Lithium possesses desirable properties such as high electrochemical reactivity, a low thermal
expansion coefficient and the highest specific heat capacity of all solids which makes it a versatile
metal used for a vast array of end-markets: batteries & energy storage, glass & ceramics, grease,
aluminum & aluminum alloys, medicine-pharma, etc.
The most dynamic end-market for lithium is the battery market given the need for energy storage is
rapidly increasing: electronic devices, electric vehicles, electric grid storage to absorb intermittent
production from renewable sources. In 2025, the battery market is expected to represent 50+% of
lithium demand versus roughly one third in 2014. More broadly, the global lithium market is
expected to more than double in size, from c.175 kt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) in
2014 to c.400 kt of LCE in 2025, according to analysts and market players.
Strong demand growth and a significantly constrained supply in the mid-term justify the need for
new players with strong industrial and financial credibility such as ERAMET to enter the market.