Let's see ... world's largest Carbonate producer (SQM) has upped...

Let's see ... world's largest Carbonate producer (SQM) has upped its planned lithium hydroxide capacity from 30,000 metric tons (2022) to 100,000 metric tons by the end of 2025.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1383607/sqm-lithium-production-capacity-worldwide-by-type/#:~:text=SQM's%20lithium%20hydroxide%20capacity%20is,by%20the%20end%20of%202025.




And have now announced that SQM subsidiary SQM Salar has secured long-term agreements to supply Hyundai and Kia with lithium hydroxide, bolstering its role as a supplier to major EV makers.

Now SQM's hydroxide isn't just from hard rock (spodumene) as clearly they have made some WA acquisitions in that regard, but also from Carbonate, SQM (like Livent/Arcadium) produces Hydroxide from Carbonate produced rom the Salar Atacama in Chile.

Let this snippet from the article sink in.

https://www.mining.com/web/sqm-doubles-down-on-lithium-boom-as-peers-go-on-the-defensive/



Think about that every time you question the studies/strategy of completing the "partially built" Carbonate plant (for Capex in excess of CAD$555M) as opposed to repurposing it to Hydroxide.

Think also about the significant cost advantage that SQM has in Hydroxide given its starting point (the cheapest Carbonate in the world).

What does SQM know about Lithium supply ...