Argentina’s growing lithium industry hits export records

Argentina’s growing lithium industry hit a record high with exports rising to $60m in May, up 17% from the same month a year ago, according to the country’s mining authority.

Lithium represented 19% of mining exports during May, Argentina’s mining secretariat said Saturday in a press release.

Argentina has become the world’s fastest-growing lithium producer. It has three active lithium mines and 38 under development. Argentina’s push into the industry comes amid a global tug of war for key EV minerals between the US and China.

Between January and May, lithium exports rose to $369m, up 84% from last year’s same period and also a record for those five months, according to the mining secretariat.

By February, Argentina’s lithium industry employed 3,788 people, up 59% from a year before by adding 1,406 posts, the Argentina secretariat said.

(By Andreina Itriago Acosta)