The Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market was valued at USD 954.00 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1,513.87 Million by 2029, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.00% during the forecast period (2024–2029). This robust growth is being fueled by the unparalleled global demand for electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, and consumer electronics, driving the need for high-purity lithium derived from sustainable salt lake brine operations.
As the world accelerates its transition to clean energy and electrified transportation, the spotlight is on the key producers who are securing supply chains and innovating extraction technologies. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Industry—a mix of global mining giants and regional specialists shaping the future of lithium production.
🔟 1. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Headquarters: Santiago, Chile
Key Offering: High-purity Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate (>99.5%)
SQM is a global leader in lithium production, operating one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost brine-based lithium operations in the Salar de Atacama, Chile. The company is a critical supplier to major battery manufacturers and electric vehicle makers worldwide, with a strong focus on sustainable water management and process efficiency.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Massive expansion plans to reach 210,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) capacity by 2025
-
Implementation of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies to improve recovery rates and environmental footprint
-
Long-term supply agreements with leading EV battery producers like LG Energy Solution and Ford Motor Company
Download FREE Sample Report: Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market – View in Detailed Research Report
9️⃣ 2. Albemarle Corporation
Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Hydroxide
Albemarle is one of the world’s largest lithium producers, with significant brine operations at the Salar de Atacama in Chile through its La Negra conversion facilities. The company’s technical expertise in brine processing ensures a consistent supply of high-quality lithium carbonate essential for the global battery supply chain.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Strategic “Light House” transformation program aiming to more than double lithium conversion capacity by 2030
-
Active investment in R&D for novel lithium extraction and refinement processes to reduce water usage
8️⃣ 3. Livent Corporation (now part of Arcadium Lithium)
Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: Ultra-high purity Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Hydroxide
Livent, which merged with Allkem in early 2024 to form Arcadium Lithium, has a long-established presence in the Salar del Hombre Muerto in Argentina. The company is renowned for its high-quality, battery-grade lithium carbonate produced through its proprietary, sustainable brine extraction process.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Expansion of brine production capacity in Argentina to 60,000 metric tons LCE
-
Focus on vertically integrated supply chains with downstream lithium hydroxide production
7️⃣ 4. Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Xinyu, Jiangxi, China
Key Offering: Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate from global brine assets
Ganfeng Lithium is a leading Chinese lithium producer with a global portfolio that includes strategic investments in salt lake brine projects outside China, such as the Caucharí-Olaroz project in Argentina. The company is a key player in securing lithium raw materials for China’s vast battery manufacturing industry.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Aggressive global M&A strategy to secure upstream brine and hardrock lithium resources
-
Vertical integration from mining to battery production and recycling
Download FREE Sample Report: Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market – View in Detailed Research Report
6️⃣ 5. Tianqi Lithium Corporation
Headquarters: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Key Offering: High-grade Lithium Carbonate
Tianqi Lithium is a major global lithium producer, holding a significant stake in the world-class Greenbushes hardrock mine in Australia and controlling the Salar de Atacama-based TlQ plant in Chile. This gives it a unique diversified portfolio spanning both brine and spodumene resources.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Debt restructuring and strategic focus on optimizing its Chilean brine operations
-
Expanding chemical conversion capacity in China to process raw materials into battery-grade products
5️⃣ 6. BYD Company Limited
Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Key Offering: Lithium Carbonate for internal battery production (Blade Battery)
Primarily known as a leading EV manufacturer, BYD has vertically integrated backwards into lithium production, including developing salt lake brine resources in China, such as in Tibet. This strategy secures a critical raw material supply for its rapidly expanding EV and battery business.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Vertical integration to control costs and secure supply for its massive Blade Battery production
-
Pioneering new extraction technologies tailored to Chinese salt lake chemistries
4️⃣ 7. Zangge Mining Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Golmud, Qinghai, China
Key Offering: Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate from China’s Qaidam Basin
Zangge Mining is a dominant player in China’s domestic salt lake lithium sector, operating the significant Cha’erhan Salt Lake in the Qaidam Basin. The company has developed expertise in processing high magnesium-to-lithium ratio brines, a common challenge in Chinese resources.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Continuous capacity expansion to meet soaring domestic demand
-
R&D investments in adsorption and membrane technologies for improved brine processing efficiency
3️⃣ 8. CITIC Guoan Group (Qinghai CITIC Guoan Technology Co.)
Headquarters: Beijing, China (Operations in Qinghai)
Key Offering: Lithium Carbonate from the West Taijinar Salt Lake
CITIC Guoan is a significant producer leveraging the brine resources of the West Taijinar Salt Lake in Qinghai, China. The company is part of the vast CITIC Group conglomerate, providing financial stability and strategic support for its lithium ambitions.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Large-scale project development with planned annual capacity of 20,000+ tons of lithium carbonate
-
Focus on supplying the booming Chinese battery material market
2️⃣ 9. Lithium Americas Corp.
Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada (Operations in Argentina & USA)
Key Offering: Future supply of Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate
Lithium Americas is developing the Caucharí-Olaroz project in Argentina’s “Lithium Triangle” in partnership with Ganfeng Lithium. The project is one of the largest and most advanced new brine developments globally, poised to become a major source of lithium carbonate.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Caucharí-Olaroz Phase 1 production ramp-up targeting 40,000 tpa LCE
-
Pioneering sustainable brine extraction methods with a focus on minimal water impact
1️⃣ 10. Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Co., Ltd. (Salt Lake Potash)
Headquarters: Golmud, Qinghai, China
Key Offering: Lithium Carbonate co-produced with Potash
This company is a key state-influenced entity in China, managing vast salt lake resources in Qinghai. It utilizes a comprehensive co-production process to extract lithium carbonate alongside its primary potash fertilizer business, representing an efficient and integrated resource utilization model.
Key Production & Growth Initiatives:
-
Scaling up integrated lithium and potash extraction facilities
-
Playing a strategic role in China’s national goal of lithium self-sufficiency
Get Full Report Here: Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market – View in Detailed Research Report
🔋 Outlook: The Future of Salt Lake Lithium is Sustainable and High-Tech
The salt lake battery grade lithium carbonate market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. While traditional evaporation ponds still form the backbone of production, the industry is rapidly adopting new technologies to increase yield, reduce environmental impact, and unlock resources previously considered uneconomical.
📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:
-
Accelerated adoption of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies for faster production and higher recovery rates
-
Intense competition for resource access in South America’s “Lithium Triangle” and China’s Qaidam Basin
-
Growing emphasis on water stewardship and sustainable brine management practices
-
Vertical integration by automakers and battery producers to secure long-term supply
Get Full Report Here: Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market – View in Detailed Research Report
The companies listed above are not only extracting a critical mineral—they are fundamentally powering the global energy transition.
- Top 10 Companies in the Nylon 6 Super Tough Nylon Industry (2025): Market Leaders Powering High-Performance Manufacturing - November 8, 2025
- Top 10 Companies in the Film Structural Adhesives for Aircrafts Market (2025): Market Leaders Strengthening Global Aviation - November 8, 2025
- Top 10 Companies in the Global 5-Ethyl-2-Pyridineethanol Market (2025): Key Players Driving Pharmaceutical and Chemical Innovation - November 8, 2025
