Portugal is the only EU country that ranks in the Top 9 lithium producing countries in the world

Portugal ranks 8th in the Top 9 lithium producing countries in the world - Portugal Business News

Mining news EU - Portugal is the only EU country that ranks in the Top 9 largest lithium producing countries in the world, according to Nasdaq. Here is the ranking of the Top 9 lithium producing countries in the world in 2024 and of the Top countries by lithium resources globally in 2025:

Since about 80 percent of the lithium produced globally goes towards the production lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), there is increasing focus on the Top lithium producing countries in the world. Moreover, lithium use in batteries has increased in recent years due to the use of rechargeable batteries in portable electronic devices, as well as in electric tools, and grid storage applications, according to the US Geological Survey.

Global lithium demand is set to surge over the next decade due to increasing demand for EVs and energy storage and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts more than 30% year-on-year increase in demand for lithium in 2025.

The latest data from the US Geological Survey shows that the world’s top lithium-producing countries are doing their best to meet rising demand from energy storage and EV sectors. Global lithium production rose sharply from 2023 to 2024, reaching 240,000 metric tons (MT) of lithium content in 2024, compared to 204,000 MT in 2023. These totals do not include US production, as that data is withheld.

Here are the Top 9 lithium producing countries in the world in 2024:

1 – Australia

Australia ranks No 1 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 88,000 metric tons, according to Nasdaq. Most of Australia’s lithium supply is exported to China as spodumene.

The Greenbushes hard rock lithium mine in Western Australia is operated by Talison Lithium. Mount Marion is another key lithium mine in Australia. The project, which is located in the Yilgarn Craton, southwest of Kalgoorlie, also contains a processing plant with an annual production capacity of 600,000 MT.

2 – Chile

Chile ranks No 2 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 49,000 metric tons.

Lithium planta include the Salar de Atacama salt flat in Chile generates roughly half the revenue for SOM (NYSE:SOM), and top lithium and brine producer US-based Albemarle. 

3 – China

China ranks No 3 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 41,000 metric tons.

China is the largest consumer of lithium due to its electronics manufacturing and EV industries. It also produces more than two-third of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and controls most of the world’s lithium-processing facilities. 

In January of 2024, China announced the discovery of a massive million-metric-ton lithium deposit in the country's Sichuan Province. In early 2025 the China Geological Survey, pegged the nation’s total reserves to be more than 30 million MT.

4 – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe ranks No 4 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 22,000 metric tons.

China’s Sinomine Resource Group (SZSE:002738) bought a stake in Zimbabwe's emerging lithium industry with the purchase of the Bikita mine. Zimbabwe's other key lithium mines include Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt's (SHA:603799) Arcadia mine and state miner Kuvimba Mining House’s Sandawana mine.

5 – Argentina

Argentina ranks No 5 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 18,000 metric tons.

Bolivia, Argentina and Chile make up the Lithium Triangle. Argentina’s Salar del Hombre Muerto district hosts significant lithium brines, and its reserves - 4 million MT - are enough for at least 75 years.

One of the largest lithium mining companies in Argentina is Arcadium Lithium (ASX:LTM,NYSE:ALTM), while in December 2024, Rio Tinto announced a US$2.5 billion expansion. Once operational, Rincon will use direct lithium extraction technology to produce 60,000 MT of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually, combining a 3,000 MT starter plant and the 57,000 MT expansion.

6 – Brazil

Brazil ranks No 6 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 10,000 metric tons.

Minas Gerais has four publicly listed lithium companies with assets in the state's Jequitinhonha Valley: Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML,NASDAQ:SGML), Lithium Ionic (TSXV:LTH,OTCQX:LTHCF), Atlas Lithium (NASDAQ:ATLX) and Latin Resources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF). Chinese EV giant BYD (OTC Pink:BYDDF,HKEX:1211,SZSE:002594) reportedly entered the mining sector in 2023, when it acquired 852 hectares of lithium-rich land in Minas Gerais' Jequitinhonha Valley.

7 – Canada

Canada ranks No 7 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 4,300 metric tons.

The country’s two mining plants are the Tanco mine in Manitoba, owned by Sinomine subsidiary Tantalum Mining, and the North American lithium operation in Québec, a joint venture between Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL,NASDAQ:PLL) and Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA,OTCQX:SYAXF).

At the end of 2024, the Canadian government’s Export Development Canada program pledged up to C$100 million to fund the Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1,OTC Pink:GTMLF) for the development of Ontario's first lithium mine at Seymour Lake.

8 – Portugal

Portugal ranks No 8 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with 380 metric tons.

Western Europe’s first significant lithium mine, the Barroso project by Savannah Resources (LSE:SAV,OTC Pink:SAVNF), that was projected to play a pivotal role in the EU’s ambitions of battery material self-sufficiency, was delayed due to public backlash about concerns linked to the environmental impact of lithium mining.

9 – United States

The United States ranks No 9 lithium producing country in the world in 2024, with figures of lithium production withheld to avoid disclosing proprietary company data.

The US has two lithium plants, namely a Nevada-based brine operation which hosts Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine, and the brine-sourced waste tailings of Utah-based US Magnesium.

What is the global consumption of lithium in 2024?

Global consumption of lithium in 2024 was estimated to be 220,000 tons, a 29% increase from the revised consumption of 170,000 tons in 2023. Four brine operations in Argentina, nine mineral operations in Australia, one mineral tailings operation in Brazil, two mineral operations in Canada, two brine operations Chile, seven mineral and five brine operations in China, and four mineral operations in Zimbabwe accounted for the majority of world lithium production. Additionally, smaller 110 LITHIUM operations in Australia, Brazil, China, Namibia, Portugal, and the United States also contributed to world lithium production, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, dated January 2025.

Lithium supply security has become a priority for technology companies in Asia, Europe, and North America. Strategic alliances and joint ventures among technology companies and exploration companies continued to be established to ensure a reliable, diversified supply of lithium for battery suppliers and vehicle manufacturers.

Here is the chart showing the amount of lithium produced globally and the global lithium reserves per country in 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, dated January 2025:

Chart showing the amount of lithium produced globally and the global lithium reserves per country in 2024 - Portugal Business News

Here is the ranking of Top countries by lithium resources globally in 2025:

Argentina: 23 million tons

Bolivia: 23 million tons

Chile: 11 million tons

Australia: 8.9 million tons

China: 6.8 million tons

Canada: 5.7 million tons

Germany: 4 million tons

Congo (Kinshasa): 3 million tons

Mexico: 1.7 million tons

Brazil: 1.3 million tons

Czechia: 1.3 million tons

Mali: 1.2 million tons

Serbia: 1.2 million tons

Peru: 1 million tons

Russia: 1 million tons

Zimbabwe: 860,000 tons

Spain: 320,000 tons

Portugal: 270,000 tons

Namibia: 230,000 tons

Ghana: 200,000 tons

Austria: 60,000 tons

Finland: 55,000 tons

Kazakhstan: 45,000 tons