Argentina's customs office, the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), has set a reference price of $53 per kg that will come into effect from Tuesday, June 7 and will apply to local lithium exports to the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines.
Why has Argentina set a reference price for lithium carbonate?
Customs authorities in Argentina have set an official reference price for the country's exports of lithium carbonate, a move that was intended to add transparency to the government's monitoring of the sector and to the collection of royalties from local exporters.
How much lithium will Argentina produce in 2040?
If Argentina manages to bring all of projects to production, the country would produce up to 1.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent per year, exporting around US$30 billion. This scenario could be achieved by 2040, according to Dreizzen's estimates.
What is the demand for lithium-ion batteries in 2024?
That is more than 2.5 times annual demand for lithium-ion batteries in 2024, according to BNEF. While demand across all sectors saw year-on-year growth, the EV market – the biggest demand driver for batteries – grew more slowly than in recent years.
Which Argentine sites produce lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate?
Two Argentine sites, Salar de Hombre de Muerto and Salar Cauchari - Olaroz, are already producing lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, and are among the top three with the highest lithium concentration in the region, behind Salar de Atacama in Chile. They are also among the top three with the lowest impurities.
Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most efficient energy storage devices worldwide. Over recent years, high-scale production and capital investment into the battery production process made lithium-ion battery packs cheaper and more efficient.
There are concerns about the percentages in the draft, which range from 5% to 20% of total production. The mining companies involved are against it. Another point under review is the export duties, which appear segmented in the draft: they may increase for lithium exports, but could be set at 0% for exporting ion-lithium battery cells and packs.