US lithium imports fall in October

: Metals
24/12/11

US imports of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide fell on the year by a cumulative 26pc in October, led by a drop in Argentinian volumes.

Imports of lithium chemicals, including lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, declined to 916 metric tonnes(t) in October, down from 1,233t a year earlier, according to US Census Bureau data.
US imports of carbonate fell to 859t from 1,093t a year earlier as higher Chilean volumes were swamped by a halving of imports from Argentina.
The US imported just 374t of carbonate from Argentina in October, down from 743t a year earlier. Volumes from the country have cooled in recent months, while China-based producer Ganfeng Lithium's Cauchari-Olaroz project has contributed to a sharp uptick in exports to that country.
US lithium hydroxide imports declined on the year by 59pc to 58t on fewer shipments from Chile.
Chile and Argentina supplied 97pc of US lithium chemical imports, at 516t and 374t, respectively.

By Carol Luk

US Lithium Imports						Metric Tonnes (t)
Country	Oct-24	Oct-23	Difference	±%	YTD 2024	YTD 2023
Lithium Carbonate
Chile	459	347	112	32.3	8,025	7,947
Argentina	374	743	-369	-49.7	5,441	6,317
UK	25	3	22	733.3	92	42
Rest of World	1	0	1	na	103	189
Lithium Hydroxide
Chile	57	130	-73	-56.2	497	756
China	0	2	-2	-100.0	27	23
Rest of World	0	8	-8	-100.0	47	50
US Cenesus Bureau

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