Lithium Argentina Cauchari-Olaroz expansion moves ahead despite 3Q loss

Cauchari-Olaroz

Lithium Argentina Cauchari-Olaroz expansion remains firmly on track even as the company posts a 3Q net loss. The flagship brine project delivered 8,300t LCE in the quarter and keeps guidance of around 32,000t for 2025. However, currency impacts and legacy financing costs pushed Lithium Argentina to a $64.5mn loss, underlining the financial volatility around the Cauchari-Olaroz expansion.

Strong production, weak pricing pressure margins

Cauchari-Olaroz remains one of Argentina’s largest single lithium projects and is running at about 80pc of capacity. The project has produced 24,000t LCE over January-September, 22pc higher than a year earlier, confirming the operational strength behind the Lithium Argentina Cauchari-Olaroz expansion. However, average realized prices of $7,522/t for lithium carbonate limit cash flow compared with the 2022 price peak.

Lithium Argentina holds a 44.8pc economic interest in the project via its Minera Exar joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium. As a result, its attributable revenue from Cauchari-Olaroz reached only about $26.4mn in the third quarter. Currency fluctuations and the conversion of earlier loans to Minera Exar into equity added more than $78mn in accounting losses, overshadowing solid operating metrics from the Cauchari-Olaroz expansion.

Rigi incentives key for PPG and next growth wave

The company’s growth strategy now hinges on securing Argentina’s Rigi incentives for large investments. LAR and Ganfeng plan to use the regime to support both the Lithium Argentina Cauchari-Olaroz expansion and the much larger Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes (PPG) cluster. PPG could reach 150,000t/yr LCE at full ramp-up, making it one of the biggest planned lithium brine platforms in the country.

The Rigi framework offers reduced taxes and royalties, streamlined customs, accounting flexibility and 40-year legal stability. Therefore, successful approval would materially improve project economics and risk perception for lenders and strategic offtakers. LAR aims to file a Rigi application for PPG in the first half of 2026, while a separate Rigi process for the Cauchari-Olaroz expansion is also in preparation.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Lithium Argentina is demonstrating that scale and uptime at Cauchari-Olaroz can offset some of the pain from lower prices and FX swings. The crucial question is how quickly Rigi incentives are granted, because these terms will shape funding costs for both Cauchari-Olaroz and PPG. For investors and cathode buyers, Argentina’s policy execution will help determine whether this emerging lithium hub meets its aggressive capacity targets.

Lithium Argentina Boosts Output as Cauchari-Olaroz Becomes Nation's Largest Producer

Cauchari-Olaroz Project

2024 Sees 25% Surge in Lithium Production Amid Soaring Global Demand

Cauchari-Olaroz Leads Argentina’s Lithium Growth

Lithium Argentina significantly increased its lithium carbonate output in 2024, positioning the Cauchari-Olaroz project as the country’s largest lithium operation. According to the company’s earnings report, Q4 production surged by 25% quarter-on-quarter, reaching 8,500 metric tonnes.

Full-year production totaled 25,400 tonnes, reflecting strong operational efficiency and rising global demand for battery-grade lithium. This growth cements the project's importance in Argentina's lithium sector, a key player in the global EV supply chain.

Revenue and Outlook Point to Continued Expansion

In 2024, Lithium Argentina generated $198 million in revenue from lithium carbonate sales, averaging $7,800 per tonne. This robust pricing reflects resilient demand despite global market volatility and softening prices in some regions.

Looking ahead, the company expects the Cauchari-Olaroz project to produce between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in 2025. This would mark another year of double-digit growth and reinforce Argentina's strategic role in lithium supply diversification.

Strategic Partnerships Strengthen Project Position

The ownership structure of Cauchari-Olaroz includes Ganfeng Lithium, a major Chinese lithium producer, and Argentina’s state-run mining agency JEMSE, which holds an 8.5% stake. These partnerships enhance capital access, technical know-how, and regulatory alignment in the project’s operations.

