Lithium is the lightest metal in nature. Lithium with extremely high strategic value is widely applied in such traditional industries as battery, ceramics, glass, aluminum, lubricant and refrigerating agent, as well as in emerging application domain like nuclear and photoelectric industry. Lithium carbonate as the basic material for the production of lithium metal and other lithium salts is the most important lithium product. Other industrial lithium products basically are its downstream products.

China is one of the countries with the largest lithium reserves in the world. China's proven lithium reserves (converted into pure lithium) have reached 3.35 million tons, meaning China ranks the third in terms of salt lake brine lithium reserves and ranks the fourth in terms of lithium ore resources. China's prospective reserves of lithium resources will be more substantial.

From a global perspective, the most important application of lithium carbonate products in 2007 covered the four major industries of battery, glass, ceramics and lubricant, taking up the proportions of 25%, 12%, 10% and 8% respectively, of which the application in lithium battery sector had the fastest growth. In terms of the demand of downstream industries for lithium carbonate, the demand proportions of such traditional industries as glass, ceramics, lubricant and pharmacy to the total tended downward, although their absolute value still grew. In addition, the demand ratios of emerging industries increased rapidly.

Structure of Downstream Demand for Lithium Carbonate, 2007

Source: ResearchInChina

In 2007, the global lithium carbonate demand was 93,000 tons, up 7.4% year on year. The CAGR in the recent ten years is over 7%, showing a robust growth. Chile, China and Argentina are the top three countries in terms of production capacity of lithium carbonate. In 2007, the three countries met 94% of the world's total demand of lithium carbonate. Of the three countries, China saw the fastest growth in its lithium carbonate production capacity and its share in the global lithium carbonate market increased to 26% in 2007 from 21% in 2006.

China's demand for lithium carbonate has grown rapidly. Starting from 2008, China's production capacity of lithium carbonate has entered a releasing period. It is expected that China's lithium carbonate output will amount to 45,000 tons and its designed production capacity will surpass 60,000 tons by 2010, when China will become a net exporter of lithium carbonate.

This report, composed of seven parts, makes analysis and forecast of the following aspects: overview of lithium carbonate industry, supply and demand of global & China lithium carbonate market, China lithium carbonate import and export, price trend of lithium carbonate products, competition pattern of lithium carbonate industry, major lithium carbonate manufacturers, and opportunities and risks in lithium carbonate industry.

2. Supply and Demand of Global & China Lithium Carbonate Market
2.1 Major Factors Affecting Lithium Carbonate Industry Development
2.1.1 Economic Development Level
2.1.2 Downstream Demand
2.1.3 Main Growth Points 
2.2 Supply and Demand of Global Lithium Carbonate Market and Its Forecast
2.2.1 Global Demand for Global Lithium Carbonate Market and Its Forecast
2.2.2 Global Lithium Carbonate Market Supply and Its Forecast
2.3 Supply and Demand of China Lithium Carbonate Market

3. China Lithium Carbonate Import & Export 
3.1 China Lithium Carbonate Import & Export 
3.2 Price Trend of China Lithium Carbonate Import & Export

4. Price Trend and Forecast of Lithium Carbonate Products
4.1 Price Trend of Global Lithium Carbonate Products
4.2 Price Trend of China Lithium Carbonate Products
4.3 Forecast of Price Trend of China Lithium Carbonate Products, 2008-2010

5. Competition Pattern of Lithium Carbonate Companies 
5.1 Global Lithium Carbonate Industry Concentration Degree 
5.2 Comparison of Core Competitiveness between Global Key Lithium Carbonate Companies  
5.2.1 Quality Comparison of Major Salt Lake Brine Exploited in the World 
5.2.2 Comparison between Processing Techniques and Production Cost
5.3 China Major Lithium Carbonate Manufacturers 

6. China and Foreign Major Lithium Carbonate Manufacturers
6.1 SQM 
6.1.1 Company Profile 
6.1.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate 
6.1.3 Production Flow of Lithium Carbonate 
6.1.4 Revenue Structure 
6.1.5 Lithium Carbonate Revenue
6.1.6 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business 
6.2 FMC
6.2.1 Company Profile
6.2.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.2.3 Business Related to Lithium Carbonate
6.2.4 Revenue Structure
6.2.5 Lithium Carbonate Revenue
6.2.6 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.3 CHEMETALL
6.3.1 Company Profile
6.3.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.3.3 Revenue Structure
6.3.4 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.4 CITIC Guoan Group 
6.4.1 Company Profile
6.4.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.4.3 Existing Problems in Lithium Carbonate Projects 
6.4.4 Revenue 
6.4.5 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.5 Tibet Mineral Development Co., Ltd
6.5.1 Company Profile
6.5.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.5.3 Revenue Structure
6.5.4 Lithium Carbonate Revenue
6.5.5 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.6 Qinghai Lithium Industry Co., Ltd
6.6.1 Company Profile
6.6.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.6.3 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.7 Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Group Co. Ltd 
6.7.1 Company Profile
6.7.2 Production Capacity and Output of Lithium Carbonate
6.7.3 Development Prospect of Lithium Carbonate Business
6.8 Other Main Lithium Carbonate Manufacturers in China 
6.8.1 Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries, Inc. 
6.8.2 Xinjiang Lithium Salt Plant
6.8.3 Sichuan Nike Guorun New Materials Co., Ltd
6.8.4 Sichuan JiXiang Lithium Co LTD.
6.8.5 ABA GUANGSHENG LITHIUM CO., LTD

7. Opportunities and Risks in China Lithium Carbonate Industry
7.1 Opportunities 
7.2 Risks