Top 10: Leading Lithium Mining Companies

The global market for lithium has expanded dramatically since 2020, driven by expanding demand for lithium-ion batteries from the expansion of EVs, electrification in the industrial sector, as well as increasing demand for battery energy storage systems (BESS). 

Lithium is also used in the production of certain non-ferrous metallic alloys, being combined both with aluminium and magnesium for strength and lightness.

The biggest lithium producers in the world are Australia (92,000 tonnes), China (62,000) and Chile (56,000). Argentina (23,000) and Zimbabwe (28,000) have increased production significantly in recent years.

The following are the biggest lithium mining companies, rated by market capitalisation, excluding Chinese producers and non-public joint ventures.

10. Lithium Americas

Market capitalisation: US$1.07bn

CEO: Jonathan Evans

Country: Vancouver, Canada

Lithium Americas’ flagship project is the Thacker Pass project in Nevada, US, which is under construction. Construction is expected to complete in 2027 with production of high-purity lithium carbonate for use in EV batteries and other energy storage uses scheduled to begin in 2028. Annual production from the Thacker Pass project is expected to reach 40,000t in phase 1, with capacity to eventually increase production up to 160,000t. US auto manufacturer General Motors is a joint venture partner and has a 20-year offtake for 100% of Phase 1 and up to 38% of Phase 2 output. As the largest project under construction in the US, Lithium Americas has received a US$2.23bn loan from the US Department of Energy.

9. Lithium Argentina

Market capitalisation: US$1.09bn

CEO: Sam Piggott

Country: Zug, Switzerland

Switzerland-based Lithium Argentina currently operates the Cauchari-Olaroz project in Jujuy province, northwest Argentina, which began commercial production in 2024. Production of high-purity lithium carbonate reached 34,000t in 2025, and is expected to ramp up to 35,000t in H2 2026. Cauchari-Olaroz is a joint venture with Chinese lithium miner, Ganfeng Lithium, while an investment vehicle owned by the provincial government of Jujuy holds a minority stake. Lithium Argentina agreed a joint venture in August 2026 in the Pozuelos-Pastos Grande (PPG) project with Ganfeng Lithium: the combined PPG project has an eventual 150,000t capacity.

8. Elevra

Market capitalisation: $1.20bn

CEO: Lucas Dow

Country: Brisbane, Australia

Elevra was created in 2025 through the merger of Piedmont Lithium and Sayona Mining. Elevra currently operates a diversified portfolio of lithium assets in Quebec, Canada, North Carolina, US, Ghana and Western Australia. 

Elevra produced 197,967 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate in FY 2026, and is expected to increase production to 198,000-210,000dmt in FY 2027. Elevra’s North American assets comprise two projects in Quebec, the wholly-owned North American Lithium (NAL) project, and a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in Central Quebec, as well as the wholly-owned Carolina Lithium project in the US. In June, Elevra broke ground on Stage 1 of the NAL Expansion, which will increase annual spodumene concentrate production capacity by 15-20% and deliver lower unit operating costs.

7. Sigma

Market capitalisation: $1.33bn

CEO: Ana Cabral

Country: Brazil

Sigma Lithium is the leading lithium mining company operating in Brazil. It is currently the fifth largest industrial-mineral lithium complex globally. Sigma Lithium’s production asset is the 100% wholly owned Grota do Cirilo operation, which is a fully integrated hard-rock lithium mining and industrial beneficiation complex located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This will increase Sigma’s output to around 64,000t of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). 

The company is currently producing 200,000 tonnes per annum of lithium concentrate, and expects to increase production to 240,000t by August 2026, with a further increase to 330,000t in 2027 overall. The company has initiated a Phase 2 expansion designed to close to double annual production capacity to 580,000t and plans a Phase 3 expansion to increase this further to 830,000t.

6. Eramet

Market capitalisation: US$1.49bn

CEO: Kent Masters

Country: Salta, Argentina

Eramet Eramine is a wholly-owned subsidiary of France based mining and metallurgy group Eramet based in the city of Salta, Argentina. It operates a production site at Centenario Ratones in the northwestern province of Salta, one of the largest lithium deposits in the world. 

Eramine began commercial production of lithium in December 2024. The company expects its sales volumes for 2026 to be 24,000 mt of LCE.

The site uses a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process, which improves the lithium recovery yield compared with traditional evaporation based methods. The process also reduces water consumption requirements by 50% as it requires less brine, and shortens the production process. 

With 15 million tonnes LCE of available resources, Centenario Ratones is one of the largest lithium deposits in the world.

