% to 102.2, so the dollar was not the cause.
- We found no prediction market on lithium prices, so this wrap uses fund and share prices only.
Today’s Focus
Lithium shares edged lower on Tuesday 13 October. The LIT fund, which holds lithium miners and battery makers, fell 1.05% to US$67.65.
Albemarle, the US producer with operations in Chile, lost 0.87% to US$97.65. SQM, Chile’s lithium producer, rose 0.58% to US$62.83 in New York.
The two companies moved in opposite directions. In Santiago, SQM’s B shares fell 1.31%.
What matters today. Lithium stocks have fallen in two sessions in a row, which matters to US investors who use the LIT fund as their route into electric-vehicle supply chains.
01 The session in one read
The LIT fund fell 1.05% to US$67.65 on Tuesday 13 October. Over two sessions it has lost 2.98% from Friday’s US$69.73.
Albemarle is down 3.57% over the same two sessions, from US$101.27 to US$97.65. SQM’s New York shares are down 1.7% from US$63.91.
Two falls in a row and no news point to positioning and not to a change in the lithium market. The weaker dollar did not help the sector.
The variable to watch is whether Albemarle holds US$97. A close below it would extend the slide.
02 The board
The fund and Albemarle fell, while SQM’s American depositary shares rose. Those are US-listed receipts that represent the Chilean company’s shares.
SQM’s B shares in Santiago fell 1.31% in pesos on the same day. The two prices are in different currencies and trading hours.
| Asset | Level | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium ETF (LIT) | US$67.65 | -1.05% |
| Albemarle | US$97.65 | -0.87% |
| SQM (New York) | US$62.83 | +0.58% |
| SQM-B (Santiago) | CLP | -1.31% |
| US dollar index | 102.2 | -0.36% |
Source: RT close, 2026-10-13. Where a commodity has no spot feed, an exchange-traded tracker or leading producer is shown as a labelled proxy.
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Latin America — Cross-Market Board
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBOV | 206,887.52 | -1.04% | +21.85% | 209,066.90 | 168,310 | 167,142 | — |
| IPSA | 11,020.01 | -0.21% | — | 11,043.36 | 11,210 | 10,984 | 1,513,213,483 |
| IPC MEX | 67,147.36 | +0.60% | +12.17% | 66,746.78 | 66,121 | 65,405 | 108,886,187 |
| MERVAL | 2,869,151 | +1.45% | +30.51% | 3,022,485 | 3,042,365 | 2,991,150 | — |
| COLCAP | 2,570.34 | +1.55% | — | 9.04 | 9.05 | 9.02 | 4,133 |
| BVL PERÚ | 60,645.95 | -0.22% | — | — | — | — | — |
| USD/BRL | 5.16 | +0.01% | -5.13% | 5.16 | 5.18 | 5.14 | — |
| EUR/BRL | 5.95 | +1.01% | -5.83% | 5.89 | 5.98 | 5.94 | — |
| USD/MXN | 17.06 | -0.24% | -8.58% | 17.10 | 17.08 | 17.01 | — |
| USD/CLP | 913.98 | +0.04% | -5.67% | 913.65 | 915.11 | 906.68 | — |
| USD/COP | 3,140 | +0.03% | -22.04% | 3,139 | 3,141 | 3,105 | — |
| USD/PEN | 3.36 | -0.66% | -4.82% | 3.38 | 3.38 | 3.35 | — |
| USD/ARS | 1,493 | +0.10% | +12.96% | 1,491 | 1,494 | 1,480 | — |
| USD/UYU | 40.27 | +1.24% | +1.80% | 39.77 | 40.27 | 40.23 | — |
| USD/PYG | 5,939 | +1.68% | -19.54% | 5,841 | 5,939 | 5,925 | — |
| USD/BOB | 11.64 | -0.76% | +72.04% | 11.73 | 11.72 | 11.64 | — |
| USD/DOP | 58.34 | +1.25% | -3.44% | 57.62 | 58.34 | 58.04 | — |
| USD/CRC | 445.92 | +0.89% | -9.71% | 441.97 | 448.50 | 445.92 | — |
03 What moved it
We found no company announcement for either producer on Tuesday. We also could not confirm any move in Chinese lithium prices, so we do not name one.
The dollar index fell 0.36%, which would normally help commodity shares. Lithium names often swing more than the market because their earnings depend on a volatile price.
04 The Latin American read
Chile and Argentina, with Bolivia, form the Lithium Triangle. The three together hold roughly half of the world’s identified lithium resources.
Chile’s state copper company Codelco has a partnership with SQM at the Salar de Atacama. Argentina has several projects ramping up, which makes it a growing supplier to US battery makers.
05 The names to watch
Albemarle runs lithium operations in Chile, Australia and the United States. It is the main US-listed barometer for the metal.
SQM is the Chilean producer and a direct play on the Salar de Atacama. Its shares reflect lithium prices and Chilean politics.
06 The outlook
Lithium shares have no fresh catalyst until company results and new price data arrive. Investors will look for signs on whether supply growth is outpacing electric-vehicle demand.
US inflation data on Wednesday 14 October could move all growth-sensitive shares. A rebound in the sector would need a clear signal from Chinese price data.
07 What to watch
- Albemarle’s US$97 level: A close below it would extend the two-day slide.
- Chinese lithium prices: New price data would show whether supply is outrunning demand.
- US consumer prices: The September reading is due on Wednesday 14 October at 12:30 UTC (8:30 am ET).
- Argentine output: New projects in Argentina would add to supply.
Background: Lithium ETF Falls 1.95% as Albemarle Drops 2.73%.
Background: IPSA Edges Up 0.2% to 11,043 as Copec Gains.
More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did lithium stocks fall on Tuesday?
We found no single cause. The LIT fund fell 1.05% to US$67.65 and Albemarle fell 0.87% to US$97.65, while SQM’s New York shares rose 0.58%.
What is the LIT fund?
LIT is the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF, which holds lithium miners and battery makers. It is a proxy for the sector, not the metal’s price.
Why does lithium matter for Latin America?
Chile and Argentina are two of the three Lithium Triangle countries. Together with Bolivia they hold roughly half of the world’s identified lithium resources.
Are there prediction markets on lithium?
We found none. This wrap relies on fund and share prices.
Market data: RT
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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