Just be mindful that two of the key inputs to hydroxide production are energy, particulalry gas given how the kilns are fired, and spodumene equivalent inputs. China imports a lot of Australian gas and obviously also imports source material spodumene/lithium from brine. Labour, whilst important is not the primary cost IMO in lithium hydroxide production. So yes I would expect Europe to be able to compete with China, provided Europe gets its acttogether in producing hydroxide, noting Chinese companies are more risk takers IMO than European companies in lithium hydroxide production.
In manuafacturing vehicles, labour is an important cost component but Europe, particulalry Germany, has been able to deal with that issue by gocussing on high end markets. Having said that I am also mindful EVs themselves would be able to be more easily constructed than ICE vehicles intheory, given fewer parts used in construction, so would expect the need for labour intensity in car production to be reduced btw, notwithstanding car production itself is capital intensive.
As an aside, 360,000 tpa lithium hydroxide production from 2030 onwards, noting I am assuming the number in the article doesn't include carbonate production, is about 2,340,000 million tonnes per annum of equivalent 6% grade spodumene concentrate feedstock.
Obviously all the above is IMO.
All IMO
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