Chile lithium exports top $3.2B, best since 2023

Staff Writer | July 8, 2026 | 8:51 am Battery Metals Critical Minerals Markets Latin America Lithium

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Albemarle is testing direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies in Chile. (Image courtesy of Albemarle Chile.)

Chile’s lithium export revenue nearly tripled in the first half of 2026 as higher prices and strong global demand lifted sales of the battery metal.

Lithium exports reached $3.2 billion between January and June, almost three times the value recorded a year earlier and 34.4% above Chile’s total lithium exports for all of 2025, according to figures published by the country’s central bank on Wednesday.

Lithium carbonate led the gains, followed by sulfates and hydroxide. Overall mining exports climbed 20.4% to $36.9 billion.

“Demand remains strong because lithium is a key material for electric vehicles, energy storage, electronics, AI-related technologies and data centres,” the government said.

The figures reinforce Chile’s position as the world’s second-largest lithium supplier at a time of expanding demand for battery materials driven by transport electrification, grid investment and digital infrastructure.

Thenation has only two lithium producers, SQM (NYSE: SQM) and Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), but is seeking to expand output through state partnerships and privately developed projects.

Copper, Chile’s largest export, also posted solid growth. First-half copper exports rose 11.5% year-over-year to $30.2 billion, supported by higher prices and stronger shipments. Copper accounted for 50.1% of the country’s total exports, underscoring Chile’s growing role in supplying metals critical to the global energy transition.

(With files from Reuters)