News: PLS UPDATE 1-Australia's Pilbara Minerals' annual profit falls on weaker lithium prices

(Adds details on results from paragraph 2 onwards)

Aug 26 (Reuters) -

Australian lithium miner Pilbara Minerals (PLS) reported an 86% drop in its annual profit, citing a lower average realised sales price for lithium, the key metal for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.

Lithium prices have tumbled on the back of oversupply from China and a softening of electric vehicle (EV) adoption rates.

The average realised price for lithium raw material spodumene concentrate fell 74% to $1,176 per tonne in fiscal 2024, Pilbara said.

The country's biggest pure-play lithium miner posted underlying profit after tax of A$318 million ($215.83 million) for the year ended June 30, compared with A$2.28 billion a year earlier.

The company also said it had received credit approved commitments from a banking group for a new A$1 billion debt facility to refinance its existing project debt and further strengthen its balance sheet.

($1 = 1.4734 Australian dollars)