Past and future development of the market for lithium in the World aluminium industry

The use of lithium carbonate in aluminium production has become a very significant end-use for lithium in the 20 years since it was first used for this purpose on a commercial scale. The sparse published information suggests that lithium carbonate will gradually be adopted in more and more plants around the world, and thus that lithium demand for this end-use will continue growing. A recent study of lithium usage in each of the world's aluminium plants shows, however, that there are more complex factors involved in the decision to use lithium carbonate than are commonly thought, that some plants which have adopted lithium carbonate are unlikely to use it indefinitely, and that lithium demand is likely to be cyclical with peaks at times of high aluminium demand. Free World demand for lithium carbonate for aluminium production outside the US is probably about 1000 t in 1977 and is likely to rise to 2500 t in 1980. US demand is much higher, probably 8500 t in 1977.