Port Hedland lithium exports increase in June

Lithium exports from the Western Australian port of Port Hedland recovered in June, with exports for the first half of 2018 at around 2mn t.

Exports of lithium in the form of spodumene rose to 427,640t in June from 114,062t in May, the lowest month of the year so far. Exports totalled 449,826t in April, 444,577t in March, 234,746t in February and 326,925t in January.

All of June's exports were to China, with individual shipments ranging from 86,600t to 115,340t.

Exports are expected to increase in the second half of the year as new output comes on stream from Pilbara Minerals' Pilgangoora project and Altura Mining's Altura project.