5. Liontown

Market capitalisation: $2.80bn

CEO: Tony Ottaviano

Country: West Perth, Australia

Liontown is an independent, ASX-listed company and the operator of the wholly-owned Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation, approximately 700km northeast of Perth in Western Australia. Production commenced in July 2024. Since open pit mining operations at Kathleen Valley finished in December 2025, the operation has been a 100% underground operation. 

Liontown produced 391,992 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene concentrate in FY 2026, equivalent to 50,000t of LCE. 

Liontown plans to increase its run of mine production rate from 1.5m tpa to 2.8m tpa by the end of June 2027, subject to a FID decision on an expansion, which is expected by the end of September 2026.   

Separately, in September Liontown announced a binding farm-in agreement with a lithium developer, Next Lithium, in its Centenario lithium brine exploration project in Salta, Argentina.

4. Mineral Resources

Market capitalisation: $9.34bn

CEO: Darren Killeen

Country: Perth, Australia

Mineral Resources employs 7,200 people and its major lithium operations include the Wodgina, Mount Marion and Bald Hill Lithium Mines in Western Australia. These produce lithium spodumene ore, and supply markets including ceramics, glass, and lubricants. Mineral Resources also operates iron ore assets and offers mining and engineering services. 

Mineral Resources produced 559,000t of spodumene concentrate in FY 2026, equivalent to approximately 70,000t of LCE. 

Mineral Resources took FID in May 2026 to construct a flotation plant and develop underground mining at Mount Marion to expand capacity, extend mine life and produce a single 5% product.   

Separately, in May Mineral Resources restarted production at Bald Hill, with first concentrate produced in June and ramp-up to full capacity of 140,000 dmt of spodumene concentrate targeted for Q2 FY27.

3. PLS

Market capitalisation: $11.11bn

CEO: Dale Henderson

Country: Perth, Australia

PLS (formerly Pilbara Minerals) is based in Perth, Western Australia, and began commercial operations at the Pilgangoora lithium mine, the world's largest hard rock lithium mine, in 2018. The company produced 879,543 dmt of spodumene concentrate in FY 2026. In July 2026, PLS announced the restart of its Ngungaju processing plant after two years of care and maintenance.

A feasibility study into the possibility of erecting a new concentrator adjacent to the existing Pilgan Plant is due to conclude in late 2026: the project will increase spodumene concentrate production capacity to approximately 2m tpa.

PLS acquired a South American lithium developer, Latin Resources, in February 2025. The company is continuing to study development possibilities at the Colina Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

2. Albemarle

Market capitalisation: $15.27bn

CEO: Kent Masters

Country: Charlotte, North Carolina

Albemarle Corporation is an American specialty chemicals manufacturing company based in North Carolina. It operates two divisions: lithium and bromine specialties. Albemarle operates lithium mines globally, and is one of the largest global producers of lithium. The company expects its sales volumes for 2026 to be 225,000 to 235,000 mt of LCE.

Albemarle’s most important mining assets include Salar de Atacama in Chile, which relies on brine extraction methods, and the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia. Albemarle also has two mining projects in the United States: the Silver Lake mine in Nevada, and the King’s Mountain project in North Carolina. The King’s Mountain project relates to the potential restart of mining at an open pit mine idled in the early 1990s.

1. SQM

Market capitalisation: $19.43bn

CEO: Ricardo Ramos

Country: Santiago de Chile, Chile

SQM, headquartered in Santiago, Chile employs 7,700 people, and its main operation is the Salar de Atacama in Chile, which is one of the world's richest lithium reserves. Using brine extraction methods, SQM produces lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. In the half year period ending June 2026, SQM reported record quarterly sales of over 84,000 mt of LCE from its operations in Chile and Australia. 

SQM strengthened its position occupying mining rights over the lithium reserves in Salar de Atacama following the delayed approval of its acquisition of Codelco’s lithium mining subsidiary, Minera Tarar, in January 2026. The unit was merged with SQM’s local unit to form Andino Litio, which occupies the majority of the lithium brine resources in the northern Chile mining basin.  

In July, SQM took FID with its partner Wesfarmers to double the production capacity at their joint venture in Western Australia, Covalent Lithium. The expansion will double spodumene concentrate production from 380,000mt to 760,000mt and lower unit operating costs. The project encompasses the mine, concentrator and a new integrated ore sorting facility. The construction of a second concentrator is expected to commence in H2 2027, with the first spodumene concentrate expected in H1 2030.