Lithium Prices Are Crashing, But Some Producers Are Doubling Down. Why?

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnanagagwa (center) sitting next to Chinese ambassador Zhou Ding at the opening ceremony for Prospect Lithium's new processing facility in Goromonzi. Image via Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe.

There is a puzzling shift unfolding in the global lithium market. Prices have collapsed by over 70% from their 2022 highs to around $12,000 per tonne, and yet, against all market logic, some Chinese lithium giants are not retreating. 

Instead, they’re actually producing more.

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