Unlike the fluctuations observed in 2023, the lithium market in Q1 2024 exhibited greater stability.Lithium carbonate prices, which began the quarter at US$13,377.44 per ton, concluded around US$14,874.31, reflecting an 11 percent increase.
Market oversupply prompted some lithium producers to trim 2024 output targets in hopes that some of the excess would be absorbed in the market.
Spending for project expansions and new developments was also put on the back burner to allow the market to rebalance.
Year-to-date gains: 1.49 percent; market cap: US$1.05 billion; share price: US$6.48
Lithium Americas is presently progressing its portfolio of lithium projects, including Caucharí-Olaroz and Pastos Grandes in Argentina, and Thacker Pass in Nevada, USA.
Thacker Pass is considered to have the largest known lithium reserve in the United States and the third largest globally, making it. Key resource in the US ramp up of a domestic lithium supply chain.
In mid-March the lithium company secured a US$2.26 billion loan from the US Department of Energy (DoE) to advance the Thacker Pass project.
The funding is the largest publicly disclosed investment by an automaker in a company focused on battery raw materials production. As part of the agreement, GM secured exclusive offtake rights to 100 percent of the lithium production from Phase 1 for a period of up to 15 years, with a right of first offer on Phase 2 production.
Year-to-date gain: 78 percent; market cap: C$131.49 million; current share price C$0.89
US-focused Century Lithium is currently advancing its Clayton Valley lithium project in West-Central Nevada. The company is also completing the pilot testing phase at its lithium extraction facility in the state’s Amargosa Valley.
Century Lithium began the year trading in the C$0.48 range and rose to a quarterly high of C$0.80 on March 27.
While the company made no announcements in Q1, some of its positive momentum may have resulted from two press releases from December 2023. The first provides an update on the company’s ongoing feasibility study for Clayton Valley.
“This increase in concentration was attributed to the integration of Koch Technology Solutions Li-ProTM equipment into the direct lithium extraction area,” the company said at the time.
Year-to-date gain: 50.94 percent; market cap: C$164.97 million; current share price: C$0.80
South America-focused Lithium Chile owns several lithium land packages in Chile and Argentina. Presently, the explorer is working to delineate the deposit at its Salar de Arizaro property in Argentina.
Company shares initially trended down, but ultimately rose 32 percent between January 1 and the end of February.
Year-to-date gain: 24 percent; market cap: C$55.22 million; current share price: C$0.35
Exploration company Power Metals holds a portfolio of diversified assets in Ontario and Quebec, Canada.
According to the company, the project features lithium-cesium-tantalum potential, with peraluminous S-type pegmatitic granites intruding into metasedimentary and amphibolite formations.
Year-to-date gain: 46.07 percent; market cap: AU$40.31 million; current share price: AU$0.13
Africa-focused exploration company Prospect Resources holds a diversified portfolio of assets located in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Its lithium properties — Omarur and Step Aside — are in Namibia and Zimbabwe, respectively.
Year-to-date gain: 33.33 percent; market cap: AU$432.96 million; current share price: AU$0.20
Emerging producer Ioneer owns the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, US. According to the company, the project is considered the “sole lithium-boron deposit in North America.”
Year-to-date gain: 28 percent; market cap: AU$26.85 million; current share price: AU$0.16
ASX-listed Pan Asia Metals is a mineral exploration company with a diverse portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand. Specialising in critical metals such as lithium, tantalum and rare earth elements, the company is also actively engaged in exploration activities in South America.
“The Tama Atacama lithium project has the potential to be one of the largest lithium brine projects in the global peer group. Surface assays for lithium are extremely high and the project has enviable strategic positioning, with all infrastructure requirements satisfied,” said Pan Asia Metals Managing Director Paul Lock.
Shares subsequently shed some of the positivity, spending the rest of the quarter rangebound below AU$0.17.
Rounding out the top five lithium-producing countries behind Australia and Chile are China, Argentina and Brazil.
The lithium price has seen huge success over the past year, and many stocks are up alongside that. It’s up to investors to decide if it’s time to get in on the market, or if they’ll try to wait for a dip.
Unlike many commodities, investors cannot physically hold lithium due to its dangerous properties. However, those looking to get into the lithium market have many options when it comes to how to invest in lithium.
Lithium stocks can be found globally on various exchanges. Through the use of a broker or an investing service such as an app, investors can purchase individual stocks and ETFs that match their investing outlook.
Before buying a lithium stock, potential investors should take time to research the companies they’re considering; they should also decide how many shares will be purchased, and what price they are willing to pay. With many options on the market, it’s critical to complete due diligence before making any investment decisions.
It’s also important for investors to keep their goals in mind when choosing their investing method. There are many factors to consider when choosing a broker, as well as when looking at investing apps — a few of these include the broker or app’s reputation, their fee structure and investment style.
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Century Lithium is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
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