As the world pivots toward clean energy technologies, Lithium Argentina’s output growth underlines its critical contribution to the global battery value chain.

Ganfeng and LAR Argentina lithium project JV targets 150,000 t/yr LCE with DLE

Ganfeng lithium

Ganfeng and LAR Argentina lithium project JV will integrate three brine assets and deploy DLE at scale. The Ganfeng and LAR Argentina lithium project JV consolidates Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes, Pastos Grandes, and Sal de la Puna. As a result, the Ganfeng and LAR Argentina lithium project JV aims to build 150,000 t/yr LCE capacity in three phases.

JV structure, financing, and offtake

Ganfeng will control 67pc of Millennial, with LAR holding 33pc. The JV sits under LAR’s subsidiary, Millennial. Ganfeng will extend up to $130mn in financial assistance over six years. Meanwhile, LAR will supply an additional offtake equal to 6,000 t/yr LCE. That supply comes from LAR’s Phase 1 stake in Cauchari-Olaroz until Millennial ramps.

Technology, timeline signals, and regional significance

The JV will use direct lithium extraction to lift recovery and cut water intensity. However, the partners have not disclosed construction or start dates. Integration reduces duplication and accelerates project permitting. It also deepens Chinese–Western capital alignment in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle. Therefore, downstream buyers gain scale, diversification, and improved ESG narratives.

Millennial combines three brine projects into a single development path. Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes is fully owned by Ganfeng today. Pastos Grandes is 85pc LAR and 15pc Ganfeng. Sal de la Puna is 65pc LAR and 35pc Ganfeng. The new structure simplifies investment decisions for future phases.

Ganfeng’s operating base strengthens the JV’s execution. The company produced 130,253t LCE in 2024 across carbonate, hydroxide, chloride, and metal. It is ramping Cauchari-Olaroz toward 30,000–35,000t this year. That learning curve should de-risk Millennial’s early phases. In turn, battery-grade carbonate supply should scale faster.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Consolidation plus DLE is the right playbook in Argentina. Offtake pre-commitments bridge financing while Cauchari-Olaroz provides near-term cover. Watch for phased EPC awards, brine handling contracts, and pond-to-DLE hybrid designs as leading indicators.

Lithium Argentina and Ganfeng to Develop Brine Lithium Projects

Ganfeng Lithium

New Agreement Targets Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes Basin Expansion

Lithium Argentina and Ganfeng Lithium signed a letter of intent to jointly develop lithium resources in Argentina’s Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes basin. The collaboration involves three projects: Pastos Grande, Sal de la Puna, and the Pozuelos project, all located in Salta province.

Ownership is split between the two firms across the assets. Lithium Argentina holds 85% of Pastos Grande and 65% of Sal de la Puna, while Ganfeng holds the remaining stakes.

The Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes project is fully owned by Ganfeng, but will be included in the partnership scope.

Ambitious Plans for Brine and DLE Operations

The new agreement provides a framework to finalize resource development through both traditional brine evaporation and direct lithium extraction (DLE) methods. When completed, the combined lithium projects are projected to yield 150,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

The parties may also expand production to include lithium chloride, providing downstream flexibility for battery material supply. This strategic cooperation adds scale and supply certainty amid global lithium demand fluctuations.

Cauchari-Olaroz Project Supports Growth Trajectory

The two companies also operate Argentina's leading lithium asset, the Cauchari-Olaroz project, via their joint venture Exar. This facility produced 25,400 tonnes of LCE in 2024, and aims for up to 37% output growth in 2025.

Together, the expanded brine portfolio and Exar’s performance underscore Argentina’s growing importance in global lithium supply chains.

The Metalnomist Commentary

As Western automakers seek secure lithium sources, Argentina’s brine projects are gaining strategic prominence. The Lithium Argentina–Ganfeng alliance could evolve into one of South America’s most influential LCE partnerships.

