26/05/12
Lithium Argentina's Li prices double in 1Q
Sao Paulo, 12 May (Argus) — Lithium Argentina (LAR) swung to a profit in the
first quarter as the company's average lithium sale prices more than doubled
over the year. The company swung to a $7.5mn profit in January-March from a
$7.2mn loss in the first quarter of 2025, as its average realized lithium prices
climbed to $16,818/metric tonne (t) from $8,085/t. LAR sells lithium at a 6-7pc
discount to Chinese reference prices, excluding VAT, chief-executive Sam Pigott
said. Argus -assessed ex-works China lithium carbonate prices, with VAT
excluded, averaged $19.628/kg ($19,628/t) in the first quarter. LAR's lithium
sales totalled $168mn, meaning it sold roughly 9,990t of lithium carbonate
equivalent (LCE) in the first three months of the year. LAR's flagship project
in Argentina, Cauchari-Olaroz, has a 40,000 t/yr LCE capacity, and the company
produced 9,660t of LCE in the first three months of 2026, maintaining output at
around 97pc of the project's designed capacity. Production increased by 34pc
compared with the same period last year and was steady with the previous
quarter, as ramp-up is nearly concluded. Production was in line with the
company's full-year production guidance of 35,000-40,000t. LAR's business has
been [relatively unscathed by the US-Iran war, as oil and gas costs make up less
than 3pc of its operational costs, according to Pigott. "We feel very good about
our cost profile and our insulation against broader inflationary trends
globally," Pigott said Thursday on the company's earnings call.Cauchari-Olaroz
is managed by Minera Exar, a joint-venture between LAR, China's Ganfeng Lithium
and provincial-owned firm JEMSE. By Pedro Consoli Send comments and request more
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