100% MateIn terms of 99% LiCO3 vs 99% LiCl today, Carbonate is...

100% Mate

In terms of 99% LiCO3 vs 99% LiCl today, Carbonate is getting a 20% premium in China today

Two things to note:
1) To produce a 99% Chloride Salt from a ~33% Chloride Salt still takes a further processing cost to produce (although it would be less than taking a 33% chloride salt & converting it into battery grade carbonate). There isn't a big demand market for Chloride today, although chloride is the intermediary for Carbonate, but also the ideal feedstock for Solid State electrodes which may grow in popularity in years ahead

2) Converters of Chloride into Carbonate are still going to make a healthy +20% margin (so there is a benefit in going all the way, but in some occasions that additional margin comes with risks aswell). You also have to factor in you need to transport 3 x the equivalent volume when you sell an intermediary

When you have an +860mg/L resource with low impurities you have alot of options to adapt your project considering all factors. If you have a 200mg/L resource, you are limited to being ALL IN on DLE

Fast forward 5, 10, 15 years the resource in the ground doesn't go away. Its High Grade for the rest of time