EXAR Commits $40 Million to Expand Argentina’s Leading Lithium Plant

EXAR

Joint Venture to Pilot Direct Lithium Extraction at Cauchari-Olaroz for Higher Efficiency and Sustainability

EXAR to Introduce DLE Technology at Cauchari-Olaroz

EXAR, a joint venture formed by Lithium Argentina, Ganfeng Lithium, and Argentina’s state-owned JEMSE, has announced a $40 million expansion at its Cauchari-Olaroz lithium facility. This move will pilot Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology to enhance recovery rates and reduce processing time.

DLE can shorten lithium brine processing from 12 months to just one week. The pilot plant, designed to produce 5,000 tonnes per year, will test the method before full-scale implementation. Although EXAR has not set a construction timeline, the company emphasized its focus on efficiency and sustainability.

Cauchari-Olaroz Leads Argentina’s Lithium Output

In 2024, EXAR became Argentina’s top lithium carbonate producer, delivering 25,400 tonnes. The company forecasts 2025 production to rise between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes at Cauchari-Olaroz, already the country’s largest lithium operation.

By piloting DLE at this critical facility, EXAR aims to stay ahead in the race to modernize lithium extraction methods. The approach supports Argentina’s broader push to boost domestic processing and minimize environmental impact.

Strategic Partnership Backs Innovation and Growth

The EXAR partnership brings together global expertise and local access. Ganfeng Lithium contributes technical know-how from China, Lithium Argentina offers Swiss-based project oversight, and JEMSE ensures alignment with national development goals.

As demand for battery-grade lithium carbonate surges worldwide, EXAR’s investment could establish Argentina as a leading supplier of sustainably sourced lithium.

Ganfeng Launches Mariana Lithium Project, Expands Global Lithium Supply Chain

Ganfeng Lithium Project

China’s Ganfeng Accelerates Lithium Production Across Argentina, Mali, and China

Ganfeng Lithium has officially begun production at its Mariana lithium chloride plant in Argentina's Salta province, strengthening its global lithium supply network. The company launched operations on February 12, marking a significant milestone in its South American investment strategy.

The Mariana project’s first phase features an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes of lithium chloride. Ganfeng plans to rapidly scale output upon phase completion. Its subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina, owns 100% of the project, which holds a total lithium resource of 8.12 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Ganfeng Expands Global Lithium Footprint with Multi-Continent Strategy

Beyond Mariana, Ganfeng is aggressively scaling its global lithium production. In Argentina, the Cauchari-Olaroz project ramped up output from 6,000 tonnes in 2023 to 25,400 tonnes in 2024. The site targets 30,000–35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate production in 2025. In Mali, the Goulamina spodumene mine began first-phase operations in December 2024.

In China, Ganfeng has established refining capacities totaling 50,000 t/yr for lithium carbonate and 100,000 t/yr for lithium hydroxide. The company opened a 45,000 t/yr lithium salts plant in Sichuan and launched initial production at a 25,000 t/yr lithium carbonate facility in Hunan’s Chenzhou city through its joint venture Hunan Anneng Ganfeng.

Chenzhou Mega Project Sets New Benchmark for Lithium Refining in China

Anneng Ganfeng plans to invest ¥7 billion (US$960 million) into a 150,000 t/yr lithium carbonate complex in Chenzhou. This project will roll out in three phases, with the initial 50,000 t/yr phase already under construction. These efforts solidify China’s position in downstream lithium conversion and reflect Ganfeng’s ambition to control the full value chain from resource to battery-grade materials.

Ganfeng’s total global resource investment now exceeds 79.59 million tonnes LCE. With assets in Argentina, Mali, China, Australia, Mexico, and Ireland, the firm remains a dominant force in both lithium brine and spodumene extraction.

Ganfeng Lithium Begins Production of Spodumene Concentrate at Goulamina Mine in Mali

Ganfeng Lithium

Ganfeng Lithium, one of the world's leading producers of lithium, has officially started producing spodumene concentrate at its Goulamina lithium mine in Mali. This marks a significant step in the development of the mine, which is being constructed in two phases. The first phase, which began in 2022, has a production capacity of 506,000 tonnes per year (t/yr) of spodumene concentrate, with commercial production starting on December 15, 2024. The second phase, when completed, will raise the total capacity to 1 million t/yr.

