Lithium carbonate and hydroxide prices and costs, 2021-2025
Lithium prices went through a full cycle between 2021 and 2025: a spectacular spike, then a long decline that continued through 2025.
- PDF report
- 1 page
- 4 sections
- Published November 2025
Report overview
- Study period
- 2021-2025
- Region
- Global
- Granularity
- Annual time series, Producer level
- Sources
- Plant data, interviews
- Format
- PDF with data tables
- Licence
- Internal use only
Key questions answered
- How did carbonate and hydroxide spot prices move from the boom to the bust?
- How wide is the hydroxide premium over carbonate today?
- Which producers are under pressure at current prices, brine or hard rock?
Table of contents
- 1Executive summary
- 2Spot prices by yearData table
- 3Cash cost by producerData table
- 4Methodology
Scope of the report
- Producers
- Altiplano Brine Co., Copperhead Spodumene, Lagoa Lithium, Redgum Lithium, Salar Andino Minerals
The hydroxide premium over carbonate narrowed but did not disappear. At current prices, the highest-cost hard rock producers are under pressure while brine producers keep comfortable margins.
Our full report gives annual spot prices for carbonate and hydroxide and a cash cost curve for the main producers.