U.S. - Lithium Carbonate - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
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View PricingLithium Carbonate Imports to the U.S. Drop Significantly to $224M in 2024
U.S. Lithium Carbonate Imports
In 2024, overseas purchases of lithium carbonates decreased by -3.9% to 17K tons for the first time since 2020, thus ending a three-year rising trend. In general, total imports indicated a prominent expansion from 2014 to 2024: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2024 figures, imports increased by +41.5% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 with an increase of 34%. Imports peaked at 17K tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2024, imports failed to regain momentum.
In value terms, lithium carbonate imports contracted remarkably to $224M (IndexBox estimates) in 2024. Over the period under review, imports, however, posted prominent growth. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 when imports increased by 115% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $293M in 2023, and then declined dramatically in the following year.
| COUNTRY | Import Value of Lithium Carbonate in U.S. (million USD) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Chile | 27.3 | 24.4 | 21.4 | 31.6 | 63.3 | 46.1 | 33.6 | 39.5 | 108 | 207 | 143 |
| Argentina | 15.5 | 35.9 | 56.2 | 48.7 | 52.8 | 46.0 | 39.3 | 34.2 | 51.4 | 81.5 | 77.0 |
| China | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 9.2 | 11.7 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Others | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 2.9 |
| Total | 44.9 | 61.4 | 79.3 | 80.6 | 129 | 104 | 75.1 | 75.5 | 162 | 293 | 224 |
Imports by Country
Chile (9.7K tons), Argentina (6.6K tons) and China (28 tons) were the main suppliers of lithium carbonate imports to the United States, with a combined 99% share of total imports.
From 2014 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Argentina (with a CAGR of +7.0%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.
In value terms, Chile ($143M), Argentina ($77M) and China ($651K) constituted the largest lithium carbonate suppliers to the United States, with a combined 99% share of total imports.
Chile, with a CAGR of +18.0%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, among the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.
Import Prices by Country
In 2024, the lithium carbonate price stood at $13,541 per ton (CIF, US), dropping by -20.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price, however, showed a strong increase. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2023 when the average import price increased by 68%. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $17,059 per ton, and then reduced notably in the following year.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2024, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($23,403 per ton), while the price for Argentina ($11,720 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2014 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+22.5%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the lithium carbonate market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.
Product coverage:
Country coverage:
- United States
Data coverage:
- Market volume and value
- Per Capita consumption
- Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
- Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
- Export and import prices
- Market trends, drivers and restraints
- Key market players and their profiles
Reasons to buy this report:
- Take advantage of the latest data
- Find deeper insights into current market developments
- Discover vital success factors affecting the market
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.
In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:
- How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
- How to load your idle production capacity
- How to boost your sales on overseas markets
- How to increase your profit margins
- How to make your supply chain more sustainable
- How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
- How to outsource production to other countries
- How to prepare your business for global expansion
While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
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2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
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3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE
- MARKET STRUCTURE
- TRADE BALANCE
- PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
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4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
- MOST TRADED PRODUCT
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
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5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
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6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
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10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO -
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Market Value, 2012–2024
- Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
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LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Market Value, 2012–2024
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
- Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
- Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
- Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
- Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
- Market Volume Forecast to 2030
- Market Value Forecast to 2030
- Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
- Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
- Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
- Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
- Production Volume And Growth
- Exports And Growth
- Export Prices And Growth
- Market Size And Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports And Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
- Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