Goulamina Lithium Mine: A Major Step for Ganfeng's Global Lithium Supply

The Goulamina project is one of Ganfeng's key international investments, located in Mali, a country that is becoming increasingly significant in the global lithium supply chain. The mine has a total resource base of 7.14 million tonnes (mn t) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), with an average grade of 1.37% lithium oxide (Li2O), a quality that positions it as a key source of lithium in the coming years.

As part of its development, Ganfeng has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Lithium du Mali SA (LMSA) holds a 100% stake in the project. However, in a move to strengthen its relationship with the host nation, Ganfeng will transfer a 35% stake in LMSA to the Mali government. This will see the government receive 10% of the stake for free, while the remaining 25% will be acquired for approximately $32 million.

Expanding Ganfeng’s Global Lithium Portfolio

Ganfeng Lithium is investing heavily in lithium extraction from both spodumene ore and brine sources across the globe. In addition to the Goulamina mine, Ganfeng has major operations in Australia, Argentina, Mexico, Ireland, and China. The company is also ramping up its Cauchari-Olaroz project in Argentina, which boasts an annual 40,000 t/yr capacity for lithium carbonate production.

The move to secure assets in Africa is part of a broader trend among Chinese lithium producers, who are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains. Companies such as Huayou, Sinomine, Chengxin, and Yahua have been sending shipments from their Zimbabwe-based mines to lithium refineries in China, highlighting the growing importance of African countries as key players in the global lithium market.

Strategic Implications for Global Lithium Markets

Ganfeng’s investment in Mali and its expanding operations across Africa signal an ongoing shift in the global lithium mining landscape, with Chinese firms increasingly focusing on securing access to critical resources outside traditional markets like Australia and South America. As demand for lithium continues to surge, driven by the rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage solutions, these strategic moves will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the lithium supply chain.

Ganfeng takes full control of Mali Lithium

Mali Lithium

Deal terms and strategic rationale

Ganfeng takes full control of Mali Lithium after buying the remaining 40% for $342.7mn. The seller was Australia’s Leo Lithium. The move consolidates ownership of the Goulamina lithium mine. Therefore, governance and execution will now follow a single operator. Ganfeng takes full control of Mali Lithium to secure upstream supply.

Ganfeng previously paid $138mn for 55% in September 2023. It added 5% for $65mn in January 2024. As a result, the company now holds 100% equity. This sequence reflects disciplined pacing in volatile lithium markets.

Project status and global supply outlook

The Goulamina resource totals 7.14mn t LCE at 1.37% Li₂O grade. Phase one construction began in 2022 with 506,000 t/y capacity. Production started in December 2024 and continues to ramp. The second phase targets 1mn t/y of spodumene. However, the timeline for phase two remains undisclosed.

Ganfeng completed its first Goulamina concentrate shipment on 24 June. The cargo is en route to China, arriving in early August. Meanwhile, group chemical output reached 130,253 t LCE in 2024. That figure rose 25% year over year.

The portfolio also includes Cauchari-Olaroz in Argentina. Nameplate capacity stands at 40,000 t/y of lithium carbonate. Output jumped to 25,400 t in 2024 from 6,000 t in 2023. It is expected to reach 30,000–35,000 t in 2025.

Ganfeng takes full control of Mali Lithium to align mine, shipping, and conversion. Therefore, integrated volumes should improve cost visibility and contract flexibility. However, execution will still hinge on phase-two clarity and logistics.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Full ownership removes JV complexity and accelerates decision-making at Goulamina. The heavy tilt toward spodumene supply strengthens Ganfeng’s conversion optionality in China. Watch phase-two scheduling, shipping cadence, and carbonate/hydroxide price spreads through 2026.