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.
| 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 | ||||||
