São Paulo, August 24th (Argus) - The forecast by the Argentine Private Mining Chamber (Caem) indicates that Argentina's lithium equivalent (LCE) production will double over the next six years.
According to a report jointly written by Caem and the Inter-American Development Bank, by 2032, Argentina's annual LCE production will reach 323,000 tons, more than twice the expected 151,000 tons this year.
This growth will come from the commissioning of at least 12 new projects and expansion projects, as well as increased production from existing operations.
By 2035, the annual production will reach 407,000 tons, an increase of 256,000 tons per year compared to the 2026 data. This forecast assumes that new factories will produce 20% of their rated capacity in the first year of operation, and then gradually increase to the 75% utilization rate set in the model.
Caem's research helps clarify the future decade's prospects for Argentina's lithium industry as stated by the authorities. Earlier this year, the Argentine Ministry of Mining proposed its own forecast, but it focused on total installed capacity rather than actual production.
The government stated that by 2035, Argentina's LCE total capacity will reach approximately 640,000 tons per year, while Caem predicts that the actual production of domestic projects during the same period will be 407,000 tons, meaning an utilization rate of 63.6%. Some market participants are more optimistic about Argentina's lithium prospects, believing that the country may surpass Chile within eight years.
