TRU say slow lithium recovery 2010 likely

The TRU distinctive forecast of lithium use in electric vehicles and lithium use in alloy is also proving correct. Thus no significant modification to our long range demand projection is necessary for the 2010 conferences.

The TRU view that global lithium oversupply will persist at minimum through 2013 is affirmed. Output of lithium chemicals through expansion by existing brine-based producers – SQM, FMC, Chemetall and CITIC – and new development projects in the pipeline will assure sufficient lithium supply long range.

Additional new medium range production will originate from mineral-based producers in China particularly and likely Rincon Lithium of Argentina. We expect at least one new competitive brine producers to be in production within ten years.

Dominating lithium producer SQM in September 2009 announced 20% price reductions. Lithium carbonate prices have been flat through 2009 bolstered by the steep fall in the US dollar against lithium producer and user currencies.

TRU president Edward R Anderson says “the SQM price reduction was a necessary correction and consistent with the TRU over-supply scenario. Indeed, there is little prospect for price volatility even long range. TRU projects an orderly and balanced development of the lithium industry through the 2020 horizon”.

Since most lithium originates from Chile and Argentina there is little to threaten US lithium security. Although minimal lithium battery capacity exists in the US this is being alleviated.

Much of lithium technology originated in North America and we remain comparatively strong from raw materials through to end products. TRU itself has North American experts in most technical aspect of lithium production and application.

TRU assists companies from exploration, process engineering and lithium product design. In 2009 TRU technical assessed and ranked all the global 170 lithium salt lake salars and also the thirty pipeline mineral-based projects being promoted.

TRU president Edward R Anderson says “The barrier to development for most projects is inadequate use of well qualified lithium engineering expertise. Lithium process engineering is highly specialized and too many of these start-ups have no experience in chemical plant project development. Missteps and some engineering failures are inevitable.

Success of a lithium resource development requires solid state-of-the-art technology and the industry strategic skills to compete”.

TRU Group Inc based in Toronto, Canada and Tucson, USA, are lithium engineering and industry consultants with a strong capability in lithium project development, feasibility studies and investor due diligence.

http://trugroup.com/