The Global Lithium Podcast

Episode 240: "Lithium Summer" Update

The Global Lithium Podcast

Show Notes

In this solo episode, I discuss the state of the lithium market: the good, the bad and the ugly. Despite the market’s overreaction to misinformation from China about the impact of a mine reopening on the supply and demand balance and the threat of sodium ion, lithium’s long-term fundamentals have never looked better. Demand continues to go from strength to strength. Meanwhile, production shortfalls, project delays and efforts by African countries to retain more of the value created from their resources continue to put pressure on supply. Topics: ALB's bullish market commentary SQM displaces ALB as the #1 producer CATL: #1 in GWH & misinformation The pulled US lithium tender The midstream/downstream future in Oz US critical metals "hype machine" Tesla's long ramp up in Texas Buy the book

More from The Global Lithium Podcast

Oct 10, 2026

Carlos Galli is the VP of Growth and Innovation at Lithium Argentina. Topics: Update on phase 1 of Cauchari Quality, recovery and cost The planned brownfield expansion Starting with DLE Managing weather impacts Buffering ponds An El Nino year RIGI benefits Price Argentina's infrastructure challenges Brine reinjection The future impact of AI My comments on current market confusion

Oct 1, 2026

A solo episode where I discuss the reasons for the recent price action, two schools of thought about where we are headed from here and why China needs Argentina more than Argentina needs China from a lithium perspective.

Sep 14, 2026

A stream of consciousness solo episode where I talk about the recent drama concerning SMM's inventory number and change in their process. Did it make sense? Who does it serve? I also talk about comments from Ganfeng on the quality of inventory information and the fact that some of the GFEX warehouse inventory isn't usable.

Sep 8, 2026

My guests are the co-founders of ILiA: Anand Sheth and Roland Chavasse. Topics: The membership mix Not just a producer organization Communicating the industry message What is success for ILiA? Challenges Commodity or specialty chemical? Communicating with regulators Chemicals or mining? Lithium trivia China: flexibility, growth and chaos

Sep 1, 2026

My guests are: David Park and Dr. Andy Robinson, the CEO and President/COO, respectively. Topics: The LG offtake agreement How deals get done The market tailwind Standard's path to FID The DLE journey Advantages of Smackover brine Tightening specifications Bi-carbonation The build Safety Culture The Smackover's LT potential The midstream

See all episodes →